BOISE — The Boise State soccer team is loaded with more local talent than ever.
Leading the way for the team is former Rocky Mountain High School standout Raimee Sherle, whose 18 goals last season not only led the Mountain West Conference but ranked third nationally.
Sherle is joined by several Treasure Valley prep standouts, including senior defender and former high school teammate Addy Standlee, sophomore forward Aubree Chatterton (Bishop Kelly), senior defender Allegra Weeks (Timberline), freshman defender Kennedi Paul (Capital), freshman goalkeeper Sydney Smith (Caldwell), freshman midfielder Julia Lewis (Boise), sophomore goalkeeper Lili Finch (Boise) and freshman defender Macie Nelson (Borah).
Several other Treasure Valley players have already verbally committed to the Broncos, including Alicia Chatterton (Bishop Kelly, 2021), Payton Baracat (Boise, 2019), Sophie Drown (Eagle, 2021) and Haley Apple (Timberline, 2019).
Head coach Jim Thomas says having so many local players in blue is by design.
“We bleed blue here and the only way you can bleed blue is if you understand what it is,” Thomas said. “Boise State means something different to Raimee, means something different to Addy. Having players that hold your institution at a higher regard than you do as a coach is a really, really unique thing. So motivating those players to do things above and beyond the pitch is very, very easy.”
The Broncos open their season at home Sunday, August 19th at 1 p.m. against Idaho.