Five St. Francis Seniors Commit to Soccer Programs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five St. Francis seniors signed to play soccer in college next fall at schools across the country and were celebrated at a National Signing Day ceremony on campus Wednesday morning.
“It has been awesome to share this with my teammates,” said Hailey Barrett, who will play for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. “I have played with these girls for a few years and they are some of my best friends. I loved watching them sign. It was super cool to experience it with them.”
The Troubadours who signed on Wednesday include Barrett (UC Santa Barbara), Aly Barr (Williams Jessup), Erin Barr (The Master’s College), Rhys Wynbrandt (Hawaii Pacific) and Ashley Newland (Louisiana at Lafayette).
The event was shown online on TroubieTV, a production of the St. Francis Sports Media Club. Watch On Demand
Barrett, who is a two-time Delta League first-team selection (2014-15), has helped St. Francis make two consecutive section championship appearances, including winning a section title in 2014.
“Today was really special,” said Barrett. “I have been waiting for this moment and I am blessed to have this opportunity.”
Barrett enters her senior season with 22 career goals and 21 assists in 57 career varsity games. She had a career-high 11 goals as a freshman playing forward. She added three goals and nine assists as a sophomore and eight goals and eight assists last season from her midfield position.
Newland, who is from Folsom, will join the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and play for Head Coach Scott Wieland, who completed his 11th season leading the program last fall.
“It is still a little hard to believe but it is more real now that I have signed that I am going to college in a couple of months,” said Newland. “It is a little overwhelming and exciting at the same time. I remember seeing the seniors last year do this and I hoped I would be there (in their shoes this year). Being here is really cool.”
Sisters Aly and Erin Barr will play for conference rivals schools in the Golden State Athletic Conference for William Jessup and The Master’s College, respectively.
“Today was awesome,” said Aly. “It was so official and great to have my parents, coaches and the people here that have supported us through St. Francis.”
Aly will play for the Warrior soccer program in Rocklin, while Erin will play for The Master’s College, a NAIA Division I school in Santa Clarita, Calif.
“It means so much to me and is something I have always dreamed of even as a freshman at St. Francis that I would be able to share these moments with my teammates,” said Erin.
Rhys Wynbrandt completed the five soccer signees. She will join a program coached by Gina Brewer. She just completed her fifth season and led the program to a school-best 11 wins in 2014. The Sharks play in the Pac West Conference.
“College is more real today and makes it that much more exciting to go,” said Erin.
Twelve Troubadour alumnae played soccer this fall including Catie Brown ’15 (SMU), Terra Carden ’14 (Pacific), Allie Carmickle ’15 (UC Davis), Katie Clark ’12 (U.S. Coast Guard Academy), Izzi Chelini ’15 (Cal Lutheran), Andi Damian ’13 (UC Davis), Emily Egan ’14 (Georgia Southern), Anna Gregg ’15 (Colorado College), Haley Hughes ’12 (UC Davis), Madison Kimball ’15 (Loyola Chicago), Jennifer Lum ’12 (Sacramento State) and Addie Wallace ’15 (Villanova).
St. Francis returns 13 letter winners for the 2016 season. Tryouts start on Monday, Feb. 8.
2016 St. Francis Soccer Commitments/Signees
Name, College/University
Hailey Barrett, UC Santa Barbara
Ashley Newland, Louisiana at Lafayette
Rhys Wynbrandt, Hawaii Pacific
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