WOODBURY, Minn. --- Traveling for competition and camps is a common part of competitive soccer for many and it's certainly familiar for Minnesota native Jess Hase. Hess has traveled to the West Coast for multiple showcases and camps over the past few years and now plans to have an extended stay in Southern California with her commitment to the Biola women's soccer team.

"Jess may very well be our first BUWS player from Minnesota. She found us and attended multiple Biola visit events prior to us being able to see her play," said Head Coach Erin Brunelle. "As a defender, she has the pace and physicality needed to compete well at the Division II level.  She connects passes well out of the back, and we look forward to developing her defensively in order to be a commanding presence on the backline."

Hase was an all-conference centerback as a junior and as a senior for the New Life Academy Eagles, which finished the 2018 season with its best conference mark during Hase's high school years at 6-1-1. She also received awards from the Eagles for Leader of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for New Life Academy during her senior season.

"Jess is attracted to Biola for all of the right reasons and we know she will take full advantage of the community and environment that Biola provides to its students," added Brunelle.

Academically, Hase plans to major in kinesiology at Biola and hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy. At NLA, she was a member in the National Honors Society and tutored other students as a leader in the school's writing center. Hase has also developed an interest in interacting with other cultures after going on missions trips to Mexico and hope that her time at Biola will help her pursue that interest while developing as a soccer player:

"I chose Biola because I wanted to go to a school that would challenge me in every aspect of my life," said Hase.

Hase will join the Biola Eagles for their first season of NCAA postseason eligibility in 2019. More information about other incoming student-athletes can be found on the Committed Athletes page.