Feb. 12, 2009
FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton women's soccer Head Coach Demian Brown has announced the signing of five high-school players to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and playing careers with the Titans.
Lacey-Marie Califano, a 5-10 midfielder from San Pedro, Felicia Franco, a 5-4 midfielder from Lake Forest, Brisa Gonzalez, a 5-4 midfielder from Fullerton, Jessica Luevano, a 5-8 defender from Canyon Country, and Kristina Slusser, a 5-8 forward/midfielder from Pomona, will join the Titans' roster beginning with the 2009 season.
Califano earned All-Bay League and all-area honors as a junior for Palos Verdes HS in 2008, helping the Sea Kings to a 18-2-3 overall record and a 6-1-3 to finish second and earn a berth into the CIF Division I playoffs, finishing with 11 goals and three assists. She has four goals and six assists as a senior thus far, helping Palos Verdes HS to an 18-4-2 overall mark and an 8-0-1 Bay League record.
She was also captain of her club team, Tustin United, and also stars in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
"Lacey is great sized defensive midfielder," Brown said. "We add more height and skill to the program with Lacey. She is great in the middle of the field with both feet and has the ability to cover tons of ground. Look for her to contribute in the midfield or even on the back line."
Franco is a four-year letter winner at El Toro HS, earning a trio of All-Sea View League honors during her prep career. As a junior, she helped lead the Chargers to a 14-6-6 overall record and a 6-2-2 mark in league play to finish second. She plays club soccer for the Irvine Strikers.
"Felicia is an extremely smart and technical midfielder," Brown said. "She has tremendous vision and a comfort level on the ball that will allow her to enhance the way we attack."
Gonzalez stars just down Chapman Ave. from the Cal State Fullerton campus at Fullerton Union HS and played club soccer for the Irvine Strikers. She has earned three All-CIF honors in her career while earning top team offensive player laurels in 2006-07 and the team's best attacking player award in 2007-08.
"Brisa is another tremendous local talent," Brown said. "She is a talented midfielder with great speed and the ability to create or score goals from the midfield or forward position."
Luevano helped lead Canyon HS to a CIF Division II title in 2006-07 and has helped her Real So Cal club to a host of titles, including a GU17 Surf Cup title in 2007, and a quarterfinal appearance at the 2007 National Cup.
"Jess is a solid defender with the speed and ability to play center back or out wide," Brown said. "Her ability to strike the ball will allow her to contribute to the attack as well as shore up our defense."
Kristina Slusser, the younger sister of current Titan junior Tanya, has helped Walnut HS to the last three San Antonio League titles - all with undefeated seasons. A three-time All-San Antonio League honoree, Slusser has also twice earned All-CIF honors and has helped the Mustangs to a pair of CIF semifinal appearances in 2005 and 2007.
"Kristina adds incredible speed and goal scoring capability to an already solid core of attacking players," Brown said.
2009 CAL STATE FULLERTON WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEES
Name (POS, HT, Hometown/High School, Club Team)
Lacey-Marie Califano (5-10, MF, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes HS, Tustin United)
Felicia Franco (5-4, MF, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS, Irvine Strikers)
Brisa Gonzalez (5-4, MF, Fullerton, CA/Fullerton Union HS, Irvine Strikers)
Jessica Luevano (5-8, D, Canyon Country, CA/Canyon HS, Real So Cal)
Kristina Slusser (5-8, F/MF, Pomona, CA/Walnut HS, Fullerton Rangers)