Feb. 2, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head coach Stephanie Foster and the Northwestern University women's soccer program announced today (Feb. 2) the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.
The recruiting class reflects Foster's philosophy of recruiting talent from across the nation while also keeping top talent in Chicagoland close to home. Four members of the 2011 class hail from the greater Chicago area. Additionally, the class continues the Wildcats' pipeline to Minnesota and also features top student-athletes from California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah.
"The 2011 class was a huge success for Northwestern women's soccer," Foster said. "We have nine young women joining our program who are leaders and winners in everything they do: soccer, academics, community service and the list goes on. We are proud to keep an excellent core of the top local talent close to home, as well as reach all over the country to put together this dynamic group. We added competitiveness and depth to every position and cannot wait to have these nine student-athletes arrive in August!"
The nine signees are: KK Barr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North), Briana Borsellino (Oak Brook, Ill./Montini Catholic), Anna Cassell (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline), Kiltie Finsand (Edina, Minn./Edina), Ali Herman (Villanova, Penn./Harriton), Katie Landgrebe (Madeira, Ohio/Madeira), Sami Schrakamp (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista), Niki Sebo (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) and Georgia Waddle (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest).
Complete bios and quotes from Coach Foster follow:
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KK Barr
5-9 D/M
St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North
High School: Three-year letterwinner ... Helped team to a 23-2-1 record (most wins in school history) and a third-place finish in the Illinois State Tournament in 2010 ... Scored six goals and added eight assists as a junior, plus helped defense that allowed 0.5 goals per game ... Scored three goals in a game against Larkin (2010) ... Played freshman season at Redmond High School in Redmond, Wash., where she helped team to Washington state quarterfinals ... Helped Fox Valley Strikers club to third-place finish at U.S. Club Nationals ... Four-year academic all-conference selection in two states (Illinois and Washington) in two sports (soccer and golf) ... National Honor Society member ... Ranked in top 2% of graduating class of 550 ... Member of undefeated Washington state championship golf team at Redmond.
Personal: Born Kaitlin Heather Barr ... Daughter of Linda and Jim Barr ... Grandfather played football at Iowa State ... Club teammate of current Wildcat Maggie Graham ... Anticipated major is mathematics.
Quoting Coach Foster: "KK is a very athletic and versatile player. We expect KK to compete for a spot in the back line or midfield. She comes to NU with a competitive background as a two-sport athlete. KK will bring an awesome work ethic and competitiveness to our program. She is an outstanding student and will have a dynamic career on campus and on the field at NU."
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Briana Borsellino
5-4 F
Oak Brook, Ill./Montini Catholic
High School: Four-year starter and a team captain who scored 20 goals and added 12 assists as a junior in 2010 ... Earned all-conference and all-sectional honors ... Once scored five goals in a single game ... Seven-year member of Synergy Premiere club team that won the 2010 Kalamazoo Invitational College Showcase and placed second at the 2009 Las Vegas Mayor's Cup ... National Honor Society and Illinois State Scholar ... Earned High Honor Roll honors in every semester ... Was a three-sport athlete, earning letters in soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Personal: Born Briana Marie Borsellino ... Daughter of Julie and Lewis Borsellino ... Father played football at DePauw ... Anticipated major is journalism.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Briana is a local product we discovered at our College Prep Camp. She has excellent athleticism-- strong, fast and feisty, and will be someone who develops ten-fold in her four year career as well as pushes all of her teammates with her extreme competitiveness. Briana will be a dynamic and fun personality to add to our program."
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Anna Cassell
5-7 GK
Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline
High School: Four-year letterwinner and three-year team captain ... Posted a state-best 12 shutouts as a senior ... Assisted on a game-tying final minute goal in the state quarterfinals, then stopped penalty kicks during a shootout that sent team to first semifinal appearance in seven years ... Posted 11 shutouts, one goal and one assist during junior year and five additional clean sheets as a sophomore ... Earned First Team All-State honors three times ... Member and captain of Utah ODP Team from 2005-10 ... Member of U-15 U.S. Youth National Team and U-17 U.S. Youth National Team Pool ... Led Sparta '93 Premier club team to 2010 State Cup championship and Surf Cup championship ... Ranked first out of 457 students in graduating class ... NSCAA Scholar All-American ... National Merit Semi-Finalist.
