SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Marlee Nicolos will sign with Santa Clara soccer program next month during the NCAA National Signing Day for soccer.

“I am so excited about signing with Santa Clara,” said Nicolos. “It is amazing. I have been excited and a little nervous but after my official visit on Sept. 29, it made everything so much more exciting. I met the girls in my (recruiting) class, girls on the team and had team bonding. It was an amazing experience and one of the best nights I have had.”

Nicolos, who currently is the leading scorer for the Troubadour basketball team, is recognized as one of the top goalies in Northern California. She plays for the San Juan Soccer club and was a member of the St. Francis soccer program for two seasons.

“I am so thankful and grateful to continue my soccer experience in college,” said Nicolos. “I am happy I chose soccer even though I have played basketball in high school. I see it as way to stay in better shape for soccer, the sport I love so much. At Santa Clara, I get to be in an environment where everyone wants the challenge as much as I do, where we try to make each other better and try to win championships.”

Nicolos, who lives in Elk Grove, will join the Santa Clara program in the fall and plans to study management with a goal of parlaying her degree into a career in sports management.

“Santa Clara was the first school I visited and was always my first choice,” said Nicolos. “It took a really long time to see that (during the recruiting process)…It is the school for me.”

Santa Clara reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017 under Head Coach Jerry Smith. The Broncos have been to 27 NCAA Tournaments and won 10 West Coast Conference titles during his tenure while winning over 400 games.

Nicolos has played with the basketball team all four seasons at St. Francis. When soccer moved to the winter season two years ago, she was forced to pick a sport.

“It was such a bummer it moved to basketball season and conflicted,” said Nicolos. “I ultimately chose basketball (for high school) because my college coaches liked me playing dual sports and I got in better shape running up and down the court rather than standing in a goal. Coach Vic has been so amazing working with me. He makes it fun, challenging and I love playing a different sport…It is a fun outlet.”

Nicolos was part of the St. Francis team that advanced to the CIF Division I State Championship game her sophomore season, tying her season high with 10 points in the final against Brea Olinda. She averaged 8.6 points per game as a junior, scoring in double figures in nine games. She has stepped up her game as a senior, scoring 14.8 points per game and grabbing 9.1 rebounds. She has five double-doubles and recently scored a career-high 31 points against Elk Grove.

“Marlee is as competitive as they come,” said St. Francis Basketball Head Coach Vic Pitton. “She will compete in every minute of every game. Santa Clara is going to be very happy with the addition of her to their program.”

One of Nicolos’ highlights was playing in Sweden this summer in the Gothia Cup with the NorCal Premier team. They won the overall team title.

“It was amazing seeing competition in Sweden,” said Nicolos. “Obviously going to Europe and playing soccer is the dream. We met so many people and had so much fun.”

Nicolos will participate in the St. Francis Soccer Signing Day event on Feb. 7.