Photo by: John Fajardo
Soccer Signs Seven In Fall Period
11/20/2018 1:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State brings in another strong recruiting class.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia and his staff have announced that seven players have stated their intent to join Long Beach State in 2019 as the team looks to defend its Big West Conference Championship.
"This class adds depth to every position on the field. This is a talented group, and they're all capable of earning minutes on this team, either right away or over time."
Aleea Caceres | Midfield - North Hills, Calif.
Aleea Caceres is a midfielder that plays for Grenada Hills Charter High School in addition to Real So Cal of the U.S. Development Academy. Last season, Caceres helped Grenada Hills Charter High School reach the CIF Division I Regional Semifinals.
Ingrassia on Caceres:
"Aleea can play any midfield role. She is technical, hard-working, and a good leader. Aleea has the potential to challenge for playing time right away."
Jillian Hiraga | Midfield - Torrance, Calif.
Jillian Hiraga is a midfielder from Torrance, who plays club for Beach FC of the United States Development Academy as well as Torrance High School.
Ingrassia on Hiraga:
"Jillian is a left-footed, technical central midfielder with good vision. Her ability to distribute and keep the ball makes her valuable for our style of play."
Morgan Houston-Shepherd | Goalkeeper – Rancho Murieta, Calif.
Morgan Houston-Shepherd is a goalkeeper from Rancho Murieta, and has played club soccer with the WPSL California Thunder as well as Union Sacramento FC.
Ingrassia on Houston-Shepherd:
"Morgan is truly a physical specimen of a goalkeeper, with good size and reach. We are looking forward to working with her, she could be a special player."
Emily Jauregui | Midfield/Defense – Chino Hills, Calif.
Emily Jauregui is a versatile player who plays club soccer with Legends FC as well as playing high school with Chino Hills High School.
Ingrassia on Jauregui:
"Emily brings a lot of intangibles, as she's played a variety of positions on a lot of winning sides. She's a team-first player, a very hard worker, and a good teammate. Emily will fit right in here at the Beach."
Amanda Meichtry | Defense – Murrieta, Calif.
Amanda Meichtry is a left-side defender that can either play left back or left center back. She plays club with Club Arsenal as well as for Vista Murrieta High School.
Ingrassia on Meichtry:
"Amanda can play both left and center back. She has good size and has good potential from a physical standpoint. We're excited to see how she develops within our training program."
Allesandra Ramirez | Defense – Downey, Calif.
Allesandra Ramirez is a central defender that attended Warren High School. She played club for Beach FC of the United States Development Academy, and has also been called up to compete with the U17 Mexican Team.
Ingrassia on Ramirez:
"Ale is a very talented center back and a good leader that comes in with youth international experience. Ale has good size for a center-back, is good in the air, and has the vision to hit a longer-range pass. She is an outstanding leader, and can be the center-back of the future for the Beach."
Allie Veloz | Forward – Surprise, Ariz.
Allie Veloz is a two-sport athlete at Willow Creek High School in Arizona, competing in both soccer and track while playing club for the Utah Royals of the United States Development Academy. Last season as a junior, she scored 39 goals and made 11 assists for WCHS.
Ingrassia on Veloz:
"Allie is a hard-working center forward with a lot of pace, always looking to get behind defenses. Her speed allows her to stretch defenses, and her athleticism and work-rate will really help our front row."
Long Beach State won both the Big West regular season and tournament championships in 2018, and made the program's seventh NCAA appearance in the last 11 seasons, all under head coach Mauricio Ingrassia.
"This class adds depth to every position on the field. This is a talented group, and they're all capable of earning minutes on this team, either right away or over time."
Aleea Caceres | Midfield - North Hills, Calif.
Aleea Caceres is a midfielder that plays for Grenada Hills Charter High School in addition to Real So Cal of the U.S. Development Academy. Last season, Caceres helped Grenada Hills Charter High School reach the CIF Division I Regional Semifinals.
Ingrassia on Caceres:
"Aleea can play any midfield role. She is technical, hard-working, and a good leader. Aleea has the potential to challenge for playing time right away."
Jillian Hiraga | Midfield - Torrance, Calif.
Jillian Hiraga is a midfielder from Torrance, who plays club for Beach FC of the United States Development Academy as well as Torrance High School.
Ingrassia on Hiraga:
"Jillian is a left-footed, technical central midfielder with good vision. Her ability to distribute and keep the ball makes her valuable for our style of play."
Morgan Houston-Shepherd | Goalkeeper – Rancho Murieta, Calif.
Morgan Houston-Shepherd is a goalkeeper from Rancho Murieta, and has played club soccer with the WPSL California Thunder as well as Union Sacramento FC.
Ingrassia on Houston-Shepherd:
"Morgan is truly a physical specimen of a goalkeeper, with good size and reach. We are looking forward to working with her, she could be a special player."
Emily Jauregui | Midfield/Defense – Chino Hills, Calif.
Emily Jauregui is a versatile player who plays club soccer with Legends FC as well as playing high school with Chino Hills High School.
Ingrassia on Jauregui:
"Emily brings a lot of intangibles, as she's played a variety of positions on a lot of winning sides. She's a team-first player, a very hard worker, and a good teammate. Emily will fit right in here at the Beach."
Amanda Meichtry | Defense – Murrieta, Calif.
Amanda Meichtry is a left-side defender that can either play left back or left center back. She plays club with Club Arsenal as well as for Vista Murrieta High School.
Ingrassia on Meichtry:
"Amanda can play both left and center back. She has good size and has good potential from a physical standpoint. We're excited to see how she develops within our training program."
Allesandra Ramirez | Defense – Downey, Calif.
Allesandra Ramirez is a central defender that attended Warren High School. She played club for Beach FC of the United States Development Academy, and has also been called up to compete with the U17 Mexican Team.
Ingrassia on Ramirez:
"Ale is a very talented center back and a good leader that comes in with youth international experience. Ale has good size for a center-back, is good in the air, and has the vision to hit a longer-range pass. She is an outstanding leader, and can be the center-back of the future for the Beach."
Allie Veloz | Forward – Surprise, Ariz.
Allie Veloz is a two-sport athlete at Willow Creek High School in Arizona, competing in both soccer and track while playing club for the Utah Royals of the United States Development Academy. Last season as a junior, she scored 39 goals and made 11 assists for WCHS.
Ingrassia on Veloz:
"Allie is a hard-working center forward with a lot of pace, always looking to get behind defenses. Her speed allows her to stretch defenses, and her athleticism and work-rate will really help our front row."
Long Beach State won both the Big West regular season and tournament championships in 2018, and made the program's seventh NCAA appearance in the last 11 seasons, all under head coach Mauricio Ingrassia.
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