University of Oregon women’s soccer announces early signing class

EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Oregon women’s soccer program signed seven players to National Letters of Intent on Thursday.

The class includes U.S. U-16 National Team goalkeeper Leah Freeman (Berkeley, Calif.) as well as forward Paige Alexander (Salem, Ore.), defender Brynn Boeyink (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), forward Olivia Fothergill (Vancouver, Wash.), defender Rosalee Larsen (West Linn, Ore.), forward Megan Rucker (Gold River, Calif.) and midfielder Brooke Schultz (Kenmore, Wash.)

Paige Alexander

5-4, F, Salem, Ore., Silverton High School, Club Teams: Portland Thorns Academy; Capital Futbol Club

HIGH SCHOOL
Selected as the 2017 Portland Thorns Academy player of the year … Was the 2016 5A state player of the year as a freshman for Silverton High School and was named the player of the match for the 2016 state title game … Holds the Silverton record for goals in a season (33) … Spent time at the U-14 U.S. National Team camp … Also named the Mountain Valley Conference defensive player of the year for her role on Silverton’s state runner-up basketball team in 2018-19.

“The thing that attracted me to Oregon was the family-like atmosphere,” said Alexander. “I was also impressed with the facilities and the way Oregon cares for its student-athletes.”

Brynn Boeyink

5-7, D, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Mountain View High School, Club Team: Colorado Rapids 02 ECNL

HIGH SCHOOL
Helped Mountain View High School win the Colorado state title in 2017 … Was the team’s MVP and defensive MVP as a senior in 2019 when she was also an all-state honorable mention selection … In club action, earned U-17 ECNL all-conference honors for the Colorado Rapids 01 ECNL in 2019 … Also an academic all-state pick in 2019.

“I really loved the campus from the first time I visited when I was little,” said Boeyink. “I also really like the weather in Oregon and the facilities were hard to turn down.”

Leah Freeman

5-10, GK, Berkeley, Calif., Berkeley High School, Club Team: Mustang 02 ECNL

HIGH SCHOOL
Goalkeeper for the U.S. U-16 National Team is the No. 35 player of the 2019 class overall (Top Drawer/IMG Top 150) the No. 3 goalkeeper nationally and the No. 3 player in the Northern California region … A two-time United Soccer Coaches all-West Region first team selection … Led Berkeley High School to the 2018-19 West Alameda County conference championship as a junior … Earned state all-America and Top Drawer Soccer all-state first team honors as a junior … Also an all North Coast Section and a first team all-conference selection … Was named to the 2019 ECNL National Playoffs Top Drawer Soccer Best XI … Mustang 02 ECNL were national club semifinalists in 2017-18 and won back-to-back Northern California Conference championships.

“The campus feels like a place where I can really succeed as a student-athlete,” said Freeman. “From the Jaqua Center, to the old brick buildings, to the river and the athletic facilities, there is so much support so the athletes can succeed as students and in their sport. It is exactly what I wanted in a college.”

Olivia Fothergill

5-10, F, Vancouver, Wash., Mountain View High School, Club Team: Washington Timbers G02

HIGH SCHOOL
All-state selection and Greater St. Helens League player of the year scored a school record 34 goals as a junior in 2018 for Mountain View High School … A three-time all-league selection … In club action, won the 2018 Surf Cup and three consecutive Oregon state cup championships (2016-18).

“The University of Oregon was always been my No. 1 pick,” said Fothergill. “It was a no-brainer for me.”

Rosalee Larsen

5-6, D, West Linn, Ore., West Linn High School, Club Team: Crossfire United ECNL

HIGH SCHOOL
Helped West Linn High School reach the state semifinals in 2016 and 2018 … Spent time at the youth U.S. Soccer training camps in 2014 and 2016 … Named a Crossfire United ECNL player to watch … Two-time Surf Cup champion with Crossfire United ECNL … Is a fourth-generation Duck; her great grandfather Arthur Larsen graduated from Oregon in 1929.

“I always dreamed of playing Duck soccer,” said Larsen. “The athletic prowess of UO and school spirit always impressed me.”

Megan Rucker

5-7, F, Gold River, Calif., Bella Vista High School, Club Team: Mustang 02 ECNL

HIGH SCHOOL
Led Bella Vista High School in scoring her last three seasons … Named first team all-conference in 2018 and 2019 … In club action, won the 2017 ECNL Northwest Conference championship … Team advanced to the U16 semifinals and the U17 quarterfinals … Named to the 2019 ECNL U-17 Northwest all-conference team.

“Deciding where I wanted to spend my college career, it was important for me to love the school and the environment just as much as soccer,” said Rucker. “For me, Oregon is the perfect university, with the combination of a great soccer program, excellent education and a true college town feel.”

Brooke Schultz

5-10, M, Kenmore, Wash., Inglemoor High School, Club Team: Crossfire Premier 

HIGH SCHOOL
Won the 2019 Surf Cup championship with Crossfire Premier … Won back-to-back Northwest Conference championships (2018-19) … Has extensive experience at ODP camps at the national, regional and state level.

“I feel that Oregon is the place where I can become the best version of me,” said Schultz. “I don’t know yet what I want to study, but I feel that Oregon will give me the best opportunities for success.”