March 7, 2008
FULLERTON, CA - The defending Big West Conference champion Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team and Head Coach Demian Brown will welcome one of the largest freshman classes in the program's history for the 2008 season as the Titans have signed 12 high school freshmen to national letters of intent it was announced.
"This class is a tremendous mix of talent and speed," Brown remarked. "This year's class has a common theme with all but two of the new Titans being recruited in as midfielders or forwards. After graduating a tremendously talented senior class with the likes of Stacey Thompson (2007 Big West Conference Midfielder of the Year), Kristen Boujos (2006 Big West Tournament MVP), Lauren Cram (2007 leading scorer and All-Big West First-Team selection), and Brianna Buffington (2006 leading scorer and 2007 All-Big West First-Team selection), this year's class will have the opportunity to make an instant impact in the program."
Eleven of the 12 newcomers are California natives with the final addition hailing from the state of Colorado.
Below are brief capsules on each of the Titans' 12 signees:
JANEA DEAS - FORWARD
Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty HS (Real Colorado)
First-team all-city selection in 2005 and 2007... first-team all-state in 2008... all-state honorable mention selection in 2007... Helped lead her club team to the 2006 U16 USYSA National Championship... U16 state champs in 2005 and regional champions in 2006... regional semifinalists in 2007... ODP regional pool in 2005-06... ODP state team in 2004-06... ODP regional camp in 2004-06... Surf Cup champions in 2005.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Janea is a strong and skillful attacking player who has the ability to set up goals for teammates or take them herself. Her regional and national club experiences should help her adjust to the Division I level quickly and successfully."
STACEY FOX - FORWARD
Simi Valley, Calif./Royal HS (Camarillo Eagles)
Two-time All-Marmonte League selection, including first-team honors in 2007... named to the All-Ventura County squad in 2007... three-time school Offensive Player of the Year... older sister, Katie, plays soccer at Cal State Northridge while her mother, Chris, played two seasons at Loyola Marymount.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Stacey's skills and vision on the field allow her to be a great passer of the ball. She sees things that other players don't. Her height and desire to score goals will cause defenders headaches game in and game out."
ARION INGRAM - FORWARD
Costa Mesa, Calif./Orange Lutheran HS (Fullerton Rangers)
Two-time All-Trinity League Second-Team selection... twice named to the All-County Second Team in 2005-06... helped the Lancers to the CIF title in 2005-06... also played softball and ran track... third-team All-CIF as a junior in 2007.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Arion is a pure speed soccer player. Her athleticism allows her to get behind defenses and into goal scoring positions with incredible ease. Her skills and technique combined make her a great goal scorer."
ASHLEY UMANN - FORWARD/MIDFIELDER
Oak Park, Calif./Oak Park HS (Camarillo Eagles)
Three-time team Offensive MVP... All-Tri Valley League First-Team honoree and CIF First-Team selection in 2007... All-League and CIF Honorable Mention selection in 2006... Helped lead her club team to the GU17 Cal South Premier League title.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Ashley has the tenacity, persistence and speed to make her a terrific goal scorer. I think her athleticism will allow us to play her in a multitude of attacking positions."
ELENA CATANIA - MIDFIELDER
Santa Rosa, Calif./Montgomery HS (Santa Rosa United)
Two-time team offensive MVP... two-time All-North Bay League and All-Empire selection - including first-team honors on both squads in 2007... second-team all-league in 2006... helped lead club team to the 2007 State Cup and 2006 Cal Cup titles.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Elena comes to us from one of the top Northern Californian club teams. She has a tremendous amount of pace and the ability to serve great balls with either foot. I see her playing in wide positions and providing great scoring opportunities."
CASEY VOLK - MIDFIELDER
Davis, Calif./Davis HS (San Juan Spirits)
Club co-captain... MVP of the 2006 Celtic Cup... nominated first-team all-league.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Probably our tallest field player. She is great in the air and even better with the ball at her feet. I am very excited about adding a player of her stature and ability to our core of midfielders and forwards."
CAITLIN MELLANO - MIDFIELDER
Fullerton, Calif./Troy HS (Fullerton Rangers)
First-Team All-Freeway League selection and team MVP in 2007 and 2008... Named Freeway League MVP for 2008...four-year scholar-athlete... father, Bob, played baseball at Cal State Fullerton in 1985-86.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Is our next great soccer player from our neighbor Troy High School. A true left-sided player with a great understanding of the game and the calm and poise to perform well at the next level."
