HSU Athletics – Former Arcata standout Claire Bareilles, left, will return to Humboldt County to play for the Jacks next season.

Humboldt State announced this week that former Arcata High standout Claire Bareilles will join the Lumberjacks women’s soccer program for the 2019 season. 

Bareilles spent the first two years of her intercollegiate soccer career with Simon Fraser University, but has now opted to return to Humboldt to play for the Jacks.

“We are excited to have Claire coming back home to finish her final two years of eligibility,” HSU head coach Paul Karver said. “The time she spent away playing at Simon Frasier has helped her grow, and we are very excited to benefit from that growth.” 

The talented midfielder played in 25 games and logged two goals and three assists for Simon Fraser.

“Having a player like Claire who came through Arcata High School with great accolades come back home to play here at Humboldt State is something that the whole community can get excited about,” Karver said.

The Eureka native was a dangerous offensive threat for the Tigers, helping them to four league titles while earning a 4.0 GPA in each of those four years. 

Bareilles was an all-league first-team selection in the Humboldt-Del Norte League in each of her final three seasons, and was a team MVP her senior year. 

She finished her prolific high school career with 41 goals and 45 assists for the Tigers.

“I chose to come back home and transfer to HSU because of their incredible environmental resource engineering department,” she said. “I am extremely excited to study and learn about something I am so passionate about. My dad, aunts and uncles, and both grandparents all went to HSU, so I am really happy I get to represent their alma mater while playing the sport I love for the program I grew up watching.”

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.