SANTA CLARA, Calif. -Santa Clara women’s soccer head coach Jerry Smith announced today the names of nine National Letter of Intent signees that will join the roster in 2010.   The nine newcomers, made up of one goalkeeper, four midfielders, two defenders, and two forwards, will look to help fill the void by left by a large departing senior class.

Geographically, the Broncos entire signing class this year is from the West Coast region.  Three are Californians; two are Arizonans, two are Oregonians, and one player each from Wyoming and British Columbia, Canada.  Four players have youth national team experience while two others have been involved with the Olympic Development Program at the regional level.

I'm excited about this incoming class," said Smith. "This class has tremendous potential as well as the ability to impact our program as soon as next year. I expect several of the players in this class to compete for starting positions on our team this fall. Although we've lost a terrific senior class, including four seniors drafted to the Women's Professional Soccer League, I believe this class will enable us to build on our top-10 finish from this past season."

Santa Clara will have 17 letterwinners returning to the roster in 2010, having lost 10 to graduation.  Below is a list of the 2010 Bronco freshmen.

Nikki Ambrose, 5-5, Defense/Midfield
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada/Elgin Park Secondary
Invovled with the Canadian Youth National Team program … captained the B.C. Provincial team for three years … represented British Columbia in the Canada Games and won a gold medal … selected to the Canadian Super Y team that participated in the USYSA ODP interregional tournament in 2006 … one of eight players selected to the 2009 Vancouver Whitecaps full residency program, helping the team take first place in 2009 Pacific Coast Women’s Soccer League as a member of U18 Vancouver Whitecaps… helped Semiahmoo Nitro collect a 76-8-8 record in the Vancouver Metro Premier league from U14-U16 years … played freshman year for Elgin Park Secondary and helped advance team to Fraser Valley Championships and B.C. Provincial playoffs with a 14-0-1 record … holds school-best individual cross country time … won the Kelowna Junior Triathlon in 2006 … daughter of Rick and Yvonne Ambrose … full name is Nicole … born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Alyson Birgel, 5-11, Midfield/Defense
Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks
A 2009 NSCAA Youth All-American … a member of the ’92 USYSA Region IV team … participated in a U.S. U-17 National Team Training Camp … plays club for Real So Cal … team was finalists at the following: 2007 Nike ManU Premier Cup, 2008 USYSA Far West Regionals and the 2008 Red Bull/ PDA Girls College Showcase … was a semi-finalist at 2008 National Cup … team was also the 2008 Far West Regional League Spring Champions … a six-time Surf Cup Champion … at Thousand Oaks High School, team was 2007 and 2008 Marmonte League Champions, 2008 CIF Southern Section Division II Champions, and 2008 State Regional Championship Finalist …  the 2008 CIF Offensive Player of the Year … two-time first-team all-league from 2007-08 first team … a two-time Thousand Oaks High School MVP in 2007-08… 2008 Ventura Country Star Player of the Year … 2008 CIF Offensive Player of the Year … 2009 CIF MVP Marmonte League … daughter of Robert and Susanna Birgel … born in Palmdale, Calif.

Molly Mettler, 5-8, Goalkeeper
Portland, Ore./Sunset
Plays for Lake Oswego Soccer club … club team was 2004 and ‘05 Oregon State Champions ... at Sunset High School, she competed in soccer, basketball, track and lacrosse … helped lead soccer team to the second round of state playoffs in 2007 and ‘09  and a semi-final appearance in 2008 … named first-team all-state in 2008 and ‘09 … named a third-team All-American in 2009 by ESPN/Rise Magazine … holds school track records in 100m hurdles (17.78s), 300m hurdles (51.87s), long jump (16’ 1 1/2”), and triple jump (34’ 4 1/2”) … daughter of Rich and Terry Mettler … father played football at University of Oregon … born in Portland, Ore.

Cali Reis, 5-10, Defense
Lake Oswego, Ore./Lake Oswego
Invited to the ODP Region IV Invitational Camp from 2004-2008 … captained her Lake Oswego Soccer Club team for six years … club was 2007 Oregon State Cup Finalist …  at Lake Oswego High School, team captain of 2009 soccer state quarterfinalist team ... the 2009 league player of the year and first-team all-state … a second-team All-American in 2009 by ESPN/Rise Magazine … also captained 2010 basketball team … 2007 basketball team finished third in state … team won district track championship in 2008… won the district 4x100m relay and was 10th at the state meet for 300m hurdles in 2008 … took fourth place in state for 4x400m relay … daughter of Robert and Tracy Reis … full name is Calisa … born in Kirkland, Wash.  

