BERKELEY --- California women's soccer head coach Neil McGuire has announced the signing of eleven future Golden Bears to National Letters of Intent (NLIs) Wednesday afternoon.
 
Joining the Bears next season are: Denae Antoine of Chino, Calif.; Caroline Clark of Lafayette, Calif.; Daisy Cleverley of Auckland, New Zealand; Luca Deza of Belmont, Calif.; Chloe Frisch of Carlsbad, Calif.; Kailee Gifford of San Jose, Calif.; Kai Henderson of Mill Creek, Wash.; Morgan Rogers of Lafayette, Calif.; Olivia Sekany of Livermore, Calif.; Emily Smith of Los Gatos, Calif.; and Emma Westin of Stockholm, Sweden.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome this group of highly talented and motivated student-athletes to Berkeley," McGuire said of the class. "This class has great character, a focus on excellence in academics and the determination to aid our program in winning championships. Ten of the eleven players in this class have youth and full national team experience which will help them transition well to the college game."

The national team ties mentioned by McGuire includes: U.S. Soccer experience for Smith (U-19), Sekany (U-18), Clark (U-18), Frisch, Deza, Henderson (U-17) and Antoine (U-14), and international experience from Westin (Sweden U-19) and Cleverly (New Zealand Senior National).
 
The class will join a program with a strong foundation moving forward: 13 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a pair of 2016 NWSL draft picks (Ifeoma Onumonu and Arielle Ship) joining the numerous Golden Bear alumnae in the professional ranks, and a team that will return Second All-Pac-12 selection Emily Boyd and All-Freshman picks Abigail Kim & Mia Corbin.

Cal went 13-5-3 in 2016, notching its sixth straight season of 10 or more wins and 12th in the last 13 years.
 
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2017 CAL WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEE BIOS
 
Denae Antoine / Forward / Chino Hills HS
High School: Attended Chino Hills High School located in Chino Hills, CA for coach Andy Placentia…Won the Sierra League and CIF championship in 2013
 
Club Ball: Played under Josh Hodges on Legends FC...Team captain for seven years...USYS National Championships best XI 2013 and 2015...ODP regional and national champion 2016...U.S. National team pool player 2013-2016...led Crossfire Premier to a 3rd place finish at ECNL U-16s in 2016.
 
Personal: Parents are Richard and Daphne...has one older sister, Da'Jhana...Hobbies include coaching younger players in her club...Wants to attend graduate school to get a masters degree in coaching...is related to professional tennis player Sloane Stephens
 
 
Caroline Clark / Midfield / Acalanes HS
High School: attended Acalanes High School in Lafayette...three-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2017)...Offensive MVP as a freshman in 2014...led team to Diable Football Athletic League champions in 2015 while pacing the league in goals and assists and winning league MVP...Team captain 2017
 
Club Ball: Member of Lamorinda Soccer Club coached by Mohamed Mohamed...Player of the Tournament at the Davis College Showcase in 2015 & 2016...Led club in goals and assists from 2014-2017...CYSA State Cup champions in 2014-2015...helped team earn No. 1 national rankings in 2014 and 2015...three-time Davis Legacy Cup champions (2014-16)...2016 Gothia Cup champions
 
Personal: Parents are Steve and Ann Clark...has two younger brothers, Ben and Jon...Hobbies include Skiing and playing tennis...Invited to U.S. U-18 WNT camp in 2016...Plans to attend graduate school for an MBA...aunt Dr. Carrie Graham, Ph.D is an Associate Researcher and Director of Health Policy at Cal's Health Research for Action Center.
 
 
Daisy Cleverley / Midfield / Western Springs College
High School: Attended Western Springs College located in Auckland, New Zealand
 
Personal: Parents are Bart Cleverley and Marianne Wilson....has two older sisters, Faith and Hannah...Plans to play professional soccer overseas or play at the Olympics for New Zealand…Lists best sporting moment as scoring at the U17 Women's World Cup 2014 for New Zealand...enrolled at Cal in the Spring of 2016
 
 
Luca Deza / Midfield / Notre Dame HS
High School: Attended Notre Dame HS in Belmont... Averaged more than two goals per game this season
 
Club Ball: Played for coach Paul McCallion...spent time with the U.S. U-15 national team in 2014
 
Personal: Parents are Andres and Izumi Deza....has one half-sister, Momo, that attended Cal...Loves to play both the guitar and the piano...Postgraduate plans to play soccer professionally in Europe...Member of the high school honor roll for three years (2014-2016)
 
Chloe Frisch / Midfield / Sante Fe Christian
High School: Attended Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach, CA...Coastal League Player of the Year in 2015...First team 2015 and 2016… MVP 2016
 
Club Ball: Member of San Diego Surf under coach Mark Spooner...ECNL Champions 2015
 
