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The NLI Signing Day this past Wednesday does not just apply to football. Cal Soccer also welcomed several athletes to the family. Let's start this week's Olympic Sports round up by looking at the signees.
Cal Men's Soccer
Bears add 7 new players to try to offset the loss of 4 key players to the MLS (3 of them also have graduated). With defenders Steve Birnbaum and Christian Dean becoming the 2nd and 3rd overall pick at the MLS Super Draft, the Bears added 4 defenders in this class. The other 3 players are midfielders as the Bears are fairly set at goalie for another year or two. They are 6 Californians and an Italian (how long before this kid becomes the next Cal Football kicker?).
2014 California Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class
Marko Helfrich
Hometown: Lafayette, Calif.
School: Acalanes HS
Club: De Anza Force Academy
Position: MidfielderHigh School/Club
· Played with De Anza Force Academy (2012-14), where he was teammates with fellow 2014 class members Sivakumar and Vasquez
· Was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes Academy (2011-12)
· National Coast Section Freshman and Junior of the Year at Acalanes HS
· Led Acalanes in scoring his junior seasonMatt Locklear
Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
School: Northwood HS
Club: Strikers FC Academy
Position: DefenderHigh School/Club
· TopDrawerSoccer.com rates him as a three-star player
· Three-year starter at center-back for USSDA Strikers FC Academy (2010-14)
· US Soccer Market Training Center participant (2010-11)
· Freshman starter at holding midfield on Northwood HS Varsity team, earning team Defensive MVP and 2nd team All-Pacific Coast League awards (2010-11)
· Cal South ODP pool selection (2010)Jorge Miranda
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
School: El Camino Real Charter HS
Club: Real So Cal Academy
Position: DefenderHigh School/Club
· TopDrawerSoccer.com rates him as a four-star player, and 13th overall defender in the country
· Member of 2012 US U-17 Men’s National Team
· Has five international caps to his name
· Traveled to Turkey, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, and several states with the National Team.
· Member of Real So Cal Academy (2011-12 and 2013-14)
· Spent one year with the LA Galaxy Academy (2012-13)Joshua Morton
Hometown: Brentwood, Calif.
School: Heritage HS
Club: San Jose Earthquakes Academy
Position: MidfielderHigh School/Club
· Member of San Jose Earthquakes Academy (2012-14)
· Member of US Soccer Club, National Cup Regional Champion team 2011
· Earned All-League honors during sophomore year at Heritage HS 2011
· Earned starting position as a freshman at Heritage High School 2010
· Selected to the Indiana Region II State ODP Pool 2009-10Ugo Rebecchini
Hometown: Rome, Italy
Club: FC Bologna (Primavera)
Position: DefenderHigh School/Club
· Last played with FC Bologna of the Italian Championship Division Primavera
· National Championship winner as a regional selection for Lazio in 2013
· Winner of the Campionato di Promozione and winner of the Coppa Italia in 2013 with FC Bologna
· Played with AS Roma youth sides (2008-12)Aravind Sivakumar
Hometown: Cupertino, Calif.
School: Monte Vista HS
Club: De Anza Force Academy
Position: MidfielderHigh School/Club
· TopDrawerSoccer.com rates him as a four-star player, and 31st overall midfielder in the country
· De Anza Force Academy member (2010-14), where he was teammates with fellow 2014 class members Helfrich and Vasquez
· Selected to Olympic Development Region IV team
· Selected to the U-15/16 Academy Select Team at both Dec. 2011 and Dec. 2012 Academy Showcase in Sarasota, Fla.
· Regular participant at the US Soccer Training Center since September 2010
Eloi Vasquez
Hometown: San Rafael, Calif.
School: Marin Academy
Club: De Anza Force Academy
Position: MidfielderHigh School/Club
· Member of De Anza Force Academy, where he was teammates with fellow 2014 class members Helfrich and Sivakumar
· Also played for Marin FC, where he was an integral part of 2012 Surf Cup Championship side
· At Marin Academy, was named an All-American for the Far West region and voted team MVP as a Sophomore (2011)
· Voted team MVP as a junior (2012)
· Trained with pro youth academy Racing Club de Strasbourg in France and pro youth academy of Pachuca in Mexico
Cal Women's Soccer
While the Cal men's success in 2013 may lead to a boost in recruiting further down the line, the Cal women's are probably still reaping the benefits of Alex Morgan. Bears signed a top 5 recruiting class (according to TopDrawerSoccer.com...who also thought 'Furd had the top class) with 12 standouts players on Wednesday.
