The University of Akron women’s soccer team will welcome 10 new student-athletes to the program next fall, having already added a transfer student-athlete this spring, head coach Chris Pfau announced Friday. The group includes eight in-state recruits – seven from Northeast Ohio – and one athlete from California, Illinois and Minnesota.
The class consists of four defenders, three goalkeepers, two midfielders, two forward/midfielders, and one defender/midfielder. Many of the players come to Akron after receiving high honors at both the club and high school level. Several have Olympic Development Program (ODP) regional and interregional experience, as well as national pool selections. The class features talent from some of the top clubs in the country including Eclipse (IL), Ohio Premier Eagles, Cleveland Internationals, and Minnesota Thunder.
On the high school level, the group has ESPN RISE National Player of the Week award winners, ESPN RISE National Champions, and state champions. “This is a great incoming class. Our staff has worked particularly hard in bringing this class together,” Pfau commented. “Each year we try to add quality student-athletes to our roster, and this year is no exception. Some of these incoming players have played at the highest levels, having received national and regional Olympic Development Program recognition and selections for All-American awards.”
The group joins a program on the rise. Akron has qualified for the Mid-American Conference Tournament in each of the last three seasons – something UA failed to do in its previous eight seasons since becoming a varsity sport in 2001. In 2009, UA won their division and were crowned MAC East champions. In 2010, UA lost a close tie to Miami in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Last year, UA met Central Michigan in the first round of the 2011 MAC Tournament and went down 2-1.
“It will be exciting to see how this class blends with our returners,” Pfau said. This class will add speed, athleticism, and skill to an already experienced team in the fall. Furthermore, these incoming players know what it takes to compete for championships by virtue of playing for top level clubs, which will only help us reach our goals this fall.”
The class includes the following: GK Klaire Adee (Rockford, IL), D Katie George (Middleburg Heights, OH), GK Caitlin Jakubek (Akron, OH), MF Madison Kaser (Silver Lake, OH), GK Alegra Kastens (Orange, CA), D/MF Holly Ohradzansky (Avon, OH), F/MF Sydney Perez (Warren, OH), D Amelia Robinson (Dublin, OH), F/MF Megan Waskowski (Strongsville, OH), MF Hannah Werth (Bloomington, MN), and D Kaylie West (Copley, OH).
West is a transfer from Ashland University, where she saw action in 16 games with 7 starts during her freshman season. “Kaylie is a good strong player who will continue to develop,” Pfau added. “She is very driven and has a great desire to get better.”
Adee is the most highly ranked among the freshman and should challenge for the starting keeper job immediately. “Klaire is a very talented, athletic keeper who has played at every level of soccer,” Pfau continued. “Her club team is regionally ranked no. 3, and she is very used to playing in big games.”
