"This 2012 class represents everything that is great about Seattle University and our women's soccer program," said Woodward. "These young women excel academically, are committed to individual improvement, and understand the link between hard work and success. Each one of them has the potential to make a big impact for our program, both on and off the field."
Kelly Beck, 5'9'', Midfielder/Defender
Bellarmine Preparatory School/Tacoma, Wash., Washington Premier FC
Kelly Beck is a physical midfielder/defender and four-year varsity starter hailing from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash. She competed with Washington Premier FC from 2004 to 2012, serving as team captain since 2005. At Bellarmine Prep, she was All-Narrows Honorable Mention (freshman and sophomore years), All-Narrows First-Team (junior and senior years), All-Area Honorable Mention (senior year), All-State Honorable Mention (senior year), Defensive Player of the Year (sophomore year), Team MVP (junior year), and Most Inspirational (senior year). She also helped lead her team to state all four seasons, where the team finished second during her senior season. Academically, Beck was an ASB Athletic Activities Representative, a National Honor Society member, received the Archdiocese of Seattle Student Award for Leadership in Community Building and Service, won the Graduate at Graduation Scholarship, and was voted by her class to be one of two recipients of the 110% Award during her sophomore and junior years.
Coach Woodward on Beck: "Kelly is a highly recruited center-back and defensive midfielder from Washington Premier F.C." said Woodward. "She has the ability to be successful at both positions in the college game. Kelly is dominant in the air, technical on the ball, and a great distributor. She is also a natural leader and will fit right in with our team in terms of her commitment and natural tendency to put the team first."
Julia Moravec, 5'8'', Forward/Midfielder
Lewis and Clark High School/Spokane, Wash., Spokane Shadow
Julia Moravec is a driven and multi-talented forward/midfielder from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Wash. She has played with the Spokane Shadow club team for the past two years, helping lead the team to the semifinals in 2011. At Lewis and Clark, she was a three-time letter-winner, helping lead her team to the 2009 and 2010 state quarterfinals. In 2010, the team finished with a 17-2 record and finished 14-3 in 2011. She was the team MVP in 2009 and 2010, leading the team in goals (20) and assists (12) in 2010, and averaging 15 goals per season during her high school career. She was 2009 GSL Honorable Mention, 2010 GSL Offensive MVP, 2010 Second-Team All-State, and Seattle Times Athlete of the Week for the week of Oct. 19, 2010. She also was a three-time letter-winner for varsity basketball and was named the Basketball Team Defensive MVP and Team Captain in 2011, as she helped lead the team to the 2011 4A State Championship. Academically, Moravec was on the honor roll all four years of high school, a National Honor Society member, a Face to Faith member, and was a three-time academic letter-winner. Athletics runs in her family as her father, Don, was an Olympic trial qualifier for swimming.
Coach Woodward on Moravec: "We haven't had a true target forward in this program since Jamie Coe," Woodward said. "Julia is so comfortable with her back to pressure. As a center forward, she is always looking for the ball, can hold it up, and combine with the midfield. She will be great for our possession, especially in transition. Julia also has a fantastic change of pace when she turns defenders. She has continued to add elements to her game over the past few years, and we feel lucky for the opportunity to coach a player with her potential."
Sarah Coluccio, 5'8'', Forward/Midfielder
Seattle Preparatory School/Seattle, Wash., Seattle United
Sarah Coluccio is a versatile and athletic forward/midfielder and four-year varsity starter from Seattle Prep in Seattle, Wash. She has competed with several different club teams including Badgers FC U-11, U-12, and U-13, Emerald City FC U-14, U-15, and U-16, and most recently, Seattle United Copa U-17 and U-18. She helped lead Seattle United to the 2011 Washington State USYSA State Cup semifinals, 2011 Northwest Champions League semifinals, and the 2011 Washington State USYSA State Cup quarterfinals. She has been a team captain for her club teams since 2008. At Seattle Prep, she was named 2010 Washington State 3A Girls Soccer Second-Team All-State, 2011 Washington State 3A Girls Soccer First-Team All-State 2010 Metro League First-Team All-League, 2010 and 2011 Team Most Inspirational Player, 2011 Team Captain, 2011 Seattle Times Star Times All-Area Team, and 2011 First-Team Metro League All-League Team. Coluccio finished second among Metro League scoring leaders in 2011 with 25 points, nine goals, and seven assists. She also helped lead the team to the 2008 Washington State 3A Championship, a second place finish at the 2008 Metro League Championship, the 2010 and 2011 Washington State 3A Championship, and the 2010 and 2011 Metro League Championship. During the 2011 season, she helped lead the team to a 20-0-2 undefeated season, with 34 consecutive undefeated games since the 2010 season. The team was ranked 15th in 2010 and 11th in 2011 in the NSCAA Region VI Final Poll (Western U.S.). Academically, Coluccio was a National Honor Society member, a Peer Note Taker, a Peer Mentor, German Club President, Mock Trial participant, and a Community Ministry Liturgy and Retreat Leader. Sarah's father, Bryan, played for Seattle U men's soccer from 1975-1978 and was a co-captain for the team in 1978.
