Women's soccer signs 11 for 2009
March 05, 2009 | Women's Soccer
The University of Wisconsin women's soccer head coach Paula Wilkins announced the signing of 11 student-athletes that will join the Badgers in the fall of 2009.
Forward Nicole Aiello, midfielders Lindsay Hamann, Lindsey Johnson, Alissa Scalzo, Monica Lam-Feist, Alev and Derya Kelter, defenders Lacey Warner, Alyssa Vogel, Meghan Hermann, and goalkeeper Olivia Hoff make up the recruiting class of 2009.
'I am excited about our recruiting class for 2009. I believe we have made another step forward with our program in getting quality soccer players to come to Wisconsin,' Wilkins said. 'This recruiting class has a great combination of technical ability, tactical sense, athleticism, and competitiveness to make it one of the best classes in recent years at Wisconsin. I am happy to keep some of the best players, with great club team experience in the Midwest at Wisconsin.'
The 11 new recruits hail from four different states and two Canadian provinces 'Alaska, Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin and British Columbia and Ontario in Canada. Wisconsin natives Hamann, Johnson, Hoff and Vogel each played on the FC Milwaukee Club team that won six consecutive State Championships. Warner and Lam-Feist, reign from Canada, and played together on the U17 Canadian National Team. Lam-Feist was later moved to the U20 Canadian National team, where she teamed up with current Wisconsin players Paige Adams. The Kelter twins are Alaska natives that come to Wisconsin as two-sport athletes, committing to both soccer and hockey. Alev Kelter was part of the U.S. women's national team Under-20 and Under-18 combined training camp Jan. 25-Feb. 1 in Chula Vista, Calif. where she was tabbed as one of the top 11 players at the camp by the Web site.
Signee Bios
Nicole Aiello
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Forward
Aiello, a forward for the Eclipse Select 91-92 Club Team, she helped her team to a U.S. Youth Soccer National League Championship in 2008. Her team also collected a U.S. Youth Soccer Region Two Championship, and two Illinois State Cup Championships in 2006 and 2008. Her team won five U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League Championships, a Disney Soccer Showcase Championship in 2006 and finished as a finalist in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship and Red Bull National League in 2008. Aiello was invited as one of 100 girls nationally to the Adidas ESP National Camp in 2007. She was a member of the 1990 and 1991 Illinois ODP State Select Team from 2004-06. Aiello participated in the Region II ODP Camp (2004-2006) and was a member of the St. Viator High School academic honor roll.
Wilkins on Aiello
'A dynamic forward that will cause problems for other teams with her movement off the ball and tenacious play. She is a leading forward for the National Championship team, the Eclipse. Nicole will have the ability to score and create goals by creating combinations with teammates. She has an extremely high work rate and competitive mentality. She is dangerous around the goal mouth finishing opportunities.'
Lindsey Hamann
Cedarburg, Wis.
Midfield
Hamann played as a member of the FC Milwaukee Club team she competed to win six consecutive State Championships from 2004-2009. Included in their state championship runs were one Regional Championship (2004), two Regional Finals (2007, 2008) and Midwest Regional League Championships (2004, 2005, 2007). Hamann was a four-year varsity basketball player and two-year captain while being named second team All-Conference junior year and honorable mention her sophomore year. Academically, Hamann was a four-year Scholar Athlete award winner and a member of the National Honor Society.
Wilkins on Hamann
'A midfielder who can play both centrally and on the flank. Lindsey has great vision passing and will create scoring opportunities coming out of the midfield. Her technical ability to serve accurately will make her dangerous in the final third. Lindsey comes from a very successful FC Milwaukee team, and that foundation of success will continue to help build the competitiveness here at Wisconsin.'
Meghan Herman
Houston, Texas
Defender
A Texas native, Herman was a District 19-5A Champion in 2005 and 2006. As a defender she earned All District Honors (2005-2006) and helped her varsity high school team to the playoffs in 2006. Herman played with the Challenge Travel Team from 2007 to 2009. She helped Challenge '91 to become South Texas State Champions in the National Cup, ( '03,'04,'06,'07) and win it in 2005. She appeared in the USYS Southern Regional Championships (2006, 2007). She was also a member of South Texas State ODP team (2004-2009) and a member of Region III ODP pool (2006/2007). She helped '91 South Texas ODP team place second in the 2008 Region III championship tournament. Herman is an honor roll student and a Congressional Student Leadership Conference Nominee for 2007 and 2008.
