Aug. 10, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Head coach Carin Gabarra has announced the incoming Navy women's soccer freshman class and finalized the roster for the upcoming 2010 season.

Twelve freshmen representing nine states are set to join the program for the upcoming season. The group includes a pair of high school teammates from Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Fla. and also two players from the state of Washington.

"Our plebe class is fit and have worked really hard this preseason to get to the necessary level to have an impact within our team," said Gabarra.

Under Gabarra, the women's soccer program is one of 10 teams in the nation to win at least 10 games in each of the past 15 years. In addition, the Mids return nine starters from a squad that was 14-5-2 a year ago.

"We lost an extremely successful and talented class last year, but we brought in a deep and athletic group who have responded well to the competitive atmosphere we have thrown at them. We are capable of making many changes within a game, and maintaining our level. This depth should really pay off throughout the long season."

Navy will open its 2010 campaign at South Carolina State on Friday, Aug. 20.

Navy Women's Soccer Class of 2014

Deirdre Ball      5-5  M/D     Columbia, S.C. / Lexington High SchoolTaylor Batye      5-3  F   Tampa, Fla. / Berkeley PrepElizabeth Hoerner  5-10   GK  Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Township High SchoolAlexes Lopez-Shaw  5-8     GK  Bothell, Wash. / Holy Names AcademyHannah Morse      5-5  F   Auburn, Wash. / Auburn MountainviewSam Newhaller        5-7  F/M     Tampa, Fla / Berkeley PrepPaloma Perez       5-4     F   Bossier City, La. / McGill-ToolenAshlynn Soellner   5-10    F/M/D   Hollidaysburg, Pa. / HollidaysburgMorgan Tilley    5-5  D   Wilmington, North Carolina / HoggardBritta Vivaldi      5-6  M/D     Owings, Md. / HuntingtownEmily Wilkin      5-7  D   Westerville, Ohio / WestervilleKD Woolard      5-9  M/D Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Chadwick Palos Verdes

Below is a capsule of each player:

Deirdre Ball - 5-5 - M/D - Columbia, S.C. - Lexington High School
Outlook: Deirdre has great work ethic and willingness to improve ... working to improve technical skills and playing consistently ... has ability to raise her game to meet a challenge ... will flourish with the increased level of play around her.

High School / Club: A 2009 graduate of Lexington High School in South Carolina, where she earned three letters in soccer ... two-time 4AAAA All-Region selection ... team MVP as a senior ... chosen to the All-Tournament Team of the Viking Cup ... led team to back-to-back RCB Classic titles and a Jacksonville Labor Day Shootout Championship ... named team captain of the South squad in South Carolina's North-South State All-Star game ... attended Naval Academy Preparatory School during the 2009-10 academic year, where she played left midfield ... member of Air Force JROTC ... given Tuskegee Airmen Award and the Order of the Purple Heart for Leadership ... given Fleet Feet award for recording fastest mile at school in back-to-back years.

Taylor Batye - 5-3 - F - Tampa, Fla. - Berkeley Prep
Outlook: Taylor is explosive and quick, making her difficult to defend ... versatility and mobility are instrumental to our success ... her fitness and deceptive 1v1 dribbling keep her extremely unpredictable ... very technical and tactical and has a knack for getting behind defenders ... will transition to Division I quickly.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Berkeley Prep, where she lettered in soccer (4), cross country (3), track (3) and crew (1) ... team was state runner-up during senior year ... club team was regional semifinalists and Florida State Cup Champions ... won two Disney Soccer Showcase titles with club team ... two-time Florida 3A All-State team choice ... four-time selection to Hillsborough All-County team ... MVP of Senior Soccer Challenge in 2010 ... three-time Coach's Award winner ... earned Highest Ranking Scholar recognition for multiple classes ... four years on the headmaster's list ... member of the National Society of High School Scholars ... Social Science Honor Society ... member of yearbook staff ... served as a library proctor and also a student guide.

