Ducks Ink Eight to 2017 Recruiting Class

EUGENE, Ore. – University of Oregon women's soccer head coach Kat Mertz announced the addition of eight freshmen to the 2017 recruiting class on National Signing Day.

Come fall, the team will welcome Brooke Chandler (Sammamish, Wash.), Chardonnay Curran (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), True Dydasco (Honolulu, Hawaii), Mary Jane Erving (Eugene, Ore.), Eden Hardy (Ardcadia, Calif.), Mia Palmer (Portland, Ore.), Sarah Preston (Menlo Park, Calif.), and Hannah Taylor (Edmonds, Wash.).

"I'm extremely excited about the talent of our incoming 2017 class," Mertz said. "We have a good blend of attackers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers that will be able to help us continue our rise in the Pac-12. Overall, the class will bring excitement and energy to our program, will contribute on the field and in the classroom, and will be positive role models within the community."

Brooke Chandler

5'7 I Defense, Outside Mid I Sammamish, Wash. I Eastlake HS I Crossfire Premier

2016 was a statement year for Chandler in high school play and brought many accolades to her name including: selection to the Seattle Times All-Region All-Star team, Washington State 4A King Co Conference First Team Forward, Co-Offensive MVP and the Eastlake High School Offensive and Player of the Year. She also led the state of Washington in assists (16 in 14 games.)

With the Crossfire club team, Chandler was the top ECNL U17 Defensive Player in goals scored and assists and played at the ECNL Best XI national event in San Diego, Calif. She also helped lead the team to the 2013 ECNL National finals in Richmond, Va., and the 2012 US Youth Soccer Champion Cup finals. In 2011 and 2012, the team was named the US Club National Cup Northwest Regional champions.Chandler also has ODP experience, playing in the Region IV Pool Play in 2013.

In academics, Chandler earned Eastlake High Scholar athlete status in 2015 and 2016.

Chandler is the daughter of Rob and Kelly Chandler and has one younger brother, Dalton.

"The facilities at Oregon are amazing," Chandler said. "The Jaqua Academic Center, high-tech campus classrooms and of course Papé Field are all top notch. It was the commitment of the coaching staff at Oregon that impressed me the most. Their belief in their players and the program is so inspiring. I'm so excited to be a part of a growing program."

"We are looking forward to Brooke's ability to attack and defend from wide spaces," Mertz said. "She's a talented player who brings athleticism and a strong work ethic."

Chardonnay Curran
5'4 I Center Mid, Center Back, Forward I Ewa Beach, Hawaii I James Campbell HS I Hawaii Rush

At James Campbell High School, Curran served as the team captain from her freshman to her senior year and in 2014 and 2015, they won the OIA championship. In 2015 and 2016, Curran earned honorable mention for the All-Hawaii girls soccer selections and was named to the OIA West All-Stars first team. In 2015, she was named the Oceanic Time Warner Cable OIA Girls Soccer D1 Championship Impact Player.

Curran played for the Hawaii Rush club team for eight years and was coached by Arian Hoxha. She was voted the Forward of the Year in 2016, was named Top 11 and was the Defender of the Year in 2015. The Rush were the National Select Team PDT champions in 2015. Curran also has one year of interregional ODP experience.

Academically, Curran made the Honor Roll from 2013-16, has been an AVID member since 2012 and with a GPA of 4.0, a member of the Principal's List.

The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native is the daughter of Mari and Joe and has three sisters, Charis, Charity and Charissa.

"The University of Oregon has been my dream school since I was in the 7^th grade. After taking my first visit, I realized that it was much more than the soccer program. The U of O provides so many resources to their students and student-athletes. Coming from a small island, it's never easy to adjust to the main land, but Oregon feels like my second home and I couldn't be more excited to get started."

"Chardonnay is a versatile player and has the ability to impact our team in the midfield," Mertz said. "We are looking forward to her technical ability combined with her athleticism."

