The following was printed on Julie (Tortora) Baechler's
HOF plaque:
The first Siena Heights women’s soccer player ever named
to an NAIA All-America team, Julie Tortora was a
1st-Team All-American as a freshman in 1986 when the
Saints fielded their first varsity team. Led by Tortora and
SHU Hall of Famer Abby English, the 1996 Saints instantly became a
nationally-ranked program.
During her four-year career, Tortora played on three district
championship teams, two Area VI championship teams and the 1988
squad that finished third at the NAIA National Championships.
Tortora was the first Siena Heights women’s soccer player to
reach the 100-point plateau and still ranks #3 all-time in assists
with 37. She also played basketball and tennis while at Siena
Heights.
