IRVINE, Calif. --- Anteater soccer stars have continued to shine fitting in on the professional scene over the summer and into the upcoming season.

Three Anteaters joined the professional ranks following the 2018 season led by the draft selection of Kiana Palacios by Sky Blue FC in the fourth round of the NWSL draft in January. Palacios has jumped around spending time with the newly-formed LA Galaxy OC, training with the Mexican National Team, and landing a spot with Spanish club Real Sociedad. The Primera Division Femenina begins September 8 with a 30-game schedule lasting into May. Real finished seventh in the table last season with the league's fourth-leading scorer.

The other two Anteater additions to the professional ranks have also linked up with international squads. Noel Baham has joined Lithuanian side FK Gintra Universitas who was last season's winner of A Lyga in Lithuania, and is currently undefeated through eight league matches in 2018. The league season resumes on August 22, and FK Gintra also competes in the Baltic Women's League which it won in 2017, and will start up its next season in September.

The league title, which FK Gintra has taken 13 years running, has given them a spot in the UEFA Champions League, the annual competition that pits champions from across Europe in a tournament. Baham and FK Gintra have been grouped with Finnish side FC Honka Espoo, Bulgarian side FC NSA, and Faroe Island side EBS/Skala with the group winner advancing to the 32-team knockout round. FK Gintra have made the round of 16 two of the last three seasons. Matches are scheduled for Baham and the squad for August 7, 10, and 13 in group play.

The final international Anteater is goalkeeper Maria Magaña who has linked up with Icelandic side Einherji FC in the small city of Vopnafjörður. The club takes part in the country's Women's Cup along with League Cup C where the squad has put together a 1-3-2 record since Magaña's arrival.

   

Some 'Eaters have landed on United Women's Soccer league side LA Galaxy OC which formed over the summer and is coached by Anteater head coach Scott Juniper. Palacios spent five matches with the club before her departure to Real Sociedad scoring three times and assisting twice. Baham also spent four matches with the squad scoring once before the call to FK Gintra. Also on the club are defenders Grayson Galbraith and Andrea Mensen seeing minimal time. The club finished with a 7-2-1 record, second place in the West Region.

With the newest corps of Anteaters also comes the retirement of others. Cami Privett completed her career with the Houston Dash primarily as a defender for the NWSL side with 46 matches starting 31 times. She scored three goals in her career all coming for Kolbotn in Norway. CoCo Goodson has also officially hung it up professionally after 67 matches in her career at Sky Blue FC, 60 as a starter and defender. and at FC Twente in the Netherlands. She scored two goals including the first in the history of the current NWSL.