Wagner Women's Soccer Inks Six For 2020
December 16, 2019
Pictured Above: Head Coach Phil Casella (Credit: Gerome Wright)
Staten Island, NY – Wagner head women's soccer coach Phil Casella announced the addition of six players to the Seahawks program for 2020-21.
The signing class consists of Kayla Barbosa, Caitlin Filja, Jamie Levine, Arianna Michitti, Alexa Rispoli, and Tia Sheehy.
Kayla Barbosa
Defender
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Jefferson Township High School
Club Team: World Class FC
Attended Jefferson Township High School, where she was a four-year member of the Falcons soccer program under head coach Sean Quinn… In the classroom, she was a two-time recipient of the Falcon Scholar Award and was awarded the Presidential Award her sophomore and junior seasons… On the pitch, she amassed 19 goals and tallied 12 assists over her high school career… Among her athletic accolades, she earned All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in her freshman season while also being named the Falcons team Rookie of the Year… A First Team All-Conference, All-County honoree while also receiving Top-20 State Recognition in her sophomore and junior campaigns…Earned the Coaches' Award her sophomore season and Team MVP the following year… Led Jefferson Township to the 2019 Conference Championship as well as the 2019 Sectional Finals... Comes from an athletic family as her brother, Kyle, is a two-year member of the Ramapo College men's soccer team... Her twin cousins, Alexis and Brielle Castanheira, each played four years of college soccer for Drew University… Her cousin, Dylan Castanheira, was a four-year member of the Columbia University men's soccer team and currently is a goalkeeper for Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship.
Coach Casella on Barbosa: "She is a hard-nosed outside back… She has great size and a strong left foot and always finds a way to get out on the attack… She competed in the ECNL National semifinals in the summer of 2019, in which her team finished fourth in the national rankings."
Caitlin Filja
Midfield
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Immaculate Conception High School
Club Team: World Class FC
A four-year member of the Blue Wolves soccer program… In the classroom, she was named to the Honor Roll in her sophomore year… On the pitch, she was a four-time First Team All-Meadowlands Division midfielder… Netted 74 career goals over her four-year career, including a career-high 21 her freshman season… A three-time team MVP award winner… Played on the same club team as fellow newcomer Kayla Barbosa… Her cousin, Maggie, played for fellow Northeast Conference (NEC) member, Sacred Heart, from 2014-2017… At age 9, she volunteered to perform a piano recital for residents of The Longview Assisted Living Residence at the Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wyckoff (Link to news article)… From 2013-2016, as a result of winning a piano competition, she had the opportunity to play the piano at Carnegie Hall.
Coach Casella on Filja: "I have had the pleasure of coaching her for the past two years with World Class FC. She is a player that we can see help us in a variety of roles, one as a target forward and the second, as an attacking midfielder. A very technical player, she possesses good insight to go along with a great attitude and fieriness on the field that is unmatched."
Jamie Levine
Goalkeeper
Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Head Island High School
Club Team: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy
Starting goalkeeper for the Hilton Head Island High School soccer team, under the direction of head coach Ernie Suozzi… Led the Seahawks to a State Championship in 2018 after reaching the semifinals in 2017 as a freshman… Back on March 16, 2019, she recorded six saves in a 0-0 draw against Padeia… In a 1-0 victory over Beaufort on March 27, she stopped eight shots… Her father, Randy, played collegiate soccer for Dickinson College.
Coach Casella on Levine: "One of the top goalkeepers from one of the top ECNL clubs in Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA). She has great size, length, and presence around the net and we, as a staff, believe she will compete right away."
Arianna Michitti
Midfield/Forward
Binghamton, NY
Maine-Endwell High School
Club Team: BC United
A four-year member of the Maine-Endwell soccer program, under the tutelage of coach Marci Samiani… She also was a member of the Spartans track & field team in her sophomore year… In the classroom, she was a four-year member of the Honor Roll and a four-time Scholar-Athlete award recipient… On the pitch, she was the team captain and led the Spartans to the 2019 Co-STAC Championship and a trip to the Sectional Finals… Individually, a three-time All-Conference selection and a 2018 All-State honoree… Netted 43 goals and was credited with 21 assists…. As a member of BC United, she was part of the program that went to six NYS State Cup Championships, two regional championships, and a National League Championship appearance… Her sisters, Kaelyn, Marissa and Genna all played soccer, as Kaelyn played two years at SUNY Broome (two years) and Wilkes University; Marissa played two years for SUNY Broome and Genna was a three-year member of America East Conference member Binghamton.
