 |
 |
|
Feb. 5, 2003
OXFORD, Ohio -With the difficult task of filling the void left by a graduating senior class that helped define the Miami University women's soccer program by making three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, head coach Bobby Kramig has announced the signing of a promising seven-member recruiting class to National Letters of Intent.
Though the seven-individual class is the largest signed by Kramig, Miami's seventh-year mentor insists that quality and not quantity defines Miami's 2003 recruiting class. Joining the RedHawks for the 2003 season are Katie Boyd (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), Brittney Brinkworth (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst Central), Stephanie Brown (Beavercreek, Ohio/Carroll), Katie Gray (Richmond, Ky./Lexington Catholic), Kate Padfield (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson), Aimee Prevallet (Fairfax Station, Va./Centreville) and Kathleen Vistica (Monrovia, Md./Urbana).
"Obviously with the large senior class that is graduating this year, we were looking to bring in a lot of kids," Kramig said. "This is a quality class with quality players that will make us faster, quicker and more skillful. I expect all seven of these individuals to contribute immediately and am very excited about what the future holds for the Miami University women's soccer program."
Boyd, a 5-foot-3 midfielder who can also play defender, was an Ohio Division I Second-Team All-State selection as a senior at Upper Arlington High School. Along with earning first-team all-conference and all-district recognition, Boyd also was named the Ohio Capital Conference's (OCC) Most Valuable Player. She played club soccer for the Ohio Premier team and is part of the Ohio South Olympic Development Program (ODP).
"Katie is a tremendously skillful player with quick feet and a great sense of the game," Kramig said. "She's a very versatile player who possesses the rare combination of being skillful and clever along with a great work ethic and the ability to defend."
A 5-foot-4 midfielder, Brinkworth is a first-team all-Western New York selection and has led her league in scoring in each of the past two seasons. A club player for the Rochester Junior Rhinos, Brinkworth is a member of the New York West ODP team and a Region I ODP Pool Player. Brinkworth also has proven her prowess in the classroom, earning NSCAA Academic All-American status.
"Brittney is a fantastic player with a great competitive attitude," said Kramig. "She's quick and skillful and is one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. She also tackles hard and possesses great leadership qualities."
Brown, a 5-foot-4 midfielder that could also contribute as a defender, did not compete at the high school level but has been a standout for the Ohio Premier club team as well as an Ohio South ODP team member and a Region II ODP Pool Player.
"Stephanie is a very quick player that reads the game extremely well and can help us in the midfield and in back," Kramig noted. "She's a playmaker that demonstrates a lot of creativity as well as technical skills."
A 5-foot-7 defender, Gray comes to Miami after helping lead Lexington Catholic High School to the 2002 KHSAA State Championship, where she earned all-tournament plaudits. She plays club soccer for Lexington FC Premier.
"Katie brings tremendous speed, a great work ethic and competitive drive to our program," Kramig said. "She's a very dangerous player when attacking out of the back and can play equally well on the offensive and defensive thirds of the field."
Padfield, a 5-foot-8 midfielder/defender, is a 2002 NSCAA High School All-American and first-team all-Ohio honoree. The 2002 Western Reserve Conference MVP, Padfield was also selected as the Akron Touchdown Club's Player of the Year. Padfield competes for the Internationals club team and is a member of the Ohio North ODP team as well as a Region II ODP Pool Player.
"Kate is a dynamic player that will provide us with a physical presence in the middle of the midfield," said Kramig. "She possesses a very good tactical understanding of the game."
Prevallet, a 5-foot-1 midfielder, is a two-time all-district selection for Centreville High School. She also competes for the Bethesda Dragons club team and was a member of the 2000 Virginia ODP team.
"Aimee is a terrific playmaking midfielder who reads the game very well," Kramig said. "She's very clever with the ball and combines well with other players."
Vistica stands at 5-foot-4 and is the only forward signed to the class. The Urbana High School and Frederick County record holder for career (85) and single-season (31) goals, Vistica is the only player ever selected as the Frederick News Post Offensive MVP three times. Vistica was a three-time all-state selection and first-team all-metro for the Washington D.C. area. Vistica was named the to the All-Power Bar National Team of the Week, representing the East, last October.
"Kathleen has great skill and great speed and is equally dangerous as a goal scorer and goal creator," Kramig said. "She is a fun player to watch."
Miami's women's soccer program looks to continue a dominant run in which it has won three consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament Titles, made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons.
|
|
 |
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
