| CONFERENCE TEAM RANKINGS |
ACC
Rank: 1 |
1. Virginia
2. North Carolina
3. NC State
4. Duke |
5. Boston College
6. Clemson
7. Maryland
8. Wake Forest |
9. Miami FL
10. Virginia Tech
11. Florida State |
YAHOO WAHOO
Virginia not only took the ACC Championship from North Carolina in 2004, but finished ahead of the Tar Heels in recruiting for the second consecutive year. This is the third time, following the Cavalier's #1 national signing class in 2001, that UVA has finished tops in ACC recruiting. Coach Swanson continued his trek into Ohio and brought in three top Buckeyes along with the nation's #2 recruit in Nikki Krzysik, a US U-19 team veteran from New Jersey. Kelly Quinn and Jessica Rostedt are both Ohio forwards joining Allison Fries from their home state as all played with US Youth National teams. Quinn was a three-time State Player of the Year and three-time NSCAA HS All-America. Krzysik, Amanda Stewart of Pennsylvania and in-stater Sarah Senty were all big defensive gets as the Cavaliers must replace their entire 2004 backline. Senty and Stewart have both seen time with the Region 1 ODP team along with New York midfielder Alex Singer of the Albertson Express. Texas keeper Celeste Miles led her Sting Royal club team to the USYS National Championship semifinals twice.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
NC State got a much-needed top notch class. Va Tech (#24 class in '04) and FSU (#7 in '03) both were off the radar although new Seminole coach Mark Krikorian may have late signees for FSU.
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America East
Rank: 16 |
1. Boston Univ
2. Hartford
3. New Hampshire
4. Vermont |
5. Stony Brook
6. Maine
7. Binghamton
8. Albany |
9. UMBC |
BOSTON U IS BACK ON TOP
Until last year's slip behind Maine, BU had signed the top recruiting class in the America East for four years running. The 2005 edition returns the Terriers to the top of the league signings. Mallory Doyle, an ODP Region 1 pool player, is the top signee and New Yorkers Lizzie Speck and Jenn Herman should earn starting nods. Shannon Mullen and Mara Osher both come from strong club programs and defender Erin Flynn heads east from Minnesota.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Hartford has its best newcomers since 2001. Maine's two signees are solid, but nowhere near last year's #51 national group.
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Atlantic 10
Rank: 13 |
1. Dayton
2. Richmond
3. Rhode Island
4. Massachusetts |
5. Saint Louis
6. George Washington
7. St Joseph's
8. Charlotte |
9. Xavier
10. Duquesne
11. La Salle
12. Fordham |
DAYTON IS FLYING HIGH
Dayton signed enough talented players to land at #38 in the country, the highest ever for the Flyers. Coach Tucker kept seven of Ohio's best at home, led by Annette Bonasso, Anne Mariscalco and Stephanie Wurth. Vanderbilt transfer Nikki Reed will be a big plus in goal and Kimberly Sacher is a capable midfielder from the San Diego Surf team.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Richmond has a national Top 50 class for just the second time. A-10 newcomer Charlotte misses the mark past classes have earned for the 49ers. La Salle was Top 100 last year; not close this time. Temple brings up the rear and St Bon has reported no signings.
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Atlantic Sun
Rank: 21 |
1. Mercer
2. Florida Atlantic
3. Campbell
4. Jacksonville |
5. North Florida
6. Kennesaw State
7. East Tennessee St
8. Gardner-Webb |
9. Belmont
10. Lipscomb
11. Stetson |
Mercy Mercy, It's Mercer
Not only did Mercer finish ahead of its Atlantic Sun rivals in the recruiting war, but the Bears end up with a class among the Top 100 in the country. Drawing mostly from the South, Coach Serafy picked up middies Meghan Castaldo and Kathryn Hurst from the powerful Peachtree City Lazers club team. Erin Theobald and Fiorella Lanfranco were both Florida All-State selections and Courtney Craig of Washington and Tophat's Heather Manting of Georgia each played on their state ODP teams. Ashley Cook comes from a strong Charlotte soccer club and joins two other all-staters, Montana's Kaytie Vander Voss and Tennessee's Megan Armstrong. The incoming class has a huge task ahead as Mercer looks to fill a very thin roster.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Mercer surprised many with this class. North Florida, in its first year of provisional D1 status, did well despite signing only in-state players. While Belmont and Lipscomb did little to change their status as conference caboose chasers, Stetson is slipping from years when the Hatters got some marquee recruits.
