Concordia University Irvine Athletics

Zahira Montanez was the third NAIA All-American in Concordia women’s soccer history and just the second two-time All-American in the program’s history.  She played at Concordia from 2006 to 2009 as a defender, to her graduation in 2010.

Montanez, originally from Buena Park, CA and Kennedy High School in La Palma, CA, earned her B.A. from Concordia in 2010 in exercise sport science.  She played on four winning teams and the Eagles advanced to the GSAC Championship for the first time in school history in 2008.  Her teams had a combined record of 39-22-12 in four seasons.

Montanez was selected as an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 2006 and a Third-Team NAIA All-American in 2009.  She was selected All-GSAC in 2006 and 2009 as well.  She was honored as a GSAC & NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2008 and 2009. 

Individually, her name dots the CUI record book.  Montanez started 64 of the 67 matches she entered in her four-year career.  She scored six goals, dished eight assists, and recorded 20 points.  She fired 71 shots, 37 on goal, equaling a .521 shots on goal percentage.  On the career ranks she is seventh in shots on goal at 37 and ninth in games started at 64.  Her six assists in 2007 are fourth on the single-season lists, and her .33 assists per game average that season are third.  She led her defense to pitch 28 shutout victories in four seasons.  Her team’s .78 goals against average in 2009 ranks second all-time.