Personal: Parents are Byron and Kimberly Frisch...has two siblings, Colton and Soren...Enjoys playing the guitar...recently travelled to Africa...spent time in the U.S. Youth national team programs before bowing out due to injury...father played football at BYC and spent time in the NFL with four teams, including the 49ers
 
 
Kailee Gifford / Defender / Harker School
High School: Attended The Harker School in San Jose...First team all league soccer selection as a freshman...Won CCS-West Bay Athletic League regular season in 2012...Combined for 32 goals her freshman and sophomore years...Regularly attended Norcal U.S. soccer training center
 
Club Ball: Played for the De Anza Force for head coach Andrea Deza...won the 2013 Donasti Cup, an International soccer tournament held in San Sebastian, Spain...finished in the top three of ECNL Nationals from 2013-16, winning the championship in 2013
 
Personal: Parents are Paul and Kathy Gifford...has an older brother, Colin...Plans to either pursue a professional soccer career, or become a lawyer or teacher...Lettered in three different sports on high school (soccer, basketball, and football)...Starting kicker for the varsity football team for the 2016-17 season
 
 
Kai Henderson / Defender / Lakeside School
High School: Attended Lakeside school in Seattle, Wash...Recipient of leadership scholarship for all four years
 
Club Ball: Played for Crossfire Premier for coach Richard Reece... 2014 Washington State ODP team...ENCL NW division champs U-14 through U-17...spent time with the U.S. U-17 WNT in 2016
 
Personal: Parents are Scott and Wanda Henderson...Hobbies include travel specifically across the U.S. or to Paris, Amsterdam, or Mexico… Enjoys trying new foods, traveling and yoga...favorite sports moment is winning a Washington State championship in 2014
 
 
Morgan Rogers / Defender / Acalanes HS
High School: Played at Acalanes HS in Lafayette under coach Evan Sassano...Named NCS All-Division Second Team and Defensive Player of the Year while winning a DFAL title and earning First Team DFAL All-League as a sophomore in 2014-15...team defensive MVP as a freshman in 2013-14
 
Club Ball: Played under Head Coach Mohamed Mohamed in the Lamorinda Soccer Club since 2006...NorCal State Cup finalists in 2015 & 2016…Three-time Davis Legacy Cup champions (2014-16)…Two-time Placer College Cup champions (2014-15)...Gothia Cup/TipsElite Champions in 2016...team captain since 2014
 
Personal: Parents are John and Nicole Rogers...has four siblings: Michelle, Christopher, Madison and Trevor...National Honor Society member and Honor Roll recipient throughout high school career (4.3 GPA)...Plans to pursue an MBA after graduation...Loves to travel, favorite locales include Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Hawaii...has three relatives that played at Cal - father John (water polo), uncle Peter (water polo), and aunt Lisa (field hockey)
 
 
Olivia Sekany / Goalkeeper / Laurel Springs HS:
High School: Attended Laurel Springs HS based out of Ojai
 
Club Ball: Played for the Pleasanton Rage under coach David Shaw...Member of the U.S. U-18 Women's National team in 2016...ECNL Northwest Conference Player to Watch (2015-16)
 
Personal: Parents are Jason and Amy Sekany...Has two younger siblings, Alaina and Jake...National Honor Society member...Nominated to Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders...Plans to pursue and professional soccer career...Hobbies include painting...great-grandfather Vincent Frevola graduated from Cal in 1942...father Jason played baseball at UVA and spent time with the Boston Red Sox
 
 
Emily Smith / Defender / Leigh HS
High School: attended Leigh High School located in San Jose...Blossom Valley Athletic League First Team selection for three years...Was named sophomore of the year and league MVP in 2015… All Mercury News First Team 2016...CIF CCS runner up 2014-15...also lettered in track, winning titles in the 800, 1600, and high jump
 
Club Ball: Played for De Anza force under coach Andres Deza…U-16 and U-17 NorCal state champions...NorCal NPL Spring U-19 champions and ECNL Runner-Up in 2016
 
Personal: Parents are Greg and Cindy Smith...has two younger brothers, Connor and Cooper...Member of National Honor Society since sophomore year...Hobbies include listening to music and hanging out with friends...Lists favorite sports moment as traveling to Amman, Jordan for U-17 World Cup… Plans to have a career in business or research
 

Emma Westin / Forward / Nacka Gymnasium:
High School: Attended Nacka Gymnasium in Stockholm, Sweden
 
Club Ball: Member of Boo FF under coach Sean O'Connor...Club team MVP in unofficial Swedish championship in 2012...led team to Gothia Cup victory in 2011...Starting player in clubs division 1 senior team since age 14...Leading goal scorer in the past three seasons...has accumulated 15 international appearances in numerous countries, tallying six goals during her caps
 
Personal: Parents are Niklas and Kristina Westin...has a younger brother, Daniel...enjoys dancing and singing, participated in a musical show...Loves to travel especially to New Zealand, the U.S., and Thailand