2006 UCLA Bruins

Los Angeles said: ↑

Kara has joined practice and is working on her shot, Cheney is healthy, DiMartino is as explosive as ever, and here are three of our recruits. I hope 2007 is as exciting as ever!

Lauren Barnes, a defender from Upland, Calif., is rated as the No. 2 overall recruit in the nation according to Soccer Buzz. The defender from Upland High School was named a Parade All-American in 2006. She was also named to the 2006 NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-America team. Barnes, who was named CIF-SS Co-Player of the Year in 2006, has been a member of the U.S. National Team program since the U-15 age group. She plays club soccer for Arsenal FC.

Kylie Wright, a midfielder from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is rated the No. 8 overall recruit in the nation by Soccer Buzz. She was recently brought into camp with the Under-20 U.S. National Team and, like Barnes, was a member of the 2006 NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-America team. A former member of the U-17 U.S. squad, she has been involved with the national team program since the U-15 level. Wright plays club soccer for the Southern California Blues and is a first-team All-Orange County selection at Tesoro High School.

Sarah Salazar, a midfielder from Broken Arrow, Okla., is listed as a top-25 recruit nationally by Soccer Buzz. Similar to Barnes and Wright, she has been with the U.S. National Team program since the U-15s, playing mostly with the U-16s and U-17s. She scored a goal in the U-17s 3-2 victory over Germany in 2006. Salazar plays club soccer for the five-time state champion Tulsa Thunder. She is also an all-conference player at Broken Arrow High School.

- from http://uclabruins.cstv.com
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UCLA was pretty banged up last year as playoffs rolled in and rolled on. Not only do the Bruins get Kara back, but also a healthy Larsen at midfield and Cook on defense.

Add Kara to the recruiting class and UCLA just got a whole lot better on both sides of the ball. I hear that Barnes is the real deal. She'll probably replace Davis at outside defender. Wright may be slotted to replace Lindstrom. Added to this group are the other quality recruits named by UCLA, plus a a sophomore transfer not yet announced. UCLA should be better next year. Can't wait.

Go Bruins!