"This is a special class," said Woodward. "Following our transition into Division I, we are now able to branch out and bring in top-level players from across the West Coast and to continue to recruit the best local players. We have proven that we can be an organized and competitive team at the highest level. With the addition of these nine players, SU women's soccer is taking another big step in the right direction."
Ava Ames • 5-11 • Midfielder/Forward
Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy
A local product from nearby Holy Names Academy, Ava Ames was a two-year letterwinner and starter for the Cougars. During those two seasons she was the team's top scorer and was named to the All-City Team in both 2006 and 2008. Ames spent the past seven years playing for the NW Nationals Red, where she helped lead the team to the Washington State Championship in 2008.
Coach Woodward on Ames: "Ava has the potential to make a big impact on this team. Her pace on the ball, ability to attack and score goals from distance makes her dangerous, and sets her apart from the crowd. We are happy that Ava will be scoring her college goals for SU."
Shawna Anderson • 5-6 • Midfielder/Forward
Richland, Wash./Pasco High School
Shawna Anderson joins the Redhawks in 2010 after a standout four-year starting varsity career at Pasco High School in Richland, Wash. She holds the PHS record for career goals, with 60, and goals in a single game, with five. Anderson was an All-CBL selection four times, and in 2009 was named to the Tri-City Herald First Team and was an All-State Honorable Mention selection. She played club soccer for Three Rivers Fusion, guiding them to the state quarterfinals in 2008 and 2009.
Coach Woodward on Anderson: "We really lucked out to get Shawna. She attended our Elite Camp over the summer and proved over the course of the week that she belonged at this level. Shawna is a fierce competitor, outstanding athlete and is exactly the type of player I want representing SeattleU, on and off the field."
Julia Besagno • 5-6 • Midfielder
Maple Valley, Wash./John F. Kennedy Catholic High School
The third member of her family to attend Seattle University, midfielder Julia Besagno joins the women's soccer team from John F. Kennedy Catholic High School. While with the Lancers, she was a four-year starter and team captain and MVP for three consecutive seasons (2007, 2008 and 2009). Besagno was named to the all-league team four times and the All-State First Team in 2008. She helped lead Kennedy to state playoff appearances four times, including a third place finish in 2008. The Lancers recorded a 72-6-7 overall record during Besagno's career. She played for FC Marauders club team for seven years and three years with Crossfire Premier, where she helped them win the Far West Regional and Washington State Championships.
Coach Woodward on Besagno: "I have known that Julia was a special player since she was a little kid. It has been great to watch her grow into the outstanding athlete, leader and person that she has become. Julia makes everyone around her better, by who she is and how she plays. She will develop into an important leader in this program."
Alyssa Capagna • 5-8 • Defender/Midfielder
Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman High School
Las Vegas, Nev. native Alyssa Capagna brings both a regional and state Olympic Development Program background to SeattleU. While at Bishop Gorman High School, she helped lead the Gaels to a 56-4 overall record during her four-year varsity starting career. With BGHS, she led the team to the Southwest Division Championship after being named to the All-State, all-conference and all-division teams. She was also a member of Premier Soccer Club and FC Las Vegas club team, where she led the squad to consecutive state championships.
Coach Woodward on Campagna: "Alyssa's ability to play controlled possession soccer under pressure made her stand out to us right away. She is great in the air, reads the flow of play at a very high level and can really impact the game in the middle of the field. Whether at center back or in the midfield, Alyssa is able to compete at any level. Her experience as a former Region IV pool player is going to add a lot to our program."
Monique Escalera • 5-4 • Midfielder/Defender
Westminster, Calif./La Sierra High School
A three-time La Sierra High School MVP, Monique Escalera joins the Redhawks after a standout career with the Eagles. In the 2008-09 season, she guided them to a 14-1-1 record to capture the league championship and to the CIF quarterfinals. She was the league's top scoring defender, and earned All-League Defensive MVP and LSHS's Most Inspirational Player honors in 2007-08. She played club soccer for the Eclipse, where she helped them to the CSL Championship and SoCal Blues Tournament Championship.
