There is no doubt that the CSUB Women’s soccer program had a historic 2024-25 fall campaign. The program’s first appearance in the Big West Championships Tournament was ultimately capped off with an impressive performance in the title game against University of California, Santa Barbara.  

Amidst the final ending in a tie and later falling short on penalties, our Runners sent a message to the conference and nation that they are one of the top teams in the Western region, and an absolute force to be reckoned with.  

All season long they showed grit and held up their mantra of being the face of “The New Bakersfield,” which was coined by former head coach Bernardo Silva. The girls took this title and ran, easily becoming fan favorites on campus and a reminder to the other programs of the excellence and high standard that our student athletes are held to. 

Two of the student athletes leading the force are Karen Flores and Anela Nigito, both Southern American players with great presence on and off the field. These two alumni have found themselves in new threads after signing professional contracts with two prestigious clubs in women’s soccer.  

Flores, after representing CSUB for five years, has recently signed with Equipo Feminil de Atlas FC, a historic club in Mexico’s premier division for both the men’s and women’s leagues.  

Nigito, after representing CSUB for the past three years, has recently signed on to play for Valencia CF, a historic club playing in Spain’s premier division for both men’s and women’s leagues. 

Ecuador’s Finest 

Karen Flores started her five year stint at CSUB in 2020 and has been a fierce competitor for the program ever since. She totaled 10 goals, four assists, started 54 games and played 3,844 minutes during her time here in Bakersfield. She misses her friends the most and the bond her and her roommates shared with each other.  

She shared that there were so many special moments she won’t forget, but they all helped her prepare for her journey moving forward. She wants to “fully take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy the process since this is what I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”  

Born and raised in Pinchincha, Ecuador, she has a vast background in soccer, having played for her respective U-17 and U-20 international teams and receiving her very first call up at the age of 14.  

“Representing my national team has been a huge part of my soccer career especially because of the amount of experience against good players,” said Flores. “It’s given me experience that I’ve tried to show on the field while being a Roadrunner and that’s also helping in my professional career as well.”  

She was a graduate of Unidad Educativa Salesiana Cardenal Spellman in 2019 and helped her respective teams win an intercollegiate championship and a district championship in her senior season. Flores’ overall major experience paired with her natural hunger for goals are traits that will definitely help her stand out in the professional game. 

Argentina’s Next Star 

Anela Nigito arrived in Bakersfield in 2022, and showcased her experience on and off the field right away. She totaled four goals, four assists, started 45 games and totaled 3,659 minutes during her time with the program.  

“The friendships I built with my teammates, coaches and the staff made my experience so special,” she said while talking about what she misses the most about CSUB.  

She adds that the family feel and the energy surrounding her former team and campus as a whole was a one-of-a-kind feeling. Born and raised in Mendoza, Argentina, Nigito also boasts international team experience as she has represented Argentina’s U-20 and U-17 teams, having won the Foursquare International tournament with the latter. More recently, she trained with Argentina’s national women’s soccer team in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  

“Beyond the technical and tactical side, playing internationally has taught me a lot about resilience, discipline, and what it means to represent something bigger than yourself,” she said.  

Nigito looks forward to adding more accolades to an already illustrious career, and the true difficulty of professional soccer is something she embraces fully. Now that she has reached her biggest goal, her mindset is about adapting and staying at the highest level.   

“I know it’s going to be a big step, but that’s what makes it so exciting,” Nigito said. “I also look forward to growing as a person, adapting to a new environment, meeting new teammates and embracing the lifestyle of a professional athlete.”  

With teammates, coaches, family, friends and the whole city of Bakersfield backing these two special athletes, there is no doubt Flores and Nigito are two names you’ll be hearing more often in the future. A professional contract isn’t the end of their stories but rather just the beginning to two new chapters in their books of life.