Personal: Born Anna Christine Cassell ... Daughter of Trish and Paul Cassell ... Mother played tennis at Idaho ... Anticipated major is biology.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Anna brings the most competitive pedigree ever to Northwestern women's soccer. A mainstay on the U17 National Team, Anna has played and trained at the highest level. Her leadership skills and desire to win will add intangible qualities to our program. She will compete immediately for the starting goalkeeping position with fellow teammates Sam Hatfield and Ali Herman. Anna shines in the classroom and achieves at the pinnacle both in academics and athletics."
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Kiltie Finsand
5-3 M/D
Edina, Minn./Edina
High School: Three-year letter winner ... Helped the Hornets to a 2009 Section championship and appearance at the Minnesota State Soccer Tournament ... Member of the Minnesota state ODP team from 2005-07 ... Five-sport athlete who also earned letters in alpine skiing, cross country, lacrosse and track ... Won state championship in alpine skiing in 2009 ... Named to the all-state alpine team in 2008-10 ... Member of the 2009-10 U.S. Junior National Alpine Skiing team ... Competed in Minnesota State Cup with Minnesota Thunder Academy team ... Earned A-honor roll honors all four years ... American Math Competition finalist.
Personal: Born Kiltie Rae Finsand ... Daughter of Amy and Bert Finsand ... Older sister Meredith also plays soccer at Northwestern ... Father played football at Iowa State ... Sister, Perrie, competes in alpine skiing at Boston College ... Competed against fellow Wildcats Julie Sierks, Georgia Waddle and Niki Sebo ... Anticipated major is engineering.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Like her sister, Meredith, Kiltie is a ball of energy. She has an excellent work rate and will compete to play in the midfield for us. We love recruiting kids from the MTA club in Minnesota as they come prepared and end up as leaders on our team. We are excited to add Kiltie to our program and know she will do great things in her four years at NU."
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Ali Herman
5-4 GK
Villanova, Penn./Harriton
High School: Four-year starter and a team captain who posted 22 shutouts, 261 saves and a 1.06 goals-against average for her career ... Led school to first winning season and playoff appearance as a freshman in 2007 ... Posted six shutouts and a 0.94 GAA as a senior in 2010 ... Earned team MVP as well as all-Main Line and all-Central League honors as a senior ... Led team to PIAA District I final in 2007 and semifinals in 2010 ... Member of Eastern Pennsylvania ODP state team since 2004 ... Participated in ODP Nationals in 2010 and won regional championships in 2009-10 ... Made two State Cup quarterfinal appearances with FC Delco Fire club team ... Member of National Honors Society and International Baccalaureate program ... Earned honor roll honors all four years ... Received SAT Certificate of Merit ... Earned letters in soccer and track.
Personal: Born Alexandra Emily Herman ... Daughter of Mindy Cohen and Miles Herman ... Anticipated major is journalism.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Ali Herman comes to us from FC Delco in Pennsylvania. She is a quick and fearless goalkeeper. Along with teammates, Anna Cassell and Sam Hatfield, Ali makes the goalkeeping position extremely deep and competitive. Another product from our College Prep Camp, we are looking forward to the contributions Ali makes within our program and academically as well."
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5-5 F
Madeira, Ohio/Madeira
High School: Four-year Varsity starter who is her school's all-time leader in goals scored (79) and assists (40) ... Named 2010 NSCAA All-American and Ohio Division 2 Player of the Year ... Scored the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime of state championship ... High school class was the most successful in school history, losing only five games in four years and appearing in the state championship, two final fours and one elite eight ... Named Player of the Game at 2010 All Southwest Ohio All-Star game after scoring two goals ... Won two state championships with Ohio Elite Soccer Academy club team and placed third in 2010 Elite Clubs National League ... Made honor roll all four years and earned Top Senior recognition ... National Merit Commended Scholar and National Honors Society member.
