Women's Soccer: Four Sign for 2004
February 26, 2004 04:52 PM | General
February 26, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University women's soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown announced today the signing of four student-athletes for the 2004 season.
Joining the Mountaineers are Ashley Banks, Kimberly Bonilla, Lisa DuCote and Kiley Harris.
Banks, a native of Annadale, Va., is a 2003 NSCAA high school first team all-region honoree. She is a five-year state ODP player and a member of the 2001 regional pool. A forward, Banks led her club team to the 2003 Virginia state championship. In high school play, Banks was a first team all-conference and all-state forward in 2003. She was also the 2003 district player of the year. While playing for coach Jim Abt at W.T. Woodson High, Banks helped lead her high school squad to the 2001 state championship as well as the 2002 and 2003 district championship and regional semifinals.
"Ashley Banks is an extremely athletic and hard-nosed forward who will do whatever it takes to put the ball in the back of the net," comments Izzo-Brown. "We are excited to have Ashley join our team and feel she has the work ethic necessary to make an impact on our program."
A Dumfries, Va., native, Kimberly Bonilla brings two years of U-16 national team experience with her to West Virginia. Also a region I ODP team member for five years, she helped her squad to three state championship matches. Her club team, PWSI, was the 2003 WAGS champion and has also competed internationally against youth national teams from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and England. A forward or midfielder, Bonilla is an all-region and all-district player at Forest Park High School. She enters her senior season as the team's leading scorer for the past two years.
" Kim Bonilla is a tremendously technical player who brings loads of regional and national team experience with her to WVU," adds Izzo-Brown. "She is very soccer savvy and an extremely dangerous player. We are looking forward to having her with us this coming fall."
A highly decorated athlete, Lisa DuCote also hails from Virginia. A native of Fredericksburg, she is the 2004 Gatorade player of the year for the commonwealth of Virginia. DuCote is also a NSCAA high school All-American, a NSCAA high school scholar All-American, a NSCAA youth All-American and the USAA National Soccer Award winner. She is a four-year regional team player for coach Dick Dawson and a three-time national camp invitee. Entering her senior year at Massaponax High School, DuCote is the three-time all-area player of the year, the two-time all-region and all-district player of the year and a two-time first team all-state honoree at midfield.
"We are very excited to have Lisa DuCote coming into our midfield," says Izzo-Brown. "She has a very high work rate and is willing to do what it takes to makes things happen both offensively and defensively. Her attitude and drive to succeed will certainly impact our style of play."
Rounding out the class, Kiley Harris hails from Cicero, Ind. She is a two year regional team member and a five year state team player. Also a forward, Harris helped her state team to three consecutive Indiana state titles and her regional squad to the regional finals in 1999 and 2000 and a third place finish at ODP nationals in 2001. She is a four-time first team all-state player at Noblesville High School and was twice named athlete of the year by her local newspaper. Playing club soccer with Carmel Commotion, Harris led her squad to four state championships, two regional finals, one regional championship and the national championship match in 2003.
"Kiley very dangerous in front of the goal," Izzo-Brown says. "Physically and athletically, she causes problems for opposing defenses because of her speed and her ability to score goals. Kiley will be a valuable asset to our offensive attack.
"I believe this class has the mentality to come in and impact our program in areas where we graduated high caliber talent," Izzo-Brown comments. "We believe we have landed four very talented and hard-working soccer players.
