Women’s Soccer: 2009 Class Announced
February 05, 2009 02:22 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
February 6, 2009
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| Coach Izzo-Brown |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University head women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown announced today the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2009 season.
The nine signees are Steph Carpenter (M/Mays Landing, N.J.), Nicolette DeLaurentis (F/Sicklerville, N.J.), Sara Keane (GK/Mt. Laurel, N.J.), Ashley Magruda (GK/Belle Vernon, Pa.), Bry McCarthy (F/Ajax, Ontario), Bri Rodriguez (M/Aurora, Ill.), Mallory Smith (D/Hamden, Conn.), Caroline Szwed (M/Oakville, Ontario) and Caralee Keppler (D/Rockville Centre, N.Y.) who enrolled in January.
“With us losing such a big and talented group of seniors, it was important to find student-athletes who are committed to continuing the success of past teams,” said Izzo-Brown. “This is a versatile and hard-working class that has played a lot of high-level soccer from club level to national team and had great success.”
Carpenter was a four-year starter (2005-08) at Holy Spirit High, totaling 59 goals in her career. For three seasons (05, 06, 08), the honor roll student was named to the Coaches Conference Select Team and a Cape-Atlantic All-Star. Carpenter. Her team won the Cape-Atlantic Conference championship in 2005. She was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News All-South Jersey First Team in 2008. She was twice named a Press of Atlantic City All-Star (06, 08).
With the Mt. Laurel United Fire, Carpenter led her team to the 2008 state championship title and 2007 runner-up finish. She played on New Jersey state ODP teams from 2004-08, including a national championship team in 2007. A Region 1 ODP team member for four seasons (2005-08), Carpenter’s teams won Region 1 championships in 2006 and 2007. Her 2006 team played in Spain and her 2007 team played in Holland. Carpenter was in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 ODP National Team Player Pool, and attended the National Team Camp in two of those years (06, 07). She also participated in the 2007 Adidas ESP Camp.
“Steph is an extremely versatile player who is very technical on the ball,” said Izzo-Brown. “She has good vision and is very aggressive.”
DeLaurentis was a team captain at Gloucester Catholic High, leading her team to state championships in 2005 and 2007. A National Honor Society member, she was named to the All-South Jersey Team in each of her four seasons (2005-08). DeLaurentis was named New Jersey Girls Soccer Coaches Association (NJGSCA) All-State three times (06-08) and a NJGSCA Top 20 Player in 2008. A two-time NJGSCA All-South Region pick, she led her team to the 2006 South Jersey finals.
A member of the Mt. Laurel United Fire, DeLaurentis led her team to the 2008 state championship and 2007 state runner-up. A New Jersey state ODP member for four years (04-07), DeLaurentis played on two Regional ODP teams (04-05). Her teams were Region 1 champions in 2006, National Champions in 2007 and National Finalists in 2008.
“Nicolette has a goal-scoring mentality and maintains good composure in front of the net,” said Izzo-Brown. “We will need her 1v1 attacking ability.”
Keane earned 43 shutouts in three seasons for Bishop Eustace Prep, helping her teams win four conference championships (2005-08) and a pair of Parochial B state championships (06, 08 ). She was named South Jersey Goalkeeper of the Year for three-straight seasons (2006-08) where her teams were South Jersey champions in those years. In each of the last three seasons (06-08), Keane was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-South Jersey and Star Ledger All-State.
Coached by her father in club soccer, the Mt. Laurel United Fire were U-17 state cup champions in 2008. She was also named an NSCAA/Adidas youth girls All-Region selection. Keane has played on New Jersey state ODP teams for the past five seasons (2004-08), including a U-15 national championship. She played on Region 1 teams in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and was a U-16 and U-17 National Pool participant. Keane has been named Golden Glove winner at ODP nationals and at the 2007 Adidas ESP. She participated in the 2007 Adidas ESP Camp, 2007 Nike Premier 50 Camp and with the Atlantic City Diablos of the W-League.
“Sara has a fearless mentality between the posts,” commented Izzo-Brown. “She has good hands and quick feet, and is a commanding leader.”
