YUMA, Ariz. - Another Arizona Western women's soccer player is scooped up by a DI soccer power. During the holiday break, sophomore midfielder Asa Yamazaki signed with the UCLA Bruins. 

"UCLA was going through a coaching change and the new head coach reached out to me about a couple players," Arizona Western women's soccer head coach Victor Verdugo said. "They were interested in Asa and at the last minute they decided she is the player they wanted to bring in during the break."

The two-time All-American made the trip to southern California in mid to late December and signed with the Bruins on December 26th. 

"She's a two-time All-American and the kind of player they want to bring in to make their program better," Verdugo said. "We're just happy that Asa was the right fit for them."

Yamazaki to UCLA marks the second major signing for the Arizona Western women's soccer program. The first was Linka Ono who joined the LSU Tigers in late November. At the time, it was the most significant signing in program history. Yamazaki to UCLA raises the bar another notch according to Victor Verdugo.

"UCLA is a world-wide known institution," Verdugo said. "I'd like to say this is the biggest signing in program history, I mean, UCLA just won the national championship in 2022. Now we have a two-time All-American going there. The Bruins are getting a player that played every minute for us, she's consistent. One of the most intelligent players I've ever coached, has passion for the game and now could possibly make the professional ranks as they will help her prepare for that over the next two years. We're very proud of her and very honored as a program that they found her worthy to be a member of UCLA."