| Sam Estrada | |
| Fullname: | Samantha Estrada |
| Birth Place: | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Currentclub: | Dallas Trinity FC |
| Collegeyears1: | 2018–2023 |
| College1: | SMU Mustangs |
| Collegecaps1: | 50 |
| Collegegoals1: | 0 |
| Years1: | 2024 |
| Clubs1: | AHFC Royals |
| Caps1: | – |
| Goals1: | – |
| Years2: | 2024– |
| Clubs2: | Dallas Trinity FC |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Youthclubs1: | New Mexico Rush |
| Youthclubs2: | Texas Rush |
Samantha (Sam) Estrada is an American professional soccer player from El Paso, Texas, who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the Dallas Trinity FC in the USL Super League.
At twelve, Estrada began playing soccer with the New Mexico Rush, which sparked her vision for a future in the sport. She later joined the Texas Rush, a ten-hour drive from her home in El Paso, and lived with a host family during three-week stays. At sixteen, she moved to The Woodlands, fully committing to her soccer dream.
Estrada earned a full scholarship to SMU in 2018 and would go on to play five seasons for the Mustangs in the AAC.[1] [2] She tore her ACL three times—first in her freshman year in 2018, then in 2019, and again in 2022 before her final college season. Despite these setbacks and three knee surgeries, Estrada registered 175 career saves with the SMU Mustangs, the 10th most in program history. She also ranks 6th all time in save percentage as well as 7th in goals against average.[3]
During the 2021 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, Estrada posted a shutout against in-state rival Texas that helped the Mustangs reach their first appearance in the second round since 2006.
In 2021, Estrada signed an NIL deal with Sam's Club that was estimated to be worth $10,000.[4]
After college, Estrada joined Houston team, AHFC Royals of the USL W League. The Royals not only went undefeated in the 2024 USL W League season, but also only conceded only four goals in ten games. Estrada played her last game with the Royals on June 21, 2024.[5]
Sam signed her first professional contract with Dallas Trinity FC on June 11, 2024, joining SMU teammate, Allie Thornton.[6] Sam was the club's fifth signing overall.
Sam was born in El Paso, Texas but played her final years of high school at The Woodlands in Houston, Texas. She graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science from SMU in 2021 and two Masters Degrees: one in Sports Management and the other in Business Administration.[7]
| Team | Season | Regular season | AAC Tournament | NCAA Tournament | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| SMU Mustangs | 2018 | AAC | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020-21 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||
| Total | 42 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |||