SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's soccer head coach Jerry Smith announced the addition of eight players to his roster for the 2011 season today. The Bronco class of 2015 will be coming from a mixture of western states, including four from California and one each from Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Joining Santa Clara next fall will be Alesha Blair, Sofia Huerta, Alyssa Kleiner, Cate Parchinski, Brooke Rice, Katie Speidel, Kelly Jarvis, and Stephanie Sorg.
Four of the eight have competed in at least one U.S. Youth National Team event, one is a reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, another was distinguished as an NSCAA Youth All-American, and all eight have been involved in the Olympic Development Program at some point in their young playing careers.
"Signing a new class is always exciting," said Smith. "This class is especially exciting for us because it rivals the best class we've ever signed here at Santa Clara University. Of course, we'll find out several years from now, but I truly believe this class has a chance to have a major impact in each of the next four years. I'm really looking forward to adding this very talented class of recruits to a great group of returning players here at Santa Clara University."
The class features mostly attacking players that will help reload the Bronco offense, essential for next season as three starting senior forwards played their final season in a Santa Clara uniform in 2010. Several of the newcomers will also be able to excel at multiple positions.
Aside from the eight additions signed today, Smith expects to add a few more players to this class later on this spring, information on those players will be released once it becomes available.
Meet the Bronco Class of 2015:
Alesha Blair F 5-5 Foothill HS/Pleasanton, Calif.
A 2010 NSCAA Youth All-American and Parade Magazine All-American ... a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team pool … the 2009 USYSA National Championships Golden Boot Award winner … a member of the Super Y National Team in 2007 … played club for De Anza Force … club team was 2009 USYSA National Champions, Region IV finalists in 2010, and CSYA-N State Cup champions in 2009 and '10 … high school team was 2009 ESPN Rise No. 1-ranked team in the nation and NCS Championship finalist in 2008 and '09 … a two-time East Bay Athletic League all-league player in high school … also ran track in high school … plans to major communication.
Sofia Huerta F/M 5-7 Boise, Idaho/Centennial HS
The 2009-10 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year … 2010 Subway High School Hero Award … 2009-10 ESPN Rise All-American … a U.S. Youth National Team pool player … a member of the USYSA Region IV ODP Team from 2006-08 … played club for FC Nova/Les Bois soccer club … club team was five-time state champions and quarterfinalists at 2006, and '10 USYSA Region IV Championships, finalists at 2008 Region IV Championships … high school team was Idaho District III 5A Champions in 2009-10 … scored 126 goals in her high school career … also an all-state basketball player and track athlete in high school, winning three state titles in 300-m hurdles and two district titles in basketball … father, Mauricio, played volleyball at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico … sister, Andrea, played soccer at Chico State and Boise State … aspires to have a healthcare related career.
Kelly Jarvis M 5-7 San Jose, Calif./St. Francis HS
A TopDrawerSoccer.com top-100 recruit … played club for Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club … team won CYSA-N State Cup in 2007 and '08 … played on the Cal-North ODP State team from 2006-09… high school team won California Central Coast Section Title in 2008 and '10 and was West Catholic Athletic League champions from 2008-10 … a San Jose Mercury News and WCAL all-league player in 2009 and '10 … mother, Julie, is a Santa Clara graduate ('80) …. brother, Kevin, plays baseball at Ohlone Jr. College ... grandfather is a former college football player … aspires to pursue a career in sales and marketing.
Alyssa Kleiner M/F/D 5-9 Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS
A member of the USYSA Region IV ODP team in 2009-10 … played club for Neusport Soccer Club … club team was eight-time state champion and reached the quarterfinals of the USYSA Region IV tournament … high school team was state semifinalist in 2007-08 and quarterfinalists in 2009-10 … an all-west region and All-Sunrise Sunset distinguished player … also ran track in high school.
Catherine (Cate) Parchinski F/M 6-1 Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty HS
A member of the U-14, U-15, and U-17 U.S. National Team programs … attended the adidas ESP event in 2008 and '09 … a five-year player for the USYSA Region IV team … a member of the Colorado State ODP team … team was 2010 ODP National Champions … played for Pride Soccer Club … team won Colorado State Cup in 2006 and '07 … played two years of high school soccer …. high school team reached Colorado Class 5A state playoffs … in 2010 was all-league, all-district, and her team's offensive player of the year … father, Tim, played basketball at The Citadel and mother, Cari, ran track and cross-country at Concordia College … plans to major in psychology.
Brooke Rice F/M 5-6 Jackson Hole, Wyo./Jackson Hole HS
A member of the USYSA Region IV team in 2009-10 and Utah State ODP team from 2007-10 … played club soccer for the Utah Avalanche … team won Utah State Cup in 2009 and '10 … Also played basketball and ran cross country and track in high school, won four state titles in basketball and one in cross country … an all-state selection in cross country and track, running the 400, 800, 1600, and two-mile … sister of current Bronco women's soccer player Ellie Rice … father, Joe, ran track at Clemson … sister, Nicole, plays soccer at Wyoming … triplet cousins play field hockey at James Madison.
Stephanie Sorg D 5-6 San Jose, Calif./Presentation HS
A member of the 2006 CSYA-N State ODP team … attended the 2007 Super Y National Camp … played club for De Anza Force until 2007 and captained her squad to two CYSA-N State Cup Finals … also played for Mountain View-Los Altos Soccer Club, winning two state championships and reaching the semifinals of the USYSA Region IV Championships …. high school team was California Central Coast Section Champions in 2009, finalists in 2007, and quarterfinalists in 2008 … a two-time West Catholic Athletic League first-team all-league selection … father, Chris, played goalkeeper at San Jose State and uncle, Josef, was a member of the Swiss National Team … plans to major in business with a minor in psychology.
Kathryn (Katie) Speidel M 5-9 Oak Park, Calif./Harvard-Westlake HS
A NSCAA Youth All-Region player in 2010 … a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team … played for the USYSA Region IV ODP team and CYSA-S State ODP team … State ODP team was national champs in 2007 … played club for Real So Cal … team participated in the Red Bull National League, was Region IV finalist in 2008, and won both CYSA-S State Cup and Region IV title in 2010 … high school team was Mission League champions in 2008 and '10, won CIF Southern Section in 2010 … was high school team's MVP.
