Idaho adds 11 on signing day
February 5, 2009
MOSCOW – University of Idaho head soccer coach Pete Showler has announced the addition of 11 talented newcomers to the Vandal women’s program, with nine letter-of-intent signees and two invited walk-ons.
Idaho’s 2009 recruiting class features four athletes from the state of California, four from Washington and three from Canada. The class features six midfielders, two defenders, two forwards and one goalkeeper. With 11 newcomers, it is also the largest group the fifth-year coach has brought in to Moscow.
"The girls all come from outstanding club programs with traditions of success, from winning club national championships, high school state championships, club state championships and garnering regional team recognition, winning is key,” Showler said. “They have a winning mentality and this will continue to help us develop and excel as this program enters its 11th season.
“We want to give the department, the University and the Vandal community something to be proud of, and this group of girls will be a big part of that as we build for the future.”
Idaho’s signees from the state of California include Kristi Atkinson, a 5-3 midfielder from San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS), Megan Lopez, a 5-3 midfielder/forward from Oceanside, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS), Amber Pimley, a 5-3 midfielder from Camarillo, Calif. (Adolfo Camarillo HS) and Chelsea Small, a 5-5 forward from Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS).
Atkinson, Lopez and Small all played together for the San Diego Surf club team, which won the 2006 Chivas Cup and went to the finals of the 2008 Surf Cup. Prior to her time with the Surf, Atkinson played with the Irvine Strikers, which she helped win a state title, Far West Regional title and U.S. Youth Soccer national title in 2006. Pimley played for the Real So Cal club team, which won the Surf Cup four years straight, as well as the 2006 Gothia Cup and was a 2006 finalist at the Cal South National Cup.
Idaho’s signees from Washington include signees Lauren Layton, a 5-6 defender from Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS), and Kristi Wirtz, a 5-8 forward also from Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS). In addition to the two signees, two invited walk-ons have also signed acceptance of admission letters to join the Vandal program. Mackie Watt is a 5-5 midfielder/defender from Lynden, Wash. (Lynden HS), while Caroline Towles is a 5-8 goalkeeper from Seattle, Wash. (Shorecrest HS).
Layton is a 2008 Washington first-team all-state selection who helped the Spokane Shadow earn a 2007 U.S. Youth Club Soccer national title. She also helped lead Mead High School to three-straight Greater Spokane League titles and three-straight Washington District 6 titles. Wirtz was a four-year varsity starter and a 2008 first-team all-GSL selection at Shadle Park and was also the leading scorer for the Spokane Shadow club team for seven years running.
Watt was a first-team all-Northwest Conference and first-team all-Whatcom County midfield for Lynden High School, with 33 career goals and 18 assists to her name. Towles was a two-time first-team all-Westco South selection, as well as a Seattle Times All-Star Team honoree. She tallied 33 career shutouts, including 13 as a senior, and a 0.63 career goals-against-average.
Idaho’s three Canadian signees are Jill Flockhart, a 5-6 midfielder/forward from Salmon Arm, British Columbia (Salmon Arm Secondary), Christine Leathem, a 5-10 defender from Surrey, B.C. (Sullivan Heights Secondary), and Cassandra San, a 5-5 defender/midfielder from Surrey, B.C. (Holy Cross Regional).
Both San and Leathem competed together on the SBAA Nitro Elite club team, which won four league titles, two Coastal Cup titles, two B.C. provincial titles and qualified for two Canadian national tournaments. Flockhart led Salmon Arm Secondary in scoring her final three seasons of play and helped the Shuswap FC club team earn bronze at the B.C. provincial championships.
“None of this would be possible without the tireless work Katie (Schoene) and Steph (Beall), my assistant coaches, put in to get us to this stage, so I would like to thank them for their efforts and that of the support staff and athletic department in celebrating this group,” Showler said.
