Aerospace major and standout goalie Mackenzie “Mac” Samuel has stepped into the spotlight off the soccer pitch, starring in an ad campaign for a local sandwich shop – a unique opportunity made possible through a marketing class and new rule allowing college athletes to capitalize on their name, image and likeness.
The marketing students filmed a recent video for Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop in San Luis Obispo, featuring Samuel in a playful soccer match against a giant pickle mascot. She coaches the pickle to guard the goal with hands up, yet it topples over after a midsection hit from her shot.
“Mr. Pickle’s: great sandwich, terrible athlete,” Samuel quips, snagging a sub from the shop that’s been her go-to since she first came to Cal Poly in 2021.
Her pay? Free sandwiches until June.
“When I don’t want to make a meal, I just go grab a sandwich,” said Samuel with her trademark grin.
Samuel joins a group of Cal Poly athletes working with the Athlete Lab, which operates out of Professor Randy Rovegno’s marketing projects class in the Orfalea College of Business. Marketing students lead the charge on each campaign, overseeing project management and crafting content.
For more than a century, college athletes were strictly seen as amateurs, barred from earning profit through their sports involvement. However, in 2021, the NCAA revised its longstanding policy, lifting the prohibition on athletes profiting from their name, image and likeness, or NIL.
Two years later, Rovegno – familiar with Samuel through attending high school with her parents – invited her to join the newly launched Athlete Lab.
In addition to her new role as a brand ambassador, Samuel is advancing her studies in aerospace engineering while maintaining her impressive streak as a collegiate soccer goalie.
Opting to study aerospace was a natural decision for Samuel, who excelled in science and math from a young age in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. She further showcased her passion for aeronautics by obtaining her private pilot’s license during the COVID pandemic, mirroring her dad, who is both a licensed pilot and Cal Poly alumnus.
After building a glider in her first lab class, AERO 121, Samuel knew she had chosen the ideal major – a realization that solidified not only her academic direction but her bond with the place where she would pursue it.
“I thought I wanted to stay in San Diego for college, but when I stepped foot on Cal Poly’s soccer field, I thought, ‘This is it,’” said Samuel, whose goalkeeping skills, demonstrated during her time with San Diego Surf Soccer and Valhalla High School, attracted the attention of Cal Poly scouts.
“I fell in love with playing goalie as soon as I took on the position at age 12. There’s no better feeling in the world than saving a game,” she said.
In her first year with Cal Poly, Samuel earned a spot on the All-Big West Conference second team, followed by first team honors the following year. In her sophomore season, she was named Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, becoming only the third Mustang ever to receive the award.
In a standout match of her second season, Samuel showcased her skills for Cal Poly against UC San Diego in La Jolla, making a critical save with just 10 minutes left, before an audience of family and friends. The match ended in a thrilling 1-0 victory, with teammates flooding the field at the final whistle.
Another highlight is any win against rival UC Santa Barbara, she said, flashing that grin.
“Coming here, I wanted to win a conference championship, which we accomplished. My next goal? Going to the NCAA Tournament,” she said.
Photo by Owen Main
This year, the team reached the Big West championship by defeating the University of Hawai’i and UC Davis, only to face a 1-0 defeat against UC Irvine in the final at Titan Stadium in Fullerton. A victory in the championship would have secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament; however, the narrow defeat leaves the team with unfinished business and a drive for redemption.
With few starters departing, Samuel is optimistic about her final season in a sport she has loved since she was 3.
Samuel’s gearing up to graduate in spring 2025 as she considers what’s next – maybe a master’s degree or flying commercial planes. She’s also keen on keeping soccer in her life, possibly by coaching a youth team.
As Samuel ponders her future, she’s making the most of her remaining days at Cal Poly, savoring the journey and a sandwich or two along the way.