Elizabeth Hoerner - 5-10 - GK - Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Township High School
Outlook: Elizabeth has a very experienced goalkeeper background with solid technical skills ... comfortable and aggressive coming off her line ... willing to work hard and put team first.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Manheim Township High School, where she earned three letters in soccer and three letters in swimming ... led team to a 22-2-1 record as a junior ... team won section, league and district championships ... named a section all-star and to the all-league team as a junior ... as a senior was the section MVP and all-star ... also named to the All-State team and all-league team and was a league academic all-star ... elected team captain of swimming team during senior year and led squad to a 12-1 record and league championship ... four-year class secretary ... President of Operation Smile ... member of the National Honor Society ... a four-year Special Olympics swimming coach.

Alexes Lopez-Shaw - 5-8 - GK - Bothell, Wash. / Holy Names Academy
Outlook: Alexes has great agility, and balance ... capable of making the big saves ... great training mentality and will to win ... can dominate the penalty box in the air ... great hands and top shot stopper ... defenders rely on her expertise in the box.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Holy Names Academy, where she lettered in soccer four times ... selected to the Washington All-State team as a senior ... three-time all-city pick ... led team to Metro Championship and berth in the state tournament as a senior ... goalie for the Crossfire '91 club team that won the 2009 U17 Washington State Championship Cup ... member of the National Honors Association.

Hannah Morse - 5-5 - F - Auburn, Wash. - Auburn Mountainview
Outlook: Hannah has a great mentality and physical presence ... has an explosive 1v1 attacking style ... very dangerous with her back to our goal or facing her mark ... holds ball very well under pressure ... loves to attack a speed and get behind defenses.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Auburn Mountainview High School, where she earned letters in soccer (4), lacrosse (4) and track (4) ... named first-team all-league as both a senior and a junior and also was named to the second team as a sophomore ... was a first-team all-state midfielder in lacrosse as a senior ... also was named Washington's State Player of the Week during spring season of lacrosse ... youth group president.

Sam Newhaller - 5-7 - F/M - Tampa, Fla - Berkeley Prep
Outlook: Sam possesses deceptive speed, acceleration, and quickness ... can step in and immediately be an impact player for us ... very technical, tactical, and has the mentality to attack ... knows when to attack at speed and when to playmake and maintain possession ... extremely comfortable with the ball ... her fitness and attacking mentality will be an asset wide for us.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Berkeley Prep, where she earned two letters in soccer and one in track ... also earned a letter in soccer at Palm Harbor High School as a freshman ... spent sophomore year training with IMG Soccer Academy ... ranked as a top 10 player in Florida by Top Drawer Soccer ... a four-year member of the Florida State 91 Olympic Development Program Team ... attended ODP Region Camps in 2005, '07 and '08 ... team won Region III ODP Championship in 2007 ...played with Clearwater Soccer Club ... club team won Florida State Cup, Vulcan Cup and Puma Challenge in 2007 and Orange Classic and Capital Area in 2008 ... Palm Harbor squad was 5A State runners-up during her freshman year ... scored team's only goal in 1-0 win in state semifinals ... U18 IMG team won Disney Showcase in 2007 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation ... Berkeley Prep team was a state runner-up during senior year and won district title during junior year ... named to the all-state second team ... two-time all-county first-team player ... named to the IB Athletic Academic Honor Roll and member of school honor roll and dean's list ... competed in one year of track, winning the 300 hurdles at the District Meet.

Paloma Perez - 5-4 - F - Bossier City, La. / McGill-Toolen
Outlook: Paloma is incredibly athletic with a great physical presence ... capable of running all day ... good technical and tactical skills, excellent in the air and capable of putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses ... has the mentality to win and the effort and work rate to consistently improve her game.

High School / Club: A 2009 graduate of McGill-Toolen, where she lettered in soccer ... named to the Alabama All-State First Team as a senior with 41 goals and 36 assists ... also selected to the all-region team ... led team to 6A state championship runner-up finish ... scored twice in Baldwin County Showcase All-Star game ... forced to sit out junior season because of transfer rules ... attended Lowndes High School in Georgia ... attended Naval Academy Preparatory School during the 2009-10 academic year.