EMILY DOW - MIDFIELDER
San Diego, Calif./Westview HS (Rancho Santa Fe Attack)
Helped lead the Wolverines to the 2005 and a share of the 2007 CIF titles... 2006 CIF finalists... All-CIF Division II First Team in 2006-07... 2007 San Diego Union-Tribune All-County Second Team...Scored two goals to lead Westview High School to the 2008 CIF Championship... Union-Tribune Scholar-Athlete from 2004-08.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "A fierce competitor in the center midfield. Emily is strong enough to win every ball in the air or on the ground and skillful enough to never give anything away. I look forward to adding her to our core of midfielders."
JENNIFER SMITH - DEFENDER
Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS (Wolfpack)
Four-year varsity letter winner... three-year team captain... three-time defensive MVP... three-time All-Century League First-Team honoree... helped the Comanches to a quarterfinal appearance in the CIF tournament in 2007... Named All-Century League Defender of the Year 2008...helped club team to 2007 Surf Cup title and a first-place finish in the CSL Premier League... Wolfpack were 2007 North/South Champions and USL Super Y Finalists.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "A gritty defender with incredible speed and skill on the ball. With her tireless work rate and tenacity she will fit in perfectly with our core of defenders."
JORDAN DOLBIN - MIDFIELDER
La Mirada, Calif./La Serna HS (Fullerton Rangers)
Three-year varsity captain... four-time Del Rio League Champions... two-time team offensive MVP as a sophomore and junior... 18 goals and 24 assists as a junior... Del Rio League MVP as a junior... first-team All-CIF and all-league selection as a freshman... first-team All-CIF and all-league selection as a sophomore, finishing with 10 goals and 13 assists... second-team All-CIF selection as a junior as well as first-team All-Area honors.... Helped lead La Serna HS to 2008 CIF Championship.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "An exceptional soccer player with a tremendous amount of skill. She is extremely dangerous at serving balls on set pieces from anywhere on the field."
MARGARET DUPES - GOALKEEPER
Fallbrook, Calif./Fallbrook Union HS (San Diego Surf)
Played freshman and sophomore seasons at Fallbrook HS before transferring to Gig Harbor HS in Washington State for her junior year... two-time second-team All-Avocado League honoree... starting keeper as a freshman... first-team All-CIF selection as a freshman... earned second-team all-conference honors at Gig Harbor HS... has currently helped Fallbrook HS to the CIF semifinals as a senior... helped her club team to a Surf Cup title and a Presidio League crown in 2007... her sister, Hannah, played soccer at Cal Poly.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "A solid goalkeeper with great fundamentals and the desire to improve. With her quickness and good hands she has all the potential to follow in a long line of outstanding Cal State Fullerton goalkeepers."
KRISTEN HALVERSON - FORWARD
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Trabuco Hills HS (So Cal Blues)
Helped the Mustangs to CIF semifinal appearances in 2005-06... Helped her club team to the 2006 US Club Soccer Championship and a pair of US Youth Soccer National Championships in 2004 and 2005... So Cal Blues were the 2004 and 2005 US Soccer Far West Regional Champions and the 2004 Surf Cup Champions.
COACH BROWN SAYS: "Kristen is a great goal-scorer. She has incredible instincts on the field and has a way of always being in the right place at the right time. Her speed and aggressiveness in the attack will definitely increase our scoring threats."
2008 CAL STATE FULLERTON WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEES
Janea Deas (5-6, F, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS, Real Colorado)
Stacey Fox (5-8, F, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS, Camarillo Eagles)
Arion Ingram (5-7, F, Costa Mesa, CA/Orange Lutheran HS, Fullerton Rangers)
Ashley Umann (5-4, F/MF, Oak Park, CA/Oak Park HS, Camarillo Eagles)
Elena Catania (5-5, MF, Santa Rosa, CA/Montgomery HS, Santa Rosa United)
Casey Volk (5-10, MF,Davis, CA/Davis HS, San Juan Spirits)
Caitlin Mellano (5-8, MF, Fullerton, CA/Troy HS, Fullerton Rangers)
Emily Dow (5-7, MF, San Diego, CA/Westview HS, Rancho Santa Fe Attack)
Jennifer Smith (5-6, D, Anaheim Hills, CA/Canyon HS, Wolfpack)
Jordan Dolbin (5-4, MF, La Mirada, CA/La Serna HS, Fullerton Rangers)
Margaret Dupes (5-7, GK, Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook Union HS, San Diego Surf)
Kristen Halverson (5-6, F, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills HS, So Cal Blues)