PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State Soccer Head Coach Todd Shulenberger announced the incoming class of student-athletes for the 2016 season, Wednesday. Seven incoming freshmen signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Cougars beginning next season, in addition to a pair of early enrollees that began classes at WSU in January.
Emele Chaddock, Jordyn DiCintio, Katie Jones, Holly Rothering, McKenna Sullivan, Raven Sweeney, and Morgan Weaver have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Washington State University beginning next fall. Transfer Amy Neal and freshman Tarah Patterson enrolled at WSU at the beginning of the spring semester.
“I'm excited to announce this highly successful group of young ladies from the very talented states of Washington, California, Colorado, and Nevada,” Shulenberger said. “These student-athletes were very successful on their high-profile club teams, and also held a high standard academically. We look forward to them being a part of our Cougar soccer family.”
Update (April 29, 2016): Alysha Overland, currently a freshman at the Community Colleges of Spokane, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Washington State University beginning next fall.
Emele Chaddock (Forward, Mukilteo, Wash.)
High School: A three-year letter winner at Kamiak High School under coach Beth Stewart…after sitting out part of sophomore season and all of junior season to recover from two ACL injuries, returned for senior season to lead the Knights to the final round of the district playoffs…Kamiak finished second in the WESCO Conference (4A)…named to the WESCO All-Area First Team and WESCO All-State Second Team…after recovering from first ACL surgery during sophomore season, scored a goal in first game back and aided the team in an opening-round appearance of the district playoffs…as a freshman, named WESCO All-Area First Team as the Knights advanced to the district finals.
Club: A member of Crossfire Premier (ECNL) from U13 to U18…coached by Tim Reynolds…Crossfire U17 team ranked second in the nation in 2015 after finishing as the national runner-up at ECNL Finals…three-time ECNL Northwest Champions League Champions…2012 Manchester United Premier Cup Champions…club took third at 2012 Gothia Youth World Cup (Sweden)…2010 and 2011 Washington State PDL Champions…also competed on 2011-12 Washington Olympic Development First Team that won 2012 Region IV championship…listed as a top-150 prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.com from 2011-13.
Jordyn DiCintio (Midfielder, San Diego, Calif.)
High School: A four-year letter winner under coach Larry Pernicano at Scripps Ranch High School…has guided the Falcons to three-straight Eastern League (San Diego) Championships with the 2015-16 season still ongoing…a three-time CIF All-League Second Team selection…as a junior, led the team to the state quarterfinals and the CIF semifinals…Scripps Ranch was CIF runner-up during sophomore season…as a freshman, named team Rookie of the Year as the team advanced to CIF semifinals.
Club: Member of San Diego Surf Soccer Club coached by Sean Ganey…helped club team win U17 Surf Thanksgiving Cup Championship, U16 Surf Cup Championship, and U15 ECNL National Championship.
Katie Jones (Forward, Corona, Calif.)
High School: Four-year letter winner at Santiago High School under coach Mike Plemming…during junior year, won the CIF Southern Section championship…the Sharks went undefeated in Big VIII League play to earn the league title for the third-straight season…named to the Big VIII First Team, All-CIF First Team, and all-county first team…as a sophomore, the team also went undefeated en route to a league title before bowing out in the CIF quarterfinals…earned Big VIII First Team, All-CIF First Team, and all-county first team honors…team also went undefeated in league play during freshman season…named to the Big VIII Second Team and All-CIF Second Team.
Club: Member of Legends FC under coach John King…during 2014 season, won Surf Cup, Far West Regionals and National League…member of SoCal Blues ECNL under coach Larry Draluck…won ECNL championship and Blues Cup championship…selected to 2014 ODP pool.
Amy Neal (Forward, Los Alamos, N.M.)
Washington State: Early enrollee beginning in January of 2016 after transferring from the University of Tennessee.
Tennessee: During junior season played in all 18 matches and started in 16…tied for most goals on the team with five…also notched one assist…twice scored the game-winning goal for the Lady Vols…as a sophomore, played in 22 matches and started 16 of them…netted seven season goals, including a team-best three game-winners…recorded three assists…in opening round of SEC Tournament scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute to beat Alabama…netted a penalty kick in shootout during SEC Tournament, helping to advance Tennessee over No. 8 Florida…during freshman campaign appeared in 11 matches for the Lady Vols…scored first-career goal in win at Alabama and went on to net a brace in the match, finishing the season with two goals.