True Dydasco
5'2 I Midfield I Honolulu, Hawaii I Punahou HS I Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club

Native on Honolulu, Hawaii, Dydasco played for Phil Meddo and the Honolulu Bulls soccer club for 15 years. Dydasco helped lead the club to the State Cup championship title from 2012-16. The Bulls were also named the Pateadores Cup champions, Albion champions, South Bay champions, Surf Cup champions and were the Far West Regional finalists. Dydasco also has ODP experience and was a member of the Region IV pool and team member for three years.

With Punahou High School, Dydasco was named captain her junior and senior year. She made the ILH First Team back-to-back years and was named to the All-State team her junior year. In 2015, they were named the ILH division champions.

Dydasco is the daughter of Misty and Joe Dydasco and has an older brother, Zane and an older sister, Caprice.

"I love everything about Eugene, the University of Oregon and what the school has to offer to their athletes," Dydasco said. "I was most impressed about how much the people that work with the athletes' care. They have so many people that help them make everything go smoothly and everyone wants to see you succeed."

"True has a great knowledge of the game," Mertz said. "She's a skillful play-making midfielder and is a strong vocal communicator."

Mary Jane Erving
5-7 I Attacking Mid, Center Back, Center Forward I Eugene, Ore. I Sheldon HS I Eugene Timbers TC

With Sheldon High School, Erving was named First Team All-State in 2016, South West Conference Player of the Year and was voted MVP by the team. In 2015 and 2016, she earned First Team All-League selections and she was named to the second All-State team in 2015. The Eugene, Ore., native helped lead Sheldon to undefeated league play and championships in both 2015 and 2016. In 2013 14 and 16, the Irish advanced to the state quarterfinals.

In her 10 years of club play with the Eugene Timbers, coached by Bryn Dennehy, Erving was named team captain and helped lead the team to a OYSA State Championship in 2015 and state runner-ups in 2016. Erving also has ODP experience, having played in 1998, 2011 and 2012.

Eriving is not only gifted on the field, but excels in the classroom as well. She was a member of the National Honor Society, was elected as the ASB spirit coordinator, won the tri-sport athlete 3.5 GPA award and was selected as a Full International Baccalaureate diploma candidate.

Erving is the daughter of John and Jeannine and has one younger brother, Grant.

"Deciding to go to Oregon was not a difficult decision," Erving said. "It's located in my hometown and I have been a Duck fan my entire life. I've always looked up to the Oregon soccer players as a little girl and always knew that my dream was to become a Duck soccer player someday. The campus is beautiful and it's a perfect size. Academically, the U of O is a strong university and has many different majors that I'm interested in. I know I have many different options in deciding what I would like to do for a future occupation."

"Mary Jane is a talented local product that we are excited to see stay home," Mertz said. "She is an athletic player that will provide depth in the midfield."

Eden Hardy
5-10 I Center Forward, Outside Forward I Arcadia, Calif. I Arcadia HS I Eagles SC

Arcadia, Calif., native Hardy served as captain for two straight seasons for Arcadia High School in addition to being named Player of the Year for San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena Star News) and Player of the Pacific League during the 2015-16 season. She was also the team MVP and leading goal scorer. Hardy was named to the First All-Area Team and First All-CIF Team Division 4 for the past two years. Hardy helped lead Arcadia to five-straight Pacific League Championships and they were Division 4 CIF quarter finalists during the 2015-16 season.

With the Eagles SC club team, Hardy played for Mikey Alexander and helped the team to a second-place finish in the North American bracket back-to-back seasons.

Hardy was named a scholar athlete and is daughter to Greg and Lori McClain. She has one older brother, Brandon.

"The coaches made me feel so welcome when I came to visit campus," Eden said. "They made me feel right at home and I know this team and school will help me build even more confidence both on and off the field."

"Eden is a dynamic and creative attacking player," said Mertz. "We are thrilled to have her join our frontline. She will be a dangerous attacking presence in the Pac-12."

Mia Palmer
5-5 I Outside Back I Portland, Ore. I Grant HS I Crossfire United ECNL Onyx and Tualatin Hills United

Last September, Palmer was invited to the U18 WNT Camp and played in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the U18 WNT International Cup. She played at the ECNL PDP Northwest (Pacific) camp at the University of Portland in 2016 and in 2016 on the Nike campus.

