SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's soccer team is pleased to announce the addition of defensive midfielder Jamesen Ward to its 2019 recruiting class.
 
"We were thrilled to have Jamesen commit to us and become a Don!" said assistant coach Pinder Nijjar. "She has a fantastic attitude and energy about her and we are really looking forward to integrating her into our culture that we are continuing to build here. This was one of those recruits that just showed up to an ID camp and did very, very well and as a staff we were all impressed with her level of play and overall demeanor. We are mostly excited about her calmness and composure that she will bring to us in possession and we will believe if she can have a positive pre-season that she will come in and challenge for a place in our top 11."
 
The 5-foot-9-inch native of Seattle attended King's High School where she was a three-time letter winner for the Knights playing under head coach Nicole Gabelein.  In her freshman and sophomore year she earned the Playmaker Award as voted on by her team.
 
During her three years playing for Kings she helped guide her team to a 45-13-6 record and two district championships. Her sophomore season her team went 11-0-1 in the district and finished as the ninth ranked team in the state of Washington.
 
Ward was also very active on the club scene playing for the Seattle Reign Academy under head coach Sam Laity.
 
Off the pitch, Ward excels in the classroom.  All four years in high school she was named to the Honor Roll, including the High Honor Roll her last three years.  She earned the service award and history award in her junior year of high school and is a leader of the Social Justice Club, ASB Public Relations Rep, Co-President of Acts of Random Kindness Club and was an Intern at World Concern.
 
Both her parents played soccer at George Fox University.  Her mother Gegi was inducted into the George Fox Hall of Fame in 2009 and ranks third in career points with 79, second all-time in goals with 32 and fourth in assists with 15.
 
Ward chose USF because of the "academic opportunities and hands-on learning offered in a city where there are networks of alumni and staff willing to work one-on-one." Says she loves that San Francisco is the perfect combination of still feeling like home in downtown Seattle and yet offering many new places to discover. 
 
Hobbies include skiing and swimming.  If she could travel anywhere in the world she would like to visit Greece.  If she wasn't playing sports she'd like to learn how to cook or garden.  After she graduates she'd like to travel for a few years before starting her career. She'd like to be a children's psychologist or juvenile detention center social worker. Her favorite book is "Just Mercy," her favorite movie is The Perks of Being a Wallflower and her favorite TV show is The Office.
 
With the addition of Ward, the Dons will have seven newcomers for the 2019 season.  Joining Ward will be prep players Kaylin Lunsford, Megan Nail, Keely Roy, Tia Catalano, and Mariah Diaz, as well as JC All-American Halle Watson.