Cal Poly Pomona's Tara Oper has been voted the 2024-25 CCAA Female Athlete of the Year by the conference's 12 Sports Information Directors.
 
Oper led Cal Poly Pomona to the 2024 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships with one of the best seasons in conference history. The senior midfielder registered nine goals and 12 assists en route to being named the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Year.
 
Oper earned multiple all-conference and all-region honors, but what stood out about her season was how she took her game to the next level in the playoffs, especially the NCAA Tournament. She opened the postseason by scoring three goals in two matches in the CCAA Tournament and was named the tournament's offensive MVP.
 
In the NCAA Tournament, Oper would post a goal or assist in all five matches, including scoring the equalizer in the national championship. She assisted on both goals in the national quarterfinals as the Broncos knocked off No. 1 team in the nation, Colorado School of Mines 2-0. She added a goal and an assist in the semifinal win. Oper then played every minute in the national championship as the Broncos came from behind to claim their first national championship. The Riverside native (Arlington HS) provided the equalizer in the 23rd minute, and Marisa Salazar delivered the game-winner on a penalty kick early in the second half to claim the championship. Oper would be named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
 
Oper finished her career by recording a point (goal or assist) in nine consecutive matches. She closed the season as the conference leader with 30 points. Her 12 assists set a CPP school record and tied for the most in CCAA history since 2011.
                                                                                            
She added numerous individual honors along the way including United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America, DII Honda Athlete of the Year Finalist, CSC Academic All-District, and Cal Poly Pomona Athletics Female Student Athlete of the Year.
 
The Broncos have claimed two of the last three CCAA Female Athlete of the Year honors, with Ayana Fields winning in 2022-23. This is CPP's ninth Female Athlete of the Year overall. Oper is the first women's soccer student-athlete to earn the honor since Stanislaus State's Karenee Demery in 2013-14. Click here to see a list of past CCAA Athletes of the Year.