SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Preparing for the future, the Santa Clara women's team welcomes Natalie Kennedy from the 2016 signing class to the Bronco roster.

"I chose Santa Clara because it is a place where I can continue to grow athletically, academically and spiritually," said Kennedy. "I love the soccer program's winning tradition and commitment to excellence."

"We're very excited to have Natalie join the team," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "She's a very versatile player that is mostly a midfielder and covers a lot of ground. She is a true student of the game."

Hailing from Newport Beach, Calif., Kennedy comes to Santa Clara after playing four years of soccer at Santa Margarita Catholic High School alongside fellow Santa Clara newcomer Machaela George. During her time as an Eagle, Kennedy scored two Trinity League Championships and a CIF State Championship in 2014. For the past two seasons, Kennedy has captained the Eagles and has seven goals to go along with eight assists so far during her senior campaign.

In club play, Kennedy helped her squad place second at the ECNL finals in 2015 and third in 2014. Currently, her squad is holding down the second place position in the ECNL Southwest Conference standings.

Individually, Kennedy is ranked in the top 150 by TopDrawer Soccer this year.

Away from the pitch, Kennedy stays involved on campus, working in Peer Ministry and the Student Ambassador program. She is also the secretary for the Stand Up to Cancer Club and a volunteer for the Green Dog Foundation. In her free times, Kennedy enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, watching movies and going to the beach.