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Big 12
Rank: 3 |
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma State
3. Texas A&M
4. Nebraska |
5. Kansas
6. Missouri
7. Texas Tech
8. Colorado |
9. Iowa State
10. Baylor
11. Oklahoma |
LONGHORNS WIN OUT IN A VIRTUAL DEAD HEAT
Any of the top four finishers in the Big 12 could have claimed the top prize in recruiting for 2005. Texas A&M followed its top-ranked national class from 2004 with another great group and Nebraska improved over last year's strong newcomers. Texas and Oklahoma State both brought in international standouts with the Longhorns depth in its six-member class edging Oklahoma State's European contingent. Stephanie Gibson has been a Canadian youth national team player and could see time up top or in the back for Texas. Top 10 US recruit, Kasey Moore, is joined by her Laguna Hills Eclipse teammate, Jill Gilbeau, and should strengthen UT's defense. Keeper Dianna Pfenninger was a late addition to the class after deciding to stay near home and bring her US U-17 experience to Austin. Callie Raymond will give the nets some depth after her all-state prep career in Florida and another Florida prepster, Erin Davis of IMG Academy, heads to Texas. Davis, a Pennsylvania native and Youth All-America, should be a starting candidate right away in midfield.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
At #11 nationally, Oklahoma State gets its highest set of rookies ever and its fourth Top 60 class in the last five years. Texas Tech has had three Top 75 classes in the last four years. Oklahoma had a great ride just three years ago but is disappearing fast with a class at the bottom of the Big 12.
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Big East
Rank: 8 |
1. West Virginia
2. Notre Dame
3. Connecticut
4. Syracuse
5. Georgetown |
6. DePaul
7. Cincinnati
8. Louisville
9. Marquette
10. Seton Hall |
11. Rutgers
12. Villanova
13. Providence
14. St John's
15. Pittsburgh |
MOUNTAINEERS HAVE CLIMBED THE BIG EAST MOUNTAIN
A trio of national team Canadians head to West Virginia and give the Mountaineers the top freshman class in the Big East. Amanda Cicchini and Deana Everett both competed for Canada in the U-19 World Championships in 2004 and Robin Rushton is a U-20 Canadian Team member. Three talented local products chose to stay near home and play for Coach Izzo-Brown. Michelle Molinari is a two-time NSCAA All-America and twice was named state player of the year in West Virginia. Striker Stephanie Burgess is another all-state West Virginia prepster and Kelsey Fowler rounds out the threesome. Krystle Kallman of Minnesota is another HS All-America and Greer Barnes of New York is a member of the Region 1 ODP team. Stephanie Baugh (MO) and Mallory Beck (IA) are both all-state keepers and Iesha Efiom of Indiana is currently in the pool for the Nigerian National Team.
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Who's Hot, Who's Not:
At #6 in the nation, West Virginia is way hot. Syracuse could be positioning itself for a move up in the Big East with a solid class. Georgetown landed its fifth straight Top 100 signing class. South Florida, with the weakest signing class, will have to do more. Villanova and Rutgers didn't bring in anywhere near the caliber of recruits they've signed in recent years.
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Big Sky
Rank: 26 |
1. Idaho State
2. Sacramento State
3. Northern Arizona
4. Weber State |
5. Montana
6. Portland State
7. Eastern Washington |
BENGALS RETURN A ROAR
Coach Mark Salisbury took a year to settle in and then returned Idaho State to recruiting winners that predecessor Gordon Henderson established. Salisbury hit the state of Utah hard and landed six all-staters, including Chelsea Cox and Kim Crosbie of the Utah Advantage. Celtic Storm defensive aces Kilee Quigley and Jamie Hatfield are new Bengals after earning Utah all-state in high school. Striker Jenny Ford and midfielder Jana Davis could contribute immediately for the Bengals who also get a solid keeper in St Louis transfer Lyndsay Gensler. Gensler, a Las Vegas native, joins fellow Vegas rookie Kalie McGuire who was an all-state Nevada defender.
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Sacramento State hit strong California clubs and Northern Arizona inked one of its best classes ever. Montana once ruled the Big Sky but titles aren't any closer unless more talent returns.
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Big South
Rank: 23 |
1. Winthrop
2. Birmingham-Southern
3. Coastal Carolina
4. Charleston Southern |
5. Radford
6. VMI
7. Liberty |
No Reports:
High Point
UNC Asheville |
EAGLES SOAR BEYOND THE BIG SOUTH
The jackpot rang loud when Coach Heinz signed three Aussies, including standout forward Julia Bazi, and put Winthrop on the soccer map. Not only did Winthrop land the top class in the Big South, but this group is the highest ranking nationally (#48) of any previous Big South women's signing class. Bazi was on the Australian team that competed in the 2004 U-19 World Championships. Dimi Poulos, a fast improving keeper, has entered into the Aussie National Team pool and Kristen Lee is a third Aussie entry who should join the starting lineup. The Eagles also signed American midfielder Erin Foote, who attends high school in Japan. Stateside, Winthrop brought in Floridian Kathleen Pollard and two-time All-Ohio selection Chelsea White.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Winthrop is moons above all Big South teams with this group but Birmingham-Southern did exceptionally well as a relative newcomer to D1. Liberty finished in the top half of the conference last year but won only once outside the league. This crop of newbies won't do much for any Flames improvement.
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Big Ten
Rank: 7 |
1. Penn State
2. Illinois
3. Ohio State
4. Michigan |
5. Northwestern
6. Wisconsin
7. Minnesota
8. Purdue |
9. Michigan State
10. Iowa
11. Indiana |
CLOSE, BUT PENN STATE REMAINS THE BEAST
Ohio State and Illinois may be closing but Penn State still brings in the top recruits in the Big Ten. This still unofficial class has enough merit to rank best in the league and Top 20 in the country. HS All-America Ashley Myers has been a US youth team standout for years and Kate Milstead is one of the top five keepers in the class of '05. Alex Long comes from the powerful Albertson Express club team and is a Region 1 ODP player. Jessie Davis (VA) and Allie Daus (TX) will give the Nittany Lions some depth in the backfield. This great class fills the few voids from a 2004 team that loses little.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Northwestern has now inked back-to-back Top 50 classes. Michigan State fared okay but had brought in Top 50 classes four of the past five years before this group missed that mark. Indiana lost its recent recruiting fire by signing only a couple of players.
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Big West
Rank: 11 |
1. Long Beach State
2. Pacific
3. Cal Poly
4. Cal State Fullerton |
5. UC Santa Barbara
6. UC Irvine
7. UC Riverside
8. UC Davis |
9. Cal State Northridge |
49ers STRIKE GOLD
Long Beach State made history in more ways than one with its 2005 signing class. The 49ers finished atop the Big West and #15 in the nation. Impressive as that is, Coach Mauricio Ingrassia set an entire new standard in recruiting: No other school has ever hit the Top 25 without having at least one prior nationally ranked (among the Top 100) class. Four Top 100 recruits will be instant hits at the Beach with Kim Silos, a former US U-16 player, headlining the group. Her club Arsenal teammates, Sara Baca and Dana Farquhar, join her at Long Beach. Hayley Bolt and Sahar Haghdan both bring Region 4 ODP experience and defender Tiffany Vaught arrives from the Southern Cal Blues and the Cal-South ODP team. Keeper Elizabeth Ramos and defender Julie Megordon are successfull Cal-North state ODP players and San Diego State transfer Amanda McKay will provide depth at midfield.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Cal Poly just cracked the national rankings with this recruiting group which is strong and deep despite having no big names. Cal State Northridge bottomed out with just two transfers after last year's stellar group.
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Colonial
Rank: 12 |
1. VCU
2. Northeastern
3. George Mason
4. Georgia State |
5. James Madison
6. Old Dominion
7. Delaware
8. William & Mary |
9. UNC Wilmington
10. Towson
11. Drexel
N/A: Hofstra |
BIGGER COLONIAL, BETTER VCU
Northeastern and Georgia State made impressive entries in the CAA with their new signings, but VCU claims top honors for best recruits in 2005. The Rams have a dozen rookies headed by two top international players. Stephanie Power is a former Canadian U-17 starter and Pernilla Jansson is a top Swedish club performer. Both should light up VCU scoring chances for coaches Chris and Denise Brown. Katherine Koussis and Amanda Olson won a national championship with their club team and Rebecca Zimmerman and Lauren Malan are solid prepsters from Virginia. New Yorker Francesca Gioeli is a Super Y regional player who could add to the offensive punch for VCU.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Northeastern got rich quick with some great players and Georgia State inked perhaps its best rookie class ever. Drexel continues to go nowhere fast and William & Mary signed a group that is a bit unknown and hard to compare with previous classes that excelled.
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C-USA
Rank: 9 |
1. Memphis
2. Rice
3. UCF
4. SMU |
5. Tulane
6. UAB
7. UTEP
8. East Carolina |
9. Marshall
10. Tulsa
11. Houston
12. Southern Miss |
MEMPHIS IS ROCK'N and ROLL'N
With a huge class, Memphis went big in more ways than one. The top class among C-USA schools ranked as the 27th best in the country. Three signees have participated in their national team programs at some point. Caroline Allen, Arkansas Player of the Year, was a US U-16 National Team camp invitee. JC All-American transfer Asuka Kubota has played with the Japanese U-19 team. Aika Young is a member of the Guam National Team. Memphis was another program that signed Canadian talent as Alexandra Atkinson, defender for the successful Dixie Blaze, joins the Tigers. HS All-America Chloe James is a midfield addition and is joined by two more Ohio prepsters, Kylie Hayes and Lindsey Joseph. Hayes scored 141 goals in her prep career and both were state ODP players. Laura Pfeffer of Michigan and Emiko Schwab of Colorado should also be strong additions for Coach Monaghan.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Behind Memphis, Rice and UCF signed their best classes since Buzz began recruiting rankings in 1998. UTEP and Tulane also stepped it up a notch this year. Better news should be coming out of Houston and Tulsa, but no good news this year. Both are hot soccer beds but neither university is capitalizing the way other C-USA programs are.