Coach Casella on Michitti: "Having contributed to a trio of regional championships for her club team, BC United, she will provide us with a huge presence in the midfield in 2020. A tall player that displays a true love of the game, she is technical and her striking abilities are at an elite level."
Alexa Rispoli
Defender
Mahopac, NY
Mahopac
Club Team: Quickstrike FC
A two-year varsity member of the Mahopac soccer program… In the classroom, a consistent member of the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll…Was also a four-year varsity member of the Indians' lacrosse team… Helped Mahopac reach the Section I Class AA finals… Named All-League Honorable Mention in 2019…
Coach Casella on Rispoli: "One of the most composed players on the ball I have seen in the back line in a long time. She has the ability to play as a center or outside back. In reshaping the backl ine for the 2020 season, she's a player with great size and a great IQ for the game and will be a great addition for us.
Cynthia Sheehy
Forward
Lansdale, PA
North Penn High School
Club Team: 1776 United Xtreme 2001
A four-year member of the North Penn High School soccer team, scoring ten goals and tallying three assists this past year… She also was an accomplished member of the school's track and field program, during her sophomore and junior years in the winter… As a member of her club team, 1776 United Xtreme 2001, she helped lead the Xtremes to four EPYSA NCS State championships… In addition, the team was crowned NCS Eastern Regional champions and were NCS National Qualifiers.
Coach Casella on Sheehy: "She is another player that brings a championship mentality to the club, after appearing in many State, Regional and National championships in her youth career with her club. She is strong, fast and very dynamic and will add a lot to our attacking front line, either as a center or a winger."
Follow us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics
Women's Soccer
Staten Island, NY – Wagner head women's soccer coach Phil Casella announced the addition of six players to the Seahawks program for 2020-21.
The signing class consists of Kayla Barbosa, Caitlin Filja, Jamie Levine, Arianna Michitti, Alexa Rispoli, and Tia Sheehy.
Kayla Barbosa
Defender
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Jefferson Township High School
Club Team: World Class FC
Attended Jefferson Township High School, where she was a four-year member of the Falcons soccer program under head coach Sean Quinn… In the classroom, she was a two-time recipient of the Falcon Scholar Award and was awarded the Presidential Award her sophomore and junior seasons… On the pitch, she amassed 19 goals and tallied 12 assists over her high school career… Among her athletic accolades, she earned All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in her freshman season while also being named the Falcons team Rookie of the Year… A First Team All-Conference, All-County honoree while also receiving Top-20 State Recognition in her sophomore and junior campaigns…Earned the Coaches' Award her sophomore season and Team MVP the following year… Led Jefferson Township to the 2019 Conference Championship as well as the 2019 Sectional Finals... Comes from an athletic family as her brother, Kyle, is a two-year member of the Ramapo College men's soccer team... Her twin cousins, Alexis and Brielle Castanheira, each played four years of college soccer for Drew University… Her cousin, Dylan Castanheira, was a four-year member of the Columbia University men's soccer team and currently is a goalkeeper for Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship.
Coach Casella on Barbosa: "She is a hard-nosed outside back… She has great size and a strong left foot and always finds a way to get out on the attack… She competed in the ECNL National semifinals in the summer of 2019, in which her team finished fourth in the national rankings."
