Feb. 7, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's soccer coach Paul Ratcliffe has announced that eight players have signed letters of intent to play for the Cardinal next fall, including 17-year-old goalkeeper Jane Campbell, currently in camp with the full U.S. national team. The class also features seven Californians, five Bay Area products, three members of the U.S. under-18 player pool, and the reigning California player of the year.

The Stanford women's soccer class of 2017: Stephanie Amack (Pleasanton, Calif.), Maddie Bauer (Newport Beach, Calif.), Jane Campbell (Kennesaw, Ga.), Siobhan Cox (Los Altos Hills, Calif.), Nathalie Marie (Berkeley, Calif.), Carly Olszewski (Upland, Calif.), Megan Turner (Danville, Calif.), and Ryan Walker-Hartshorn (Oakland, Calif.).

The class will strengthen a program coming off its fifth consecutive NCAA College Cup appearance and fourth consecutive Pac-12 Conference championship.

"We are very excited to announce the addition of eight exceptional student-athletes to our program," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "They all have unique qualities which will help rebuild our team after graduating a strong senior class in 2012."

The Cardinal returns six starters and 19 players from a team that went 21-2-1, extended its conference winning streak to 42 and its home unbeaten streak to 67. Stanford loses senior All-Americans Alina Garciamendez, Mariah Nogueira, and Rachel Quon, but returns 2011 All-America goalkeeper Emily Oliver, as well as regulars in defense, midfield, and all of its starting forwards.

Jane Campbell, GK (Kennesaw, Ga./Darlington School/Concorde Fire South): Campbell currently is with the full U.S. national team, as one of 29 players called into camp by new coach Tom Sermanni. She was the starter for the U.S. at the 2012 U17 World Cup in Azerbaijan, allowing one goal in three matches and shutting out eventual champion France. Campbell, who turns 18 on Feb. 17, becomes the youngest goalkeeper called into the full national team, even younger than 18-year-old Hope Solo in 1999. Campbell is the first high school-aged player to be called into the full national team since forward Amy Rodriguez in 2005. Campbell is the reigning NSCAA Youth Girls Player of the Year and a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American. Campbell has been called to more than 20 U.S. youth national-team training camps and international tournaments. Campbell, who carries an unweighted GPA of 3.65, is a member of the National Honor Society.
Reason she chose Stanford: "I chose Stanford University because it is a top soccer college, has great academics, really nice people, great weather, and is a life-changing experience for anyone who is lucky enough to attend. My grandfather, great uncle, great aunt, and great-great grandfather all attended Stanford and I am proud to carry on the legacy."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Jane Campbell is regarded as one of the top young goalkeepers in the world. Jane continues the tradition of Stanford attracting incredible goalkeepers."

Stephanie Amack, D (Pleasanton, Calif./Dougherty Valley HS/Mustang FC): Amack currently is at the U.S. U20 camp in Carson, Calif. An outside back, she was the youngest player on the winning U.S. team at the U20 World Cup in Japan last summer and the only one in high school. She has been a regular part of the U.S. youth national-team system since the U14's. Amack is a two-time selection to the NSCAA Youth All-America team and led her Mustang Blast club team to two national titles and three regional championships. Amack, who carries a weighted GPA of 4.33, has been a three-time Diablo Foothill League selection at Dougherty Valley High in San Ramon, Calif.
Reason she chose Stanford: "I chose Stanford because of the combination of academics and athletics, and to be close to my family."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Stephanie Amack is a versatile player and a great competitor. She is a strong athlete with good skills and has the ability to make an immediate impact at Stanford."

Maddie Bauer, D (Newport Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS/Slammers FC): Bauer, currently at the U.S. U18 camp in Carson, Calif., is a two-time NSCAA Youth All-America and was a nominee for the California Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Bauer led Slammers FC to the 2012 Elite Clubs National League No. 1 ranking and is ranked No. 6 among national prospects by Top Drawer Soccer. Bauer played the most minutes of any player on the U.S. U17 team that went 12-0-2 and won the CONCACAF championship and played in the U17 World Cup. Bauer, who carries a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.4, had a 5.0 in her first semester of her senior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.
Reason she chose Stanford: "Stanford offers the perfect combination of an incredible education and competitive athletics."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Maddie Bauer is an outstanding central defender with great technical ability and a strong presence defensively. She is also a positive leader and will help organize our defense."