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Horizon
Rank: 17 |
1. UW-Milwaukee
2. Detroit
3. Butler
4. UW-Green Bay |
5. Cleveland State
6. Wright State
7. Youngstown State
8. Loyola, Chicago |
MILWAUKEE'S BEST IS TOAST OF HORIZON
Coach Michael Moynihan didn't travel far from Milwaukee but attracted enough talent to UWM to earn the Horizon's best recruiting nod. Four players have been part of the Region 2 ODP team, including three from Wisconsin. Kate Megna is a top 100 recruit and will team with Madison natives, Jodi Klagos and Beth Steuer, an all-state midfielder. Bailey Briggs and Sarah Teegarden won four state cup titles with Team Chicago in Illinois and Teegarden is a former Regional ODP pool player. All-state Illinois goalkeeper Erin Kane and defender Libby Shern of Minnesota round out the Panthers top class.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Detroit rolled into recruiting after a successful 2004 season and Cleveland State had a good class for a second-year program. Loyola's late coaching change didn't help and the Ramblers fell way back.
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Independents
Rank: 30 |
1. Colorado College
2. North Dakota St
3. South Dakota St
4. Northern Colorado |
5. Utah Valley Statet
6. Longwood
7. Howard |
No Reports:
Delaware State
IPFW
South Carolina St |
COLORADO COLLEGE OUTCLASSES OTHER INDIES
Three top Illinois prepsters give the Tigers a nationally ranked recruiting class and easily the tops of all Independent programs. Geneva Sills and Molly Uyenishi both play for Eclipse Select and are part of the ODP Region 2 team. Defender Alexa Bannerman comes from rival club Windy City Pride and is an Illinois state ODP player. Alexandra Valentine, a defender out of Arizona, won a club national championship with her Sereno club team while also playing for the state ODP team. The lone offensive addition for Coach Bennett is Lisa Harkins of Minnesota, a three time state cup champion with her St Croix Elite team.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
North Dakota State brought in solid recruits for a program in just its second year of Division 1 play. Most all others fall into the "not hot" or "too new to D1" category.
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Ivy
Rank: 10 |
1. Princeton
2. Penn
3. Yale
4. Brown |
5. Harvard
6. Dartmouth
7. Columbia
8. Cornell |
NO MATCH AS PRINCETON RULES
With a class among the Top 20 in the nation, Coach Julie Shackford should be in strong position for another College Cup appearance. Two of the top rookies, Aarti Jain and Taylor Numann, come from California. Numann was among the player pool for the US U-16 National team and Jain has been a Region 4 ODP player. Defender Jen Om of Virginia was a US U-17 pool player. Sarah Steele and Sarah Peteraf were both NSCAA HS All-Americas and ODP Region 1 pool players. Defender Allison Scott played with the Dallas Sting and helped the Texas North state team to a runner-up finish at the 2004 ODP National Championships. New Jersey all-state forward Allison Williams also brings ODP experience as a Region 1 player.
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Penn has its fourth straight Top 75 class and Yale has had two straight. Cornell continues to miss the mark set by other Ivy teams and Dartmouth's group is a notch below recent years.
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MAAC
Rank: 28 |
1. Loyola MD
2. Siena
3. Manhattan
4. Rider |
5. Niagara
6. Iona
7. Fairfield
8. Canisius |
No Reports:
Marist
St Peters |
LEADER OF PACK IS GREYHOUNDS
Once again, Loyola signed a rather small class but brought in the best recruits in the MAAC. Going out-of-state for all five signees, the Greyhounds found several players with ODP regional experience. Keeper Amanda Piccirilli of Pennsylvania may be the top signee. Sarra Moller is a great all-state back from New Jersey who played with the PDA Stampede. Christy Mazzola is another hard-nosed defender, playing with Eastchester Patriots and chosen for the Super Y Regional team. Coach Mallia inked Lea Day of Colorado and Florida all-state midfielder Andrea Lopez of Miami.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
No one has a group near the talent as Loyola but Siena fared well, bolstering its lineup with several transfers. Fairfield appears to be down with a change in coaches but more unreported recruits may be on their way.
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Mid-American
Rank: 19 |
1. Bowling Green
2. Ohio
3. Miami OH
4. Western Michigan |
5. Akron
6. Buffalo
7. Central Michigan
8. Eastern Michigan |
9. Ball State
10. Northern Illinois
11. Kent State
12. Toledo |
FALCONS BOWL OVER MAC FOES
NSCAA HS All-Americas Brianne Eisenhard and Corbie Yee, both from Ohio, have BGSU's recruiting class atop the MAC in 2005. Forwards Kristen McDonald and Susan Hunter come from the Dayton Soccer Academy club team and midfielder Amanda Campbell is the fifth Ohio native headed to Bowling Green. Coach Richards signed Tennessee all-state goalkeeper Christy Zabek and midfielder Meredith Repke of Illinois and the strong NSA Lazers club team. Valparaiso transfer Karie Sahly could step in right away in the backfield.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Akron scored its best recruiting group ever. Kent and Toledo both dropped significantly after last year's strong signings.
