Women's Soccer Inks Eight Players
April 18, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Eight players have signed letters of intent to join the Wisconsin women's soccer program in 2007. Head coach Paula Wilkins is in her first season at the helm after taking over for Dean Duerst in January.
The eight newcomers will make their way to Madison from various parts of the United States. Two members come from both Illinois and Ohio, while four other players hail from California, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin.
Kellyn Flanagan and Darcy Riley, who both hail from Ohio, played together on the same club team, the Cleveland Cobras. The pair helped the Cobras to the 2005 and 2006 state cup championship and also won the national indoor championship in 2006.
Flanagan, a Media, Ohio, native, is listed as a Top 50 recruit by Soccer Buzz. Flanagan, also a member of the Ohio North state ODP team, led Media High School in scoring as a senior. She finished with 51 career goals while splitting time at forward and defense.
Riley, a forward/midfielder from Akron, Ohio, led Walsh Jesuit High School to a 23-0 record as a senior and the OHSAA state championship. The squad also ranked No. 1 nationally according to NSCAA/adidas. Riley, dubbed the Cleveland Plain Dealer's player of the year, led her team in scoring as a senior with 24 goals and 12 assists.
Taryn Francel, a defender from San Diego, Calif., has been a member of the San Diego Surf club team for eight years. Francel was named the most valuable player of the national state cup in 2006. In addition, she helped Granite Hills High School to four CIF Division I finals and was a four-time all-conference selection.
A Dallas native, Birdie Leibham played for the two-time Disney Showcase champion Dallas Texans club team. Leibham, who plays both in the middle and on defense, helped the Texans to two regional championships, five state cup titles and two national championship appearances. At Flower Mound High School, Leibham was a two-time first team all-district selection.
Carly Gallagher, a midfielder/defender from Deer Park, Ill., captained her club team, FCX, and helped it to the state semifinals. Gallagher also led Barrington High School to regional championships in 2005 and 2006, while the 2006 squad played for the state title.
Goalkeeper Michele Dalton, another Illinois native, helped the Eclipse Select club team to the 2006 national championship. At John Hersey High School, Dalton, who hails from Mount Prospect, was named to the all-sectional team three times and led the team to three conference championships.
Alexandra Wicka joins the Badgers from the border state of Minnesota. Wicka, a forward from St. Paul, spent three years on the Minnesota ODP team and also helped the St. Paul Blackhawks to three state titles.
Roxanne Carlson is the lone Wisconsin native who hails from Cedarburg. Carlson, a forward/midfielder, helped the FC Milwaukee club team to two state championships. At Cedarburg High School, Carlson led the squad is scoring as a sophomore and junior and has been twice named to the all-state team.
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Signee Bios (in alphabetical order)
Roxanne Carlson
Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg
Forward/Midfielder
High School: Helped Cedarburg to a conference championship and an appearance in the state finals as a freshman ' led squad in scoring as a sophomore and junior ' two-time first team all-conference and all-area selections ' named honorable mention all-state in 2005 and second team all-state in 2006 ' team captain ' member of FC Milwaukee club team ' helped FC Milwaukee win two state championships.
Personal: Born 11/16/88 ' parents are David and Julie ' brother, Christopher (20) plays soccer at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. ' intends to major in biology and possible continue onto vet school.
Michele Dalton
Mount Prospect, Ill./John Hersey
Goalkeeper
High School: Three-time all-conference, all-area and all-sectional selection at John Hersey ' played club soccer for Eclipse Select and helped the team to the 2006 national championship ' also participated in basketball, volleyball, track and cross country ' honor roll member.
Personal: Born 11/5/88 ' parents are Mike and Kathy ' has two siblings, Bob (30) and Cori (28) ' intends to major in psychology and eventually pursue her Ph. D.
