Long Beach State University Athletics
2007 Recruiting Class Announced
2/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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49ers Announce 2007 Recruits LONG BEACH, CA-- Long Beach State women's soccer, which has had a top-40 recruiting classes in each of the last two seasons and the top class in the Big West as well, announced its class of 2007. The program is coming of its best season to date (14-5-1), as three of the incoming freshmen have played for various national teams, twin sisters Caroline and Grace Shevlin (Peru), and Janet Mendez (U20's, Mexico) and the other five were a part of the Olympic Development program. "Our 2007 class is a fine group of student-athletes that will add depth to our program and make us exponentially better," said Mauricio Ingrassia, whose team has won 26 games over the last two years. "For the first time in our program's history, we're adding some international experience to the mix. We're looking forward to the season, as this class will have an immediate impact on our program." Junior midfielder Mariko Strickland (Kapaa, HI/Mid Pacific Institute/San Diego State) is a transfer from San Diego State who played in all 22 games as a freshman and had one assist in 19 games (18 starts) in 2006. She was third on the Aztecs with three assists and nine points in 2005. She was a two-time Mountain West All-Academic pick. Strickland has been with the Olympic Development Program since 2000 making the national ODP camps in 2001 and 2002. She was a state finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman award, also playing varsity soccer and basketball. Strickland has already enrolled in school at LBSU for the spring. Freshman midfielder Lindsay Bullock (Manhattan Beach/Mira Costa HS) was the 2005 Bay League MVP and the 2006 Bay League Offensive Player of the Year and MVP, scoring 12 and 11 assists as a sophomore, before picking up 17 goals and 15 assists as a junior. Played for the Infinity Club program, which was ranked No. 1 nationally. She was also a part of the Cal South ODP Under-15 team. Freshman forward Kristen Kiefer (Mission Viejo/Capistrano HS) was a two-time first team all-league pick in soccer and was the league champion in the long and triple jumps and 300-meter hurdles. She left the school as the school-record holder in both the 100 and 300-meter hrudles and the long jump. She was a part of the Cal South ODP team. She plays for the Southern California Blues club team. Freshman goalkeeper Emily Kingsborough (Santa Rosa/Ursuline HS) is a top-100 recruit, according to Soccerbuzz.com, the program's sixth top-100 recruit over the last three years. She was a part of the U15 National Team Camps in 2004 and was a NSCAA Youth All-American in 2005. Her high school team won the North Coast Sectional in 2005 and was ranked No. 1 nationally and No. 1 in the West by Student Sports Publications. She was also a two-time first team all-conference selection. She was a part of the Regional ODP team and Cal North State team as well. She plays for the Santa Rosa United club team. Freshman forward Janet Mendez (Palmdale/Highland HS) was her high school team's most valuable offensive player in 2005 and a scholar athlete as a four-year letterman out in the High Desert. Mendez has played for the Mexican Under-20 National team and the Arsenal club program. With Mexico, she played in Russia at the 2006 Under-20 World Cup. Mendez played with current first team All-Big West selection Sahar Haghdan at Highland High. Freshman defender Vanessa Nieto (Santa Rosa/Maria Carrillo HS) is a first team all-conference selection for four straight years and was selected All-Empire for four seasons as well. She played for the Santa Rosa United, as they won Surf Cup twice, not allowing a goal. She was a member of the Cal North ODP team and was selected for the national Super Y ODP as well. Freshman midfielder Caroline Shevlin (San Diego/Westview HS) has been a member of the Peruvian National Team since 2006 and was on the U-20's in 2005-06. She was twice named second team all-league pick and was also a two-time second team All-CIF selection.She helped lead the Wolverines to the 2005 CIF Championship. She played for the San Diego Surf since 1999 and were six-time Surf Cup finalists. Surf also won many Cal South National Cups and along with her sister, Grace, now play for the West Coast Futbol Club. Freshman midfielder Grace Shevlin (San Diego/Westview HS), along with her sister are members of the Peruvian National Team since 2006 and the Peruvian U-20's since 2005. In 2004, she was named second team All-CIF and in 2003 was named second team All-Valley League. She also set the school-record in the 400-meter dash. For San Diego Surf Soccer, she was a six-time Surf Cup Finalist and were two-time Cal-South Champions. Her Westview High team won the CIF title in 2005. |