Siobhan Cox, MF/D (Los Altos Hills, Calif./The Harker School/Peninsula-Silicon Valley Union FC): Cox, an ODP regional player, has been a standout with her club team, PSV Union, for the past nine years. Her team was a San Diego Surf Cup U-18 finalist in 2012 and won the Stanford Classic and Juventus U19 Tournament of Champions. Cox, who carries a weighted GPA of 4.3, was an All-West Bay Athletic League player in her only high school season, as a freshman at Harker.
Reason she chose Stanford: "I've wanted to play for Stanford since I was eight years old. Living nearby gave me the opportunity to see the team play on a regular basis, and I always dreamed of playing for Stanford one day. It offers me both the academic and athletic challenge I'm looking for."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Siobahn Cox is a skillful player who can play in the defense or midfield. Siobhan has an excellent work-ethic and will be a good addition to the squad."

Nathalie Marie, F (Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley HS/Mustang Fury): Marie, an ODP state player, was named to the Elite Clubs National League national showcase All-Event team at U16, and her Mustang Fury club was a Surf Cup semifinalist in 2012. At Berkeley High, Marie carries a 3.97 unweighted GPA and was a two-time CIF-North Coast Section Scholar-Athlete and the 2012 Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League MVP. Though she did not play high school soccer this season because of injury, she scored 28 goals as a junior to lead the Yellowjackets to the ACCAL title.
Reason she chose Stanford: "Stanford is everything that I'm looking for: outstanding academics and a strong soccer program. I've been lucky enough to see the women's soccer team play on a number of occasions and every time I was impressed. I know this program will challenge me to be the best I can be on the field as well as in the classroom. The coaching staff is passionate about their jobs and the game and the team puts their heart into everything they do. I am thrilled that I get to be a part of this great community for the next four years of my life."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Nathalie Marie is a fast forward with good 1v1 dribbling skills and the ability to score goals."

Carly Olszewski, D (Upland, Calif./Vivian Webb School/SoCal Blues): Olszewski, a central defender who has participated in U.S. U-18 national-team camps, helped the SoCal Blues to the Surf College Cup championship in 2012 and the Elite Clubs National League finals in 2010. Olszewski, who also competed in track for Vivian Webb School of Claremont, Calif., carries a weighted GPA of 4.7 and has won Webb's Princeton Book Award and English Award, as the top English student in her class.
Reason she chose Stanford: "I chose Stanford not only for its athletic program, but also for its excellent academic reputation. I am excited to go to Stanford because I know that it will challenge me to become a better scholar and athlete."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Carly Olzsewski is a talented defender or midfielder. She reads the game very well and is a strong 1v1 defender."

Megan Turner, F/MF (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley HS/Lamorinda United): Turner has been a four-year captain for her Lamorinda United club team and is has shown outstanding leadership on the field on and off. Besides helping Lamorinda to the Pleasanton Rage College Showcase Super Group title, and twice into the Surf Cup quarterfinals, Turner, who carries a weighted GPA of 4.33, has been a Scholar-Athlete at San Ramon Valley High for four years, and has led the Wolves to the 2013 East Bay Athletic League title and to two North Coast Section Division I finals.
Reason she chose Stanford: "Because Stanford is an incredible academic institution with an amazing women's soccer program, all on a beautiful campus."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Megan Turner is an intelligent attacking player. She has the ability to retain possession of the ball as a target forward and create scoring opportunities."

Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, F/D (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd HS/Mustang Blast): Walker-Hartshorn is the reigning California Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year and is a current nominee for the California Interscholastic Federation Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Walker-Hartshorn, who carries an unweighted GPA of 3.5, is an NSCAA Youth All-American and was named East Bay Player of the Year by the Bay Area News Group. Through her junior year, Walker-Hartshorn had 61 goals and 29 assists, and led O'Dowd to two North Coast Section Division II championships. She has helped her Mustang Blast club team to two state and regional championships, as well as the 2011 national title. She has been a member of the U.S. U-18 player pool as an outside back and is a three-time ODP regional player. Her mother and grandmother both attended Stanford.
Reason she chose Stanford: "I chose Stanford University because of the opportunity to obtain an excellent education in almost any field that I choose to pursue. I feel really confident that I will get the academic support that I need to help balance a rigorous schedule as a scholar-athlete. And I am so excited to play soccer with a group of women who are among the best in the country."
Paul Ratcliffe: "Ryan Walker-Hartshorn is an outstanding athlete with good skills. She has the potential to make an impact as an outside back or forward."