With 10 consecutive NCAA berth, the Bears have been consistently good but looking to take that next step (Pac-12 rivals 'Furd and UCLA have become NCAA champions in recent years). Coach Neil McGuire also plays a pretty deep rotation so it is not inconceivable that all of these players get to contribute on the pitch in their Cal careers.
With goalkeeping rock Emily Krueger having graduated, the starting keeper role is up for grab. Out of the two incoming keepers, Emily Boyd is the No.43 ranked recruit in the country and possibly the next netminder for the Bears.
CalBears.com also included a quote from each most of them about why they picked Cal. Who is your favorite player based on those responses?
Big get for @CalWomensSoccer today as Victoria Bolden (IMG #40) pledges to the Golden Bears. pic.twitter.com/GRAn8Wv1vJ
— TopDrawerSoccer.com (@TopDrawerSoccer) February 5, 2014
Indigo Gibson
Hometown: Las Flores, Calif.
School: Tesoro High School
Club: Slammers FC
Position: DefenderThe Basics: Indigo Gibson, a defender and five-star player according to Top Drawer soccer, joins the Bears from Las Flores, Calif. Gibson, who Top Drawer Soccer has as the No. 12 recruit in the country, was named conference Player of the year as a junior at Tesoro High School. The varsity soccer player also ran cross country and track at Tesoro while playing club soccer for Slammers FC, where she was awarded CalSouth Female Player of the Year for 2013. She was also named to the All-CIF Third Team as a junior.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Indigo is a very talented all-around player. She can play multiple positions to a very high level. She is blessed with great technical skill, is a fine passer of the ball, and has exceptional speed."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because I loved the atmosphere on campus and as those typical stories go, Cal just felt like home to me. I felt that by getting both a soccer experience and an education from Cal, new doors will open for me in my years after college. It was also a completely different feel than the environment I live in at home. It is a new chapter in my life that I cannot wait for."
Guro Bergsvand
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
School: Wans High School
Club: Stabaek Soccer Club
Position: MidfielderThe Basics: A center midfielder from Oslo, Norway, Bergsvand joins Cal with international playing experience from the U-19 European Championships. The four-star Top Drawer Soccer talent also played in the Norway Cup and represented her country as a member of the U-17 and U-19 National Teams. Bergsvand was named Player of the Year in 2013 at Wans High School and was a member of Stabaek Soccer Club.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Guro is a very gifted holding midfield player who has great vision and a strong passing game. Her passing range, coupled with our speed on the front line is going to force teams to have to make tough decisions on where to play their backline. Guro has great composure and sense for the tempo of the game."
Victoria Bolden
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
School: Los Osos High School
Club: Fram F.C.
Position: ForwardThe Basics: A forward and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native, Bolden was Los Osos High School’s top scorer as a junior. Bolden is a four-star athlete and ranks as the No. 40 recruit in the country, according to Top Drawer Soccer. She was named All-CIF and MVP Offensive player two years in a row. Bolden helped lead Fram F.C. to the Region IV U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship in 2012 and 2013. She also attended 2013 U-18 National Camp and was named 2013 US Youth Soccer Best XI.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Tori is a natural goal scorer and will torment opposing defenses with her blistering pace. She has a knack for making goalscoring chances out of nothing and the ability to be a major impact."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because I instantly fell in love with the school. I knew it was the right fit for me."
Emily Boyd
Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
School: Nathan Hale High School
Club: Crossfire Premier
Position: GoalkeeperThe Basics: Goalkeeper Emily Boyd comes to Cal from Seattle, Wash., where she was a four-year varsity soccer player at Nathan Hale High School. Boyd is a four-star athlete and ranks as the No. 43 recruit in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer. She was named to the All-Metro First Team as a freshman after shutting out oppnonents in the first ten games of the season. She attended ECNL National Training Camp in 2013 and was invited to the ODP Regional Team event in Costa Rica. Boyd played for Crossfire Premier and was named to the U.S. U-15 National team twice and U-18 National team once.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Emily is a special talent in goal. She has very good shot-stopping ability, good reactions and is comfortable with crosses. Emily strikes a ball superbly well and will create many opportunities for us in transition moments."
