Former Idaho State University soccer star Maria Sanchez left the team in April to better prepare herself for a professional career.

But ISU is setting up a road block to her pursuit, says the American Falls native and ex-Bengal forward.

Per NCAA rules, Sanchez cannot accept a scholarship nor speak with any college without ISU's permission. ISU soccer coach Allison Gibson declined Sanchez's request on May 23 to talk to five schools that Sanchez proposed: Florida State, Florida, Arizona State, Washington State and Notre Dame.

Sanchez appealed the decision Tuesday, asking the ISU appeal committee to let her communicate to any school about scholarship opportunities. An email was sent to her by the committee Wednesday stating her appeal was denied.

“I’m really upset. It feels like they’re holding me back from truly achieving my dreams,” Sanchez said. “It truly shows me what kind of place I was in.”

Sanchez announced she was leaving the ISU soccer program on April 27. The two-year Bengal finished second or tied for second in the ISU record books in the following career statistics: goals (22), points (56), shots (155) and shots on goal (79). She also made the Mexican National Team in the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

Transferring to a better college soccer program was a step she said she needed to take to improve her chances of playing professionally. ISU finished the 2015 season 1-17-1.

“I think that once I started knowing more about soccer than my coaches did, I figured I can’t really learn,” Sanchez says about her two seasons at ISU. “And as a player I want to learn every day.”

Sanchez said Idaho State is forbidding her from communicating with the five schools about potential opportunities because it has concluded that the schools talked to her without ISU’s consent. That would have been an NCAA violation and Sanchez denies she had any communication with the schools — none of which play in ISU's Big Sky conference.

Gibson was not available for comment, but she issued a statement following the decision by the appeal committee.

"I am pleased with the committee's decision. We wish Maria the very best in her career and, within the conditions of the committee's decision, will assist as much as we can,” Gibson stated. “More than anything, I am excited about the upcoming season and the fully invested players we have returning to continue a strong legacy of Idaho State University soccer."

Sanchez selected the five schools because they are in prestigious conferences, such as the ACC, Pac-12 and SEC. Four of the five schools participated in the 2015 NCAA tournament including NCAA semifinalist Florida State.

In early May, Gibson approved requests for Sanchez to pursue two Division I teams — Santa Clara and South Florida — which are from the West Coast Conference and American Athletic Conference, respectively.

Santa Clara made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament, while South Florida fell in the first round. If Sanchez does not want to join those teams, she can propose other schools to Gibson — excluding the five ISU has forbidden her to pursue.

Sanchez, a junior-to-be, can also receive an athletic scholarship from any college or university — including those five — after attending the institution for a full school year.

Sanchez said she wants to enroll at another school in January and has plans of possibly participating on the U-20 Mexican National team in the fall.