Mexico City. Mexico – Former Montgomery Viking Cindy Arteaga has had a whirlwind summer. She graduated from Cal State Northridge in June, having been a standout on the pitch and with a covid year of eligiblity left, if she desired to play one more year as a grad student. After some consideration, She had decided to hang up the boots and move on. Then an unexpected call came.
Back in November, after completing her College season, Cindy attended a combine in Pomona. Professional scouts from Mexico were there but she never heard anything and had kind of forgetten about it. Until the call in June. Arteaga was invited to a tryout in Mexico City, kind of out of the blue.
She decided, why not? Arteaga packed her bags and left for Mexico City. Not in mid-season form but still fit she worked hard through the tryout June 20-28 and made the team. Then she signed a pro contract just a few days later and cancelled her return flight home.
Her new team is Pumas in the top Mexican Pro league and she would start at Center Forward just a few weeks later in her professional debut.
“I had been to Mexico City once before and really never saw myself living there at all. But they stepped up the offer and I moved into a nice condo with a half dozen other players on the team.” Said Arteaga after her debut vs America (the defending league champions) on Saturday afternoon.
“She has always been a determined and physical player, with an incredibly powerful shot.” Said former Coach Pat McDonald of her career at Montgomery High School. ” She willed us win many times during her career and scored two goals in the NCS Final 2019 her Senior year in a 4-2 victory over Livermore.”
She carried that NCS Banner the entire bus ride home!
McDonald is not surprised by Arteaga’s success as she overcame much adversity during her College career and kept improving and developing her skills. She was an All-West Third Team selection and All-Big West First Teamer this past season.
So on she goes. Spanish is her first language, so communication is not a problem. Her next match is July 22nd and games are live streamed. Cindy Arteaga from Santa Rosa to Cal State Northridge to Mexico City and Mexico’s top professional soccer league!