SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Getting set to welcome the next wave of Broncos to the Mission campus, Santa Clara women's soccer welcomes Hailai Arghandiwal in the signing class of 2014. Arghandiwal is from Dublin, Calif. and attended Dublin High School.
"Santa Clara has always been my dream school because of its prestigious soccer program and academic excellence," said Arghandiwal. "SCU has the intimate and friendly environment that I am very much looking forward to becoming a part of. My family means the world to me and being able to go to school nearby made my decision quite easy. The ideals and philosophy of the Santa Clara soccer program connected deeply with me and I know that this program will allow me to become a high caliber athlete and adult. I know that Santa Clara will provide me with the best education, while unlocking my potential and allowing me to achieve my goals of professional soccer."
"We're excited to welcome Hailai to our program," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "She will join a long list of wonderful center midfielders that have come to Santa Clara. She is very technical and tactical and is a possession midfielder. At Santa Clara holding possession is one of the key components to our success and Hailai will help us do that going forward. She has great leadership and organizational qualities with a team-first attitude."
At Dublin High School Arghandiwal helped lead her team to the 2012 DFAL championship and the team was a 2012 NCS finalist. From 2011-12 the team had a combined 17-6-3 record. Arghandiwal was named Second Team All-League as a freshman and sophomore and scored one goal with three assists in a playoff match.
She was part of the ECNL Nationals in 2013 that was ranked No. 9 in nationally and No. 11 on defense. Arghandiwal has also been captain of the Pleasanton Rage for three years and is an ECNL PDP player.
Arghandiwal has been a CSF member for four years, a member of Dublin High Leadership for three years, and was a Key Club member for one year.
In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with family.