Magruda, an honor roll student, was a four-year starter at Belle Vernon Area High. A team captain and First Team All-State performer in 2008, she was an All-WPIAL performer for three seasons (2006-08). Magruda holds the school record for shutouts in a season (13, twice) and in a career (45), and led her teams to sectional championships all four years. A four-year all-section pick, she was named to the 2008 Tribune Review Elite 11 All-Area Team. She was also named to the 2008 Post-Gazette All-Area Team and a Post-Gazette South All-Star in 2007 and 2008.
Magruda played club with the Beadling Soccer Team and International Football Club (IFC). With Beadling, her teams won three state cup championships. With IFC, she was a co-captain of its U.S . Club state champion team (05). She was also a PA West ODP player for five years (04-08), including team co-captain in 2007 and 2008. Magruda participated in Region 1 events for three years (04-07) and played for the West Virginia Illusion of the USL for half of last summer.
“Ashley also has good hands and good quickness,” said Izzo-Brown. “She displays the passion for the game that all coaches look for in a player.”
McCarthy, an Ajax, Ontario, native, played club soccer for the Oshawa Kicks. She guided her teams to Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Three times she was named the OYSL Golden Boot Award Winner (05-07). McCarthy and here teammates were Ontario Cup Champions in 2007 and 2008.
McCarthy comes to WVU with a wealth of international experience. She was the lone team captain of the bronze medal-winning Canadian National Team at the 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship. She was recognized by FIFA as one of the Top 4 Canadians after starting every match of the 2008 World Cup. McCarthy also won a gold medal with Ontario at the 2006 National Championships U-16 Girls All-Star Selects in Saskatoon .
“Bry is a very savvy player with great goal-scoring ability,” added Izzo-Brown. “She is an explosive player who will give defenders trouble.”
Rodriguez was a three-year starter at Waubonsie Valley High, leading her team to back-to-back undefeated state championship seasons. In 2007, Rodriguez scored 19 goals and had 23 assists on the way to the state title. This past season, the midfielder scored 17 goals and had 25 assists to lead her team to the repeat crown. Rodriguez is a three-time all-state performer by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. A three-time all-section and all-conference pick, she was also named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and IHSSCA Player of the Year in 2008. Rodriguez was named the Beacon News Player of the Year (07, 08), Naperville Sun Player of the Year (07, 08) and Daily Herald Captain and Player of the Year (07, 08).
A two-time NSCAA/adidas High School All-American, Rodriguez was recently named the 2008 NSCAA/adidas High School National Players of the Year. Rodriguez was a three-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America while playing for her Eclipse Select club team. She was named the 2008 IHSSCA Player of the Year while participating in the 2007 Adidas ESP Camp, 2007 Nike Premier 50 Camp, U-16 National Team Player Pool (07) and U-17 National Team Player Pool (08).
“Bri is a very creative, attacking center mid who gives a great final pass,” said Izzo-Brown. “She likes to get forward and has the technical ability to beat defenders 1v1.”
Smith was a four-time first team all-conference selection for Hamden Hall Country Day. She earned First Team All-State honors twice (07, 08) and all-area honors in three seasons (2006-08). She was a member of the All-New England Prep Team in 2007 and 2008 while guiding her team to New England Prep championships in 2006 and 2007. A three-time WNEPSAA All Star Team pick, Smith was named the 2008 New Haven Soccer Officials Association Female Player of the Year.
Smith has played club soccer for six years, most recently with Connecticut Football Club United, and has played on Connecticut ODP teams since 2003. She was a Region 1 team member in 2007 and 2008. Smith led her team to state cup championship seasons in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. She also played in the W-League for the CFC Passion.
“Mallory is a good defender and is great at winning balls in the air,” shared Izzo-Brown. “She is strong and physical, and can defend 1v1 with the ability to get forward in the attack.”
Szwed, one of two Canadians in the class, is an honor roll student at St. Ignatius of Loyola. She won a bronze medal with the Canadian National Team at the 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago. Szwed started every match of the 2008 World Cup. Szwed was twice nominated for the prestigious Adidas Canadian Player of the Year award (07, 08). The Oakville, Ontario, native won a bronze medal with Ontario at the 2007 BMO Financial Group U-16 Girls National All-Star Championship.
“Caroline is a very technical player who is good on the ball,” said Izzo-Brown. “She has good vision to connect her passes behind the defense and hold the ball for us in midfield.”
Keppler, who graduated high school early, is in her first semester on campus with the Mountaineers.