Coach Woodward on Escalera: "Monique is a lock-down defender. We have seen her play against many of the best attackers in the country and no one can get by Monique. In addition to her individual talent, she also has a special ability to communicate and organize in the back. Monique is a great attacker out of the back, which will give us a new dynamic in transition."
Mary Hill • 5-2 • Midfielder/Defender
Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island High School
The younger sister of current Redhawk Nance, Mercer Island High School product Mary Hill will join her sister at SeattleU in 2010. A four-time all-county selection, she is coming off a standout senior season where she led the Islanders to the county championship and state finals in 2009. Hill was MIHS team's MVP in 2008 and an All-State Honorable Mention honoree in 2009. She played for Crossfire Premier club team for seven years, during that time they won the Regional Championship in 2004 and 2006, and the National Championship in 2006.
Coach Woodward on Hill: "If Mary puts in the work to reach her potential, she is going to be one of the best at her position. She has so much natural athleticism, skill attacking 1v1, and ability to put the perfect weight on every pass. I can't wait to see what Mary is capable of accomplishing in our training environment, and with the help of Thomas Garcia, our strength and conditioning coach."
Brittany Lott • 5-8 • Goalkeeper
Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain High School
The lone goalkeeper signed to the class of 2010, Brittany Lott joins SeattleU after posting 23 shutouts and averaging 8.4 saves per game during her varsity career. She helped lead the Rocky Lobos to a state semifinal appearance in 2008 and the conference championship three times (2007, 2008 and 2009). She was a member of the Fort Collins Arsenal Gold club team for five years, where they were state final runners-up in 2007 and 2008, and quarterfinalist in 2009.
Coach Woodward on Lott: "The word on Brittany throughout the recruiting process was that she just keeps getting better. She has the unique ability to take feedback, come up with a plan and work hard to improve in very specific areas. As a field player for most of her life, Brit has great feet and a read of the game from behind the back line. Her communication and organization will add a lot when she is on the field."
Kathryn "Kat" Prati • 5-2 • Midfielder/Forward
Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark High School
Kathryn "Kat" Prati heads north to Seattle after a successful four-year varsity letterwinning career at Moorpark High School, where she guided the Musketeers to a CIF finals appearance in 2008. Prati was a member of the Camarillo Eagles club team for four years, where she was the team captain in 2008. She led them to the North versus South Tournament Championship, and runner-up finishes at the Far West Regional, Surf Cup and State Cup tournaments in 2009.
Coach Woodward on Prati: "I have never seen anyone smile on the field as much as Kat. She brings great energy, pace and skill to the game. Kat comes from such a high level soccer background and will be a great addition to the SU women's soccer program. She is also a great competitor, so she will fit right in on this team."
Jacqueline "Jacqui" Wallis • 5-6 • Forward/Defender
Lake Oswego, Ore./Lake Oswego High School
A three-year letterwinner at Lake Oswego High School, Jacqueline "Jacqui" Wallis joins SeattleU after leading the Lakers to the 2007 state semifinals, 2008 first round state appearance and 2009 state quarterfinals. She was also a scoring leader, with 17 career goals, and assist leader, with 14 assists, for LOHS. Wallis spent seven years with the Lake Oswego Soccer Club Dynasty team, where they won the State Championship in 2004 and 2005, and reached the semifinals in 2008. She also was the team's leading scorer in 2008, with 15 goals.
Coach Woodward on Prati: "Jacqui is fast! She is also one of the smartest players I've seen. She is always looking to get behind the backs, reading flicks, anticipating back-passes and making other high-level plays that you don't often see from players her age. Jacqui also has a tremendous work ethic and is going to develop into a fantastic technical player in our system."
These nine players will join the Redhawks in 2010 for their first season of eligibility for the NCAA Division I Tournament.