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Feb. 6, 2003

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University head field hockey coach Lil Fesperman announced today the signing of seven incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent. The Red and White welcomed today at a joint press conference with football and women's soccer, one of its most balanced recruiting classes in recent years.

One of Miami's focal areas in recruiting has been the Lake Forest, Ill., area, and this year Coach Fesperman has received a commitment from the Illinois Player of the Year, Lilly Amato (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). A forward/midfielder at Lake Forest High School, Amato was named player of the year by the Pioneer Press, as well as one of its all-stars. Amato helped lead her team to three straight state championships while also being selected to the all-state team. She has been a participant in the United State Field Hockey Association (USFHA) Futures Program and has attended the National Field Hockey Festival.

"Lilly is all about Miami," Fesperman says. "She has great speed and utilizes it well by playing with high intensity and hustle."

Another member of the RedHawks' 2003 recruiting class is midfielder/forward Adele French (Rossland, British Columbia/Rossland Secondary), who will be their second Canadian-born player. French is a member of British Columbia's All-Provincial team and led her team to the provincial championship in 2000. She was named Rossland's Team MVP in 2002 and is a member of her school's honor society.

"Adele has the uncanny ability at making quick decisions on the field and is very poised player," Fesperman says. "With her outstanding fundamental skills and athleticism, we will be counting on Adele to make an immediate impact next season."

Jesse Kridel (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) has committed to the RedHawks after a fine playing career at Kirkwood High School. Kridel was a first-team all-conference selection at forward. She has attended the USFHA National Field Hockey Festival along with various other camps.

"Jesse has good ball control and speed. She will be a strong player for our team," Fesperman says.

The RedHawks expanded their recruiting this year to New Jersey when they received a commitment from Kerri Matthews (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township), a goalie from Egg Harbor Township High School. Matthews is a three-year member of the South Jersey Devils field hockey club. In 2002, she was an honorable mention selection to the Atlantic City Press All-Star team and an All-South Jersey team member. Matthews has attended the USFHA Future's Super Camp and participated in the National Field Hockey Festival.

"Kerri is an aggressive, confident player with good leadership skills," Fesperman says. "She has a solid ground game and is well experienced for a player coming out of high school. Kerri is a great fit for Miami."

Miami continues to feed off the strong high school system in California, and this year is no different as two more Californians have committed to the Red and White. Midfielders Deb Leighton (Encinitas, Calif./LaCosta Canyon) and Dani Perrecone (Carlsbad, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) will bring Miami's California contingent to six next year when they arrive in Oxford, Ohio. Leighton was named LaCosta Canyon's Player of the Year and a first-team All-Palomar League selection, while Perrecone also earned similar accolades at her high school by being named Player of the Year. Both players have participated in the USFHA Futures Program and the National Field Hockey Festival.

"Deb has good footwork, nice power and is very athletic," Fesperman says. "Dani has the ability to hit while on the move which is a hard quality to find in high school players. Both of these players bring experience and great potential to our program."

Also joining the RedHawks from the Illinois area is a New Trier High School product in Sarah Viollt (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier). Voillt, a midfielder, has been named to both the Central Suburban Conference all-academic team and the all-state academic team, while also earning first-team all-state accolades. She has been a participant at the USFHA Futures Program and National Field Hockey Festival. Voillt also has served as a spokesperson for the Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (DARE) program.

"Sarah is a fundamentally sound player with good speed, and she works hard too which is always a plus," Fesperman says.

"We are ecstatic about this year's recruiting class," Fesperman says. "These seven players come from backgrounds with extensive variety and playing experience. Any one of them are in a great position to make an immediate impact on our program. They all have winning attitudes and will blend well with our current athletes, which will put us on the winning track sooner rather than later."