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Mid-Continent
Rank: 22 |
1. Oakland
2. Western Illinois
3. Southern Utah
4. Valparaiso |
5. Centenary
6. Oral Roberts
7. IUPUI |
OAKLAND IS THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT CAN
Kristi Smith of Canada is the lone non-Michigan in the 2005 newcomer list for Oakland. Jessica Boyle and Chelsea Atiyeh each are state ODP players and won several state cup titles with their Vardar III club team. Michigan all-state Kristi Evans should be strong as a defensive midfielder. Grand Valley State transfer Kristi Vandeberghe should add to the Oakland offense as Lauren Brodie, Brittni Carter and Mahsa Nekoogar round out Coach Nick O'Shea's 2005 class.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Inching its way up in the conference recruiting battle, Western Illinois has another strong group this year. Oral Roberts couldn't duplicate last year's success.
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Missouri Valley
Rank: 15 |
1. Creighton
2. Drake
3. Evansville
4. Indiana State |
5. SW Missouri State
6. Illinois State
7. Northern Iowa |
BLOWING AWAY THE FIELD ARE THE BLUE JAYS
Creighton was among the Central region's top 25 recruiting teams for the fourth time in six years but the big news is the Blue Jays national ranking at #56. Coach Bruce Erickson stayed in the Midwest for five solid recruits with Shawn Magrum of the Windy City Pride headlining the group. Magrum was part of three club national champion finalists and earned all-state honors twice in Kansas and once in Illinois. Forward Marcy Gans was named Offensive Player of the Year for Missouri after earning first team all-state three times. Gans' KC Dynamos teammate, Lindsay Vaught, heads to Creighton as a two-time all-state selection in Kansas and former pool member of the Region 2 ODP team. Colorado Girls Soccer Academy sends Nicole DeLue to Creighton as the midfielder has played on the Region 4 ODP team. The Jays' final newcomer, Kristen Casey, hails from Nebraska where she was all-state and keeper on the state ODP team.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Drake relied on transfers to garner a Top 15 regional class for the third time in four years and Evansville got back on the map with a solid list of signees. Stuck deep in the Valley is Northern Iowa, which continues to miss out on recruits good enough to have an impact.
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Mountain West
Rank: 6 |
1. San Diego State
2. BYU
3. Utah
4. TCU |
5. UNLV
6. New Mexico
7. Wyoming
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No Report:
Air Force |
AZTECS MAKE THEIR OWN HISTORY
San Diego State didn't just stop at finishing first in the recruiting race in the Mountain West. Coach Mike Giuliano pulled in enough top tier talent to rank 20th in the country. Three top signees from the Colorado Rush club team spark this year's class. All-state midfielder Carrie Blakenbuhler helped Rush to three state cup titles and played with the ODP state team. Millie Allen and Erika Sutton both saw time with either the US U-17 or U-16 team and were All-Colorado prepsters. Hawaiian Mariko Strickland comes to the mainland after time on the Region 4 team. The remainder of the large Aztec class are Californians. San Diego Surf defender Jillian Riker is an All-CIF athlete from Carlsbad. Another All-CIF defender, Lauren Marquez, helped Walnut HS to three CIF Championships and plays with the Cal-South state team. Goalkeeper Christine Yount brings a wealth of net experience to SDSU. Yount twice led her Slammers club team to the National Championship finals and earned the Golden Glove for top keeper in 2002 when the Slammers finished first. Rounding out the newcomers for Coach Giuliano is Keri Thrush (Forward, Slammers), Leann Sgobba (Midfielder, CA Legends), Kristen Seniura (Defender, CRSC Infinity), and defender Adora DaCosta.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Arguably, every team in the Mountain West is stepping it up in recruiting. Next to SDSU, TCU may have kicked up the highest turnaround with this years group. Wyoming may have ranked last in the MWC, but the Cowgirls continue to get recruits that are making them more competitive. With no official list of recruits at press time, Air Force will need a great class to keep up with the improving Mountain West.
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Northeast
Rank: 25 |
1. Monmouth
2. CCSU
3. Long Island
4. Mt St Mary's |
5. St Francis, PA
No Reports:
Fairleigh Dickinson |
Quinnipiac
Robert Morris
Sacred Heart
Wagner |
HAWKS SOAR OVER THE NORTHEAST
Monmouth laid wonderful groundwork to pull up in the Northeast standings with a great recruiting class that ranked in the Mid-Atlantic region for the first time in program history. Coach KrissyïTurner signed eleven players mostly from the northeast. BrieAnne Nomejko earned NSCAA HS All-America honors and plays with club team Lacey Magic. Illiana Blackshear, Joni De Moor, and three-time state cup champion Megan Bry also hail from New Jersey. Two all-state goalies, Katie Buffa (NY) and Addie Kozlowski (CT), join the Hawks as Buffa was also a Super Y regional team member. Monmouth should get offensive help from Rutgers transfer Tara Froehlich. Albertson Express defender Jaclyn Pember is also a state ODP player in New York. Leanne Clark (PA) and Michelle Zook (MD) bring good club backgrounds as Lisa Esposito of Colorado rounds out the Monmouth newcomers.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Long Island's group may have the Blackbirds headed back in the right direction. Wagner hasn't reported recruits but the Seahawks need a lot of help to pull out of the Northeast cellar.
