Women’s soccer concludes recruitment with the addition of 13 promising players
Most soccer programs would consider it a rebuilding year after losing Katie Griffin, the most prolific goal scorer in CU history.
Nothing could be farther from the truth as the CU women’s soccer team wraps up this year’s recruiting class. The team’s incoming freshmen have a great chance to contribute right away and help get the team back to the NCAA tournament.
“We picked up a lot of kids at a variety of positions,” said assistant coach Paul Hogan. “A lot of kids from Colorado signed on, as did a couple of transfers who are coming back home. It should be a really good class.”
Headlining the 13-player class is Michaela DeJesus, a highly touted player out of Dublin, California.
“One of the kids we really like is Michaela,” said Hogan. “She is a very technical soccer player and her club team was club national champions two years ago. I think she is going to be a really good player here.”
The team plans on using a committee approach while attempting to fill the void left by Griffin. DeJesus has the technical ability to fight for the position right off the bat next season.
“She isn’t the speedster that Katie is, but she has a great mind for the game,” said Hogan. “To be honest you can’t replace Katie. You try to have people come in and contribute in different ways.”
Another player the coaches think will come in and make an impact is Jenna Gorman, a transfer from Tennessee who was named freshman of the year in the SEC.
The team is coming off their best season ever and looks to improve on their marks of a year ago. The ladies lost in the sweet sixteen of the NCAA tournament and ended up as the 12th best team in the country.
The newcomers have large shoes to fill, as the team also graduated Laura Munnelly and Allie True.
Munnelly sat only 20 minutes over four years and True was a great central mid-field player for the Buffs.
Kim Lowry is a player out of Washington who could help out next season on the defensive side of the ball.
Buffs star forward Nikki Marshall realizes how important her former teammates were.
“Those girls are amazing players, but I think the biggest thing that we need to figure out with them gone is leadership,” Marshall said. “They were amazing leaders and right now, I don’t think we have a set leader. Hopefully, some girls will step up and fill those spots.”
While the team lost some prolific talents and leaders, the team should be well-served in the future by this incoming class.
With the addition of the talented newcomers, Marshall voiced the team’s high aspirations for the 2007-2008 season.
“We want to do well in conference, win the Big 12 tournament, and get farther in the NCAA tournament,” Marshall said.
Contact staff writer Ben Dignan at Benjamin.Dignan@thecampuspress.com.