Caitlin Filja
Midfield
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Immaculate Conception High School
Club Team: World Class FC
A four-year member of the Blue Wolves soccer program… In the classroom, she was named to the Honor Roll in her sophomore year… On the pitch, she was a four-time First Team All-Meadowlands Division midfielder… Netted 74 career goals over her four-year career, including a career-high 21 her freshman season… A three-time team MVP award winner… Played on the same club team as fellow newcomer Kayla Barbosa… Her cousin, Maggie, played for fellow Northeast Conference (NEC) member, Sacred Heart, from 2014-2017… At age 9, she volunteered to perform a piano recital for residents of The Longview Assisted Living Residence at the Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wyckoff (Link to news article)… From 2013-2016, as a result of winning a piano competition, she had the opportunity to play the piano at Carnegie Hall.
Coach Casella on Filja: "I have had the pleasure of coaching her for the past two years with World Class FC. She is a player that we can see help us in a variety of roles, one as a target forward and the second, as an attacking midfielder. A very technical player, she possesses good insight to go along with a great attitude and fieriness on the field that is unmatched."
Jamie Levine
Goalkeeper
Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Head Island High School
Club Team: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy
Starting goalkeeper for the Hilton Head Island High School soccer team, under the direction of head coach Ernie Suozzi… Led the Seahawks to a State Championship in 2018 after reaching the semifinals in 2017 as a freshman… Back on March 16, 2019, she recorded six saves in a 0-0 draw against Padeia… In a 1-0 victory over Beaufort on March 27, she stopped eight shots… Her father, Randy, played collegiate soccer for Dickinson College.
Coach Casella on Levine: "One of the top goalkeepers from one of the top ECNL clubs in Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA). She has great size, length, and presence around the net and we, as a staff, believe she will compete right away."
Arianna Michitti
Midfield/Forward
Binghamton, NY
Maine-Endwell High School
Club Team: BC United
A four-year member of the Maine-Endwell soccer program, under the tutelage of coach Marci Samiani… She also was a member of the Spartans track & field team in her sophomore year… In the classroom, she was a four-year member of the Honor Roll and a four-time Scholar-Athlete award recipient… On the pitch, she was the team captain and led the Spartans to the 2019 Co-STAC Championship and a trip to the Sectional Finals… Individually, a three-time All-Conference selection and a 2018 All-State honoree… Netted 43 goals and was credited with 21 assists…. As a member of BC United, she was part of the program that went to six NYS State Cup Championships, two regional championships, and a National League Championship appearance… Her sisters, Kaelyn, Marissa and Genna all played soccer, as Kaelyn played two years at SUNY Broome (two years) and Wilkes University; Marissa played two years for SUNY Broome and Genna was a three-year member of America East Conference member Binghamton.
Coach Casella on Michitti: "Having contributed to a trio of regional championships for her club team, BC United, she will provide us with a huge presence in the midfield in 2020. A tall player that displays a true love of the game, she is technical and her striking abilities are at an elite level."
Alexa Rispoli
Defender
Mahopac, NY
Mahopac
Club Team: Quickstrike FC
A two-year varsity member of the Mahopac soccer program… In the classroom, a consistent member of the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll…Was also a four-year varsity member of the Indians' lacrosse team… Helped Mahopac reach the Section I Class AA finals… Named All-League Honorable Mention in 2019…
Coach Casella on Rispoli: "One of the most composed players on the ball I have seen in the back line in a long time. She has the ability to play as a center or outside back. In reshaping the backl ine for the 2020 season, she's a player with great size and a great IQ for the game and will be a great addition for us.
Cynthia Sheehy
Forward
Lansdale, PA
North Penn High School
Club Team: 1776 United Xtreme 2001
A four-year member of the North Penn High School soccer team, scoring ten goals and tallying three assists this past year… She also was an accomplished member of the school's track and field program, during her sophomore and junior years in the winter… As a member of her club team, 1776 United Xtreme 2001, she helped lead the Xtremes to four EPYSA NCS State championships… In addition, the team was crowned NCS Eastern Regional champions and were NCS National Qualifiers.
Coach Casella on Sheehy: "She is another player that brings a championship mentality to the club, after appearing in many State, Regional and National championships in her youth career with her club. She is strong, fast and very dynamic and will add a lot to our attacking front line, either as a center or a winger."
Follow us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics
Women's Soccer
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