With the Vandals losing nine players to graduation following the 2008 season, Showler said he expects all 11 newcomers to immediately step in and compete for playing time during the upcoming 2009 season.
“All of these players are capable of making an impact on our program and will help further cultivate the competitive environment we have developed here, as well as giving us added depth and talent to an already strong group of players,” Showler said. “I’m excited for the times ahead and for the future of Vandal soccer”
In addition to their on-the-field exploits, Showler said he fully expects all 11 players to make an impact on the University of Idaho in the classroom, as the class boasts academic credentials ranging from 4.0 grade-point averages to Honor Roll recognition and academic honor societies.
“We have recruited players who are talented in the classroom and are well-rounded individuals who will continue to reflect the Vandal tradition of outstanding student-athletes,” Showler said. “The academic reputation the school has enhanced the reason these girls want to come to school here.
“The soccer is a bonus – it’s a big reason – but the it is from the academic side is that they’re going to come away with degrees in four years and the types of girls we’re recruiting here are very book smart and very academically gifted, but it’s also through hard work and commitment and we’re looking for those things to translate to the field, also.”
The returners from the 2008 squad will kick off Spring soccer in March, while the newcomers will join the team in the fall and will be eligible to compete starting with the 2009 season.
Signees: Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School)
Kristi Atkinson MF 5-3 San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS)
Jill Flockhart MF/F 5-6 Salmon Arm, B.C., Canada (Salmon Arm Secondary)
Lauren Layton D 5-6 Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS)
Christine Leathem D 5-10 Surrey, B.C., Canada (Sullivan Heights Secondary)
Megan Lopez MF/F 5-3 Oceanside, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS)
Amber Pimley MF 5-3 Camarillo, Calif. (Adolfo Camarillo HS)
Cassandra San D/MF 5-5 Surrey, B.C., Canada (Holy Cross Regional)
Chelsea Small F 5-5 Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS)
Kristi Wirtz F 5-8 Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS)
Invited Walk-Ons:
Mackie Watt MF/F 5-5 Lynden, Wash. (Lynden HS)
Caroline Towles GK 5-8 Seattle, Wash. (Shorecrest HS)
Idaho’s 2009 recruiting class features four athletes from the state of California, four from Washington and three from Canada. The class features six midfielders, two defenders, two forwards and one goalkeeper. With 11 newcomers, it is also the largest group the fifth-year coach has brought in to Moscow.
"The girls all come from outstanding club programs with traditions of success, from winning club national championships, high school state championships, club state championships and garnering regional team recognition, winning is key,” Showler said. “They have a winning mentality and this will continue to help us develop and excel as this program enters its 11th season.
“We want to give the department, the University and the Vandal community something to be proud of, and this group of girls will be a big part of that as we build for the future.”
Idaho’s signees from the state of California include Kristi Atkinson, a 5-3 midfielder from San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS), Megan Lopez, a 5-3 midfielder/forward from Oceanside, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS), Amber Pimley, a 5-3 midfielder from Camarillo, Calif. (Adolfo Camarillo HS) and Chelsea Small, a 5-5 forward from Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS).
Atkinson, Lopez and Small all played together for the San Diego Surf club team, which won the 2006 Chivas Cup and went to the finals of the 2008 Surf Cup. Prior to her time with the Surf, Atkinson played with the Irvine Strikers, which she helped win a state title, Far West Regional title and U.S. Youth Soccer national title in 2006. Pimley played for the Real So Cal club team, which won the Surf Cup four years straight, as well as the 2006 Gothia Cup and was a 2006 finalist at the Cal South National Cup.
Idaho’s signees from Washington include signees Lauren Layton, a 5-6 defender from Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS), and Kristi Wirtz, a 5-8 forward also from Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS). In addition to the two signees, two invited walk-ons have also signed acceptance of admission letters to join the Vandal program. Mackie Watt is a 5-5 midfielder/defender from Lynden, Wash. (Lynden HS), while Caroline Towles is a 5-8 goalkeeper from Seattle, Wash. (Shorecrest HS).
