Barbara Almaraz Class: Senior Hometown: Ventura High School: Buena HS Last College: Ventura JC Height: 5-6 Position: Midfielder Birthdate: 05/04/1979

THIS SEASON: Almaraz, a senior in her second season at USC, adds some technical skills and international experience to the midfield position and should help with the freshmen.

JIM MILLINDER SAYS: "Barbara played with the Mexican National Team over the summer, which allowed her to gain valuable experience. I think she needs to establish herself early on for the opportunity to play. It's very competitive for Barbara to get time in the center midfield because there is an influx of good attacking midfield players. She has great technical ability, has tremendous vision and has very good rhythm as a player. I think Barbara is the kind of player that you can put into the match at any given point."

MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM: Almaraz has been part of the Mexican team since August of 1998...member of the 1999 Women's World Cup team, which went 0-3, though she did not appear in a match...also played in the 1999 Pan Am Games, as Mexico won the silver medal.

1999: In her first year after transferring from Ventura College, Almaraz helped USC as a 1999 junior off the bench as a midfielder...played in 10 games and took three shots...missed several games after suffering a sprained ankle.

VENTURA JC: Almaraz was inducted into the Ventura Sports Hall of Fame following her two seasons (1997-98) at Ventura (Calif.) College, in which she totalled 26 goals and 29 assists...made the All-State team as a sophomore and was an All-Western State Conference selection both years.

HIGH SCHOOL: An All-CIF Southern Section Division II first team selection as a 1997 senior at Buena High in Ventura, Calif., Almaraz scored 19 goals that season...made the All-CIF second team as a junior and was a two-time All-Channel League first teamer...Buena won the Channel League title all of her four years...also ran for the track and cross country teams...played for the Los Virgenes Blazers and Ventura Arsenal club teams...also played on Olympic Development Program district and state teams.

PERSONAL: She plans on becoming a sports nutritionist...an uncle and brother attended USC, and a sister played soccer at Sacramento State...favorite athlete is Michael Jordan...enjoys music and surfing...her birthdate is May 4, 1979.