Menlo-Atherton High grad Annie Harrier joined the UC Davis’ women’s soccer program just in time for the Aggies exhibition at San Jose State at 3 p.m. Friday.
UC Davis coach Twila Kaufman announced Harrier’s addition on Wednesday, completing an incoming class of 11, including a pair of transfers.
“This staff works really hard at recruiting, I am really proud of assistant coaches Marcelo Antonelli and Katie Addison’s daily efforts,” Kaufman said. “However, every once in a while as a coach, you are gifted a player you have never seen or heard of. This was the case with Annie.”
Harrier is also a top-notch track and field standout, having helped the Bears’ 1,600 relay team qualify for the state championships and setting a school record in the process. She also ran the 200 and 400 and 400 relay.
“She is a late soccer bloomer, having shifted her athletics focus from track to soccer,” Kaufman said. “We saw her at the very last possible moment and feel really blessed that we did. My experience tells me that we just landed an absolute diamond, time will tell just how lucky we are.”
Harrier, a three-year soccer letterwinner at M-A, was a first team All-Peninsula Athletic League (Bay Division) pick as a senior. She was also named team captain and was named team MVP.
“The coaches and teammates believe in me and are striving to achieve the same goals,” Harrier said. “I want to improve and work hard on the field and in the classroom; UC Davis provides a competitive environment that will help me reach my athletic and academic potential.”
Harrier led the 1,600 relay team to the California State Championships in 2014 by participating in the Bears’ third-place finish at the Central Coast Section finals. This spring, Harrier ran the 10th-fastest 400 time in the CCS.
For her academic success, athletic accomplishments and demonstrated leadership, Harrier was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Harrier, a former M-A soccer teammate of Colorado College’s Dana Gornick, who played in this summer’s World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, recorded three goals and eight assists last season and had 38 points in 39 prep contests.
Baseball
Dylan Cook of Portola Valley was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Gold Glove team at second base.
Cook, who plays for Georgia College of the Peach Belt Conference after completing two years at Canada College, Cook made an immediate impact in his first season with the Bobcats, leading the team in batting at .394.
The Menlo-Atherton grad had seven home runs and 50 RBI, scored 51 runs and stole a team-best 13 bases. He ended the year on an eight-game hitting streak and hit safely in 17 of his final 18 games.
Defensively, he recorded a .988 fielding percentage, committing three errors in 244 chances, including 26 double plays.
Cook is one of two players from California who play for Georgia, which finished 15-12 in the PBC and 33-19 overall.
Cook hit .416 with 20 RBI as a senior at M-A, helping the Bears to a 19-9 mark and a berth in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports