Feb. 14, 2008

BERKELEY - California field hockey head coach Shellie Onstead announced the signing of five players to National Letter of Intent on Thursday. All five - forward/midfielder Claire Dougherty, midfielder Kristen Goodman, forward Jessica Kreck, goalkeeper Haleh Nourani and midfielder Megan Shimojima - are from the state of California. Four of the five are from the San Francisco Bay Area, with Nourani, a goalkeeper, hailing from Carlsbad.

"I am thrilled about this incoming class as a whole," Onstead said. "They will come in with a good handle on basic skills and experience in each line. In addition, they all have a genuine enthusiasm for this program. 2008 will be a great year for us."

All five have experience in USA Field Hockey's National Futures program, with four - Goodman, Kreck, Nourani and Shimojima - playing on the same under-19 team in the 2007 national tournament.

Nourani played in three straight National Futures Tournaments (2005-07), claiming a bronze medal in 2006. The 5-6 goalie also collected a silver medal with her team in the 2006 Junior Olympics and played in the 2005 Junior Olympics. She won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) title with her La Costa Canyon High School three straight times (2005-07).

Dougherty, a participant in the Futures Program for three years, is a high school teammate of Kreck's at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif. They were both All-CCS selections in 2007 for the Monarchs, who tied St. Francis High School for the 2005 and 2006 Central Coast Section (CCS) Championships.

Goodman, an All-CCS second-team pick and another participant in the Futures Program, was part of those 2005 and 2006 St. Francis teams as well as the 2007 team that took home the title as sole champion.

Shimojima, a San Jose product who attends Lynbrook High School, is another 2007 All-CCS selection who was named a BVAL MVP as a senior.