EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - The Santa Clarita Blue Heat of the West Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS) have officially announced ten signings to their 2016 squad. The Blue Heat look to light up the southern California sky this season as they have added an impressive mix of youth and experience, with five players from the nationally-recognized UCLA program and five veterans who have literally played all over the world.

Santa Clarita opens their 2016 season in the UWS West on the road, as they travel east to face off against the Houston Aces on Saturday, May 21st at Houston Sports Park (7:00 PM kickoff). The team’s home opener is on Saturday, June 2nd when they host the Colorado Storm at Master’s College (6:00 PM kickoff).

“Our club takes pride that we can bring top level of women's soccer to Southern California and to the City of Santa Clarita,” said Blue Heat Owner Carlos Marroquin. “From college All-Americans, Olympic athletes to World Cup vets, our group of players will provide local youth players a chance to view top level players week in and week out.

“We hope to have great competition every game and I believe we have the talent to take us far. I am excited to see this group of players compete and continue to grow throughout the season.”

POS. - NAME - HOMETOWN - COLLEGE (LAST TEAM)
D - Sasha Andrews - Edmonton, Alberta, CAN - Univ. of Nebraska (UMF Afturelding)
MF - Chloe Castañeda - Encino, CA - UCLA (Harvard-Westlake)
GK - Siri Ervik - Oslo, Norway - UCLA (Norway U-19 WNT)
F - Mele French - Mililani, Hawaii - Univ. of Oregon (Seattle Reign F.C.)
F - Julia Hernandez - Madrid, Spain - UCLA (Eastern Fla. State College)
F - Emma Kete - Auckland, NZ - Auckland Univ. of Technology (Canberra United F.C.)
D/MF - Gabrielle Matulich - Los Gatos, CA - UCLA (U.S. U-20 WNT)
D/MF - Gabbi Miranda - Highlands Ranch, CO - UCLA (U.S. U-20 WNT)
MF - Diana Redman - Queens, NY - Queens College (Santa Teresa CD)
D - Yadira Toraya - Oxnard, CA - Kansas Wesleyan Univ. (Mexico WNT)

Andrews has had a long & storied soccer career and will be a veteran presence in the Blue Heat defense. Sasha has 47 caps for the Canadian Women’s National Team and finished second with Canada at the 2009 Cyprus Women's Cup and won a bronze medal at the 2007 XV Pan American Games. She most recently played with Icelandic club UMF Afturelding in the Úrvalsdeild and has suited up for the Vancouver Whitecaps & Pali Blues in the now-defunct W-League, Linderud-Grei in the Norwegian Toppserien and Perth Glory in the Australian W-League.

Castañeda trained with the U.S. U-17 National Team in 2013 and 2014 and participated in the U-17 WNT National Training Center Invitational in February 2014. Chloe played four years as an attacking midfielder at Harvard-Westlake as the team went undefeated in Mission League play in 2015 and was a CIF Finalist in 2012 and 2013.

Ervik is a member of the Norwegian U-19 National Team and debuted with Norway’s U-15 National Team in a game against Sweden and was voted the game’s MVP. Siri made her UEFA debut at the European Women’s Under-17 Championships and helped shut out Lithuania. She split time in net for UCLA last fall, starting eight matches (3-4-1 record) with a 1.95 GAA and one shutout.

Hernandez will suit up for UCLA this fall as she was a freshman JUCO All-American last season at Eastern Florida State College. Julia led her team to a runner-up finish at the National Championship and scored the golden goal in the semifinal, one of 26 goals she scored in 2015 as she was ranked fifth in the nation in both goals and points (65). Hernandez attended U-15, U-16 and U-17 Spanish National Team camps and was a two-time U-18 Spanish National Champion.

French is a veteran forward who was named the 2014 W-League MVP after a championship season with the Los Angeles Blues, who despite their perennial success folded after that season. Mele played for Sky Blue F.C. when the team competed in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) before she joined S.C. Freiburg in Germany’s top flight. In 2015, the former University of Oregon star suited up for both Seattle Reign F.C. of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the W-League's Seattle Sounders Women.

Hernandez is a member of U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team and played with the U-18s from 2012-14 where she was team captain for a pair of friendlies at Mexico in July 2014. Julia has appeared in 29 games in her first two seasons at UCLA. Coming out of high school, she was nationally-ranked #7 by Top Drawer Soccer and was a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American.

Kete was part of New Zealand's squad at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and has been capped 48 times for the Football Ferns. Emma made her senior international debut against Australia in February 2007 and was included in the New Zealand squad for the 2008 Summer Olympic games, starting in each of the team’s group games. In 2014, she signed with Western New York Flash of NWSL before her stint with Manchester City in the FA Women's Super League (FAWSL). Kete has won two Australian W-League titles with Canberra United F.C. and Sydney F.C.

Matulich appeared in 13 matches for UCLA last fall and has played with the U.S. U-20’s. Gabrielle was a starter on the U.S. team that won the 2012 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship and played in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She was named the 2013 Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and earned NSCAA All-America honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Redman is a defensive midfielder for the Israel Women’s National Team and in 2015, played for Spanish club Santa Teresa CD in the Primera Division. Diana made her debut for Israel in 2010 during a match against Kazakhstan in Astana. In 2006, she moved to Israel and joined Maccabi Holon in the Israeli Women's First League, where she made six UEFA Women's Champions League appearances. She has also played for both the Long Island Rough Riders and the Pali Blues in the W-League.

Toraya returns to the Blue Heat this season after a 2015 campaign where she was one of final cuts for the Houston Dash of NWSL and was part of the Mexico Women’s National Team roster for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Yadira was a two-time NAIA All-American for Kansas Wesleyan University.

“We are ready to compete,” said Marroquin. “The club has the hunger. We are in a strong league and are in a difficult conference. It is always hard to predict the other team's strengths. We have to come out strong and with confidence from the start.”

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at Press@UWSSoccer.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. EDP serves as UWS administrators and will be facilitating schedules, disciplinary procedures, etc. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.