Seattle University women’s soccer coach Julie Woodward has announced that nine student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to come to Seattle University and participate in the women’s soccer program beginning in the 2008-09 academic year.
“I am really excited about the potential of this incoming class. I could not think of any other athletes I would like to have leading us on and off the field during this exciting time of our transition to Division I. They have all played at a very high level and will bring great passion, knowledge, and competitiveness to our program,” Woodward said.
Pfeiffer Bloecker has been the team’s leading scorer during her four years as a starter for Seattle Prep High School. The 5’3” forward from Seattle, Wash., helped her team win three Metro League titles and finish second in the state during the past two seasons. Bloecker earned all-league honors all four years, plus she was selected to the all-area teams by both the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Taylor Fannin is a 5’7” midfielder from Yakima, Wash., who has been a four-year letterwinner at West Valley High School. Last year she earned 12 goals and eight assists in leading her team to its fourth straight league title, its third consecutive regional championship, and a fourth-place finish in the state. Fannin is also student vice-president, a member of the National Honor Society, and a two-year letterwinner in both basketball and track and field.
From Snohomish, Wash., Madison Goverde is a 5’7” goalkeeper who posted ten consecutive shutouts during the 2007 season at Snohomish High School. Goverde gave up only 11 goals in 19 games as the team finished with a 16-2-1 record and advanced to the state playoffs for the third consecutive season. She participated in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2004 to 2006 and was selected to the Super-Y League ODP national pool in 2005.
Chelsea Jones is a 5’8” defender from Spokane, Wash., who has been a leader both on the field and in the classroom at Mount Spokane High School. A four-year varsity starter, Jones was team captain and team MVP last season, earning all-league honors as well as the NEC/IBEW fall 2007 Scholar-Athlete Award. A member of the National Honor Society, Jones carries a 4.0 cumulative grade point average and is in the running to be class valedictorian.
A native of Salem, Ore., Alicia Malstrom has been a member of both the varsity soccer and varsity track and field teams since her freshman year at Sprague High School. A 5’3” outside midfielder, she is a three-time all-league honoree, a two-time all-region honoree, and a two-time team MVP. An honor roll student, Malstrom has also participated on the Oregon ODP ’90 team in 2005 and 2006 and has played for the Havoc of the Lake Oswego Soccer Club.
A member of three state championship teams at Issaquah High School, Lauren Munechika is a 5’1” defender from Sammamish, Wash. She has earned all-KingCo honors three times, including first team honors in 2005, and has been named a KingCo Scholar-Athlete all four years. She is known as a hard-working player who has the ability to track the ball, win it, and turn the situation into an attacking one for her team.
A native of Carnation, , Kallie Pleis is a 5’9” defender who helped become one of the top teams in the state over the past four years. A three-time all-conference and two-time all-state performer, Pleis helped her team finish fifth in the state and ninth in the nation in 2004, when she was named Gatorade Rookie of the Year. Her squad finished third in the state in 2005, second in 2006, and seventh in Washington in 2007.
Kassandra Riozzi is a 5’7” center midfielder from Marysville, Wash., who has led Marysville-Pilchuck High School in assists all three years she has participated for the varsity squad. Riozzi has also played for the Eastside ’88 Red club team, helping it win the state championship in 2006 and 2007. A three-time all-Wesco honoree, she played for the Washington state ODP team, winning the regional title and helping her team reach the national finals.
Jordan Salisbury is a 5’3” defender from Federal Way, Wash., who helped Todd Beamer High School to an undefeated season of 20-0-2 in 2007. She was named Co-Player of the Year for Federal Way and the SPSL and earned all-city, all-league, all-area, and all-state honors last season. She has also been a member of the ODP ’90 state team in three of the past four years and has played club soccer for the Washington Premier FC ’89 from 2001 to the present.
These nine players will join a program coming off a 17-3-1 season which included its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years and a final national ranking of #18. In the fall of 2008, the women’s soccer team begins the process of becoming a Division I program, playing a full Division I schedule during the reclassification year.
“Being our first recruiting class in this transition, I have very high expectations of these players as athletes, leaders, and people, and I am confident they will do an amazing job of taking this program to an even higher level,” said Woodward.