Feb. 9, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's soccer team welcomed five new Broncos to the fold Friday as 2006 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year Jerry Smith announced the signing of his 2007 class of recruits to National Letters of Intent. The quintet of freshmen will join the program for the 2007 season, as Santa Clara will be aiming to defend their West Coast Conference title and reach the NCAA Tournament for the 19th year in a row.
Coming to the Mission Campus next season will be forwards Jessie Baddley (Ogden, Utah) and Chelsea Bednarz (Chandler, Ariz.), defender-midfielder Maxine Goynes (Modesto, Calif.), defender-forward Anessa Patton (Fresno, Calif.), and midfielder Kendra Perry (Livermore, Calif.).
"This year's class has everything we were looking for, we are bringing in five quality student-athletes who will be able to help us going forward," said head coach Jerry Smith. "With all five of them able to compete for spots on our team right away, it increases the depth of our team tremendously. Next year's team will be one of the deepest Santa Clara teams that we have ever had."
"This class has a lot of scoring potential," Smith went on to add. "Jesse, Chelsea, and Anessa can score goals for us, while they are all very versatile players. To have three players coming in who were the leading goal scorers on their teams is very exciting for us."
"Kendra is the prototypical Santa Clara midfielder," Smith continued. "She is a tactically aware player who will be able to set up the great goal scorers that we have on the team."
"Maxine is immediately one of the best athletes on our team," said Smith. "She is a very versatile player who can play on any line on the field."
Last season, Santa Clara finished the season with a record of 15-5-1, and with a 5-1-1 mark in West Coast conference play, captured its ninth WCC title. Led by nine All-WCC performers, including WCC Player of the Year Marian Dalmy and fellow first-teamers Kiki Bosio, Amanda Poach, Meagan Snell, and Lauren Zealear, the Broncos claimed victories over other elite schools such as UCLA, Portland, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest in 2006 on their way to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Santa Clara Women's Soccer Recruiting Class of 2007
Jessie Baddley
Baddley, a forward from Ogden, Utah, was part of the 2006 U-17 National Team Player Pool after playing for the U-16 team in 2005. Described by Smith as a solid goal scorer, Baddley is an NSCAA Youth All-American and a four-time All-State First Team selection representing Bonneville High School. She played her club ball for Celtic Storm.
Chelsea Bednarz
Bednarz, a forward out of Chandler, Ariz., was also a member of the U-16 and U-17 National teams in 2005 and 2006. An NSCAA Youth All-American, Bednarz played club for Sereno Soccer and starred at Corona del Sol High.
Maxine Goynes
A defender-midfielder combination, Goynes, a native of Modesto, was a member of the California State ODP team from 2003-05, and in 2004-05 was a member of the Region IV team. In a nod to her athleticism, Goynes is a star on the track, as she was a USATF Junior Olympics National Finalist in the 100- and 200-meters, and was the CCC champion in the 100, 200, and the 4x400 relay while competing for Peter Johansen High.
Anessa Patton
Patton, who can play both forward and defender, comes to Santa Clara from Fresno, where she starred at Memorial High. Patton, a member of the ODP Region IV team, has been a part of the National team pools for both the U-15s and U-17s, and is a two-time Fresno Bee Player of the Year. With 106 career goals at Memorial, Patton is the school's career leader through her senior year in 2007.
Kendra Perry
A member of the Pleasanton Rage club team along with Goines, Perry, a Livermore native, has been a part of the player pools for both the U-15 and U-17 National teams. While an all-conference performer at Livermore High, Perry has also helped lead the Rage to three club state titles.