SEATTLE - Seattle U women's soccer has announced the addition of five talented student athletes for the Class of 2022. Kaia Bace, Bella Bonnett, U'i Kaaihue, Alana Lamb and Caroline Penner have all signed National Letters of Intent to play soccer for the Redhawks starting next fall.
Kaia Bace
5-9 | Goalkeeper | Toms River, New Jersey | Toms River HS East/PDA
A four year varsity member at Toms River High, Bace has posted 146 saves and eight shutouts in 2021. Bace was a leader on a team that reached the 2020 state cup finals. She has been a member of Players Development Academy for seven years and reached the 2019 national finals.
Head Coach Woodward on Bace: "We are very excited to have Kaia joining the program from New Jersey, brining her from the east coast to the west coast. Kaia has all the potential and traits to become a leading goalkeeper in our conference. She has standout ability with the ball at her feet or in her hands as well as having athleticism and diving reach that allows her to get to balls others would struggle to save. There is a good reason Kaia has been in with the US Youth National Team in the past."
Bella Bonnett
5-11 | Midfield | Ontario, California | Claremont HS/Sporting CA Arsenal
As a member of Claremont HS, Bonnett won the 2020-21 league championship and reached the CIF division two semifinals. For the 2020-21 season, she was named to the state and all-league first team as well as a scholar athlete. On the club circuit, Bonnett won two Cal South National Cups and was named on the ECNL U17 Second Team All-Southwest Conference.
Head Coach Woodward on Bonnett: "Bella gives a coach everything they could want. She is a talented and physical player that has a special range of passing where the ball feels like it is glued to the ground. She is a connector both on and off the field and we know she will be a leader in this program. Her leadership, along with her technical ability and fitness will set her up for immediate success. Bella constantly improves as the game goes on, when others start to fade. She is a special player and a great addition to our team."
U'i Kaaihue
5-1 | Midfield | Makawao, Hawai'i | King Kekaulike HS/Maui Rush
A two time league champion and state finalist at King Kekaulike HS, Kaaihue was named on the first team all-state and all-league team as well as the Na'ali'i award winner during the 2019-20 season. Kaaihue won tournaments such as the Beaverton, Oswego and Crossfire Challenge Cup in her three years on the Maui Rush club team.
Head Coach Woodward on Kaaihue: "We were fortunate enough to discover U'i during her sophomore year at the Hawaii high school state tournaments. She combines a unique blend of technical ability and high-level soccer IQ that allows her to be a great play maker. We are excited to have her join th program and to see the surprise she brings to her opponents."
Alana Lamb
5-5 | Defender | Riverbank, California | James C Enochs HS/De Anza Force
Lamb was a team captain for the California Thorns for three seasons before becoming team captain of De Anza Force over the last two years.
Head Coach Woodward on Lamb: "Alana has all of the classic defender traits in that she is willing to be physical, get stuck into tackles and willing to do the dirty work others might shy away from. At the same time, she is clean in her distribution and will be able to connect our lines of possession very well. She also adds a ultra competitive attitude that will make for a special player in our program.
Caroline Penner
5-7 | Midfield/Forward | Olympia, Washington | Capital HS/Washington Premier FC
Penner is a four year varsity starter and three year captain at Capital High, where they made a state tournament appearance in 2021. She was named 2021 3A SSC Offensive MVP and has been honored on the all-area and all-league teams from 2018-2021. She was voted Capital High's offensive MVP from 2018-2021 and team MVP in 2018.
Head Coach Woodward on Penner: "We have been waiting a long time to get Caroline to join Seattle U as she is a perfect fit for our university and team in every way. She is focused, hard-working and has continued to improve since the day she committed, making her DI ready right away. It will be fun to see where she ends up playing as she can score goals, play back to pressure and cover the field as a central midfielder. Whatever her position might be, we know Caroline will be a huge part of our future."
Stay connected with Seattle U women's soccer and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
Kaia Bace
5-9 | Goalkeeper | Toms River, New Jersey | Toms River HS East/PDA
A four year varsity member at Toms River High, Bace has posted 146 saves and eight shutouts in 2021. Bace was a leader on a team that reached the 2020 state cup finals. She has been a member of Players Development Academy for seven years and reached the 2019 national finals.
Head Coach Woodward on Bace: "We are very excited to have Kaia joining the program from New Jersey, brining her from the east coast to the west coast. Kaia has all the potential and traits to become a leading goalkeeper in our conference. She has standout ability with the ball at her feet or in her hands as well as having athleticism and diving reach that allows her to get to balls others would struggle to save. There is a good reason Kaia has been in with the US Youth National Team in the past."
Bella Bonnett
5-11 | Midfield | Ontario, California | Claremont HS/Sporting CA Arsenal
As a member of Claremont HS, Bonnett won the 2020-21 league championship and reached the CIF division two semifinals. For the 2020-21 season, she was named to the state and all-league first team as well as a scholar athlete. On the club circuit, Bonnett won two Cal South National Cups and was named on the ECNL U17 Second Team All-Southwest Conference.
Head Coach Woodward on Bonnett: "Bella gives a coach everything they could want. She is a talented and physical player that has a special range of passing where the ball feels like it is glued to the ground. She is a connector both on and off the field and we know she will be a leader in this program. Her leadership, along with her technical ability and fitness will set her up for immediate success. Bella constantly improves as the game goes on, when others start to fade. She is a special player and a great addition to our team."
U'i Kaaihue
5-1 | Midfield | Makawao, Hawai'i | King Kekaulike HS/Maui Rush
A two time league champion and state finalist at King Kekaulike HS, Kaaihue was named on the first team all-state and all-league team as well as the Na'ali'i award winner during the 2019-20 season. Kaaihue won tournaments such as the Beaverton, Oswego and Crossfire Challenge Cup in her three years on the Maui Rush club team.
Head Coach Woodward on Kaaihue: "We were fortunate enough to discover U'i during her sophomore year at the Hawaii high school state tournaments. She combines a unique blend of technical ability and high-level soccer IQ that allows her to be a great play maker. We are excited to have her join th program and to see the surprise she brings to her opponents."
Alana Lamb
5-5 | Defender | Riverbank, California | James C Enochs HS/De Anza Force
Lamb was a team captain for the California Thorns for three seasons before becoming team captain of De Anza Force over the last two years.
Head Coach Woodward on Lamb: "Alana has all of the classic defender traits in that she is willing to be physical, get stuck into tackles and willing to do the dirty work others might shy away from. At the same time, she is clean in her distribution and will be able to connect our lines of possession very well. She also adds a ultra competitive attitude that will make for a special player in our program.
Caroline Penner
5-7 | Midfield/Forward | Olympia, Washington | Capital HS/Washington Premier FC
Penner is a four year varsity starter and three year captain at Capital High, where they made a state tournament appearance in 2021. She was named 2021 3A SSC Offensive MVP and has been honored on the all-area and all-league teams from 2018-2021. She was voted Capital High's offensive MVP from 2018-2021 and team MVP in 2018.
Head Coach Woodward on Penner: "We have been waiting a long time to get Caroline to join Seattle U as she is a perfect fit for our university and team in every way. She is focused, hard-working and has continued to improve since the day she committed, making her DI ready right away. It will be fun to see where she ends up playing as she can score goals, play back to pressure and cover the field as a central midfielder. Whatever her position might be, we know Caroline will be a huge part of our future."
Stay connected with Seattle U women's soccer and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.