SAN FRANCISCO -- Looking to replace six departing seniors, women's soccer head coach Chris King has announced six new recruits to the 2019 class. The class is comprised of all freshman, including two international signees, and representation from three different states.

Hannah Moore
Moore joins Academy of Art as one of the six freshmen after recently graduating from Sehome High School in Bellingham, Wash. Moore was a two-sport athlete, playing four years of varsity soccer as a forward and running four years of varsity track as a sprinter. She was a three-time All-Conference selection and an All-State Honorable Mention her sophomore year. In her freshman year of track, Moore was named Most Valuable Player (sprints) and placed 11th in the state in the 100m. She plans to study Architecture at Academy of Art.
 
Morgan Day
A Bay Area native hailing from El Granada, Calif., Day graduated from Half Moon Bay High School in 2019 where she played three years of varsity soccer. Day was named All-League First Team and MVP twice, plus earned Midfielder of the Year in 2019 when she led her team to a co-championship. Day plans to study Graphic Design at Academy of Art.

"Morgan is a Bay Area recruit that will add immediate depth to our midfield, which graduated two starters, and will give her ample opportunity to showcase her crafty abilities on the ball," commented King. "A player who can score goals as well as create them, she is a local addition we are very excited about."

Brooklyn Villapudua
Villapudua comes to ART U as a freshman midfielder/forward from Chandler, Ariz. where she played two years of varsity soccer at Hamilton High School and was a part of the 2018 state championship team. Outside of high school, she played for Legacy/RSL and was selected as 2018-2019 All-Premier Second Team. Villapudua will major in Fashion Styling at Academy of Art.

"Brooklyn is a player who I had been recruiting since I started here three years ago and I'm so glad she is coming to play here and study fashion," said King. "She has grown so much, both in terms of her game and her height, and her ability to play all three positions across the front-line is going to be crucial for our depth this season and into the future."

Raquel Calvo Mendez
An international addition to women's soccer, Mendez is a recent graduate of IES Ray Pastor in Madrid, Spain where she played as a center back. Playing for club team CD Tacon, Mendez won the Madrid under-18 league championship. She plans to study Motion Pictures and Television at Academy of Art.

"One of our two big international recruits, Raquel is an incredibly talented and technical player coming out of Spain who has an attacking mind even as a defender," said King. "She will give us more of an offensive threat out of our back-line and also has the ability to play several positions. She is someone who I expect to see the field quite a bit as a freshman."

Nicole Peoples
Peoples becomes an Urban Knight after graduating from Sheldon High School in Sacramento, Calif. Peoples played four years of varsity soccer and was selected as Delta All-League three years straight. Off the field, she earned All-Academic honors all four years and is a California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Member. Peoples will major in Visual Development at Academy of Art.

"In the few years that I have been here at ART U we have always had great keepers with incredible personalities," said King. "Nicole completely embodies these traits and will very much bring that to the table for us. A very athletic keeper, with a winning mentality and great work rate, she will be a big piece of our program's future."

Kate Williams
William's accomplishments include team captain of St Peters College, three-time New Zealand national tournament runner-up, and contributing to the Claudeland's Rovers 2016 league championship. Williams plans to study Architecture at Academy of Art.

"Our other big international recruit, Kate is our center back hailing from New Zealand," said King. "Fortunately for us she was able to come in last spring and get fully accustomed to our team and playing style and was a big piece of our spring success. Kate and Britney Flint thrived as our center back duo and look to be a great fit for us there for years to come."