Alea Hyatt (left), Natalie Jacobs (right)
Trojans Announce Addition of Transfers Natalie Jacobs and Alea Hyatt
February 12, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features
LOS ANGELES – USC Women's Soccer Head Coach Keidane McAlpine announced the addition of a pair of high-impact transfers to the Trojans' roster for 2018, bringing in versatile defender/forward Natalie Jacobs and midfielder Alea Hyatt.
Jacobs transfers to Troy by way of Notre Dame and Hyatt comes to USC after playing at North Carolina last year. Both players are immediately eligible to compete for the Trojans in 2018 and are currently training with the team during the spring practice season.
Here's a look at the new additions:
Natalie Jacobs – 5'8" – Defender/Forward – Redshirt Junior – Coto de Caza, Calif. – Tesoro HS/Notre Dame – Slammers FC
Jacobs played as a freshman in 2015 for the Irish and then competed in the 2016 U-20 World Cup with the United States U-20 National Team, before returning to South Bend for the 2017 season. The ever-adaptable Jacobs has played all over the field during her collegiate and National Team career so far and was Notre Dame's leading scorer as a forward last season. She led the Irish with 13 goals and seven assists in 2017, and topped the entire ACC with 10 goals in conference play on her way to all-conference second team honors. Jacobs was also an ACC All-Freshman Team selection in 2015 after posting the second most points on the team with four goals and five assists.
Jacobs has also had plenty of playing time with United States Youth National Teams, earning 40 caps between the U-17, U-20 and U-23 squads. During her 2016 stint with the U-20 team, Jacobs played every minute of World Cup qualifying action and was named to the CONCACAF Best XI Team as a central defender. The highlight of her U-20 World Cup came when she scored the game-tying goal in the 89th minute against eventual champion North Korea. Jacobs has most recently been competing with the U.S. U-23 squad.
The Southern California native played her high school soccer at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita and played her club soccer for Slammers FC.
"Natalie has a great resume," said McAlpine. "We are very excited about her ability on the ball and, with her having played multiple positions both in college and for the National Team, we are excited about her versatility. It's very rare you get to add a player with her experience level to your team, and we are looking for her to not only be a great talent, but a great leader as well."
Alea Hyatt – 5'9" – Midfielder – Sophomore – Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara HS/North Carolina – Real California/Eagles/Surf
Hyatt comes to USC with two fewer years of collegiate experience than Jacobs, but no less hype as a top California recruit who headed east to North Carolina for one season. Hyatt played in 19 games for the Tarheels in 2017, helping UNC to an ACC Tournament title and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. She scored her first collegiate goal against Virginia Tech late in the season.
As a prep standout, Hyatt was named the Channel League MVP and earned all-league first team honors all four seasons at Santa Barbara High School. She was also named to the all-region first team. Hyatt played three years of club soccer for Real California, five years for Eagles Soccer Club and one year for Surf Soccer Club. She helped the Eagles to a second-place finish in the National Cup and made an appearance in the National finals with the Surf as well. Hyatt also spent time with the United States U-18 National Team in 2015 and was in the U-11-U-15 ODP systems prior to that. Not only a star on the pitch, Hyatt was a kicker on the Santa Barbara High football team for one season.
"Alea is a very athletic, very individually skilled player who has a great passing range," said McAlpine. "We're excited to add her dynamic ability and personality to our team. She will definitely be a great bonus to us in our midfield."
Jacobs transfers to Troy by way of Notre Dame and Hyatt comes to USC after playing at North Carolina last year. Both players are immediately eligible to compete for the Trojans in 2018 and are currently training with the team during the spring practice season.
Here's a look at the new additions:
Natalie Jacobs – 5'8" – Defender/Forward – Redshirt Junior – Coto de Caza, Calif. – Tesoro HS/Notre Dame – Slammers FC
Jacobs played as a freshman in 2015 for the Irish and then competed in the 2016 U-20 World Cup with the United States U-20 National Team, before returning to South Bend for the 2017 season. The ever-adaptable Jacobs has played all over the field during her collegiate and National Team career so far and was Notre Dame's leading scorer as a forward last season. She led the Irish with 13 goals and seven assists in 2017, and topped the entire ACC with 10 goals in conference play on her way to all-conference second team honors. Jacobs was also an ACC All-Freshman Team selection in 2015 after posting the second most points on the team with four goals and five assists.
Jacobs has also had plenty of playing time with United States Youth National Teams, earning 40 caps between the U-17, U-20 and U-23 squads. During her 2016 stint with the U-20 team, Jacobs played every minute of World Cup qualifying action and was named to the CONCACAF Best XI Team as a central defender. The highlight of her U-20 World Cup came when she scored the game-tying goal in the 89th minute against eventual champion North Korea. Jacobs has most recently been competing with the U.S. U-23 squad.
The Southern California native played her high school soccer at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita and played her club soccer for Slammers FC.
"Natalie has a great resume," said McAlpine. "We are very excited about her ability on the ball and, with her having played multiple positions both in college and for the National Team, we are excited about her versatility. It's very rare you get to add a player with her experience level to your team, and we are looking for her to not only be a great talent, but a great leader as well."
Alea Hyatt – 5'9" – Midfielder – Sophomore – Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara HS/North Carolina – Real California/Eagles/Surf
Hyatt comes to USC with two fewer years of collegiate experience than Jacobs, but no less hype as a top California recruit who headed east to North Carolina for one season. Hyatt played in 19 games for the Tarheels in 2017, helping UNC to an ACC Tournament title and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. She scored her first collegiate goal against Virginia Tech late in the season.
As a prep standout, Hyatt was named the Channel League MVP and earned all-league first team honors all four seasons at Santa Barbara High School. She was also named to the all-region first team. Hyatt played three years of club soccer for Real California, five years for Eagles Soccer Club and one year for Surf Soccer Club. She helped the Eagles to a second-place finish in the National Cup and made an appearance in the National finals with the Surf as well. Hyatt also spent time with the United States U-18 National Team in 2015 and was in the U-11-U-15 ODP systems prior to that. Not only a star on the pitch, Hyatt was a kicker on the Santa Barbara High football team for one season.
"Alea is a very athletic, very individually skilled player who has a great passing range," said McAlpine. "We're excited to add her dynamic ability and personality to our team. She will definitely be a great bonus to us in our midfield."
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