High School: A four-year letter winner in three separate sports at Los Alamos High School…named the State 4A Player of the Year back-to-back in 2011 and 2012…as a four-time district player of the year, led Los Alamos to four district champion…state runner-up in 2009…leading goal scorer in the state in 2011 with 33 goals…scored a total of 96 goals in high school career and recorded 62 assists.
Club: Member of the Fusion soccer club that won the State Cup for four-straight years (2009-12).
Alysha Overland (Forward, Moses Lake, Wash.)
Community Colleges of Spokane: Led Spokane to the 2015 Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship…led the NWAC with 29 goals, breaking the CCS school record…named the NWAC East Region MVP and an East-West Region All-Star…also tallied 11 assists as CCS finished 16-2-1 in 2015…also competed in track and field for Spokane in the sprint and relay sprint events.
High School: A four-year letter-winner and three-sport athlete at Moses Lake High School competing in soccer, basketball, and track and field…four-year starter for the Chiefs soccer team under head coach Ric Char…two-time Columbia Basin Big 9 Athletic Conference Player of the Year, picking up the honors as a junior and senior…during junior season broke the school record with 25 goals…went on to break previous year's record with 37 goals and 12 assists as a senior…the Chiefs earned four-straight district titles at the 4A level…also helped Moses Lake to a fifth-place finish in girls basketball and a district title in track and field, finishing runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles at the state championship.
Tarah Patterson (Midfielder, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Washington State: Early enrollee beginning in January of 2016.
High School: Two-year letter winner at Sand Creek High School under coach Craig Decker during freshman and sophomore seasons before turning focus to club and collegiate soccer…as a sophomore, was named all-league and all-conference offensive MVP, and academic all-conference for the second-straight year after first earning the honors during freshman season.
Club: Captained the Colorado Pride Predators 99 team under coach Kristie Braunston…three-time Colorado state champions (2013-15)…named 2015 State Cup MVP…club advanced to the 2014 national championship semifinals after winning the regional championship and National League Championship… selected to 2012, 2013, and 2014 ODP pools.
Holly Rothering (Midfielder, Mill Creek, Wash.)
Club: A member of Crossfire Premier (ECNL) coached by Tim Reynolds…Crossfire U17 team ranked second in the nation in 2015 after finishing as the national runner-up at ECNL Finals…three-time ECNL Northwest Champions League Champions…2012 Manchester United Premier Cup Champions…club took third at 2012 Gothia Youth World Cup (Sweden)…invited to the U.S. Soccer ID selection training camp for three-straight years…also attended 2013 national ODP camp…co-captain of 2012 ODP state team.
High School: One-year letter winner at Snohomish High School during junior season…named to the WESCO All-Conference First Team.
McKenna Sullivan (Forward, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Club: Competed for Heat FC of the ECNL, helping the club win back-to-back state championships and the 2012 Surf College Cup championship…member of the Nevada ODP team from 2008-10…part of the 2016 IMG Academy 150 Player Pool named by TopDrawerSoccer.com…ranked as the 11th-best player in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest region by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Raven Sweeney (Midfielder, Corona, Calif.)
High School: Four-year letter winner at Santiago High School under coach Mike Plemming…captain senior year…during junior year, won the CIF Southern Section championship…the Sharks went undefeated in Big VIII League play to earn the league title for the third-straight season…named Southern California CIF MVP, Big VIII First Team, and all-county first team…during sophomore year, Big VIII League champions and named Big VIII All-League…as a sophomore, the team also went undefeated en route to a league title before bowing out in the CIF quarterfinals…earned Big VIII all-league honors…team also went undefeated in league play during freshman season…named to the Big VIII all-league team.
Club: Member of SoCal Blue ENCL under coach Larry Draluck…selected to 2012, 2013, and 2014 ODP pool.
Morgan Weaver (Forward, University Place, Wash.)
High School: Four-year letter winner at Curtis High School under coach Frank Hankel…a four-time member of the South Puget Sound League First Team…three-time all-area Player of the Year by the Tacoma News Tribune…2015 All-American…captain during senior season, scoring 37 goals and guiding the Vikings to a 17-3-0 record and the state quarterfinals…named to all-area first team for third-straight season and earned third-consecutive SPSL MVP honor…named the 2015 Tacoma News Player of the Year and all-state MVP…scored 97 goals over high school career and led the Vikings to a combined 56-15-6 record.
Club: Member of the Washington state ODP team from 2009-12 under coaches Scott Halasz and Maya Mendoza…invited to 2011 U.S. club training session, 2012 U.S. national training camp, and 2013 and 2014 U.S. Soccer Player Development Programs (PDP)…member of the 2014 preseason U23 Women's Sounders…invited to 2015 Nike National Camp and ECNL PDP Camp.