Coach Lipsitz announced the addition of 14 commitments to the 2007 team. |
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Women's Soccer Has Received 14 Commitments For The 2007 Season
Feb. 8, 2007
Charlotte 49ers women's soccer coach Jon Lipsitz has received 14 new commitments to the team for the 2007 season, to add to 16 returning letter-winners and 10 returning starters. Lipsitz welcomes Alyssa Brown of Dublin, Ohio, Whitney Bryant of Marietta, Georgia, Katie Davies of Xenia, Ohio, Samantha Fried of Massapequa, New York, Katie Hadley of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Samantha Huecker of Crestwood, Kentucky, Cassie Matchack of Columbus, Ohio, Danielle Mayeaux of Collierville, Tennessee, Megan Mazzarella of Huntersville, North Carolina, Megan Minnix of Columbus, Ohio, Melissa Morris of Sweetwater, Tennessee, Kaylee Phillips of Pickerington, Ohio, Ashley Roberto of Fairfield, Ohio and Whitney Weinraub of Holland, Pennsylvania.
"This recruiting class puts us on the national map," Charlotte coach Jon Lipsitz said. "We knew we needed a special class to go along with our tremendously talented senior class. We will have a nice blend of the excitement of youth to go along with the experience of our great current leaders, and this combination has shown through time to be successful in sports. This is without a doubt the top recruiting class in the history of our program. The class is skilled and extremely athletic. We knew we needed to increase our overall team speed and this class will help tremendously. Kudos goes to my assistant Sari Rose, who is in charge of our recruiting, for her excellent work in evaluating and recruiting these players. We are very excited to have these 14 players join our program."
Brown, a 5-foot-4 forward, is a three time member of the Ohio South ODP Team. She earned All-State honors at Dublin Coffman High School and was also honored as NSCAA All-Region. She played a major role in helping her Ohio Premier Soccer Club team win the USYS Region 2 Championship and six Ohio South state championships.
"Alyssa has the special combination of being great playing with her back to goal, but also equally dangerous facing up and taking players on 1v1," Lipsitz said. "Her tactical understanding of how to beat opposing back lines will be invaluable to our attack."
Bryant, a 5-foot-2 defender, is a two time member of the Regional ODP Pool and three time member of the Georgia ODP Team. She earned all-county honors twice at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia. She also lettered four years in basketball.
"Whitney is a defender in the mold of many great Charlotte backs before her as she is both an extremely tough and rugged defender," Lipsitz said. "She is also able to attack with abandon out of the back. Her competitiveness will help us tremendously."
Katie Davies, a 5-foot-4 defender, has been a member of the United States National Pool, attending a 2006 National Camp, a three time ODP Regional Team member and has been selected the past five years to the Ohio South ODP team. She was named All-State as a performer at Xenia High School in Ohio. She played a major role in helping her Ohio Premier Soccer Club team win the USYS Region 2 Championship and six Ohio South state championships.
"Katie is the on the field leader that I was looking for in this class," Lipsitz said. "She is a consummate center back, the extension of the coach of the field. She is simply as good at organizing a defensive back line as any youth player out there today."
Samantha Fried, a 5-foot-7 forward, is a five time member of the East New York ODP State Team. She was also named league player of the year as a senior at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York, where she has led the league in scoring the last two seasons en route to earning all-league honors. As a junior, she helped her team win the CHSAA state championship. In 2005, she helped her state team win the ODP national championship and she has also been an integral part of three East New York State Championships with her club team.
"Sam has a special quality that we have been missing: The ability to shoot from long range," Lipsitz said. "She can absolutely hammer a ball. As our first commitment in the class she has been a special advocate for the Charlotte family and the culture of our program. Her daily work-ethic will be a model for this class to emulate."
Katie Hadley, a 5-foot-8 forward, is a two time North Carolina State ODP Team member and has earned all-conference honors three times at Chapel Hill High School. After leading her team in goals and assists for two seasons, she was named team Offensive MVP after each of those seasons. She also helped the Triangle Futbol Club win the U-17 South Atlantic Super Y regional championship. She played on the gold medal winning North Region team in the 2006 North Carolina State games.
"Getting to coach Katie will be coming full circle for me as she is playing at Chapel Hill High School, my alma mater," said Lipsitz. "Katie's ability to hold on to a ball to help us create a rhythm and combine through her will be important for our success."
Samantha Huecker, a 5-foot-7 midfielder, has been a member of the United States National Pool, attending a 2006 National Camp, a three time ODP Regional Team member and has been selected the past five years to the Kentucky ODP State Team. She was named All-State an amazing four times as a performer at Oldham County High School, and was twice named Eurosport Kentucky Player of the Year. Her high school career culminated in earning NSCAA All-American honors as a senior. She led her club team, Javanon, to an impressive five straight state championships.
"Sam can quite simply dominate a midfield," Lipsitz said. "She is dominant in the air, combining with teammates, and on the dribble. When Sam has the ball, we will be a better team."
Matchack, a 5-foot-3 midfielder, earned all-league honors three times at Bishop Watterson High School in Ohio, where she showcased her special technical abilities. She won media honors twice as player of the week as a junior. She played a major role in helping her Ohio Premier Soccer Club team win the USYS Region 2 Championship and six Ohio South state championships.
"Cassie has a special ability to play that perfect ball that springs forwards in behind the opposition's defense," Lipsitz said. "Her technical ability to shape a ball and her timing with the final pass will be great assets to the team."
