March 28, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Natalie Weeks, a talented defender, has transferred into the UC Santa Barbara women's soccer program and will be eligible as a sophomore for the 2008 season, head coach Paul Stumpf has announced. Her addition makes the Gauchos outstanding recruiting class of 2008 even stronger.

Weeks, a native of San Ramon, Calif., played in eight matches as a freshman at Colorado, starting seven, before being sidelined by injuries for the second half of the season. She played 591 minutes in her eight matches, an average of nearly 74 per game, and she had a pair of assists from her defender position.

Weeks was four-year letterwinner at California High School in San Ramon. She captained the team as a senior, and was named team MVP in each of her final two seasons. Weeks was a two-time First Team East Bay Athletic League selection, and a two-time California High School Female Athlete of the Year.

At the club level, Weeks played for the Mustang Blast, helping them to six-straight league championships, five state championships, and a pair of Region IV titles. In 2004, the Blast won the USYSA National Championship. Weeks played outside defender and defensive center midfield for her club.

"We are very pleased that Natalie has decided to transfer to UCSB," said Gaucho head coach Paul Stumpf. "She is a talented player who will bring a high level of experience with her. Natalie is a great addition to the program."

The addition of Weeks, combined with an outstanding group of incoming freshmen, gives UCSB its best recruiting class in a number of years.