U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Women's Soccer

WATCH: Introductory Press Conference With Coach Mendes   U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Director of Physical Education & Athletics Kristofer Schnatz announced the hiring of Long Island-native Carlos Mendes as the head coach of the Mariners' women's soccer program. Mendes officially came on board at Kings Point on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, and the following morning the USMMA Athletic Department celebrated his hiring with an introductory press conference live on our Facebook page which can be viewed by clicking here.   "Coach Mendes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him to the Academy," commented Schnatz. "We are excited to bring him aboard the athletic program as we continue to build our women's soccer program. We believe that he will be an outstanding addition to our USMMA Physical Education & Athletics community."   In 2022, Mendes led the Mariners to a winning record (9-6-1) in the program's very first season, and had three players land on the All-Skyline Second Team. Additionally, Cassidy Jester '23 earned regional praise as she was selected to the All-ECAC Second Team. The team also enjoyed success in the classroom, as a  total of six Mariners landed on the Skyline Academic Honor Roll For Fall 2022. Mendes came to KP after a very successful professional playing career, as well as a coaching career that spans from the youth ranks, to collegiate and even professional. He holds a "B" Coaching License from the United States Soccer Federation.   Most recently, Mendes was an assistant coach with the Queens College men's team for the 2021 season which just concluded. He helped lead the Knights to an eight-win campaign, which was a two-game improvement over their last full season.   He spent the three previous seasons as the head coach of the New York Cosmos of the National Premier Soccer League from 2018 to 2020. He was voted as the NPSL Coach of The Year after his first season in 2018. Throughout his time coaching the Cosmos, he helped lead the squad to a 35-6-9 record, including two long win-streaks of 10 games and 13 games over their first 25 matches throughout 2018 and 2019.   Prior to coaching with the Cosmos, Mendes spent one year as an assistant coach with the former Division II Long Island program LIU Post in 2018. He helped guide the Pioneer men to a 14-5-1 record, an East Coast Conference Championship and a run to the third round of the NCAA Division II National Championships.   After a Hall of Fame collegiate career as a defender at Old Dominion, Mendes had a long professional playing career, which started with the Long Island Rough Riders in 2002 and continued on to the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division in 2003 and 2004.   He then spent eight years playing in the United States' top tier, Major League Soccer, suiting up with the New York Red Bulls for seven of those years from 2005-2011, before finishing his MLS career with the Columbus Crew in 2012. He is in the top-10 all-time in player appearances for the Red Bulls and helped lead the organization to an appearance in the 2008 MLS Cup Final.   Mendes finished his professional playing career with the New York Cosmos for five seasons from 2013-2017. He was the first player signed by the historical organization during their "reboot" and he helped lead them to three NASL Championships, before the team hired him as the head coach. He also has served as the director of coaching the Mineola Soccer Club boys and girls youth club teams, and started the CM4 Soccer Academy on Long Island in 2016, which operates camps and clinics for the youth throughout the New York Metropolitan Area.   "I am very honored and excited to join the staff at the United States Merchant Marine Academy," said Mendes. "I want to thank our Athletic Director Kristofer Schnatz and the entire administration for giving me this tremendous opportunity. My values and beliefs on and off the field are very much in line with those of the Academy. I look forward to mentoring our midshipman both in the classroom and on the soccer field. GO MARINERS!"   Mendes graduated from Old Dominion in 2002 with a degree in Physical Education. He is a native of Mineola, N.Y., and currently resides in East Meadow, N.Y., with his wife, Jillian, and sons, James and Johnny.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's soccer head coach Carlos Mendes announced that Salma Tarik has joined the program as an assistant coach in February 2023. Tarik brings a wealth of experience to Kings Point from an impressive history with the sport, including standout appearances playing at Division I Hofstra University, on the club level both in the U.S. and in her native Egypt, and on the international stage for the Egyptian Women's National Soccer Team, to go along with numerous coaching stints at the local youth club, high school and collegiate levels, including as a Division III head coach in the Skyline Conference.   "I am extremely excited to get to work here at USMMA, both on the field and in the classroom," said Tarik. "The program had a great first season under Coach Mendes and I'm looking forward to help build this program into a powerhouse in the Skyline Conference. I want to thank Coach Mendes, Athletic Director Kristofer Schnatz and the entire hiring committee for putting their trust in me. I can't wait for our first spring practice with the team in a few weeks."   Tarik earned her  USFF "B" License in 2025. While working full-time positions with the South Bronx Early College Academy, and the Special Olympics New York over the past few years, Tarik spent time serving as the head coach at the Long Island Soccer Club (2022-23) and Plainview Old Bethpage Soccer Club (2019-21), and was an assistant coach at the UWS New York Surf Soccer Club in Long Island in 2017. She was also a long-time head coach with the nearby East Meadow Soccer Club, and the Olympic Development Program.   After earning her USFF "C" License in 2014, Tarik gained collegiate head coaching experience at fellow Skyline Conference institution St. Joseph's-Long Island during the 2016 season, where she guided the Golden Eagles to an appearance in the Skyline Conference Tournament. While at St. Joseph's, Tarik was recognized as one of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 30 Under 30 coaches.   Tarik, who had been a member of the Egyptian Women's National Soccer Team since 2008, represented her home country in the African Cup of Nations, at World Cup Qualifiers, and at Olympic Qualifiers for over 10 years. At the 2016 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Tarik scored the Pharaohs' only goal of the tournament late in their historic win over Zimbabwe, the country's first ever victory in the competition.   As a Division I student-athlete at nearby Hofstra University, Tarik spent three seasons as a striker for the Pride. Over her illustrious career, she earned First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, a selection to All-CAA Tournament Team and the All-Mid-Atlantic Region team and was a finalist for the National Player of the Year Award from Soccer News Net. She currently ranks fourth all-time in scoring in Hofstra women's soccer program history.   "I'm extremely excited to welcome Coach Tarik as the first ever assistant coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's soccer team," said Mendes. "She will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our program. Salma had a tremendous playing career both collegiately and internationally. Her collegiate coaching experience as both an assistant and head coach will help us grow the foundation of our young program for years to come."   A 2011 graduate of Hofstra with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Tarik went on to Mercy College for her Master's Degree. While completing her coursework for a Master's in Human Resource Management, she served as an assistant coach with the Mavericks' Division II men's soccer team. She graduated from Mercy in 2016. Tarik recently became certified in New York State as a Physical Education instructor. She currently resides in Mineola, N.Y.