May 23, 2012
LOS ANGELES - Loyola Marymount University women's soccer head coach Michelle Myers has announced that nine freshmen and one junior transfer will make up the Lions' recruiting class of 2012.
"We are excited to welcome our recruiting class of 2012," said Myers. "It is a diverse group in terms of positions with just about every position being represented. It is also a diverse group in terms of the various states and clubs that each player comes from. Each of these players has competed at the highest levels with their club and high school teams. All of them have league, state or national championship experience, and all of them are team leaders and very successful in the classroom. We believe these characteristics are important to the success of our program on and off the field.
"In terms of the expectations for this class," Myers continued, "we are expecting some of them to step up right away while the others will provide a much needed depth to our roster. We anticipate that this class will continue to develop and fill important roles as we graduate our upperclassmen and look for new leaders."
Natalia Behnken was a four-year varsity letterwinner at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Utah. She led the Jayhawks to Utah State 2A championships in 2008 and 2010. The squad was also regional champs in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Behnken, a centerback/central midfielder, was named to both the Utah All-Area and All-State teams in 2011. She has also been involved in the Utah ODP program since 2010 and plays for the Forza Futbol Club, which won the Utah State Cup in 2011.
Jocelyn Blankenship was a three-sport standout at Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, Calif., lettering four years in soccer, cross country and track. The attacking central midfielder earned first team All-Big VIII honors and a pair of team MVP awards for the Mustangs' soccer team while also serving as a two-time team captain. She has also been involved in the Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) since 2010, competing in the 2010 and 2011 ODP Thanksgiving Interregional tournaments. Blankenship was also on the Cal South 94 girls team that won the 2011 USYS ODP National Championship.
Madison Heilmann is a midfielder hailing from Sehome High School in Bellingham, Wash. She was a four-year letterwinner in both soccer and track, leading her teams to state titles in both sports. The Mariners' soccer team earned four consecutive Washington State 2A playoff berths, clinching the state title in 2010. This past fall Heilmann led Sehome to the quarterfinals. Heilmann was a three time All-State selection, including a two-time first team pick. She was also a three-time, first team Washington State Northwest Conference selection and three-time, first team All-Whatcom County. Heilmann currently plays for the Eastside FC 93 Red, which is ranked #1 in the state of Washington. The club reached the quarterfinals of the U18 San Diego Surf Cup in 2011, won the 2011 U17 Las Vegas College Showcase and was a finalist at the USYSA U17 Washington State Championship in 2010.
Jillian Jacobs was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Canada Flintridge, Calif. The dynamic striker concludes her prep career ranked #7 in school history for goals scored and minutes played. She has earned all-area honors by the Glendale Newspress and Pasadena Star News while leading the Tologs to Mission League championships in 2009 and 2011, the California Regional State Championship in 2010 and the CIF Division I Championship in 2011. Jacobs also plays for the Legends FC which won the National Cup title in 2010 and was ranked #1 in California and nationally in the that same year.
Shannon Kent was a four-year letterwinner at St. Lucy's Priory High School in Glendora, Calif. The striker has led her team in scoring for three consecutive seasons, earning team Offensive MVP honors from 2010-12. She was a three time first team All-Sierra League selection and also earned All-Area and All-Valley honors while competing for the Jayhawks. Kent also plays for Legends FC.
Makenzie Larson, a four year letterwinner at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The team captain goalkeeper led Marian to three consecutive Catholic League titles, as well as back-to-back District, Region and State Championships. She earned All-State, All-District and All-Catholic League honors during her prep career. Larson also plays for the Rochester Soccer Club.
After bouncing back from an injury her freshman season, Mia Moore lettered three years for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, leading the Gaels to a pair of league titles and one state championship. The central midfielder was a three time All-State, three time All-Region and three time All-Conference selection while also being named her team's Best Offensive Player in 2010-11 and Ms. Gael in 2011-12. Moore has been involved with the Nevada ODP and also plays for the Neusport Futbol Club, which won state titles in 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Cassidy Nicks is a defender hailing from Carondelet High School in Concord, Calif. The three-year varsity letterwinner and All-East Bay Athletic League selection led her team to back-to-back EBAL titles in 2010 and 2011, as well as a North Coast Section Championship in 2011. This season, the Cougars advanced to the third round of the NCS playoffs. Nicks also plays for the Mustang Rampage club team where she has won six Cal North State Cup titles and the 2010 U16 ENCL National title.
Lucy O'Leary was a three-year varsity letterwinner at Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz. A centerback/central midfielder, she led the Saints to the Arizona state title in 2009 and the title game in 2011. She was a member of the Arizona ODP team in 2007-08 and has played on a trio of club teams, including the Mustang Rampage (2002-06), Sereno (2006-09) and currently the SC Del Sol, which was a State Cup finalist in 2011 and current State Cup champions. She also won three State Cup titles with each of her two previous clubs.
Rounding out the recruiting class of 2012 is junior defender Shannon Ward, who has spent the last two seasons at Cal State Northridge. The Los Alamitos, Calif., native appeared in 13 games during her freshman season for the Matadors and played in all 19 this past fall, earning 12 starts. She had one assist and recorded three shots in 2011. Ward prepped at Los Alamitos High School where she was a CIF first team selection and the Sunset League's Defensive MVP in 2009 and 2010.
-GO LIONS-
