ZARAGOZA, Spain --- After wrapping up her record-breaking college career at Biola and exploring professional opportunities since she graduated last December, Women's Soccer alumna Madyson Brown has signed a contract with Zaragoza CFF to play professional soccer in Spain. 

Brown will join Zaragoza CFF for its 2020-21 season starting this August after the club won a Segunda Division regional championship in 2018-19 and moved up to the second level of competition in Spanish soccer (Segunda Division Pro) last season. 

"I didn't go into college thinking I would come out of it and play pro! But it was evident to me during my senior year that the Lord was opening doors and drawing my heart into a grand adventure post-grad," said Brown. "I attended professional combines in January simply to "see what happens," which resulted in me getting invited to tryout with an NWSL team. 

"Though that specific door closed, the Lord allowed me to find favor in the eyes of a spectator at that tryout who was an agent. I signed with Felkrem agency in March and by May my wonderful agent had a few teams interested in me, finding that Zaragoza CFF was my perfect fit!"

Zaragoza CFF has become the top female soccer club in the Aragon region of Spain since its founding in 1998 and is located near the midway point between Madrid and Barcelona. The team will work toward promotion into Spain's top league with Brown in its ranks after she completes additional training in Oregon over the next few weeks.

"I am currently training at a high performance gym in Bend, Oregon called BOSS Sports Performance with a trainer who gears workouts toward movement, conditioning and weights specific to soccer," said Brown. "I've been working alongside another professional soccer player who will be leaving to play in Japan soon. And now I'm doing as much research and preparation to be ready to live in a different country for 10 months!"

Brown's long list of accomplishments in a Eagles uniform culminated in two major awards at Biola this past April, the Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award and the 2019-20 Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award. In addition to completing Biola's nursing program and earning several academic honors, Brown helped the Eagles post at least 11 shutouts during all four seasons in which she competed and helped Biola Women's Soccer to two NAIA tournaments and an NCCAA National Championship. 
 
Individually, the Salem, Oregon-native was an all-conference selection all four of her soccer seasons, earned two NAIA All-American recognitions, and an NCAA Division II all-region selection during her time at Biola. After earning GSAC Newcomer of the Year recognition as a freshman, she went to Philadelphia in 2017 to receive her NCCAA National Player of the Year award and won PacWest Defender of the Year honors this past season in a landslide vote from the conference's coaches. 

In the process of earning those achievements, Brown played every minute of 68 matches over Biola career and as a result holds the records for minutes played (6,981) and matches started (77) among all male and female players in the history of Biola soccer. And as she turns to attention toward playing internationally, Brown is hoping to maximize her experience the same way she did at Al Barbour Field:

"Many things excite me about playing in Spain! Most of all, I feel so blessed to be able to live out such an incredible and unique life experience; I want to learn the language, embrace the culture and travel throughout Europe," said Brown. "I simply want to take full advantage of the time I have there, because I know God has something really special in store! It is going to be an amazing opportunity to be light in a place where Jesus is needed, and I believe that's a big part as to why he is taking me to Spain!"

Brown is the first of a number of signings Zaragoza CFF have made in advance of the 2020-21 season. Additional updates on the club and the progress of its season can be found at the Zaragoza CFF website.