UCI Signs O'Brien for D-Fense
IRVINE, Calif. --- The 'Eaters have signed Haley O'Brien (Downey / Burroughs HS) to the women's soccer program to continue the 'Eaters' defense prowess.
O'Brien comes from a school that is currently 13-7-3 and finished second in the Pacific League in 2011. O'Brien has made First Team in the league in 2010 and 2011 as well as league MVP both of those years. She earned Second Team all-area honors in 2010 as well, and has made waves off the field as well being a scholar-athlete, a member of the National Honors Society, and takes part in Habitat for Humanity.
In club action, O'Brien was a member of the Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) pool in 2007 in addition to playing with Real So Cal. With Real So Cal, she played under coach Keith West as they won the 2011 Surf Cup.
"Haley played most of her club soccer with Real So Cal for Cal State Northridge Head Coach, Keith West. Keith does a great job with developing players so we are thrilled that we are getting a player who has learned from people who know exactly what it takes. Haley has an instinct for defending, a blue collar approach to hard work and over the last couple of years she has continued to develop into a player who can play anywhere across the back line. We graduate two starting central defenders and an outside back this year so Haley will be competing with a number of players for those spots." – Head Coach Scott Juniper
O'Brien will join an 'Eater program that has won consecutive Big West regular season titles as well as consecutive at-large appearances in the NCAA Tournament which included a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.
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