Maite Zabala | Director of Goalkeeping, Thorns Academy
USSF “A” License
Coaching Experience:
- University of Portland
- Boise State's netminders and defense coach
- San Francisco State University
- Assistant Coach at California-Berkeley
Playing Experience:
- Zabala was a first-round pick in the Women's United Soccer Association by the Atlanta Beat. She played professionally for four seasons, spending three in the WUSA before rounding out her career with Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Liga.
- As a student-athlete at Cal from 1997-2000, Zabala emerged as the Bears' all-time leader for career shutouts (26.5) and career saves (277). Zabala finished the 2000 season with the 10th best goals-against average among Division I leaders at 0.64, while boasting 9.5 shutouts. She recorded a 0.90 career GAA in 6,295 minutes of action.
Awards and Honors:
- Zabala garnered four All-Pac-10 honors, including first-team recognition as a sophomore and junior, and received the Bears' team MVP award during her final two campaigns. She led the Bears to three NCAA Tournament berths (1998, '99 and '00), the program's only Pac-10 title in 1998, and a school-record 17 wins in 2000.
- She was inducted into the Cal athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.