Wilkins on Herman
'A midfielder who is a consistent player who understands and reads the game well. Meghan can connect players with passes and create opportunities for herself and teammates with her movement off the ball. Meghan is a member of the Challenge Soccer Club in Houston, TX, which is very successful and has developed many great collegiate players.'
Olivia Hoff
Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Goalkeeper
Hoff joins the Badgers as the only goalkeeper in the class. Hoff won State Championships in 2007 and 2009 as a member of FC Milwaukee Club team, including regional semi-finalists in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 and 2009 she was on Whitefish Bay varsity and in 2007 they were State Qualifiers. Hoff was also a three-year varsity basketball player and a two-year varsity softball player. She received all-suburban and all-conference honorable mention as a junior. Hoff was a member of the National Honors Society and was an Academic Scholar Athlete.
Wilkins on Hoff
"Olivia is a very good goalkeeper that will add to our depth. Olivia brings a lot of high-level experience and a hard-work mentality having started in goal for the successful FC Milwaukee team."
Lindsey Johnson
Sussex, Wis.
Midfield
Johnson, another in-state recruit was a midfielder on the successful FC Milwaukee Club team that won six consecutive State Championships from 2004-2009. Johnson was also a member of the Wisconsin State ODP Team from 2004-2007. She was named the Most Valuable Player for her high school team in 2006 and 2007 as the leading scorer and led the team in assists for the same two years. She was named greater metro conference honorable mention in 2006 and First-team all-greater metro conference in 2007.
Wilkins on Johnson
'A midfielder who has a lot of versatility because of her athletism. Lindsey can be a dribbling threat out of the midfield, as well as a defensive presence to win individual battles. Her ability and willingness to take players on will make her dangerous and an important weapon. Lindsey is also a member of the very successful FC Milwaukee team which will help her bring a winning mentality to Wisconsin.'
Alev Kelter
Eagle River, Alaska
Midfield
Alev and her twin sister traveled the farthest to join the Badger roster. Kelter joins the team with one of the most impressive resumes and was most recently recognized as a standout at the 2009 U18/U20 Women's National Team Camp. Kelter was a member of U.S. under-17 national team and played with Team USA in Germany and England. Kelter was named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year in soccer and named the 2008 Daily News Girls Athlete of the Year. The forward/midfielder is an All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2007 and Alaska Player of the Year as named by the NSCAA. Kelter is a two-time First Team All-State selection and a member of the United States Soccer Federation Under-16 National Team. Kelter led Chugiak High to the 2007 state title, scoring the only goal in regulation to tie the game and force a shootout. She was a member of Alaska Rush that won five Alaska State Cup Championships. Kelter is a multi-sport athlete, as she led Chugiak's girls flag football team to a perfect 17-0 season. Kelter is also an avid hockey player, she played for Chugiak High boys team and the North Stars U-19 girls club. She was a member of the United States Women's Ice Hockey Under-18 National Team that won a gold medal in the 2008 world championships and plans to play both soccer and hockey at Wisconsin.
Wilkins on A. Kelter
'Alev is a midfielder who has a great ball winning presence in the center of the field. Her athleticism, competitiveness, and ability in the air make her a great ball winner, as well as a threat to score on set pieces. Alev's experience with the U.S. U20 National program will prepare her to compete immediately at the collegiate level. '
Derya Kelter
Eagle River, Alaska
Midfield
Derya, twin sister of Alev, also brings a lot of experience. A member of the 2008 Region IV Olympic Development Soccer Team, she was a First Team All-Conference selection for soccer in 2006 and 2007. She was named to the All-State Soccer Team in 2006, 2007 and 2008. As a member of Alaska Rush her team went on to win five consecutive state championships. She was selected as an All-Conference First Team Offense and First Team Defense for flag football in 2007. A multi-sport athlete she lettered in soccer, boys hockey, track and field and flag football. She won a gold medal for fastest dribbling in ODP Olympics. Kelter won three state championships with the boy's hockey team. A member of the National Honor Society, Kelter was heavily involved with the student government in high school served as the president of her freshmen and sophomore classes.
Wilkins on D. Kelter
'A midfielder who has great agility and speed to both attack and defend well from the flank. Derya has the ability and willingness to take players on 1 v 1 on the flank that will make her dangerous in the final third. Derya has been a part of the Far West Regional ODP team where she has developed as a player playing against some of the best competition in the country.'
