Ciaran O'Brien, who earned second-team Soccer America All-Freshman honors in 2006, is transferring from San Diego to 2006 NCAA Division I national champion UC Santa Barbara.

O'Brien was the most widely recruited transfer player in the nation following a very successful freshman campaign with the Toreros. He was third on the squad with six goals and four assists for 16 points and earned co-WCC Freshman of the Year honors. O'Brien's father is former NASL player Fran O'Brien and his brother Leighton plays for the USL's Seattle Sounders.

O'Brien, who was also recruited by Washington, Indiana, and Maryland before deciding to transfer to UCSB, is expected to help fill the void in the Gaucho midfield left by the departure of Canadian Tyler Rosenlund and two other starters. Rosenlund left after his junior season to seek a professional contract in Europe. He recently ended a trial at Swedish club AIK Stockholm without being offered a contact.