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Ohio Valley
Rank: 27 |
1. Samford
2. SE Missouri St
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Austin Peay |
5. Jacksonville St
6. Murray State
7. Morehead State
8. UT-Martin |
No Reports:
Eastern Illinois
Tennessee Tech |
BULLDOGS KEEP BITE ON NEW OVC HOME
Coach Todd Yelton went out-of-state and signed ten players at Samford. More than half the signees come from state champion club teams. Michelle Bird and Valerie Kikkert played on the Georgia ODP state team while fellow Georgia Jenna Sturgill is a keeper for nationally ranked Peachtree City Lazers club team. Hailing from successful Brentwood club programs in Tennessee, Candace Clippard is an all-state defender and Jennifer Mlaker won three state titles in goal for her Excel club. Texans Lauren Fabion, Morgan Montigue and Marchele Olds all bring great club experience as Olds twice helped her Sting Royal to the National Championships semifinals. Highly decorated Cayley Winters earned All-Colorado honors in goal for her state champion high school team and played with the Colorado Girls Soccer Academy.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Eastern Kentucky gets kudos for signing a capable class to start its new program in 2005. Murray's new group won't help the improvement they made last year but UT-Martin will stay at the bottom of the OVC with its recruiting efforts.
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PAC-10
Rank: 2 |
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Stanford
4. Arizona State |
5. Washington
6. California
7. Oregon
8. Arizona |
9. Oregon State
10. Washington St |
ALL ROSES FOR USC SOCCER
Tops in the entire nation, USC had an unbelievable recruiting season. Only once before had USC finished among the Top 20 in the nation (2003) and the best regional placement was 7th two years ago. This class easily makes it marks as the best in Trojan history. US National Team player Amy Rodriguez will add instant offense after earning National Player of the Year honors. Meagan Holmes and Ashley Nick have both been US Youth National team defenders and both led their state teams to ODP National Championships. Joining Holmes (MD) as the only non-California signings is Colorado's Shannon Dickerson, a Colorado Rush defender who has played on the Region 4 ODP team. Southern Cal Blues sent three top players to USC: Janessa Currier, Jessica Potter and Maryhelen Tomer. Potter is in the Australian U-19 Team pool as a defender. Tomer is a three-time Youth All-America and could play up top or in the back. Currier was twice named CIF Defensive Player of the Year in California. Kristina Loucks, midfielder for Southern Cal United, was the Golden Boot winner at both the ODP National Championships and USYS National Championships. A two-time All-CIF performer, Brittany Massro will add depth in the net. Kelly Finch is another Region 4 pool player and will be a great offensive addition. Stacey Strong is a superb midfielder with the Cal-North state team and has seen time with the regional team. Colorado Rush defender is yet another Region 4 ODP player joining Coach Millinder's squad. Late transfer Leah Gallegos of Florida State returns to Los Angeles as the All-American may be one of the most seasoned players on the field for USC next year.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Most of the Pac-10 schools enjoyed great recruiting seasons, but UCLA, with the #2 class in the US, has a Top 10 group for the fifth time in six years. Washington State is dipping after four years of good additions.
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Patriot
Rank: 18 |
1. Lehigh
2. Army
3. Navy
4. American |
5. Bucknell
6. Colgate
7. Lafayette
N/A Holy Cross |
DOUBLE TAKE: LEHIGH TAKES FLIGHT
Last season, Lehigh had its best ever in women's soccer and with a top recruiting class, things continue to look bright for Coach Oudin's squad. Keeper Julie Kafka is the foundation of this class as the Regional All-American earned the Golden Glove as top keeper twice at ODP National Championships. She also led her Bethesda Excel club team to the National Championship final four twice. Hailey Coonrad is a New Jersey defender with the club World Class. Amy Caldwell of New Jersey and Amy Mastromonaco should be starting candidates in the midfield. Mastromonaco is a Cal-North state team player and Caldwell was an alternate for the Super Y Regional team. Maryland all-state forward Lea Erculiani heads to Lehigh as does NJ all-stater Christen Johnson, another Regional All-American in this group. The Mountain Hawks final signee is Pennsylvanian Gillian Malley.
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| Who's Hot, Who's Not:
Army has its fourth straight class of newcomers ranked among the region's best. Every Patriot team signed a class at or near the Top 200 in the country which is great for this league.