Kellyn Flanagan
Medina, Ohio/Medina
Forward/Defender
High School: Two-time all-conference selection and first team all-state as a senior ' named to Cleveland Plain Dealer 'Best of the Best ' list ' lead team in scoring as a senior and tabbed offensive player of the year ' finished with 51 career goals while splitting time at forward and defense ' captained the Cleveland Cobras club team ' helped Cobras to two state championships (2005, 2006) and a national indoor title (2006) ' also a member of the Ohio North state ODP team and was selected to the Region II team in 2005 and 2006 ' part of in the 2007 international tour team that competed in Brazil.
Personal: Born 5/24/89 ' parents are Tim and Gale ' has two sisters, Erin (25) and Megan (23) ' plans to major in education.
Taryn Francel
San Diego, Calif./Granite Hills
Defender
High School: Helped Granite Hills to four CIF Division I finals and a CIF Championship in 2005 ... CIF sportsmanship award 2007 ... named second team all-league as a freshman and sophomore ... put on first team all-league as a junior and senior ... three-time All-CIF selection ... San Diego academic athlete of the year for girls soccer in 2007... four-time team most valuable defender ... named most inspirational in 2007 ... two-time team captain ... member of San Diego Surf club for eight years ... most valuable player of national state cup in 2006 ... state ODP pool in 2004 ... also participated in cross country ... four-year scholar athlete ... honor roll ... ASB Vice President ... national honor society member.
Personal: Born 3/23/89 ' parents are Ed and Candace ' has two siblings, Tahnee (19) and Tayler (15) ' lists greatest sports thrill as witnessing the U.S. women's team beat China to win the 1999 World Cup at the Rose Bowl ' intends to major in education and kinesiology.
Carly Gallagher
Deer Park, Ill./Barrington
Midfielder/Defender
High School: Led Barrington High School to back-to-back conference, section and regional championships in 2005 and 2006 ' the 2005 squad reached the final eight in the state tournament ' the 2006 team placed second at state ' National Honor Society member ' serving as team captain as a senior ' also a team captain for club team, FCX ' FCX was a state semifinalist ' recipient of the 2006 B.A.S.A Merit Award.
Personal: Born 9/27/88 ' parents are Thomas and Carrie ' sister, Tara (20) plays soccer at Western Illinois ' has her coaching 'E' certified license.
Birdie Leibham
Dallas, Texas/Flower Mound
Defender/Midfielder
High School: Two-time first team all-district defender at Flower Mound High School ' defender of the year as a sophomore and junior ' all-North Texas regional defender ' member of two-time Disney Showcase champion Dallas Texans 89 Red club team ' helped the squad to two regional championships ' team also won five state cups and made two national championship appearances ' named to all-regional team ' also competed in track and field ' honor roll member ' active in the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born 9/13/88 ' parents are Phil and Dawn ' has a sister, Heather (25) ' intends to major in kinesiology and peruse a career in athletic training.
Darcy Riley
Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit
Forward/Midfielder
High School: Led Walsh Jesuit to a perfect 23-0 record as a senior, including the Ohio State championship and a No. 1 national high school ranking according to NSCAA/adidas ' dubbed Cleveland Plain Dealer's player of the year and an Akron Beacon Journal's 'Best of the Best' athlete ' led team in scoring with 24 goals and 12 assists ' given Dapper Dan award for the best soccer athlete ' received the Touchdown Club award 'team also won the state title in 2004 ' member of the Ohio North state ODP team ' club team, Cleveland Cobras, were state cup champions in 2005 and 2006 and national indoor champions in 2006.
Personal: Born 10/6/88 ' parents are Patrick and Michelle ' has three brothers, Patrick (25), Matt (22) and Will (20) ' father Patrick played football at Kenyon College ' high school athletic association named an award after her ' the Darcy Riley Award will be given to future athletes who excel in sports both also represent the Walsh Jesuit motto: 'men and women for others' ' plans to major in elementary education.
Alexandra Wicka
St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
Forward
High School: Led prep team in goals as a sophomore and was second in scoring as a junior and senior ' all-conference selection in 2006 'three-year member of Minnesota ODP team ' helped led club team, St. Paul Blackhawks, to three state championships ' honor student who also participated in track and field.
Personal: Born 4/25/89 ' parents are Richard and Debra ' has a sister, Brittany (19) ' plans to major in business.
