SALT LAKE CITY – The 2023-24 signing class for the University of Utah women’s soccer program was officially announced on Monday and head coach Hideki Nakada has signed up 11 new faces, all of whom will be donning Utah colors prior to the start of the 2024 season.
“I am thrilled to announce and welcome this exciting signing class of student-athletes,” said head coach Hideki Nakada. “This group brings in a unique blend of youth and experience that will raise the level of competition and quality immediately, as well as give us the stability for long-term success as a program.
“These four wonderful transfers add so much value to our current group with their experience playing in the ACC, SEC, WCC and NCAA tournament and will no doubt will make an immediate impact. Our seven incoming freshmen all come from highly competitive environments that will challenge and push the current group.”
Rachel Bastone – Defender – Mission Viejo, Calif. – Santa Clara University
After helping the Santa Clara Broncos reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons, including a run to a National Championship in 2020-21, Bastone will be joining the Utes for the 2024 campaign. The California native set a career-high in 2023 with 1391 minutes played, fifth-most on the roster, and added her first career goal in an August win at Washington. She was also on the back line for 10 clean sheets, one of which came against Arizona State in SCU’s NCAA Tournament opener.
Bastone joined the Broncos after a career at JSerra Catholic High School in which she earned All-American and all-state honors. She was a two-time all-county and all-conference pick as well and helped lead her squad to state championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019, serving as a captain on the latter team.
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After helping Santa Clara reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons, including a run to a National Championship in 2020-21, Rachel Bastone is joining the Utes
Throw up the ??, Rachel!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/KY2D2iODCu
— Utah Women’s Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) December 6, 2023
Rachel is the daughter of Julie and Peter Bastone and has three siblings, Frankie, Dominic and Gino. Her dad was a football player at Princeton and all three of her brothers participated in athletics in college, including her…
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