Pima Community College male football player Fernando Galate (Salpointe Catholic High School) continues his education and college life at a prestigious four-year college.
Sophomore defender Galate has committed to play at Cornell University, an Ivy League institution in Ithaca, New York.
Cornell ranked 14th in 2022, losing 1-0 to Syracuse in the NCAA National Tournament, and Syracuse won the NCAA Division I National Championship.
Galate made 15 starts in the backfield this season, helping the Aztecs advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Pima have won six shutouts and surrendered 16 goals, the second lowest in the ACCAC conference. Azteca scored 0.97 for goals average (he is second lowest in the conference).
Garate was also part of the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Championship Team. He scored 2 goals and had 2 assists when he played in 20 games. Make 18 starts in the backfield. The Aztecs had nine shutout wins and gave up 17 goals.
“In my 26 years at Pima College, the men’s soccer program has never sent a student-athlete to an Ivy League school. I am very happy and proud,” said Pima men’s soccer coach David Cosgrove. “It is almost unheard of for an Ivy League school to accept transfer to a junior college. But as a student-athlete, Fernando ticks all the boxes. A national champion, Fernando is one of the best student-athletes in his 26 years at Pima, and he is the perfect person to represent Pima football and Pima Community College at such a prestigious university. Thanks to his hard work at , he now has the opportunity to graduate from an Ivy League school.Full credit goes to Fernando and his parents for this great achievement.”
Galate chose to attend Pima over the University of Arizona and other four-year colleges after high school.
“This is the power of Pima and provides local student-athletes with incredible opportunities that would not have been possible without Pima and Pima Athletics. One of the best days,” added Cosgrove.
The Aztecs were 28-5-5 in two years, with Galate on the roster.
