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University of TX Rio Grand Valley

UTRGV Dept of Intercollegiate Athletics
 1201 West University Drive Edinburg, TX 78539
Division 1 Texas South
Public Very Large National competitor
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Mark Foster

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on March 18 that Mark Foster, who spent the last four seasons (2018-21) as the head coach at Little Rock, is the new women’s soccer head coach.


During his tenure at Little Rock, where he was originally hired by UTRGV Vice President and Athletic Director Chasse Conque, Foster guided the program to three Sun Belt Conference Tournament appearances (2018, 2020, and 2021), the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Tournament Championship (2018), the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament (2018) appearance, and a single-season program record 13 wins (2018).


Foster has made defense one of his primary focuses as his teams posted 32 shutouts while continually ranking in the top half of the Sun Belt in goals against average.


Foster also guided seven players to All-Sun Belt honors and five to All-Sun Belt Tournament honors.


Foster arrived at Little Rock after spending the 2017 season as an assistant coach at South Alabama, where he helped the program to Sun Belt Conference and Sun Belt Tournament Championships.


Foster spent the previous six seasons at his alma mater, Trevecca Nazarene University, where he was the head coach the final four seasons. Foster is the program’s second-winningest head coach after compiling a 40-27-8 record.


Foster guided Trevecca Nazarene to three-straight winning seasons (2014-16), including a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) title in 2016. H was named G-MAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.


As a player, Foster was a four-time All-TranSouth Athletic Conference selection, earning First Team honors in 2005 and 2008 while earning Second Team honors in 2006 and 2007. Foster was named TranSouth Player of the Year in 2008 and Freshman of the Year in 2005.


Foster finished his career as the program leader in goals (41) and points (95) while tying for first in assists (13) and was inducted into the Trevecca Nazarene Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Foster is the only player in program history to have his numer retired.


Foster, a native of Newcastle, Ireland, graduated from Trevecca Nazarene in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.

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Audra Larson

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on April 4 the hiring of Audra Larson, who spent the last four seasons (2018-21) as the assistant coach at Little Rock, as the women’s soccer associate head coach.


Larson was hired by Foster at Little Rock in 2018 where she primarily worked with the goalkeepers while assisting in all aspects of the program.


In her four seasons, Larson helped Little Rock to three Sun Belt Conference Tournament appearances (2018, 2020, and 2021), the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Tournament Championship (2018), the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament (2018) appearance, and a single-season program record 13 wins (2018).


Larsen helped the defense become a staple of the program as she saw the team post 32 shutouts and annually stay the top half of the Sun Belt Concerence in goals against average, save percentage, and shutout percentage.


Prior to arriving at Little Rock, Larson spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Cumberland University where she guided the program to a 27-10-3 record, including a 12-1-1 record in Mid-South Conference play. Throughout her time at Cumberland, Larsen helped the team average a 1.05 goals against average while helping the team to an undefeated conference season in 2017.


Larson had a successful playing career at Messiah College where she became one of the top goalkeepers in the country. Larson set an NCAA record for both men’s and women’s soccer with 68 career shutouts.


Larson led Messaih College to a Division III National Championship as a freshman in 2012 while helping her team to three conference championships, four postseason appearances, and reaching the Final Four in her senior season.


Larson was an NSCAA Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honoree and a Second Team All-Commonwealth selection as a senior while earning Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore and junior.


Larson wrapped up her career with an 88-4-8 record in goal with a remarkable 0.24 goals against average and 158 saves in 100 matches while setting a program record with 8887.23 minutes played in goal. Larson is one of just seven players in program history to play in 100 career matches and the only goalkeeper to do it.


Larson earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Messiah in 2016 and earned her master’s degree in sports management from Cumberland in 2017.

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Melanie Chandler

Melanie Chandler, who spent the 2022 season as the women’s soccer head coach at Schreiner University, was hired as an assistant coach with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley women’s team on April 3, 2023.


Chandler joined the staff at Schreiner following the 2021-22 season and was named the head coach on May 5, 2022. Last season, Chandler guided Schreiner to a 6-8-4 record including a 5-5-4 record in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.


Prior to her time at Schreiner, Chandler spent four seasons (2018-21) at Waldorf University as an assistant coach.


Chandler, a native of Kapolei, Hawaii, played her collegiate career at Waldorf where she appeared in 49 matches over three seasons (2013-15). Throughout her career, Chandler scored eight goals and recorded seven assists.


Chandler earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Colorado Mesa University in 2017 and earned her master’s in organizational leadership with a focus in sports management from Waldorf in 2020.


Chandler is certified through the National Sports Performance Association (NSPA) as a speed & agility coach, holds a USSF D License and a USC Level 3 Goalkeeping Diploma.

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Oziel Carapia

Carapia joined the program in the fall of 2023 as a volunteer assistant.


Carapia spent the last two seasons with the women's soccer team at Mansfield University as an assistant coach.


Prior to his time with Mansfield, Carapia was the Head Junior Varsity Women's Soccer Coach at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia while also spending time with Loudoun Valley United FC and the Washington Spirit's of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).


Carapia started his career as student manager with Texas A&M University from 2014-17 where assisted with game day operations and event management, while maintaining all equipment and supplies for practices and games. He was the program's camp and equipment director in 2016-17, while also assisting the football, baseball and softball programs during their camps and clinics.


Carapia is a native of Donna, Texas and has a license with USSF National A-Youth. In 2020, Carapia served as the Reeves County Community Sports & Recreation Director where he oversaw and managed all sports, budget, equipment and staff members.


He earned his bachelor of science in sports management with a minor in business in 2017 from Texas A&M University after earning an associate of engineering from South Texas College in 2014.

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