Women’s Soccer: Saints sign 16 for inaugural season

May 21, 2007

Lacey, WA – Saint Martin’s women’s soccer program has signed a total of 15 to national letters of intent as announced by head coach Rob Walker. The Saints will make the transition from a club sport to a competitive member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this fall.

In this year’s recruiting class there are seven transfers and eight incoming freshmen. The transfers include Ashley Biral, Trisha Halvorson, Lauren Kruzner, Kandis Jarvis, Breanna Klasen, Jackie McClendon, and Jessica Ventoza.

Biral and Halvorson both come to SMU from Lower Columbia College. Biral was a two time NWAACC all-Star and posted 18 goals and eight assists last season. Halvorson was also selected to the NWAACC all-Star team in 2006.

“Ashley plays up front with a high work rate and likes to take players on,” said Walker. “She gets herself around the ball in goal scoring situations and brings a tenacious hunger to score goals.”

“Trisha has a great pedigree as a youth and college player. She can play in defense, but her best position will be in the midfield as she has above average work rate and is very skillful,” said Walker.

Kruzner comes in as a sophomore after spending last year at Olympic College where she was a starting defender. She received both first and second-team all-League honors while at South Kitsap High School.

“Lauren was a high school standout at South Kitsap and had a solid year at Olympic CC. She athletic and plays with good instincts and should push for playing time in her first years as a Saint. She may be a real surprise coming forward on set plays,” added Walker.

Jarvis is a defender out of South Puget Sound Community College while Klasen is a goalkeeper from Highline Community College.

“Kandis is a solid defender who played at Lower Columbia before finishing at SPSCC. She is good at marking and playing in the air and can probably play a couple of different roles as a defender,” said Walker.

“Breanna has a wealth of experience in goal and plays with skill and good decision making,” said Walker. “She comes from a good youth and college program and will be someone we count on to make saves and keep us organized.”

Rounding out the transfer group are McClendon and Ventoza. McClendon is a midfielder out of Tacoma Community College who was named an NWAACC all-Star there.

“Jackie’s athleticism and competitiveness will command playing time in the fall. She’s a great blend of distributor and attacker, so a role will have to be defined,” said Walker.

Ventoza spent her freshman year at Highline Community College before transferring to Western Nebraska Community College where she played softball.

“Jessica is a mercurial front player who is skillful, “pacey” and has a lot of value in the team as she has the ability to get behind opposition defenders,” added Walker.

Of the Saints’ eight freshmen there are three defenders, two goalkeepers, two midfielders, and one forward. The defenders include Cayla Dixon, Amanda Pratt, and Julianna Sackeyfio.

“Cayla is a very skillful player who can play in different positions along the backline,” said Walker. “She is very quick and a good marker. Her service coming forward and her ability to connect the game from the back to the front make her very dangerous on both sides of the ball.”

Pratt, a member of the Lake Steven High School League Championship team, was also selected second-team all-WESCO League.

“Amanda is a heady and skillful defender who has a wealth of youthful experience. She’s been well prepared for the rigors and pace of collegiate soccer and she should play a solid role in what we do on the back line next year,” said Walker.

Sackeyfio comes out of Ingraham High School here she was named team MVP her senior year.

“Julianna is a solid player who we feel has a tremendous “upside.” In watching her play we liked her versatility as a player who could mark, be a ball winner and also make good distribution choices out of the back,” said Walker.

Michelle Donachie and Emilee Eilefson account for the Saints goalkeepers. Donachie comes to SMU from Mountain View High School.

“Michelle is a goalkeeper with everything you look for in a freshman: good size, fearlessness, athleticism, and good basic skills,” said Walker. “She should challenge for playing time as she gets acclimated to the college game.”

Eilefson, out of Timberline High School, was a first-team all-League and academic all-League selection her senior year. She was also named to the Olympian all-Area team.

“Emilee is a local product who was solid in goal at Timberline. She has demonstrated the ability to do the job in her shot stopping and playing off her line. She’s tall so crosses are something she gets to pretty well and she’s athletic enough to “get the low ones” too. Emilee will definitely be a candidate for playing time as the season progresses,” added Walker.

At the midfielder position are Kayci Donatelli and Kelcy Ware. Donatelli is from Highline High School where she was named first-team all-League, first-team all-State and was MVP of the Seamount League. She was also selected to the Seattle all-Area first-team.

“Kayci plays in midfield with athleticism and skill. Her ability to distribute her service to provide good possession and scoring chances will be something we count on in our first year,” said Walker. “She has the work-rate to chase down difficult opposition, which makes Kayci valuable on both sides of the ball.”

Ware, out of Mariner High School, was named second-team all-WESCO League in 2006.

“Kelcy brings the side utility as she can play in about half the positions on the field. She’s skillful enough to play in the interior in the back or in midfield and fast enough to play in wide positions,” explained Walker. “She has great spirit for the game and will really help us when we need flexibility in our line up.”

The Saints lone freshman forward is Shannon White out of Olympic High School.

“Shannon is an athletic player who will play up front. She has the skill to take players on, but the ability to target for the ball and keep possession. She has good service with both her feet and is quick off the mark,” said Walker.

All in all the Saints have compiled a strong group with both experience and talent that they believe will help lead the way as they begin their first competitive year in the GNAC.