Wagner second-year head women's soccer coach
Phil Casella has announced the hiring of former standout goalkeeper and French youth international Tanya de Souza as an assistant coach.
De Souza comes to Grymes Hill after playing goalie at Oklahoma State in 2017. Prior to her one season in the Big 12 with the Cowboys, de Souza played three seasons at Mississippi State of the SEC, where Casella served as an assistant coach.
"It's a pleasure to be reunited with Tanya," Casella commented. "She was a great goalkeeper, who I have had the pleasure to work with for three years. She showed lots of desire, passion and commitment to be the best. I'm confident that she will bring that into her coaching career and I know our goalkeepers will benefit from her playing experience with the French National Team, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma State, as she looks to pass that along."
As a senior at Oklahoma State, de Souza started seven games, compiling 12 saves, along with a goals against average of 0.79. In three seasons at Mississippi State, the Paris, France native competed in 40 matches, including 38 starts, making 179 saves.
Early in her career, de Souza was a member of the French U-16 and U-19 National Teams and was selected for the U-19 squad that won a European Championship. As a member of France's Juvisy, de Souza led her club to a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League final.
Off the field, de Souza earned coaching experience working at soccer camps at Oklahoma State, as well as Mississippi State, and was a member of the Oklahoma State Student-Athlete Advisory Committe (SAAC).
At Wagner, de Souza will work with the Seahawk goalkeepers while also pursuing her Master's degree in Business Administration.
