Jaime Ambriz
Encyclopedia
Jaime Ambriz is an American soccer forward
who played professionally in the United Soccer Leagues
and Europe.
in Oxnard, California
. He was a three-time All-Channel League and two-time All-California Interscholastic Federation
player, as well as being the Channel League MVP in his senior season on route to the Spartans winning the Channel League title. He currently holds the school record with thirty-one goals in his senior season and is second in career goals with fifty-nine.
Ambriz moved on to Santa Barbara City College
, then coached by Tim Vom Steeg
. During his freshman season he accumulated twenty-four goals and eleven assists for fifty-nine points on the 1997 State Final Four team. However, he had to redshirt
his entire sophomore year due to a season-ending injury before play started. Ambriz then transferred to neighbors University of California, Santa Barbara
(UCSB) and joined up with the UCSB Men's Soccer team. He played with UCSB for three seasons, completing his sophomore through senior years with UCSB. As a junior, Ambriz appeared in fourteen games, tallying six goals and one assist for thirteen points. He was second on the team in scoring, trailing only Thiago Martins
despite playing four less games. As a senior, Ambriz appeared in the same number of games (fourteen), but could only manage three goals and six assists for twelve points. Most of the goal scoring went to emerging star Rob Friend
. Ambriz finished third in scoring, trailing Friend and Drew McAthy
(four goals, five assists, thirteen points), but finishing above other professionals in Nate Boyden
(four goals, eight points), Tony Lochhead
(one goal, six assists, eight points), and Neil Jones (three goals, one assist, seven points).
degree, Ambriz sought a professional career. He moved to Switzerland
and played with SV Lyss, FC Winterthur
, and FC Concordia Basel
from 2002 to 2005. With Lyss, he scored twenty-four goals in his first season, a total that led the league. In 2006, Jaime traveled back to the United States and signed with the Portland Timbers. The signing was announced on June 29, 2006. It was announced Ambriz was re-signed for the following season on April 20, 2007, on a one year contract. However, he was not resigned for a third season.
Ambriz then played the 2008 season with the Ventura County Fusion
of the Premier Development League.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
and Europe.
Youth
Ambriz played high school soccer at Rio Mesa High SchoolRio Mesa High School
Rio Mesa High School is located in Oxnard, California and is within the Oxnard Union High School District. It serves the Oxnard communities of Northern Oxnard, River Park, Nyeland Acres, and El Rio, as well as the western portion of the city of Camarillo...
in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
. He was a three-time All-Channel League and two-time All-California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
player, as well as being the Channel League MVP in his senior season on route to the Spartans winning the Channel League title. He currently holds the school record with thirty-one goals in his senior season and is second in career goals with fifty-nine.
Ambriz moved on to Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College is a two-year community college founded in 1909. It is located on a campus right over the beach in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA. SBCC offers associate degrees in English, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, and occupational and...
, then coached by Tim Vom Steeg
Tim Vom Steeg
Timothy Harold "Tim" Vom Steeg is an American collegiate soccer head coach who is currently with the University of California, Santa Barbara men's soccer team. He has been with the Gauchos since 1999 and is the most successful coach in the history of UC Santa Barbara...
. During his freshman season he accumulated twenty-four goals and eleven assists for fifty-nine points on the 1997 State Final Four team. However, he had to redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his entire sophomore year due to a season-ending injury before play started. Ambriz then transferred to neighbors University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
(UCSB) and joined up with the UCSB Men's Soccer team. He played with UCSB for three seasons, completing his sophomore through senior years with UCSB. As a junior, Ambriz appeared in fourteen games, tallying six goals and one assist for thirteen points. He was second on the team in scoring, trailing only Thiago Martins
Thiago Martins
Thiago Martins is a retired Brazilian football striker.-Early Life and Amateur Career:Martins was born on the east side of São Paulo, Brazil, and came to the United States in 1996. He landed in Los Angeles, California, at 19 years old and with little money...
despite playing four less games. As a senior, Ambriz appeared in the same number of games (fourteen), but could only manage three goals and six assists for twelve points. Most of the goal scoring went to emerging star Rob Friend
Rob Friend
Rob Friend is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2nd Bundesliga.-Early years:...
. Ambriz finished third in scoring, trailing Friend and Drew McAthy
Drew McAthy
Drew Alan McAthy is an American soccer striker, who last played for Portland Timbers of the USL First Division....
(four goals, five assists, thirteen points), but finishing above other professionals in Nate Boyden
Nate Boyden
Nathaniel "Nate" Boyden is an American soccer midfielder who last played for Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division...
(four goals, eight points), Tony Lochhead
Tony Lochhead
Tony James Lochhead is a New Zealander football defender who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix of the A-League.-Club career:Lochhead went to America to play college soccer for UC Santa Barbara in 2001...
(one goal, six assists, eight points), and Neil Jones (three goals, one assist, seven points).
Professional
After graduating from UCSB with a psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
degree, Ambriz sought a professional career. He moved to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and played with SV Lyss, FC Winterthur
FC Winterthur
FC Winterthur is a Swiss football club based in Winterthur, Canton of Zürich. They play in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football...
, and FC Concordia Basel
FC Concordia Basel
FC Concordia Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. The club was founded in 1907. They play in the 2nd regional league which is the fifth level, and their home stadium is Rankhof Stadium....
from 2002 to 2005. With Lyss, he scored twenty-four goals in his first season, a total that led the league. In 2006, Jaime traveled back to the United States and signed with the Portland Timbers. The signing was announced on June 29, 2006. It was announced Ambriz was re-signed for the following season on April 20, 2007, on a one year contract. However, he was not resigned for a third season.
Ambriz then played the 2008 season with the Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion is an American soccer team based in Ventura, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games in...
of the Premier Development League.