Personal: Born Kathryn Virginia Landgrebe ... Daughter of Sue and J.D. Landgrebe ... Father swam at Purdue ... Has made two trips to South Africa to work in medical clinics and two trips to Haiti to be a part of anti-human slavery work ... Organized and co-led a national anti-slavery student effort called the Unbound Movement that has had over one thousand participants in two years ... Anticipated major is anthropology.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Coming to Northwestern from Ohio, Katie Landgrebe brings us a boost in the goal-scoring area. Katie is a natural goal-scorer with an incredible work rate. She puts herself in a great position to find the back of the net and she will do absolutely anything to produce. Katie is a leader in her community service efforts and will be such a rich addition to our program."
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Sami Schrakamp
5-7 M/F
Danville, Calif./Monte Vista
High School: Three-year letterwinner and a team captain ... Has scored 30 goals and 28 assists in high school career, including 12 goals and nine assists midway through her senior season ... Helped team to qualify twice for North Coast Sectionals, including a quarterfinal appearance in 2008-09 ... Earned all-league honors twice and named team's offensive player of the year three times ... Nine-year member of Mustang Rampage club team that won ECNL National Championship and five California state championships ... Also competed in track and field ... Four-year scholar athlete and honor roll student ... California Scholarship Federation.
Personal: Born Samantha J. Schrakamp ... Daughter of Deb and Jeff Schrakamp ... Sister, Nicole, swam at UC Santa Barbara and another sister, Dani, played soccer at George Washington ... Volunteered with community assistance program for substance abuse and a breast cancer research foundation ... Anticipated major is communications.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Sami is the ultimate athlete. She has an engine that doesn't quit, very solid and clean technical abilities and a fire inside that makes her a winner. Sami comes from the very competitive Mustang soccer club in Northern California and her experience has been full of winning. We are thrilled to add Sami's passion to our program."
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Niki Sebo
5-8 M
Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North
High School: Competed year round at the club level with Eclipse Select ... Team won State Cup championships in 2009 and 2010 and finished runners-up in 2007 ... Was an IHSA state qualifier in track as a freshman (4x400 relay) and honorable mention all-area basketball player in freshman and sophomore seasons ... National Honor Society member ... Earned honor roll honors each year.
Personal: Born Nicole Alexandra Sebo ... Daughter of Mary and Gary Sebo ... Older sister, Erin, plays volleyball at St. Xavier University ... Club teammate of fellow Wildcat Georgia Waddle ... Anticipated major is education.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Niki comes to us from the national powerhouse, Eclipse Soccer Club. Niki is uber-athletic and can play anywhere in midfield. She is a very consistent and reliable player and will compete to play immediately. Niki will undoubtedly have a great career in our program and be a leader off the field as well."
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Georgia Waddle
5-5 M
Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest
High School: Competed year round at the club level with Eclipse Select '92-'93 ... Club team is five-time State Cup champions (U13-17) ... Helped team to 2009 Disney Showcase championship ... Also won MRL championships in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007.
Personal: Born Georgia R. Waddle ... Daughter of Cara and Tom Waddle ... Father played for Chicago Bears from 1989-94 and is a sportscaster for ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago ... Granddaughter of Gino Cappelletti, former Boston Patriots wide receiver/placekicker and the long-time radio broadcaster of the New England Patriots ... Club teammate of fellow Wildcat Niki Sebo ... Anticipated major is undecided.
Quoting Coach Foster: "Georgia is another product from Rory Dames' Eclipse Soccer Club. She has been coached by the best and has played at the highest levels, nationally. She is a very gifted soccer player and as close to 'complete' as you can get. Georgia is versatile and will be competitive from day one. We are excited to keep her close to home and bring her pedigree into our program."