By: Leon Mitchell, GSU Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING, LA. | Grambling State University Women's Soccer Head Coach Justin Wagar has announced the addition of two Division I mid-year transfers, Liana Bryant and Taya Sands, who are set to join the Tigers this semester.
Liana Bryant, an incoming sophomore striker from Mississippi Valley State University, brings an impressive resume to Grambling State. A 2024 First Team All-SWAC selection, Bryant showcased her scoring prowess by netting nine of her team's 13 goals, finishing second in the conference in scoring. In her collegiate career so far, she has amassed ten goals and two assists in 25 games as an underclassman.
Before college, Bryant established herself as a dominant force in Colorado high school soccer. She earned First Team All-Conference honors four times and led her conference in scoring on two occasions. In addition, she was named Conference MVP and topped the state scoring charts for 4A in 2023.
"Liana is a very strong, skilled technical player with a rocket for a shot and a nose for finding the back of the net," said Head Coach Justin Wagar. "She will be a dynamic addition to our attacking lineup."
Taya Sands joins the Tigers from the University of the Pacific, where she competed in the highly competitive West Coast Conference. Over the past two seasons, Sands played over 1,000 minutes on the Powercat's backline, starting eight of the 24 games she appeared in. She played a crucial role in helping her team achieve its second-highest win total in more than a decade during the 2023 season.
A three-time All-Conference defender from California in high school, Sands also earned Defensive MVP honors and developed her skills with Strikers ECNL, one of the nation's top club programs.
"Taya is a leader on the backline," Coach Wagar said. "She has great angles of pursuit, she dominates the air, tackles like a truck, and is a stellar 1-vs-1 defender. She will bring an immediate impact to our defensive unit."
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