Jessica Castillo, 5-6, Midfield, Forward
San Ramon, Calif./California High School
Plays club for the Danville Mustangs … team was four-time Cal-North State Cup champions and Far West Region IV semifinalists in 2007 and quarterfinalists in 2004 and ‘05 … four-time Golden State Soccer League Gold Champions … at California High, soccer team was 2007 and ‘08 North Coast Section 3A Quarterfinalists … named All-East Bay Athletic League in 2008 … led the team in scoring in 2008, ‘09 and ‘10 to date … captained squad in 2010 … daughter of Joe and Joanne Castillo … born in San Ramon, Calif.

Julie Johnston, 5-7, Midfield
Mesa, Ariz./Dobson
Was named in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s top-100 players to watch …  a member of the U.S. U18 Women’s National team that played in a tournament in La Manga, Spain … participated in the Arizona State ODP program for two years and named to the Region IV team … played for the Gilbert Soccer Club Arsenal ‘91 that were Arizona State Cup champions in 2003 … played for Sereno ’92 Girls from 2003-present with future Santa Clara teammate Sarah Jackson and won the Arizona State Cup seven times … volunteered as a student athletic trainer for football at Dobson High School for two years … daughter of David and Kristi Johnston … born in Phoenix, Ariz.

Ellie Rice, 5-6, Midfield/Forward
Jackson, Wy./Jackson Hole
A member of the ODP Region IV Holdover Pool in 2007 and ODP Region IV Pool 2008 … attended ESP adidas Camp in 2008 … a member of the Wyoming ODP State Team 2004-06, and Utah ODP State Team 2007-08 … plays club for the Utah Avalanche which won the Utah State Cup from 2008-09 … team was Surf Cup Champions in 2009 … played for the state-champion Jackson Hole Soccer Club from 2005-07 … at Jackson Hole High School, played high school soccer during freshman year and then moved to club soccer … scored 22 goals in freshman year of soccer … also played basketball, track and cross country … basketball team was state champions in 2007-09 … cross country team was state champions in 2008 … a three-time all-state selection in cross country from 2006-08 … the Wyoming Cross Country 3A State Champion as freshman in 2006 and took second place in her sophomore and junior years … named all-state in track in 2008 … named all-conference in basketball in 2007 and ‘08 … named all-state in basketball in 2009 … daughter of Joseph and Denise Rice … father Joseph ran track at Clemson University … sister Nicole plays soccer at University of Wyoming … triplet cousins played field hockey at James Madison University … born in Jackson Hole, Wy.

Sarah Jackson, 5-7, Forward/Midfield
Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon
Participated in a U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Camp in 2008 … a member of the USYSA Region IV team in 2006 … invited to the ESP/adidas camp in 2008 … played for ’92 Sereno with future Santa Clara teammate Julie Johnston … team was Arizona State Cup Champions eight years in a row … at Horizon High School she did not play high school soccer … daughter of David and Delayne Jackson … born in Dallas, Texas.

Kelly Jenks, 5-9, Forward
Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto
Attended the 2008 Super-Y National ODP Camp … … named to the Super-Y North American Finals All-Tournament Team in 2008 … plays for Juventus Soccer Club and is the team’s leading scorer … team was Cal-North State Cup 2009 Finalists … took second place in 2009 Golden State Soccer League and second place in 2008 Super-Y League Pacific-West Division … at Palo Alto High School she played soccer and softball and was a four-year letter winner in both sports ... captained soccer team in 2008-09 and was team’s leading scorer in 2006 with 21 goals and 2008 with 24 goals … team appeared in Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs in 2006-08 and took second place in 2008 … named Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) Freshman of the Year in 2006 and Junior of the Year in 2008 … All-SCVAL First Team 2006-08 … 2006 CCS Freshman of the Year  … All-CCS Second Team selection in 2008 … an All-CCS Honorable Mention in 2007 … second-team All-Palo Alto Daily News 2006 and first-team in 2008 … the Palo Alto High School Female Underclassman Athlete of the Year in 2008 … the 2009 Palo Alto High School Female Athlete of the Year 2009 … daughter of David and Sue Jenks … born in Redwood City, Calif.