Oregon Soccer Signs Five, Including Oregon Player of the Year

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon's women's soccer program has signed five players to National Letters of Intent, including the 2017 Oregon high school player of the year, head coach Kat Mertz announced Wednesday.

Local phenomenon Jordan Wormdahl was named the Oregon 5A state player of the year after leading North Eugene High School to the 2017 Midwestern League title and the state finals. The forward will remain in Eugene to continue her playing career and will be joined by forward Zoe Hasenauer (Simi Valley, Calif.), defenders Chai Cortez (Kahului, Hawaii) and Claire Watkins (San Diego, Calif.) and goalkeeper Charlotte Brisley (Excelsior, Minn.). Cortez comes to Oregon from the same island, Maui, that produced the Ducks' greatest player of the modern era, Nicole Garbin.

"We were really able to target specific areas of need with this recruiting class," said Mertz. "We have two players who are very skilled goal scorers and you can never have enough of them, and we have two defenders and a goalkeeper who should give us one of the deepest back lines in the Pac-12.

"We were obviously really excited to keep Jordan Wormdahl home in Eugene, because she is a special talent, but I'm just as excited about the other players," said Mertz. "Zoe and Claire are both great competitors who have had extremely successful careers in California, Charlotte adds the depth we needed at goalkeeper, and we have a great tradition with players from Hawaii and Chai will continue that."

Charlotte Brisley
5-9, GK, Excelsior, Minn., Shattuck-St. Mary's School
HIGH SCHOOL
Goalkeeper who helped Shattuck-St. Mary's win six-of-seven games in December and January … Only allowed one goal during that span … A three-year member of the Minnesota state development team.
PERSONAL
Parents are James and Sue Brisley.

"I chose Oregon because it offers me the unique combination of high level athletics as well as great academics," said Brisley. "The opportunity to play in the Pac-12 Conference against some of the best players in the country really appealed to me because I love competition, and at Oregon I feel like I can really be competitive."

Chai Cortez
5-4, D, Kahului, Hawaii, Maui High School, Club Teams: Surf Hawaii/Maui United Soccer
HIGH SCHOOL
A junior National Team member with experience on teams at the U-18, U-17, U-16 and U-14 levels … Led Maui High School in scoring her final three years when she was named all-league first team … An Olympic Development Program player for both the state of Hawaii and the Region 4 pool … Won the Surf 98 and Surf 99 club team championships.
PERSONAL
Parents are Chris and Shannon Cortez … Comes from the same island (Maui) as the greatest player in the modern era of UO soccer, Oregon Hall of Famer Nicole Garbin.

"From all the schools I visited and researched, nothing came close to the facilities of Oregon," said Cortez. "The overall support of UO was also a key for me and the area felt like home."

Zoe Hasenauer
5-7, F, Simi Valley, Calif., Royal High School, Club Team: Real So Cal
HIGH SCHOOL
Scored nearly 60 goals her first three seasons at Royal High School (15 as a freshman, 28 as a sophomore, 15 as a junior) … Also tallied nearly 30 assists (eight as a freshman, 14 as a sophomore, five as a junior) … Led Royal to the 2016 CIF Southern Section final four as a sophomore when she was named offensive MVP of the Coastal Canyon league … A three-time first team all-CIF Southern Division and all-Coastal Canyon League selection … Named first team all-county by the Ventura County Star and first team all-area by the L.A. Daily News … A Top Drawer Soccer Winter state all-star … In club action, was Real So Cal's leading scorer with 22 goals and seven assists in 2017-18 … Assisted on 23 goals in 2016-17 when Real So Cal won the U-16 West Coast Tournament.
PERSONAL
Parents are Kim and John Hasenauer.

"What I really admire about the soccer team is their hunger to learn and improve," said Hasneauer. "There's also a never-give-up attitude which goes a long way in attaining team goals."

Claire Watkins
5-6, D, San Diego, Calif., Helix Charter High School, Club Teams: San Diego Surf/Albion SC
HIGH SCHOOL
A member of the 2015-16 Olympic Development Program national championship team … A three-time all-league selection and a two-time all-CIF San Diego Section honoree for Helix High School … Led Helix to the 2016 San Diego CIF championship and the Southern California Regional championship … With Albion SC, was a three-time National Cup finalist (2014-16).
PERSONAL
Parents are Dave Watkins, and Mona and Noah Kooiman.

"The University of Oregon has always been a very big interest of mine and right when I walked on campus I knew it was the school for me," Watkins said. "The atmosphere and environment made me feel at home."

Jordan Wormdahl
5-4, F, Eugene, Ore., North Eugene High School, Club Teams: ETFC/Crossfire United
HIGH SCHOOL
The 2017 Oregon 5A state player of the year led North Eugene High School to the state finals and a runner-up finish … North was the 2017 Midwestern League champion … Was a two-time Midwestern League MVP (2016-17) … Earned back-to-back all-state first team status in 2016-17 … Was a three-time all-league selection … Also ran track for North Eugene and finished third in the state in the intermediate hurdles in 2017 … Ran on the 4x100 meter relay team that finished third at the 2017 Oregon State Meet.
PERSONAL
Parents are Brandy and Derek Wormdahl … A three-time National Honor Society member with a 4.0 prep grade point average … Mother Brandy played collegiately at Oregon State.

"I really like the trust the players have in the coaches," said Wormdahl. "And for me, being close to home and family, with the amazing academic and athletic support and facilities that Oregon has was important. Plus the team is an underdog in the Pac-12 and I want to help build the program into a winner."

- www.GoDucks.com -

University of Oregon Athletics

Oregon Soccer Signs Five, Including Oregon Player of the Year

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