For the first time in Point Loma Nazarene University’s history, a Sea Lion has been nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 30 honorees will be announced in the fall, and the winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January. Bethany Arabe, a former forward on the women’s soccer team and 2025 graduate, will be representing the PacWest Conference as a nominee.
In four full seasons with the Sea Lions, Arabe won a national title, made the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team, was named to the D2CCA All-West Region First Team, received All-PacWest First Team honors twice, led the PacWest in assists in her third year and game-winning goals in her fourth year and was named Sea Lion of the Year two years in a row, making her the only PLNU athlete to ever do it. It’s a PLNU award given to an athlete for on-field success, academic performance and community service.
Arabe is now in medical school at Loma Linda University. She talked with The Point, reflecting on a historic career in the green and gold.
The Point: When did you realize that soccer was something you wanted to pursue at the next level, and what is it you love so much about soccer?
Bethany Arabe: I think it was between my sophomore and junior year of high school. Before then, I didn’t want to play in college because I knew that I wanted to be able to do well in school and focus on my academics. Around that time, I realized that God has really blessed me with the ability to play soccer well and at a high level. And I enjoy it, so why wouldn’t I want to keep playing in college?
TP: Is there a person that you found to be most helpful or impactful during your soccer career?
BA: I think when I was, whether I was having a high or a low within the sport, I think that my coach, Coach Kristi [Kiely], always helped me have a good perspective on the game, whether that’s tactically or even mentally and emotionally. She helped me when I was struggling, and she helped me even when I wasn’t struggling. I’m really grateful that she believed in me and poured into me in so many different ways … that’s a big reason why I was able to do what I did in college, and also a big reason why I’m here now, post-grad in medical school.
TP: What ultimately brought you to Point Loma?
BA: I was keeping my options open, and I was actually about to commit to a D1 school [Alabama State] on a full ride. But when it came down to it, I’m really grateful that Point Loma reached out when they did and that God changed that path for me … I wanted to go somewhere I could still be successful in the classroom and would prepare me for what I wanted to do, which was medical school and a great pre-health program. Balance was really important to me, and at the Division II level, and being at a small Christian school like Point Loma, I could have that balance of school and sports.
TP: The nomination — it’s indicative of your play on the field, but also your involvement outside of soccer and who you are as a person. In what ways were you able to involve yourself on campus outside of school and sports that you got the most fulfillment from?
BA: In every opportunity that I got to serve or to volunteer, I wanted to take that opportunity. A really special or memorable aspect of that was being able to incorporate that service with my soccer team. So, as a soccer team, two years ago, we went on a service trip to Africa. Being able to interact with people on the other side of the world and learn from them and grow together as a team, I think that was really, really special … I think that being put in a new situation as a team and being able to interact with people in a different place shaped how we wanted to serve others … I’m really grateful that Point Loma has opportunities to volunteer and to serve, like Ministry with Mexico and Community Ministries.
TP: When you’re looking back on your career five, 10 years down the road, what’s the first thing that’ll come to mind?
BA: The national championship, that whole season was really memorable, and even though I feel like that’s an obvious answer, I’m going to go with it just because I think that not many people realize where we were at as a team halfway through that season. There was barely a chance that we would even win the conference halfway through our season after having two losses when we were in Hawaii. But I think that having that moment and that turning point where, from here on out, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing or where we are … We’re going to lay it all out on the line … it was beautiful to see our team rally around one another and build each other up so that we could accomplish that. That’s something that I will take with me, I think, for the rest of my life. In whatever challenges I face while I’m in medical school or working or whatever it may be, you never know how God’s going to write the ending.
TP: Individually, when looking back on your career at Point Loma, what is it you’re most proud of about your arc and your time playing here?
BA: I’m really grateful for the opportunity that I had to step into the role as a captain. Growing up, I never really saw myself as a leader. That was part of my hesitation in stepping into that role when Kristi first asked me. … When Kristi asked me to be captain, I was like, ‘I didn’t even do anything substantial last season. Why do you want me to be captain?’ She explained to me that it’s so much more than my success on the field; it’s more about how I can lead or how I treat my teammates, how I push others to do well. I think that having that mindset of getting outside of myself and supporting my teammates actually ended up helping me to perform better.
TP: What does this nomination mean to you?
BA: When the PacWest told me that I was their first nominee from Point Loma, I was honestly shocked and incredibly honored. To be able to represent Point Loma really means a lot to me because I love Point Loma so much, and I love our women’s soccer program. I also was kind of shocked too because I feel like there’ve been so many amazing female athletes from Point Loma, and from the women’s soccer team and many of my teammates, many people who came before me who deserve this recognition as well. So I wholeheartedly see this as an opportunity to represent them as well. I wouldn’t have been in the spot if it wasn’t for my teammates.
TP: If somebody asked you what your greatest accomplishment on the field, best game, best performance, moment, what would your response be?
BA: My first collegiate goal, my sophomore year, was really special. … I was just, you know, hungry for that moment to finally score my first collegiate goal and for it to come in an overtime moment and for it to be a golden goal, that was really special. But I think it’s special too, because the last collegiate goal that I scored in the PacWest was also a golden goal in overtime. That was what won us the inaugural PacWest tournament title, and I think that entire game really meant a lot because it showed the perseverance of our team … It was really special because of that bookend moment.
TP: What piece of advice would you give to someone starting their collegiate career?
BA: I would tell someone who’s going into their collegiate career to really lean into the relationships and friendships that you’re going to form through your teammates and your coaches. Growing up, I was never super close with my teammates. Coming to Point Loma and being part of a team that’s like a family, that was very different, and I’m very grateful for it. … Since being in medical school, one thing that I’ve realized is just how different it is not having a soccer team to go to or to lean on. It does go by fast … really take advantage and cherish the friendships that you can form with your teammates and with those within your sports program.
Ava Bailey-Klugh