Monica Lam-Feist
Surrey, BC, Canada
Forward
Lam-Feist joins the Badgers with a lot of national experience at a young age. Lan-Feist was named British Columbia Youth Female Player of the Year in 2007 and was the U17 Canadian Player of the Year in 2007 and again in 2008. She has been a Canadian National Youth Player since 2004 and is a member of the U17 National Team which she captained. As the youngest player on the team, Lam-Feist scored two goals as the U20 National Team won CONCACAF qualifying. She participated in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile and was the leading scorer with two goals as the youngest player. She was the only player to participate in U17, U20 and Senior National Team camps in 2008. Finally, Lam-Feist played for Vancouver Whitecaps Women's Team in the W League.
Wilkins on Lam-Feist
'A midfielder who will create scoring opportunities by passing, dribbling, or shooting from the midfield. Monica has great range as a player both with her ability to penetrate on the dribble and fit a ball through a seam. Monica has great experience at the international level for someone her age having played with the Canadian U20 Youth National Team at the recent World Cup in Chile, and this experience will help her make an immediate impact in college.'
Alissa Scalzo
Kenosha, Wis.
Midfield
As a midfielder Scalzo was a First Team All-County (2006, 07, 08), First Team All-Conference (2006, 07, 08) and First Team All-Area Milwaukee Journal in 2008. As a defender she earned Second Team All-Area Milwaukee Journal in 2007 and Second Team All-State in 2007 and 2008. She was a three-time Team MVP and captain (2006, 07, 08) and won the Ironman Award in 2006. She helped lead her team to two consecutive Division 1 State Elite Eight appearances which were the first trips to State in school history. Her team went on to win conference championships in 2006 and 2008. Was a member of Wisconsin 's ODP team from 2002 to 2005 and was a Region II Camp participant all years. Scalzo played for the Eclipse Select South club team and was ranked 12th nationally at U-17. She played in all major tournaments including WAGS, Surf Cup, Final IV Shootout and Disney, She also played in Region II regional tournament and was a three-time team captain from 2006-08. Scalzo was a member of the National Honor Society.
Wilkins on Scalzo
'A player who creates a presence for herself in the midfield because of her work rate and ability to win individual challenges. Alissa works hard on both sides of the ball and will allow us to increase our tempo as a team both offensively and defensively. Alissa is a member of the Eclipse club program located in Chicago that has a great tradition of success at the national level.'
Alyssa Vogel
Germantown, Wis.
Defender
Vogel was a three-year varsity player for Germantown High School and a three-time MVP. She captained her junior season and is a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection. She was named the North Shore Conference Player of the Year in 2008 and earned First Team All-Area and Second Team All-State in 2008. Was a member of FC Milwaukee Club Team that won one Regional Championship (2004), two-time Regional Finalist (2007, 2008), and six consecutive State Championships (2004-2009). She was also a member of Wisconsin ODP Team from 2004 to 2007. Vogel was a member of Warhawk Student Athlete Leadership Team and the Student Council Executive Board Treasurer and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Wilkins on Vogel
'Alyssa is a defender who is good on 1 v 1, with the ability to shutdown opposing team's offense. She has great speed and agility that allow her to excel as a defender. She is also a member of the successful FC Milwaukee team that has been a consistent winning soccer program in the Midwest.'
Lacey Warner
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Defender
Warner joins the Badgers as a defender with plenty of experience. Warner was a member of the Canadian National Women's U17 and U20 player pool. She qualified for the U17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand at CONCACAF Trinidad & Tobago in 2008. She was a member of the Canada U16 National Team during the Germany tour and Team Ontario U16, U15, U14 team in Chile, Brazil and U.S. She played for Team Ontario U14 National Champions and for the U16 Bronze Medalist team. Warner was the Captain of the West Rouge Storm Club Team and was named the West Rouge Soccer Club Player of the Year (2006) and Club Hall of Fame member (2005 and 2008). She helped lead West Rouge Storm Club Team to a second place finish in the provincial league in 2008 and CGSL League Champs in 2006. To add to her list, she also played for Birchmount Park Collegiate Panthers in OFSAA championships in 2005 and was a BEAP (Birchmount Exceptional Athlete Program) mentor to new student-athletes.
Wilkins on Warner
'Lacey is a defender who has a good sense of the game for both individual and team defending. She will be a threat attacking from the back whether it's dribbling or finding forwards feet to start the attack. Lacey has had playing experience at the highest level for her age group - the Canadian U17 Youth National Team - and she will be called upon to use that experience to solidify the defense.'