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SEC
Rank: 4 |
1. Tennessee
2. Florida
3. Vanderbilt
4. LSU |
5. Auburn
6. Mississippi
7. Arkansas
8. South Carolina |
9. Mississippi St
10. Georgia
11. Alabama
12. Kentucky |
TENNESSEE TOPS THE SEC
Four All-American prep stars and a Canadian standout join Coach Angela Kelly's power forming Tennessee program. Jackie Acevedo of Texas and Kylee Rossi of New Jersey both bring US Youth National Team experience and should add instant offense for the Vols. Acevedo was part of the North Texas state team that won the 2002 ODP National Championship. Midfielder Mick Ingram was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and was part of the US U-16 team pool. Regional All-American goalkeeper Jamel Johnson of Ohio has played with the Region 2 ODP team. Another Region 2 ODP player is Leslie Vineyard who was named Missouri all-state twice in her prep career. Another Ohio product joining the Tennessee program is midfielder Molly Buns. The biggest get for UT is arguably Veronique Maranda, a midfielder out of Quebec. Maranda has played with the full Canadian National Team and was part of the U-19 squad that competed at last year's Youth World Championships. This group, which ranks 5th in the country, may have other walk-ons with great potential joining. Mia Boyd is an NSCAA All-America midfielder from Texas. Jamie Bullock and Sarah Van Sickle both earned all-state in Tennessee with Bullock playing on the state ODP team. From the powerful CASL Spartan team comes Alexandra Crimmins, a North Carolina ODP state palyer and ODP National Championship semifinalist. Casey Crawford (LA) and Amy Ballew (VA) are ODP players on their state teams.
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Vanderbilt has now had a Top 50 recruiting class 7 of the last 8 years with this year's group #21. At #26, LSU has its best ever group of recruits. Arkansas also pulled in the best signees ever for the Razorbacks' program. Kentucky once consistently brought in a Top 10 regional class but continues to slip and missed a regional ranking for the first time in over 8 years.
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Southern
Rank: 20 |
1. UNC Greensboro
2. Charleston
3. Davidson
4. Georgia Southern |
5. Elon
6. Appalachian State
7. Citadel
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N/A Chattanooga
N/A Furman
N/A Western Carolina
N/A Wofford |
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY FOR UNC GREENSBORO
It only took three signees for Coach Eddie Radwanski to earn his highest ranking class in years. UNC Greensboro's gem in this class is Carolin Feierabend, a German U-18 team player. The forward has been a part of the U-17 and U-16 German teams. The other two signees are in-state forwards. Heather Mitrisin and Heather Deutschle both are all-state honorees who played for the NC ODP state team. Mitrisin scored over 120 goals in high school and was a part of the state team that advanced to the 2003 ODP National Championship semifinals. The Spartans lose just three players from the 2004 squad.
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For four of the last five years, the College of Charleston has had a regional recruiting class among the Top 20. Western Carolina had a coaching change and only one known signee. The Catamounts were a strong league team when they debuted soccer six years ago but they are falling quickly to the back of the pack.
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Southland
Rank: 29 |
1. Louisiana-Monroe
2. Stephen F Austin
3. McNeese State
4. Northwestern State |
5. SE Louisiana
6. Texas State
7. Sam Houston State |
No Report:
Nicholls State |
LOUISIANA-MONROE MAKES FINAL BIG NOISE IN SOUTHLAND
Entering its final year in the Southland, Louisiana-Monroe prepared itself well for a run at a final conference championship with the best class of recruits, just edging Stephen F Austin's new group. Coach Stacy Lamb kept signing players until she had eleven newcomers, including two junior college All-Americans from Hinds Community College. Stephanie Little is a forward from Hinds and should improve the Lady Indians' offensive choices in 2005. Karen Denney was twice named JC All-American as a keeper, allowing just 19 goals in two seasons in net. An all-state Florida forward, Kendall Dawkins also was a member of the state ODP team and helped her Palm Beach club team to three state titles. Samantha Dupuis (LA, Baton Rouge) and Lindsey Bass (GA, AFC Lightning) are two more forwards added at ULM who both won state titles with their club teams. Real Colorado sends two players to Monroe in defender Rachel Hobson and midfielder Rachel Spady. Three more signees, Brittany Lee, Brianna Flanigan and Jessica Gerbus, hail from Colorado as Gerbus led her high school team to a state championship. The final addition is Kendra O'Leary who earned Texas All-State regional honors and plays for the Texas Premier club.
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McNeese State inked a class that should help the Cowgirls make a move from the bottom of the league, but Stephen F Austin gets hot points for continuing to bring in some of the best recruits in the Southland to compete for the league title. Nicholls has reported no recruits to date but its a good bet no significant improvement in recruiting has happened this time around.
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Sun Belt
Rank: 24 |
1. Middle Tenn St
2. Louisiana-Lafayette
3. Denver
4. North Texas |
5. Western Kentucky
6. South Alabama
7. Arkansas State
8. Arkansas-Little Rock |
9. Troy
No Report:
Florida International |
MTSU RAIDS FOREIGN GROUND TO BOOST CHANCES
[Note: Additional recruits for MTSU were made available after national and regional rankings were compiled. While other league teams show higher regional or national rankings, the MTSU class ranks first in the Sun Belt when their entire class is considered.] Four international signees join three US high schoolers for a Blue Raiders recruiting class that earns high marks. Two Dayton, OH, area defenders, Lauren Fox and Elise Hutter, inked with MTSU. Hutter has been part of the player pool for the Ohio South state odp team. From California, Coach Aston Rhoden signed goalkeeper Courtney Fortner of the Rancho Santa Fe Attack. Rhoden's big signees, however, came from overseas. Midfielder Nenita Burgess is an Australian U-19 National Team pool player and was an alternate for the Aussie team that competed at the U-19 World Championships in 2004. From Norway, Ingrid Christensen arrives at MTSU with top level club experience as a defensive specialist. Christensen has trained with Norway's national team and captains her NFF squad. Another newcomer with national level experience is midfielder Katie Ann Daley of Wales. Daley captained the Welsh U-19 squad that competed in the Euro U-19 Championships and is currently playing with her country's National Team. The final addition to the Blue Raider squad is Stacy Crooks from Gateshead College in England. Crooks is an offensive threat who led Gateshead to the Senior Cup Championship in England.
