Former Viking Samantha Coelho will be one of two goalkeepers on the UC Santa Cruz roster when the Slugs open the 2021 season against Simpson University in Redding Sept. 1. Coelho played for coach Jennifer Kerwin's Vikings in 2017-2018 and joins UCSC for her senior season this fall. 

The Santa Clara High School product enjoyed two noteworthy seasons as the WVC netminder. She earned All-Coast Honorable Mention in 2017, playing behind starter McKinly Yeager, a 2017 All-Coast 1st-teamer and the Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2018, Coelho earned All-Coast 1st Team and Coast Goalkeeper of the Year honors. She was named the 2018 WVC Most Valuable Player.

Over her WVC career, Coelho played in 40 games, starting 34, and finished with a 1.24 GAA, 122 saves, a .753 save %, 10 shutouts and an overall 19-9 record. A West Valley highlight for Coelho was a 10-save, 1-0 blanking of defending CCCAA champion Fresno City on 11/17/2018 in Fresno in the opening round of the CCCAA playoffs.

Coelho will play for UCSC Head Coach Lauren Nadler, who guided the Banana Slugs to a 13-4-2 record in 2019. UCSC plays in the NCAA D3 Coast to Coast Conference.