Layton is a 2008 Washington first-team all-state selection who helped the Spokane Shadow earn a 2007 U.S. Youth Club Soccer national title. She also helped lead Mead High School to three-straight Greater Spokane League titles and three-straight Washington District 6 titles. Wirtz was a four-year varsity starter and a 2008 first-team all-GSL selection at Shadle Park and was also the leading scorer for the Spokane Shadow club team for seven years running.
Watt was a first-team all-Northwest Conference and first-team all-Whatcom County midfield for Lynden High School, with 33 career goals and 18 assists to her name. Towles was a two-time first-team all-Westco South selection, as well as a Seattle Times All-Star Team honoree. She tallied 33 career shutouts, including 13 as a senior, and a 0.63 career goals-against-average.
Idaho’s three Canadian signees are Jill Flockhart, a 5-6 midfielder/forward from Salmon Arm, British Columbia (Salmon Arm Secondary), Christine Leathem, a 5-10 defender from Surrey, B.C. (Sullivan Heights Secondary), and Cassandra San, a 5-5 defender/midfielder from Surrey, B.C. (Holy Cross Regional).
Both San and Leathem competed together on the SBAA Nitro Elite club team, which won four league titles, two Coastal Cup titles, two B.C. provincial titles and qualified for two Canadian national tournaments. Flockhart led Salmon Arm Secondary in scoring her final three seasons of play and helped the Shuswap FC club team earn bronze at the B.C. provincial championships.
“None of this would be possible without the tireless work Katie (Schoene) and Steph (Beall), my assistant coaches, put in to get us to this stage, so I would like to thank them for their efforts and that of the support staff and athletic department in celebrating this group,” Showler said.
With the Vandals losing nine players to graduation following the 2008 season, Showler said he expects all 11 newcomers to immediately step in and compete for playing time during the upcoming 2009 season.
“All of these players are capable of making an impact on our program and will help further cultivate the competitive environment we have developed here, as well as giving us added depth and talent to an already strong group of players,” Showler said. “I’m excited for the times ahead and for the future of Vandal soccer”
In addition to their on-the-field exploits, Showler said he fully expects all 11 players to make an impact on the University of Idaho in the classroom, as the class boasts academic credentials ranging from 4.0 grade-point averages to Honor Roll recognition and academic honor societies.
“We have recruited players who are talented in the classroom and are well-rounded individuals who will continue to reflect the Vandal tradition of outstanding student-athletes,” Showler said. “The academic reputation the school has enhanced the reason these girls want to come to school here.
“The soccer is a bonus – it’s a big reason – but the it is from the academic side is that they’re going to come away with degrees in four years and the types of girls we’re recruiting here are very book smart and very academically gifted, but it’s also through hard work and commitment and we’re looking for those things to translate to the field, also.”
The returners from the 2008 squad will kick off Spring soccer in March, while the newcomers will join the team in the fall and will be eligible to compete starting with the 2009 season.
Signees: Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School)
Kristi Atkinson MF 5-3 San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS)
Jill Flockhart MF/F 5-6 Salmon Arm, B.C., Canada (Salmon Arm Secondary)
Lauren Layton D 5-6 Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS)
Christine Leathem D 5-10 Surrey, B.C., Canada (Sullivan Heights Secondary)
Megan Lopez MF/F 5-3 Oceanside, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS)
Amber Pimley MF 5-3 Camarillo, Calif. (Adolfo Camarillo HS)
Cassandra San D/MF 5-5 Surrey, B.C., Canada (Holy Cross Regional)
Chelsea Small F 5-5 Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS)
Kristi Wirtz F 5-8 Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS)
Invited Walk-Ons:
Mackie Watt MF/F 5-5 Lynden, Wash. (Lynden HS)
Caroline Towles GK 5-8 Seattle, Wash. (Shorecrest HS)
