EUGENE, Ore. – Student-athletes with connections to a UO Hall of Fame member and the U.S. Women’s National Team have signed with the Duck soccer program and will join the team this fall, new head coach Tracy Joyner announced Friday.
The latest additions to the 2025 roster are midfielder Izzy Sawyers from San Clemente, Calif., and defender Selah Simms from Brentwood, Calif.
Simms was a Bay Valley Athletic League first team honoree for Liberty High School, where she was coached by Nicole Toeaina – formerly Nicole Garbin, who is arguably the best player in UO program history. Toeaina, the 2006 Pac-10 player of the year, remains Oregon’s career leader in goals (34), game-winning goals (22) and shots (257). She was inducted into the UO Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sawyers helped her club team, Slammers FC ECNL, win the championship at the prestigious Best of Best Surf Cup tournament in 2023. She also led San Juan Hills High School to the 2022 Trinity League title. Sawyers is the daughter of two-time FIFA World Cup champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist with the USWNT, Julie Foudy.
Sawyers and Simms are the sixth and seventh players to sign with Oregon under Joyner. They will join transfers Kate Cheldelin, Abella Hunter, Gia Kiesling and Elise Picard and incoming freshman Addisen Boyer in Joyner’s first recruiting class.
Izzy Sawyers, 5-8, Freshman, Midfielder, San Clemente, Calif.
San Juan Hills High School | Club: Slammers FC ECNL
HIGH SCHOOL
Helped her high school win a conference title and her club team win the championship of the prestigious Best of Best Surf Cup tournament … The all-Trinity League honorable mention selection led San Juan Hill High School to the 2022 conference title … Team captain … Part of a Slammers FC ECNL club team that captured the championship at the 2023 Best of Best Surf Cup tournament … Honor roll member.
PERSONAL
Born in Mission Viejo, Calif. … Parents are Julie Foudy and Ian Sawyers … Mother Julie is one of the most iconic players in American soccer history. She won FIFA World Cup titles with Team USA in 1991 and 1999 and brought home Olympic gold for the American side in 1996 and 2000. Julie was a four-time All-American at Stanford, and is currently an announcer for ESPN and part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League … Father Ian played collegiately at Carnegie College in England and then went into professional soccer with Rotherham United … Major is undecided.
Coach Joyner on Izzy Sawyers
““Izzy is an exceptional midfielder. Her vision, technical sharpness and tactical awareness will add depth to our dynamic midfield. A midfielder with those qualities can really make a difference by linking up play and controlling tempo. Izzy is determined – I’m excited to see how she will contribute to the Ducks.”
Selah Simms, 5-6, Freshman, Defender, Brentwood, Calif.
Liberty High School | Club: Pleasanton Rage / Lamorinda SC
Was a Bay Valley Athletic League first team defender for Liberty High School, where she was coached by Nicole Toeaina – formerly Nicole Garbin – arguably the best player in UO program history. Toeaina, the 2006 Pac-10 player of the year, remains Oregon’s career leader in goals (34), game-winning goals (22) and shots (257). Toeaina was inducted into the UO Hall of Fame in 2017 … In addition to the all-league honors, Simms was recognized as the recipient of Bay Valley League Sportsmanship Award in 2023-24 … Played club soccer for Pleasanton Rage and Lamorinda SC … ODP experience in 2022 and 2023 … Also ran track for Liberty and set the school record in the 300-meter hurdles … Part of Liberty’s 4×100 meter relay team that reached the finals at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions … Two-time North Coast Section CIF Scholar-Athlete.
Born in Walnut Creek, Calif. … Parents are Garfield and Charlene Simms … Father Garfield wrestled at Northwestern … Major is undeclared.
Coach Joyner on Selah Simms
“Selah is a cornerstone player on defense. A center back with a combination of intelligence, toughness, and leadership who can really elevate the entire backline. Her ability to shut down top strikers and organize the defense with her voice is huge—those qualities are invaluable.”
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