Jorge Ruiz, a member of the U.S. Under-18 national soccer team, signed a letter of intent with UCSB, Gaucho coach Tim Vom Steeg announced Friday.
A forward, Ruiz played club soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy Acadeny. He won a national championship with the club’s U-16 squad in 2014. College Soccer News lists Ruiz as the No. 5 prospect of the 2015 recruiting class.
The Mission Hills native joins a UCSB recruiting class that has been ranked as high as No. 5 by Top Drawer Soccer and features No. 23 prospect Geoffrey Acheampong of Cate School, No. 36 prospect Kosti Moni, and No. 2 goalkeeper and No. 22 overall prospect Justin Vom Steeg of San Marcos, the son of coach Vom Steeg
“Our great 2015 recruiting class just got even better with the addition of Jorge Ruiz to the program,” said coach Vom Steeg. “He is a dynamic attacking player who is has the ability to serve as a link-up player in the attack or be the one who finishes the play with a goal. The experience of playing for the national team and for a national championship club team will help him greatly with the transition to the college game.”