Mayeaux, a 5-foot-10 midfielder, is a two time member of the Tennessee ODP State Team and also has been a member of the Regional ODP Pool. She is a three time all-state selection at Collierville High School in Tennessee where she helped the team win the state championship in 2005 and reach the state championship game in 2006. She earned Best of the Preps all-metro honors as a junior and senior and is a finalist for the individual Best of Preps honors in girls soccer. She helped her Memphis Mercury Club team reach the state championship in 2006.
"Danielle is a physical force in the air and on the ground," said Lipsitz. "Many thought that with the graduation of Kelsie Ormsby, we would lose some of our dominance in the air, especially on set pieces. Danielle will make sure that this does not happen."
Mazzarella, a 5-foot-3 midfielder, and a member of the State ODP Pool, has earned all-state honors each year of her high school career at The Cannon School in North Carolina. She has also garnered all-conference selection and team MVP honors in each of her seasons. She has played for the FC Carolina Alliance club team where she has been coached by former 49ers stalwarts Sarah Judy Denton and Shane Carew.
"Megan has fantastic pace and a knack for the goal," Lipsitz said. "By the end of her final high school season this spring she may even eclipse the 100 goal mark. Every team needs more goal scorers."
Minnix, a 5-foot-10 defender, and a frequent member of her State ODP Team, earned all-state honors twice at Bishop Watterson High School in Ohio. She earned all-league honors four times and All-District honors three times. She was an All-Midwest region selection the past two seasons. As a senior, she was named NSCAA Academic All-American. She played a major role in helping her Ohio Premier Soccer Club team win the USYS Region 2 Championship and six Ohio South state championships
"Megan is a dominant force in the back as she is very tall and has great pace," Lipsitz said. "Add her ability to start our possession out of the back with her athleticism, and she clearly will be a tremendous asset to our back line."
Morris, a 5-foot-6 defender, is a six time member of the Tennessee ODP State Team and has also been a member of the Regional ODP Pool. At Sweetwater High School, she earned all-state honors three times. She was also named county MVP four times. Morris finished her career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 64 goals. She played a large role in leading her KFC Force club team win two state championships.
"Melissa is in the mold of many successful 49ers before her," Lipsitz said. "She is fiercely competitive and loves the big games. Her tenacity and ability with the ball, whether in front of our own goal or scoring on the other end, will help this team a great deal."
Phillips, a 5-foot-3 forward, earned all-district and all-conference honors in each of her four seasons at Watkins Memorial High School in Ohio. As a senior, she led the county in scoring with a school record 32 goals, which earned her Player of the Year honors. Most amazingly, she has scored over 100 goals in her career at Watkins. She also plays on the state and regional championship winning Ohio Premier Club team.
"Kaylee's ability to play in the back at a high level, and yet also score over 100 goals in her high school career, shows her versatility," said Lipsitz. "I am excited that she will be able to impact our team in many areas."
Roberto, a 5-foot-5 defender, is the younger sister of former 49er All-Conference USA defender Shannon Roberto. She has a storied career at Stephen T. Badin High School in Ohio, where she was named NSCAA All-American and State Player of the Year. She also was named Player of the Year in Cincinnati. As a senior, she helped her team reach the state championship game. She plays for the Classics Hammer club team.
"It is exciting to carry on the Roberto tradition here at Charlotte," Lipsitz said. "Clearly Ashley is a special player in her own right and I look forward to Ashley making a name for herself here at Charlotte."
Weinraub, a 5-foot-3 forward, is a three year member of the ODP Regional Pool and a five time member of the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP State Team. Her accolades from a tremendous career at Council Rock South High School include being named NSCAA All-Region, All-State and numerous media recognitions. She plays for the Pennsylvania Strikers club team.
"Whitney's technical abilities take us to the next level," Lipsitz said. "She is a special player with the ball at her feet and we look forward to her shredding defenses on the dribble for years to come."
These 14 newcomers will join 10 returning starters and 16 returning letter-winners as the 49ers begin their third season under Lipsitz against The Citadel, Friday, August 28 at Transamerica Field. The 49ers begin defense of their A-10 championship at Duquesne, Friday, September 28.
2007 Recruiting Class
| Name | Hometown | High School | Club Team |
| Alyssa Brown | Dublin, Ohio | Dublin Coffman | Ohio Premier |
| Whitney Bryant | Marietta, Georgia | Lassiter | NASA |
| Katie Davies | Xenia, Ohio | Xenia | Ohio Premier |
| Samantha Fried | Massapequa, New York | St. Anthony's | Albertson Fury |
| Katie Hadley | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Chapel Hill | Triangle Futbol Club |
| Samantha Huecker | Crestwood, Kentucky | Oldham County | Javanon |
| Cassie Matchack | Columbus, Ohio | Bishop Watterson | Ohio Premier |
| Danielle Mayeaux | Collierville, Tennessee | Collierville | Memphis Mercury |
| Megan Mazzarella | Huntersville, North Carolina | Cannon School | FC Carolina Alliance |
| Megan Minnix | Columbus, Ohio | Bishop Watterson | Ohio Premier |
| Melissa Morris | Sweetwater, Tennessee | Sweetwater | KFC Force |
| Kaylee Phillips | Pickerington, Ohio | Watkins Memorial | Ohio Premier |
| Ashley Roberto | Fairfield, Ohio | Stephen T. Badin | Classics Hammer |
| Whitney Weinraub | Holland, Pennsylvania | Council Rock South | PA Strikers |
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