Bronco Women's Soccer Signs Three To Letters of Intent

Bronco Women's Soccer Signs Three To Letters of Intent
Listen to Coach Smith's Comments

Feb. 8, 2002

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Women's soccer head coach Jerry Smith announced the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent this afternoon. Joining the Bronco Class of 2006 will include Bonnie Bowman of San Carlos and Carrie Schuler of Northridge, as well as Micaela Esquivel of Albuquerque, N.M.

"We're losing three starters to graduation: two center backs and a midfielder, and that's what we've signed today: two center backs and a midfielder," Smith said. "They'll come in and challenge for playing time. We have an outstanding returning team, but these three will be challenged in their first year to earn a starting position, they will contribute their first year here."

Bowman is a 5-9 defender from Notre Dame High School in San Carlos. She is a member of the Cal North State ODP U16 Team and plays club ball for Golden Gate Premier. Like Bowman, Schuler is a defender, but slightly smaller at 5-5. Out of Louisville High School in Northridge, Schuler led her prep team to the 2001 CIF Division IV Championship while earning three-time All-Mission League honors. Her club team, L.A. Force, won the premier bracket of the 2001 Nomads Tournament.

A member of New Mexico's Olympic Development Team for the past four years, Esquivel is a 5-5 midfielder from Albuquerque Academy. She has won eight state championships with her club teams, including five with Albuquerque United. Named New Mexico's Player of the Year last season, she led her prep team to the state championship, leading the squad in goals in assists, including seven scores in the state tournament.

Santa Clara finished the 2001 season with the program's first NCAA College Cup Championship, besting top-ranked North Carolina 1-0 for the title. The athletic department will celebrate the season and honor the squad at the team's annual banquet, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 15. The celebratory evening will begin with a 6 p.m. reception and autograph session, followed by a 7 p.m. dinner and program. Team and Individual awards will be handed out and the 2001 senior class will be honored. Tickets and information is available by calling the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660.

Bonnie Bowman
Defender
5-9, Freshman
San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame HS
Golden Gate Premier

Bowman is a member of the Cal North State ODP U16 Team, taking part in regional play. At Notre Dame High School, she notched the most goals I her league as a freshman and earned all-League team honors as a sophomore.

Smith on Bowman: Bonnie is a tough, aggressive defender, but is also someone who is very comfortable with the ball. She's got very good size, is very good in the air and is a tenacious defender, but also has good range on her passes, which we need in the back.

Micaela Esquivel
Midfielder
5-5, Freshman
Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy
Albuquerque United

A member of New Mexico's Olympic Development Team for the past four years, Esquivel was selected to the adidas Elite Soccer Program in 2000. She has won eight state championships with her club teams, including five with Albuquerque United. Named New Mexico's Player of the Year last season, she led her prep team to the state championship, leading the squad in goals in assists, including seven scores in the state tournament. Additionally, Esquivel is a starting point guard on the Academy's varsity basketball squad and is a three-time All-District 3 AAAA honoree. She is also an accomplished track athlete, earning state titles in the 800-meter and 1600-meter relay. Esquivel is also a three-time all-Academic honoree.

Smith on Esquivel: Micaela is a very different type of player than the other two signees. She is the type of player we've always recruited here at Santa Clara University. Probably the first person I can think of that filled that role was Jennifer Lalor. Micaela is very similar to Jennifer in that she is very skillful, she's a playmaker, her strengths are in the attacking part of her game. She's a sneaky little passer, good dribbler, will help us keep possession of the ball, which is one of the keys to how we play is our team ability to keep possession of the ball. She's following in a long line of creative, skillful, central midfielders that we've always had here at Santa Clara.

Carrie Schuler
Defender
5-5, Freshman
Northridge, Calif./Louisville HS
L.A. Force

Schuler led Louisville HS to the 2001 CIF Division IV Championship and is a three-time All-Mission League player. Also an all-CIF Southern Section first team member, Schuler is noted for her power and pinpoint accuracy when delivering free kicks and corner kicks. Her club team, L.A. Force, won the premier bracket of the 2001 Nomads Tournament and were the Raleigh Shootout champions in 2000. She is also a member of the national Honors Society and plays an active role with the student government, while also volunteering for many community service projects.

Smith on Schuler: Carrie is mentally and physically tough, so she's going to add more toughness to an already pretty tough group. Her strengths, like Bonnie Bowman, are defensive. Those players will vie for central back positions on our team and the number one quality you have to have for that is toughness and defensive skills. As it turns out, Bonnie and Carrie are similar players, physical and determined to defenders. They are two players who take a lot of pride in their defending.

Bronco Class of 2005

Name Pos. Ht. Hometown/Last School Club Team
Bonnie Bowman D 5-9 San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame HS Golden Gate Premier
Micaela Esquivel MF 5-5 Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque United
Carrie Schuler D 5-5 Northridge, Calif./Louisville HS L.A. Force