SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis Senior soccer player Janae DeFazio will be joining the nationally-ranked UCLA soccer program next fall.
"Since the beginning of the recruiting process, it has been the dream school for me," said DeFazio. "When I first started talking to them, I was so excited. Things slowed down the recruiting and I was going to make another decision. But I did not give up to reach that goal. When it was time to make a decision I still had that option. I reconnected with them and they offered me a spot. It was a dream come true."
DeFazio will play for UCLA Head Coach Amanda Cromwell, who has led the Bruins into the NCAA Tournament in five of her six seasons.
"It means a lot because this has been what my life has revolved around since I was four years old," said DeFazio. It is fun doing something I love every day and am passionate about. Being rewarded with this opportunity at the end of it is pretty cool."
The Bruins won the 2013 National title and were finalists in 2017. UCLA is currently playing in the 2018 tournament as the No. 2 overall seed.
"There are a lot of things I like about the program" said DeFazio. "There is a lot intensity and everyone has to earn that spot. We are held to that high standard so we will always be pushing to meet that. After meeting the team, I saw that everyone was super close and had a really fun environment on the team."
DeFazio, who hopes to study biology but will not decide until sophomore year, has been a three-year starter for the Troubadours while playing in 61 games. She has scored 30 career goals for the Troubies, including 16 in her breakout sophomore season with six assists to helo her NSCAA High School All-Region honors. She also has 18 career
"Janae has the ability to take over a game," said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. "Her technical skills are fun to watch and very difficult to defend. She is smooth, clever on the ball and shoots with both accuracy & power. She is a truly special player."
DeFazio, who plays for the Davis Legacy soccer club, will participate in the St. Francis Signing Day Celebration with a talented group of teammates that have high expectations this season. Joining DeFazio will be Jackie Koerwitz (Miami), Lindsey Porter (UC Santa Barbara), AJ Tanner (San Francisco State) and Elise Urkov (Army)
"I am looking forward to our team having their best year in our final season," said DeFazio. "Our big goal is to beat Davis so we are looking forward to those games. Our team goal is to win sections."
DeFazio has helped St. Francis make three consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances and will finish her career as one of the top scorers in school history.
"I came to this school with soccer one of the main activities I wanted to be part of as a Troubie," said DeFazio. "It has been really special to part of it."
DeFazio will be among 12 student-athletes participating in the St. Francis Signing Day Celebration on Nov. 145 at 8:30 a.m. in the Campus Life Center. The event will be shown online on TroubieTV.
Janae DeFazio MaxPreps Page
