SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara women's soccer announced seven signees that will join the team for the 2027 season. The Broncos will welcome Maci Barlow, Mara Gilpin, Emi Hugo, Teagan Kaefer, Saara Lahtela, Kathy Long Capell, and Kyky O'Connor.
This class is full of talent and has the potential to be one of our best classes ever," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said.
Maci Barlow | 5-7 | Portland, Ore. | Racing Louisville | Pearson Connections
Barlow played club for Racing Louisville and was named ECNL Northwest Conference First Team.
She was a Lexington SC USL Super League First Academy signing and became the youngest goal scorer ever in the USL W League.
Barlow has also trained with the Houston Dash and Racing Louisville on the NWSL.
In her free time, Barlow enjoys going on bike rides with her dad, baking and cooking, and watching Chelsea FC play. She works part time as a pharmacy tech and as a coach at soccer camps.
"Maci has a high soccer IQ and is a dangerous threat to score or assist in the attacking third. She will be a target forward for us," Smith said.
Mara Gilpin | 5-7 | Lennoxville Quebec | Celtic Haut-Richelieu | Ecole Secondaire Triolet
Gilpin played club for Sherbrooke Mistral from 2016-23 and helped make the team three-time Quebec Champions. In 2024, she played for U-17 Celtic Haut-Richelieu. The team won the Quebec Cup and won the Bronze Medal at the Canada Soccer PDP National Championships. Gilpin then played for semipro Celtic Haut-Richelieu in League 1 and she was the youngest starter on a nationally ranked squad.
Gilpin excelled academically in high school, landing on the honor roll each year. She was also named Academic All-Canadian at Champlain College.
Gilpin volunteered as a coach at Mistral Soccer Club.
Her sister Hannah and brother Rowan both play basketball at Bishop's University, where her father coached for 30 years.
"Mara is very comfortable on the ball and a great passer. She will play holding midfield or center back with us," Smith said.
Emi Hugo | 5-8 | Waimanalo, Hawaii | FC Hawaii | Crossfire | Henry J Kaiser HS
Hugo played club for FC Hawaii and Crossfire Academy ECNL. FC Hawaii were National Champions in 2023 and Regional Champions in 2023 and 2024. In 2026, they were Surf Cup Champions as well. With Crossfire, the team made the Elite 8 in 2025. Individually, Hugo was named ECNL Northwest All-Conference First Team in 2025 and 2026.
At Henry J Kaiser High School, Hugo was the OIA East Player of the Year in 2026 and was First Team All-Hawaii, Defense.
Away from the field Hugo enjoys going to the beach and going on hikes.
Her mother Erin Sayegusa played soccer and Fresno State and her father played football at Menlo College.
"Emi is an outstanding athlete and very versatile player who can play anywhere down the spine of the team. She is great in the air and opens the game with long passing," Smith said.
Teagan Kaefer | 5-6 | Los Gatos, Calif. | MVLA | Los Gatos HS
Kaefer has been to USYNT ID Centers and Regional Camps 10 times.
Kaefer helped lead MVLA to the ECNL National Championship in 2025 and was a five-time team captain. The team also were ECNL Conference champions three times and she was ECNL All-Conference First Team twice.
In high school, Kaefer was a three-time First Team All-League pick and was the 2026 Defender of the Year. She helped the team to a D1 CCS Championship in 2026.
Kaefer volunteers for the AYSO Buddy Program for children with disabilities and coaches and local youth soccer camps.
Her cousin Garrett Bertsch plays football at Cal Poly.
"Teagan is very focused, smart and works hard on her preparation. She will be a joy to coach since she wants to be a great student of the game," Smith said.
Saara Lahtela | 5-3 | Los Altos, Calif. | MVLA | Homestead HS
Lahtela served as captain of Finland's U-19 Women's National Team.
She was also captain of MVLA and helped lead them to national runner up in 2026. She was named ECNL NorCal All-League First Team in 2025 and 2026.
At Homestead HS, Lahtela was named First Team All-League in 2023, 2024, and 2025 while being the SCVAL MVP in 2024. She was also SCVAL Rookie of the Year in 2023. The team were Division 2 champions in both 2023 and 2024.
Her father Juha played professional hockey in Finland and her cousin Veikko is part of Finland's U-18 Men's Soccer National Team.
"Saara is a tremendous competitor and communicator. She's a hard working midfield player who is effective on both ends of the field. She's a natural leader," Smith said.
Kathy Long Capell | 5-10 | Woodinville, Calif. | Crossfire | Redmond HS
Long Capell was named to the United Stats' roster for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. She was called to the 2026 training camp in August in preparation.
With Crossfire, Long Capell earned ECNL All-Conference Second Team honors for the Northwest Conference in 2026 and was selected as an ECNL Playoffs Standout as a top performer in the ECNL.
Her team were Surf Cup champions in 2024 and made it to the Elite 8 of the 2025 ECNL finals.
At Redmond High School, Long Capell was named First Team in 2025 and 2026 and Honorable Mention in 2024.
Long Capell works at a dog boarding business in her free time.
"Kathy is a quality goalkeeper with no weaknesses. In addition to cutting out crosses and making saves, she has outstanding distribution and a real presence on the field," Smith said.
Kyky O'Connor | 5-5 | Centennial, Colo. | Real Colorado National | Kent Denver School
O'Connor has worked with the ODP National team and was an Id2 National Team selection. In addition, she was a six time USYNT ID Center selection.
O'Connor and Real Colorado were 2025 ECNL Champions and Girls Academy National Champions in 2022. Individually O'Connor was named ECNL First Team All-Conference in 2024, 2025, and 2026 and was an ECNL Conference Cup Selection in 2025. In 2022, she was the Girls Academy Golden Boot winner.
In high school, O'Connor was named First Team All-State in 2025 and was First Team All-Conference in 2025 and 2026. She was Head of the Dean's List in 10th and 11th grades.
In her free time, she volunteers with the youth faith based soccer club Victory FC.
"Kyky is passionate and hard working She is very comfortable on the ball and can score out of her midfield position. She completes a high percentage of her passes," Smith said.
