Kelsey Davis, a U.S. Under-20 National Team goalkeeper, transfers to Portland after one season at UCLA

PORTLAND, Ore. -- University of Portland associate director of soccer Garrett Smith has announced that United States Under-20 National Team goalkeeper Kelsey Davis has committed to attend the University and will join the defending national champion women’s soccer team this fall. Davis will redshirt the 2006 season due to national team commitments, but will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2007 for the Pilots.

“I fell in love with the town,” Davis said, when asked about her decision to come to Portland. “I was looking for a change of scenery having grown up and lived in Southern California my whole life. I wanted to go to a smaller school with good academics, and the soccer program at Portland is just amazing. It seemed like a place where I can grow and I’m really excited about joining the team.”

Davis (5-10) will see some familiar faces when she arrives on The Bluff. In 2004, she teamed up with current Pilots Stephanie Lopez, Angie Woznuk and Megan Rapinoe for the U.S. Under-19 team at the FIFA World Championships in Thailand. Davis has been a member of youth national teams for the last five years and was recently named to the U-20 team, alongside Lopez, which qualified and will compete in the 2006 FIFA World Championships Aug. 17-Sept. 3 in Russia.

During CONCACAF qualifying for the World Championships in January, Davis started three of the five matches for the U-20s, allowing three goals and recording one shutout in 270 minutes. She was in goal for a 3-0, World Championship clinching semifinal win over Mexico and a 3-2 CONCACAF championship victory over Canada.

“Kelsey is a world class goalkeeper,” Smith said. “She brings a wealth of maturity to the position from her extended international experience. Kelsey has the most proven talent of any incoming goalkeeper in our program’s history, and with our two current keepers being seniors, the timing will work out great as we will not rely on two incoming freshmen to fill the goalkeeper role in 2007.”

A Soccer Buzz top 25 national recruit out of Thousand Oaks, Calif. and the So. Cal United club system, Davis was a 2005 Parade Magazine All-American and three-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American. She was rated as the No. 1 goalkeeper recruit in the country according to Student Sports Magazine.

Davis earned the Golden Glove Award at the 2004 National Club Championships, while leading So. Cal United to the title. She played only two years of high school soccer because of club and national team commitments.

In her only season at UCLA, Davis appeared in eight games, including two starts, and did not allow a goal in 298 minutes while making eight saves. She recorded one shutout, making five saves in a 3-0 win over Oregon. UCLA and Portland would go on to meet in the NCAA College Cup title game with the Pilots came out on top by a 4-0 margin. Davis did not appear in the championship match.

Davis will join an already announced five-member freshmen recruiting class that was rated No. 12 nationally by Soccer Buzz, including the No. 2 international recruit (Sophie Schmidt), the No. 7 individual recruit (Kendra Chandhoke) and a top 50 individual prospect (Michelle Enyeart). Schmidt will also redshirt the 2006 season due to Canadian National Team commitments

“This group of incoming players is phenomenal,” said Smith. “We have compensated for the loss of four seniors by bringing in six quality individuals. Next year is looking bright and 2007 is looking even better as Kelsey and Sophie will be eager and ready to contribute.”