Coach Woodward on Coluccio: "Sarah is a versatile player who really came on late in her high school and club career," said Woodward. "Many of the top schools on the west coast were suddenly after Sarah, and we were so excited that Seattle U was the best fit. Sarah has great feet, natural athletic ability, and a high level understanding of the game. The sky is the limit on her development, and we can't wait to start working with her. She is going to compete at a variety of positions, and will be a great addition to SU women's soccer in every way."
Natasha Howe, 5'5", Forward/Midfielder/Defender
Mission Viejo High School/Mission Viejo, Calif., West Coast FC
Natasha Howe is an attacking and powerful forward/midfielder/defender and a four-year varsity starter from Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, Calif. She previously played with Storm FC team (2004-2005) and had most recently played with West Coast FC (2005-present). With West Coast FC, the team were 2009 Surf Cup finalists and in the Premier League (Cal South) in 2009 and 2010. At Mission Viejo HS, the team was in the CIF Playoffs in 2010. She was named 2011 Second-Team All-League, Team Most-Improved (junior year), and was a Scholar Athlete (2009-11). She also scored the highest number of goals on her high school team in 2011. Academically, she was a CSF (California Scholarship Federation) Member Top 25 among her classmates (2009-11), as well as a member of the Save the Ocean Club. She also competed in track and field during her time at Mission Viejo HS.
Coach Woodward on Howe: "It's always great to add a natural left footer to the team," said Woodward. "Natasha will immediately compete at left back, and can also provide a new dynamic as a wide attacker, cutting in from the right. Her individual defending, ability to keep possession, and competitive attitude are going to make Natasha a dynamic player at either position. She is going to be a great player at the next level."
Brianna Smallidge, 5'10", Goalkeeper
South Kitsap High School/Port Orchard, Wash., Dos FC
Brianna Smallidge is an agile and accomplished goalkeeper and a four-year varsity letter-winner from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Wash. At South Kitsap HS, she helped lead the team to the first round of the state tournament in 2009 and 2011 and to the state quarterfinals in 2010 and 2012. In 2012, the team also notched an outstanding 12-4-2 record. She was the 2012 Team Captain and MVP and was named Second Team All-Narrows (2011), First Team All-Narrows (2012), and All-Area team (2012). In 2011, she recorded nine shutouts and recorded 12 in 2012. She competed with WestSound FC from 2005-2009 and most recently competed with Dos FC (since 2009). With WestSound, the team reached the 2009 WSYSA Championship State Cup semifinals, the 2008 WSYSA Championship State Cup finals, the 2008 US Club Regional finals, 2007 WSYSA State Cup quarterfinals, 2007 Mission Viejo Cup semifinals, and the PDL League Championship title three times (2004-06). With Dos FC, the team won the US Club Soccer Regional Championship, 2010 Washington State Games championship, qualified for the 2009 US Club Nationals, was 2010 Del Sol President's Cup finalists and 2010 US Club Regional finalists, and made it to the 2010 Washington State Cup Elite Eight. Outside of soccer, she served as the 2012 Athletic Medicine Club President at her high school. She also lettered in track for one season.
Coach Woodward on Smallidge: "Bri is going to compete right away to be our starting goalkeeper," Woodward said. "She is super athletic, reads the game at a high level, is constantly engaged and comfortable distributing with her feet. Bri has the potential to be a big-time keeper at the next level. We can't wait for her to start working with our goalkeeper coach, Katie Hultin. Bri reminds us a lot of Madison Goverde when she was in high school, and if she works as hard as Madison did to improve every day, she is going to have a great college career at Seattle U."
Woodward concludes, with final words on the class, "We pride ourselves on our ability to find the right people for this program. The 2012 class is full of character, leadership and commitment. Those qualities will take these young women far in our program at Seattle U, and throughout their lives after college. We have a lot to work with, and we can't wait to get started."
Seattle University will join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1, 2012 in 17 sports, including women's soccer.
The Redhawks open the 2012 season at home versus the University of Washington on Aug. 17 and St. Mary's on Aug. 19.