Why I chose Cal: "Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to go to a California school. I stepped on the campus and it felt like home. Along with half my family living there, Cal is one of the best school in the country with both academics and athletics in one. Last but not least, the coaches are amazing and I don't think I would want anyone else coaching and looking out for me for the next four years of my career. Go Bears!"
Annia Mejia
Hometown: Bloomington, Calif.
School: Bloomington High School
Club: Fram Soccer Club
Position: DefenderThe Basics: Annia Mejia, a centerback from Bloomington, Calif., joins the Bears after playing four years of varsity soccer at Bloomington High School, where she was First Team All-League every year. She is the No. 25 recruit in the country and is a four-star athlete, according to Top Drawer Soccer. Mejia made All-CIF Third Team as a sophomore and All-CIF Second Team as a junior. She has led her high school team to league championships two years in a row and set a school record for the most goals in a season at 19. She also played club ball with Fram Soccer Club.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Annia in a highly gifted soccer player. She is very composed, highly skilled and outstanding in the air. She can play a number of positions very well and her versatility will prove valuable this season. Annia is also a fierce competitor."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because it is one of the best schools in the nation academically. The women's soccer program is excellent. Cal is the best fit for me because it's a university that will help me grow as a student and as an athlete."
Heather Walleigh
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
School: Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Club: West Coast Futbol Club
Position: ForwardThe Basics: Heather Walleigh is a forward and four-star Top Drawer Soccer recruit who hails from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. At Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Walleigh played varsity soccer and also ran one year of varsity track. She played club soccer with West Coast Futbol Club’s U-18 ECNL team. She was also a member of the 2013 National Champion ODP Cal South ’96 team.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Heather is an extremely powerful and explosive forward who can create chances due her remarkable speed. She can score in a multitude of ways and will be a fine asset on our front line."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because it was everything I wanted in a university. The first time I stepped foot on Berkeley's beautiful campus I couldn't see myself going anywhere else. From the athletics to the amazing academics there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be a Bear."
Isabel Damiani
Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
School: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Club: Bay League Blues & Southern California Soccer
Position: DefenderThe Basics: Isabel Damiani is a defender who joins Cal from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. and a three-year varsity starter at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. She is a four-star athlete according to Top Drawer Soccer. Damiani was team captain in 2013 and ran varsity track in 2012. She has played club ball for the Bay League Blues and Southern California Soccer clubs, where she received an outstanding defense award. Her team was named Bay League Champions two years in a row and also won the ECNL Southern California Conference Championship in 2013.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Isabel is a smooth and composed defender who fits very well into our possession-style game. She has good pace, and solves problems in a very efficient way. She is simple in her play and executes well."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose to commit to Cal because the school not only excels in academics but also has an amazing soccer program. The Cal team is able to play at an impressively high level of soccer while simultaneously experiencing that noteworthy education and social diversity that the university offers. Visiting the campus and seeing how welcoming these future teammates are, I could easily picture myself attending Cal. The incredible athletic facilities and various vegetarian options are only a bonus. I'm excited to be a Golden Bear playing in the Pac-12 next year!"
Haley Lukas
Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif.
School: Foothill High School
Club: Mustang Soccer Club
Position: DefenderThe Basics: Haley Lukas is one of the few Bay Area natives joining the Bears next year. The defender from Pleasanton, Calif. comes to Cal with four years of varsity soccer and track experience at Foothill High School, where she was team captain for three years in both sports. Lukas was named First Team All-League two years in a row in soccer and three years in a row in track. She also played club ball with Mustang Soccer Club and was a member of the ODP-State soccer team from 2008-2011. Lukas is a four-star recruit according to Top Drawer Soccer.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Haley is a first class defender who loves to attack out of the back. She is naturally left-footed and is a very good passer of the ball which will add a great deal to our offense. She is also blessed with tremendous speed."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal it was the all-around best fit for me. The uniqueness of Berkeley, the excellence in academics as the top public university in the world, and being a part of one of the top-ranked soccer programs made Cal my No. 1 choice."
Bryce Watts
Hometown: Torrance, Calif.
School: Bishop Montgomery High School
Club: Fram F.C.
Position: ForwardThe Basics: Bryce Watts is a left wing who joins the Bears from Torrance, Calif. She is a varsity soccer player at Bishop Montgomery High School where she received seven honor awards for her 4.0+ GPA. Watts was a member of the Fram F.C. team that won the 2013 Regional Championship, and a 2012 ODP National Champion and runner-up in 2011. She is a four-star talent according to Top Drawer Soccer.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Bryce is a dynamic left-sided attacking player who has excellent service and a powerful shot. She is crafty with the ball and gets into back space very well."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because of its academic prestige, diverse student body, and the large-school feel. I love the atmosphere and I can already see myself there, and it has a great soccer program."
Melissa Lewis
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
School: San Ramon Valley High School
Club: Mustang Soccer Club
Position: MidfielderThe Basics: Melissa Lewis, a center midfielder from Danville, Calif., comes to Cal with four years of varsity soccer experience at San Ramon Valley High School. She was named team captain as a senior and was named to the EBAL Second Team two years in a row. She is a three-time NCS and CIF Scholar Athlete. Lewis aided the Mustang Soccer Club to CYSA-N State Cup Championships in 2008 and 2010. She is a four-star recruit according to Top Drawer Soccer.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Melissa has great creative flair, and plays the No. 10 role very well. She has the ability to score and assist and will prove dangerous when attacking our opponents backline."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because it offers me the opportunity to play the highest level of soccer at one of the top academic universities in the country. Coach McGuire and his staff have developed an amazing soccer program at Cal and I’m excited to be a part of it! I also love that Berkeley is close to my home and I will have the opportunity to play in front of both family and friends."
Melissa Wood
Hometown: Belmont, Calif.
School: Carlmont High School
Club: Los Altos Soccer Club
Position: DefenderThe Basics: Melissa Wood is a defender who joins the Bears from Belmont, Calif. The varsity starter at Carlmont High School was named co-captain as a junior and 2013 Player of the Year in the Peninsula Athletic League. She aided her team in winning the 2012 Peninsula League Championship and also ran varsity track as a freshman and sophomore. Wood has played with Los Altos Soccer Club from 2010-2014, and won the 2010 and 2012 West Regional Championships. With the help of Wood, Los Altos also won the 2011 Surf Cup Championship and 2011 Cal-North State Club Championship.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Melissa is an accomplished outside defender who loves to attack. She keeps possession of the ball well and has a very good soccer I.Q."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because it has an excellent academic program, soccer at the highest level and coaches that really care about our success in the classroom and in life, not just on the field. Plus, Berkeley is a diverse and fun place with a fascinating history."
Staci Burland
Hometown: Carlsbad, Calif.
School: La Costa Canyon High School
Club: San Diego Surf
Position: GoalkeeperThe Basics: Staci Burland is a goalkeeper who joins Cal from Carlsbad, Calif. The four-year varsity starter at La Costa Canyon High School was named Scholar Athlete two years in a row. She was named Co-MVP and helped lead La Costa Canyon to a CIF Championship. She also played club ball with the San Diego Surf for ten years, and won the Surf Cup Championship in 2013. Burland has been the captain of her San Diego Surf team for four years.
What Head Coach Neil McGuire says: "Staci is a talented and experienced goalkeeper who has good technique and a very good upside. She has good hands, distribution and is a very good shot-stopper."
Why I chose Cal: "I chose Cal because it has always been a dream of mine to play in the Pac-12. The thing that I loved most about Cal was how all the coaches made me feel extremely welcome and like I was a part of something. Not only does it have a fantastic soccer program, it also offers top academics that you can't get at most universities."
Now let's look at how the current Cal sports have fared in the last week and a half.
Cal Men's Golf
After I wrote about how great January has been for Cal Athletics with a few days to go, Cal Men's Golf backed that up by winning the Arizona Intercollegiate (4th win in 6 events this season).
Three Bears are also named to the Ben Hogan Award (the golf's equivalent of the Heisman) watch list that is also 30 players long. Congrats to Brandon Hagy, Joël Stalter and Michael Weaver.