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With its second consecutive class in the regional rankings, Louisiana-Lafayette hit a high mark this year with a class among the Top 80 in the country. Switching from the Atlantic Sun to the Sun Belt this fall, Troy will have to make huge strides in recruiting to have any chance in this league.
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SWAC
Rank: 31 |
Not enough information from schools to provide analysis |
SOCCER STILL GAINING GROUND IN SWAC
SWAC schools can make it difficult for fans to keep up with their soccer programs with improvement need in game reporting and almost no recruiting updates made public. Grambling is fast establishing itself as the best program in the SWAC despite Alabama A&M's longer sponsorship of the sport. Texas Southern and Jackson State are two schools that have provided recruits for 2005. Both inked good players but Texas Southern has the slight edge here with two junior college players whose experience should help right away. Keisha McDonald is an all-state keeper out of Nevada and Angelica LaBella, a midfielder from Texas, helped her club team to a state title.
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WAC
Rank: 14 |
1. Nevada
2. Fresno State
3. Hawaii
4. San Jose State |
5. Louisiana Tech
6. Utah State
7. Idaho
8. Boise State |
NEVADA PACKS A HEAVY PUNCH IN RECRUITING
It didn't take long for Coach Terri Patraw to make an impact at Nevada. Her first recruiting class earns top marks in the WAC as several Californians will join Nevada next season. Two defensive specialists will arrive from the Southern Cal Blues. Patrice Godwin is a two-time All-CIF defender from Los Angeles and Caitlin Holmes earned All-CIF first team honors in goal. Miranda Montejo earned first team All-CIF honors three times in California and helped her Laguna Hills Eclipse team to the 2002 USYS National Championship. Another All-CIF performer headed to Reno is Samantha Miller, a forward with the highly successful Slammers club team. The final signee from the Golden State is defender Sandy Tadros who competed with West Coast FC. Two recruits hail from Washington state, Anne Edwards and Randee Robinson. Edwards is a versatile athlete from club Crossfire who could play striker or keeper positions. First team All-Utah midfielder, Jessica Thompson, also signed with Nevada after playing with the state select team and helping her Celtic Storm club team to two state titles. From in-state, defender Tierra McCullah of Las Vegas and local midfielder Ashlie Brown, a state ODP team member, will suit up for Coach Patraw.
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In just its second season, Louisiana Tech quickly signed a class that is better than several incoming players for other WAC teams. Fresno has another class that equals it regionally ranked group from two years ago. Idaho did little in recruiting to help a program new to the WAC in 2005 that finished last in the Big West last year with just three total wins.
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West Coast
Rank: 5 |
1. Santa Clara
2. Pepperdine
3. St Mary's
4. Loyola Marymount |
5. San Diego
6. San Francisco
7. Gonzaga
8. Portland |
BRONCOS KEEP KICKING IT UP IN THE WCC
There's a winning formula at Santa Clara that allows the Broncos to remain a premier team in the country. Recruiting never dips at Santa Clara as the Broncos have earned a Top 4 class in the west region for the sixth year in the last seven. This set ranks fourth in the nation, equal to its 2001 group, and follows the top-ranked class of 2003. Courtney Lewis, Meagan McCray, Hayley Siegel and Amanda Poach are all signees who have been part of the US U-19 National Team pool. Each has earned multiple HS All-America honors as McCray and Siegel were named US Youth All-Americas three times. Lewis, a versatile forward/defender helped Laguna Hills Eclipse to a club National Championship in 2002 and just recently led her Cal-South team to an ODP National Championship semifinal appearance. Poach and Siegel have been a potent tandem for their Bethesda Excel club team and the Maryland ODP state team. They played on the Maryland team that won the 2005 ODP National title and was the runner-up in 2003. Their Excel team has been to the USYS National Championship final four twice as Poach was awarded the Golden Boot in 2003 as top tournament scorer. A Parade All-America midfielder, Siegel was State Player of the Year in Maryland. Pleasanton Rage's Dani Potts is another versatile forward/defender who is also a Youth All-America and was part of the US U-17 pool. Coach Jerry Smith will also get the services of former high school McDonald's All-American, midfielder Kira Sarkesian, who transfers from Arizona State after just one season.
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With a class nationally ranked for the fourth time in five years, Loyola Marymount continues to hold strong in the WCC. No team in the West Coast is slacking with their recruiting as every team was among the Top 130 in the country with Portland's two-woman class the lone reason the Pilots were not ranked higher. Gonzaga has improved but needs to nail recruiting more consistently each year.
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