Ashlynn Soellner - 5-10 - F/M/D - Hollidaysburg, Pa. / Hollidaysburg
Outlook: Ashlynn is a constant attacking threat with her presence in the air, creativity on the ball, and back to pressure ability ... with consistent finishing added to her game, she will be a huge attacking threat.

High School / Club: A 2009 graduate of Hollidaysburg, where she earned four letters in soccer ... went on to the Peddie School in New Jersey during the 2009-10 academic year ... chosen to New Jersey's All-Prep Second Team and to the All-MAPL team at Peddie ... also named to the Mercer 33 at Peddie and was team MVP... a two-time all-conference first-team honoree at Hollidaysburg ... graduated as the school's second all-time leading scorer ... four-time pick on the Altoona Mirror All-Star Team ... named team rookie of the year in 2005 and was a three-time team offensive MVP ... led Hollidaysburg to a pair of District 6 Championships ... also played a year of basketball at Hollidaysburg and a year at Peddie ... member of the Peddie basketball team that wont he ESPN Rise National Invitational Championship ... squad also won New Jersey State and MAPL titles ... member of the National Honor Society and the FBLA ... member of Student Council and awarded pins for Honors and attendance.

Morgan Tilley - 5-5 - D - Wilmington, North Carolina - Hoggard
Outlook: Morgan has great technical abilities and tactical understanding both offensively and defensively ... can serve a great ball out of the back ... a defensive presence with a solid understanding of the game ... dominates her zone defensively and refuses to be beaten 1v1 ... potential to be a major contributor for us.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of John T. Hoggard High School, where she earned four letters in soccer and one in cross country ... led team to 2009 North Carolina State Championship ... team won Region III Championships in 2008 and '09 ... selected to the NCSCA All-State Team as a senior ... two-time all-region and all-conference selection ... three-time Wilmington Star News All-Area team ... played in the 2005 ODP All-Star game ... member of the Beta Club ... member of the National Honor Society ... member of the National Art Honor Society.

Britta Vivaldi - 5-6 - M/D - Owings, Md. - Huntingtown
Outlook: Britta is very aggressive, fearless, and physically committed ... excellent work ethic and intensity ... committed to team and improving her game ... great versatility and athleticism should enable her to quickly adapt to a high level of play.

High School / Club: A 2009 graduate of Huntingtown High School, where earned four letters in soccer ... attended Naval Academy Preparatory School during the 2009-10 academic year ... team won two regional championships at Huntingtown ... a two-time all-county and two-time all-conference honoree ... was a company commander at NAPS ... member of the NJROTC.

Emily Wilkin 5-7 - D - Westerville, Ohio - Westerville
Outlook: Emily is very talented ... good level of fitness and work rate ... solid defensive presence with the mentality to attack ... solid 1 v 1 defender with capability of making an impact in every game ... has a great competitiveness and mentality to train and push those around her.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Westerville North High School, where she lettered in soccer (4), track (4) and basketball (1) ... soccer team won the 2007 Ohio Central District title ... team captain and MVP during senior year ... three-time All-Ohio Capital Conference honoree ... named to the Ohio Central All-District First Team as a senior ... two-time all-conference in track ... member of the National Honor Society ... active in Warrior Way Leadership Council and Warrior Gold Athletic Council ... a junior/senior mentor.

KD Woolard - 5-9 - M/D - Manhattan Beach, Calif. - Chadwick Palos Verdes
Outlook: KD gives us a strong technical and tactical element on the field ... has technical ability and can serve a ball accurately over distance ... has the experience and motivation to improve all areas of her game.

High School / Club: A 2010 graduate of Chadrick Palos Verdes High School, where she lettered in soccer (3), track (2) and golf (1) ... soccer team won three Prep League Championships ... also was a finalists at the Surf Cup with club team ... named to the Prep League First Team and CIF Third Team as a senior ... named to the Prep League Second Team as a sophomore ... was a co-captain of the Slammers club team, which competed in the SoCal Premier League ... two-year member of student council ... a peer mentor ... member of Teens in Action ... on the Academic Council.

# GO NAVY #