July 31, 2000

Los Angeles -- Headlined by U.S. Women's National Team defender Nandi Pryce, the UCLA women's soccer recruiting class has been tabbed No. 1 in the nation according to online soccer source, Soccer Buzz.

UCLA beats out 1999 NCAA Champion North Carolina and Pac-10 rival Stanford, two schools which finished second and third respectively in the recruiting class rankings, for the top honor.

"I'm extremely excited with the players that have committed to play here," head coach Jillian Ellis said. "We signed some outstanding players and collectively, I think we really do have one of the best classes in the country."

UCLA signed seven top-notch recruits in February, three of whom played for Ellis as members of the Under-16 U.S. National Team. In March, the Bruins' received an added boost with the signing of Pryce, considered one of the top-two recruits in the nation and a member of the U.S. Women's National Team.

"We are thrilled with Nandi's decision to attend UCLA," said Ellis. "Her impact on our program will be immediate. Her international experience as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team and her personal qualities make Nandi a tremendous asset."

UCLA is ranked No. 14 in the preseason NSCAA Rankings and opens the season at No. 6 Clemson on Aug. 25.

The following is a complete list of UCLA's 2000 recruits:

Victoria Bloom (Orange, Calif./El Modena HS)
	-- Two-time All-CIF selection, Under-18 ODP Regional Team member
Lindsay Greco (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS)
	-- CIF-Player of the Year, Led Capistrano Valley to No. 2 national ranking by USA Today
Jaclyn Harwood (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista HS)
	-- All-CIF selection, Monte Vista HS Athlete of the Year
Kathryn Lee (Stockton, Calif./Lincoln HS)
	-- All-CIF selection, former Under-16 U.S National Team member
Michelle Mangiardi (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose HS)
	-- All-CIF selection, member of four-time state champion San Ramon Crunch
Nandi Pryce (Casselberry, Fla./Lake Howell HS)
	-- U.S. Women's National Team member, Parade All-American
Jessica Stamp (Klein, Tex./Klein HS)
	-- High school All-American, former Under-16 U.S. National Team member
Sarah-Gayle Swanson (Denver, Colo./J.K. Mullen Christian Bros. HS)
	-- Under-18 U.S. National Team member, Parade All-American