Cal Men's Swimming
With a bye week, the Bears are now ranked 2nd in the country. They backed their new ranking (up from 4th) up by defeating Bakersfield 140-108 on Thursday. Bears face a tougher competition in USC today, hoping for a better outcome than the women last weekend.
Cal Women's Swimming & Diving
The Bears split their LA trip with a surprising loss to No.5 USC that sadly wasn't close. Bears rebounded by beating No.17 UCLA in the expected dominant fashion. The 7-1 Bears will next face 'Furd next Saturday on the Pac-12 Networks.
On the diving side, sophomore Anne Kastler was named the Pac-12 Diver of the Month. Congrats to Anne.
Cal Women's Water Polo
In their first real test of the year, No.4 Cal Bears (9-1) took 3rd place at the Stanford (sic) Invitational. Bears easily beat San Jose State, Michigan, and No.5 UC Irvine but got edged by No.3 UCLA in OT.
Bears remain at No. 4 in this week's CWPA Top 20. http://t.co/ruJyzWvLy9
— Cal W Water Polo (@CalWWPolo) February 5, 2014
Cal Rugby
PAC Rugby Conference play kicked off for the Bears last Saturday with a 134-0 home win over Oregon State with 14 different players scoring at least a try.
The Scoring Timeline vs. Oregon State
04:00 Nicklas Boyer 5
09:00 Russell Webb 5, Jake Anderson 2
12:00 Tiaan De Nysschen 5
14:00 Andrew Battaglia 5, Jake Anderson2
16:00 Tanner Mohr 5, Jake Anderson2
19:00 Russell Webb 5
22:00 Josh Tucker 5, Jake Anderson2
26:00 Andrew Battaglia 5, Jake Anderson2
27:00 James Kondrat 5, Jake Anderson2
30:00 Tiaan De Nysschen 5, Jake Anderson2
31:00 Russell Webb 5
35:00 James Kondrat 5, Russell Webb 2
Halftime Score: California 76, Oregon State 0
45:00 Harry Adolphus 5
46:00 Patrick Barrientes 5
51:00 Jesse Milne 5
56:00 Max Shaulis 5
59:00 Tiaan De Nysschen 5
63:00 Patrick Barrientes 5, Nicklas Boyer 2
69:00 Nicklas Boyer, 5, 2
74:00 Patrick Barrientes 5, Jaime Howells 2
76:00 Anthony Salaber 5
80:00 Michael Bush 5, Jamie Howells 2
Final Score: California 134, Oregon State 0
The Team vs. Oregon State
15. Anderson (A. Salaber @ 31:00), 14. Battaglia, 13. Kelly (c) (Barrientes @ 31:00), 12. Harrington, 11. Tucker, 10. Webb (Adolphus @ 40:00, Boyer @ 51:00, Howells @ 70:00), 9. Boyer (Bosco @ 40:00, Boyer @ 70:00), 1. Walsh, 2. Mohr (Bush @ 57:00), 3.Vrame, 4. Kondrat, 5. Coleman, 6. O’Beirne, 7. Bruzzone (Tandy @ 31:00), 8. De Nysschen
A bye week for the Bears this weekend. The Bears next visit 'Furd on Thursday with the much anticipated home leg of the "World Cup" bout against University of British Columbia on next Saturday (Feb. 16 at 1 PM).
Cal Women's Gymnastics
On Pac-12 Networks, the Bears got edged by a very good UCLA team. Bears still had a pretty solid outing, nonetheless, posting a team score of 195.550.
For tomorrow, there will be a live stream (and CGB open thread) of the Bears' meet with the Oregon State Beavers (one of the top Gymnastics squad in the conference along with UCLA, Utah, and 'Furd).
Cal Softball
(I know that Softball is no longer an Olympic sports...but I still prefer to call these Olympic sports vs. "non-revenue" sports)
Season kicks off this weekend at the Arizona State Kajikawa Tournament. No.24 Bears are scheduled to play Creighton, Bradley, and Portland State. This would be the first outing for freshman pitcher, Katie Sutherland-Finch, who is being counted on to replace the graduated Jolene Henderson. Learn more about her in this video:
GO BEARS!