In 2016, Palmer was invited to play with the WPSL Crossfire United Diamonds and helped lead the Crossfire United ECNL Onyx to the Northwest League championship and U17 ECNL League championship.

With the Tualatin Hills United soccer club, Palmer won the U15 NPL Champions Cup and the Northwest League championship in 2015. She also have ODP experience, playing on the 2012 Oregon State team and the 2012 Region IV Camp (Moscow, ID).

Palmer was a honor roll student and also ran track and field her freshman yeat. At the 2014 6A state meet, she placed fifth in the 4x100 meter relay and ninth in the 400m.

She is the daughter of Josh and Julie Palmer and one older brother, Jacob and a twin brother, Dylan.

"My parents went to Law School and Graduate School at the University of Oregon, so growing up, we have always been huge Duck fans," Palmer said. "I feel so comfortable on campus and with the coaches and I'm excited to continue my family legacy for being a Duck."

"Our goal is to keep the most talented local players home in Oregon and we did just that with Mia," Mertz said. "Mia is an attacking-minded outside back who will add skill and value to our back line."

Sarah Preston
5-11 I Goalkeeper I Menlo Park, Calif. I Woodside HS I De Anza Force 98G and PSV Union

In 2016, Preston helped the De Anza Force 98G to a second-place finish at nationals. In both 2014 and 2015, the team took third.

From 2010-16, Preston goal tended for ODP Cal North and played under coaches Jeff Baicher and Gary and Carine Ireland with the De Anza Force and PSV Union.

Preston, a merit scholar, is the daughter of Jim and Susan Preston and has one younger brother, Cole.

"When I first visited campus, I fell in love with the environment and the facilities," Preston said. "The campus is in the center of Eugene and the town is totally for the Ducks and support everything that has to do with the university. The facilities are by far the best I have ever seen for women's soccer – they treat you like professional athletes. Not only are we taken care of in athletics, but academically too with the incredible Jaqua Center. I cannot wait to officially get to campus and play in the Conference of Champions."

"We are looking forward to having Sarah join our talented goal keeping unit," Mertz said. "We are excited to watch Sarah's development during her time here at Oregon."

Hannah Taylor
5-9 I Center Back, Holding Center Mid, Edmonds, Wash. I Meadowdale HS I Eastside FC I Canadian Senior National Team

In 2016, Taylor played with the Canadian U17 National Team in Jordan for the World Cup and in China on the Four Nations Tour. She then played in Papua New Guinea for the U20 Women's World Cup and was nominated for the 2016 Canada Soccer Women's U17 Player of the Year. Taylor was also rostered and played with the Sounders Women (WPSL).

With Eastside FC, Taylor helped the team advance to the 2016 US Youth Soccer national championships. The same year, the team was named the Far West Regional Champions and won the U17 Washington State Championship.

While playing on her high school team, Meadowdale, Taylor was named the team MVP in 2014 and 15, was the team captain in 2015 and was named to the All-Wesco and All-Area 1^st Team. She also has ODP experience, playing for WA ODP/EPD G99 team from 2012-2015. She played at the Seattle US Soccer Training Center from 2012-2015 and attended the ODP/EPD US National ID Camp in Ojai, Calif., in 2014.

In academics, Taylor currently serves as the Link coordinator and has been a member of the National Honor Society since 2014.

The Edmonds, Wash., native is the daughter of Lola and Greg Taylor and has one older sister, Haili.

"When I stepped onto the campus and met the coaches, I already felt like a member of the Duck family," Taylor said. "I have always had aspirations of playing in the Pac-12 and get the opportunity to compete against the best players in college soccer. Oregon's facilities are amazing and I love the support the student-athletes receive both on and off the field. I truly believe that the University of Oregon is a place where I can grow as a person and a player."

"Hannah's experience with Canada's youth national team program will prove to be invaluable," Mertz said. "She is a hard-nosed defender with great skill and the ability to start our attack."

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