Women's Soccer Signs Top Freshman Class for 2022
June 14, 2022 | Women's Soccer
Three of the signees โ Cook, Lemos and Walbruch โ enrolled early during the winter quarter and trained and played with head coach Margueritte Aozasa's current squad throughout the spring season. Cook scored one goal for the Bruins in a 4-2 win over USC, and Walbruch and Lemos played in all three games.
| 2022 Freshman Class | |||
| Player | Position | Hometown (High School) | Club Team |
| Sofia Cook | MF | Huntington Beach, Calif. (Marina HS) | SoCal Blues |
| America Frias | F | San Jose, Calif. (Leigh HS) | FC Bay Area Surf |
| Cori James | D | Austin, Texas (Vandegrift HS) | Lonestar Soccer Club |
| Kathryn Kelly | D | Belmont, Calif. (Carlmont HS) | FC Bay Area Surf |
| Ally Lemos | MF | Glendora, Calif. (San Dimas HS) | Legends FC |
| Peyton Marcisz | F | San Mateo, Calif. (Hillsdale HS) | FC Bay Area Surf |
| Bridgette Marin-Valencia | F | San Francisco, Calif. (Immaculate Conception HS) | PSV Union FC |
| Neeku Purcell | GK | Seattle, Wash. (The Northwest School) | OL Reign Academy |
| Julia Saunicheva | F | San Jose, Calif. (Leland HS) | FC Bay Area Surf |
| Ellie Walbruch | F/MF | Highland, Utah (American Fork HS) | Real Colorado/La Roca |
Sofia Cook
Midfielder
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Marina HS)
SoCal Blues
โขCurrent member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team
โขRated No. 19 overall by Top Drawer Soccer
โขHelped lead U.S. to 2018 Concacaf Under-15 Championship
โขEnrolled at UCLA in Winter 2022
Aozasa on Cook: "Sof has already shown us a glimpse of her attacking creativity and effectiveness. Her ability to take players on and create chances is so fun to watch. We have enjoyed seeing her personality come out on and off the field in her first few months here in Westwood."
America Frias
Forward
San Jose, Calif. (Leigh HS)
FC Bay Area Surf
โขCalled up to Mexico's U-20 National Team for April 2022 training camp โขRated No. 22 overall by Top Drawer Soccer
โขHelped lead the U.S. to the 2018 Concacaf U-15 Championship
โขWon national championships in 2019 and 2021 with FC Bay Area Surf
Aozasa on Frias: "America is a very solid player all around. She has played at the highest level and understands different ways to be dangerous. She will add some necessary depth up top and in the midfield."
Cori James
Defender
Austin, Texas (Vandegrift HS)
Lonestar Soccer Club
โขEarned a U.S. Youth National team call-up in 2020
โขSelected to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Youth All Region team
โขRated by Top Drawer Soccer as the No. 15 defensive recruit in the nation
Aozasa on James: "Cori is a fierce competitor in the backline and will provide some much-needed balance in this attacking-heavy class. She has been so much fun to get to know so far, and we are excited to get her on campus!"
Kathryn Kelly
Defender
Belmont, Calif. (Carlmont HS)
FC Bay Area Surf
โขRated No. 7 recruit in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer
โขAttended U.S. Youth National Team training camps in 2018, 2020 and 2021
โขWon national championships in 2019 and 2021 with FC Bay Area Surf
Aozasa on Kelly: "Kathryn is a calm and composed defender. She is fantastic in possession and will add an element of thoughtfulness in the backline. I suspect a lot of competition across the board this fall, which I know will push us to be better all around."
Ally Lemos
Midfielder
Glendora, Calif. (San Dimas HS)
Legends FC
โขPlayed with U.S. Youth National Teams from U14-U-19 levels
โขNamed to the U18 ECNL Best XI
โขRated No. 22 overall by Top Drawer Soccer
*Enrolled at UCLA in Winter 2022
Aozasa on Lemos: "Ally has the composure of a veteran player. She understands the game at a very high level and in a true student of the game. She is a great player now, and I cannot wait to see her evolution into someone even greater."
Peyton Marcisz
Forward
San Mateo, Calif. (Hillsdale HS)
FC Bay Area Surf
โขSelected for three training camps with the U.S. U-15 and U-16 national teams
โขRated No. 20 overall by Top Drawer Soccer
โข2019 and 2021 National Champion with FC Bay Area Surf
Aozasa on Marcisz: "My favorite players in the world are all crafty midfielders. I am excited to watch Peyton work into the midfield with her understanding of the game and feel for patterns of movement."
Bridgette Marin-Valencia
Forward
San Francisco, Calif. (Immaculate Conception Academy)
PSV Union FC
โขCurrently a member of Mexico's U-20 national team
โขHas seen time with the U.S. U-14, U-15 and U-17 national teams
โขRated in Top 20 in Northern California & Hawaii by Top Drawer Soccer
Aozasa on Marin-Valencia: "Bridgette is another technical and creative attacking player. She plays with great determination and always seems to find a way to create chances for herself and others. We cannot wait to start integrating her into our team."
Neeku Purcell
Goalkeeper
Seattle, Wash. (The Northwest School)
OL Reign Academy
โขRecorded four shutouts, including both in the semifinals and finals, to help lead the U.S. to the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship
โข2019 Development Academy West Conference Player of the Year
โขTwo-time All-American
โขRated No. 8 recruit in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer
Aozasa on Purcell: "Neeku is one of the top young goalkeepers in the country. She plays and trains with a professionalism and maturity that will allow her to adapt quickly to our environment. Our goalkeeping core will surely push each other to new levels this season."
Julia Saunicheva
Forward
San Jose, Calif. (Leland HS)
FC Bay Area Surf
โขCalled into U.S. U-20 National Team training camp in Oct. 2021 and has been part of the national team pools from U-15 to U-20
โขRated by Top Drawer Soccer as the No. 10 forward in the 2022 recruiting class
โข2019 and 2021 National Champion with FC Bay Area Surf
Aozasa on Saunicheva: "Julia is dangerous. She is athletic, strong and plays with clear determination to beat players 1v1. I'm excited to see the chances she will create early in her career."
Ellie Walbruch
Forward/Midfielder
Highland, Utah (American Fork HS)
Real Colorado/La Roca
โขParticipated in U.S. U-18 National Team virtual camp in 2021
โขWon the U18/19 state championship in 2020ย
โขRated No. 16 recruit in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer
โขEnrolled at UCLA in Winter 2022
Aozasa on Walbruch: "Ellie has a great understanding and ability to play back to goal. She also has a great eye for goal and ability to strike the ball. We are excited to see how she continues to adapt to the college game and suspect she'll score some goals this fall."
