UCLA freshman soccer player and U.S. Women's National Team starter Mal Pugh has left school to pursue professional soccer opportunities.

Pugh, who enrolled at UCLA in the 2017 Winter quarter, played in three spring games for the Bruins this year and was due to begin her freshman season this fall after spurning the professional route earlier last year.

"This decision was certainly not easy for me to make," Pugh said. "UCLA is such a special place, and being a Bruin was an incredible thing. UCLA Soccer brought amazing things to my life, and chasing after a national championship with my friends and teammates would've been special, but I could not turn down this opportunity. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, UCLA Athletics, and everyone else for the support I have behind me. I may have been here for a short time, but UCLA will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always be a Bruin."

"We are sad to see Mal depart UCLA, but it's exciting for her to have such a unique opportunity," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell . "Our relationship with Mal started a long time ago in the recruiting process. We've seen her develop and grow into an amazing young woman and player. Mal will always be a Bruin, and we have no doubt that she is destined for great things as her career progresses."

Pugh is a starter on the U.S. Women's National Team and has amassed 22 caps and four goals since making her National Team debut in January of 2016 when she was 17 years, 269 days old. Pugh scored a goal in that game, making her the 19th U.S. female player and the sixth-youngest to score a goal in her international debut. She was a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team and was the 2015 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year after winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championships.

Despite Pugh's departure, UCLA returns a strong group of players from last year's squad that advanced to the NCAA Round of 16, including Olympic bronze medalist and 2016 All-American Jessie Fleming and All-Pac-12 honorees Anika Rodriguez and Hailie Mace . The Bruins also signed a strong freshman class for 2017 that includes several Youth National Team players, including two with full national team experience.

"Our team next year will be very talented," said Cromwell. "The future is very bright, and we are excited about adding the 2017 class to the program."