March 25, 2010
FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton head women's soccer coach Demian Brown will welcome a class of seven high school and junior college standouts to the Titans' roster for the 2010 season as the Titans announced their National Letter of Intent signees on Thursday afternoon.
"This class is very well-rounded, but it definitely addresses a major issue within our program," Brown said. "This 2010 class focused heavily on goal scorers and attack-minded players. We feel that these incoming players have the ability to add to or, in some ways, change the way we attack. Their attitude and talent will make this group of freshmen exciting to watch."
Below are brief bios on Fullerton's incoming recruits listed alphabetically:
Brianna Chapman / 5-7 / F-MF / San Diego, Calif. (La Jolla HS)
Three-year letter winner for the Vikings... led the team with 10 goals as a sophomore en route to All-CIF San Diego Section Second-Team honors... also led the team with 12 goals as a junior, earning All-CIF San Diego Section First-Team laurels and was the section's CIF Division II Player of the Year... first-team All-Western League and All-CIF selection as a senior... CIF San Diego Section Division III Player of the Year in 2009 en route to a Western League co-championship and the CIFSDS Division III championship... helped the Vikings to the CIFSDS Division III championship game in 2010... also considered Auburn, Iowa, Oregon State, Washington, Saint Mary's, and Dayton... member of the ODP Regional Pool in 2008... played club soccer for Albion SC... had two cousins who played football for Cal State Fullerton.
"Brianna brings an element of creativity and skill to our attacking core of players," Brown said. She is true left-sided player with great vision and field awareness. Brianna has a great ability to strike from distances and is very dangerous in set piece opportunities around the goal. She has had great soccer experiences traveling to South America to play and train."
Alyssa Garcia / 5-5 / MF-F / Spring Valley, Calif. (Valhalla HS/Cuyamaca College)
Played two seasons for the Coyotes... first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference selection as a sophomore, helping Cuyamaca to a 12-7-1 mark for a third-place finish... led the team in scoring in 2009 with six goals and 18 assists (30 points)... also was a first-team all-conference selection as a freshman in 2008 after scoring 14 goals to go with nine assists (37 points)... played four seasons of varsity soccer for Valhalla HS in El Cajon, Calif., earning All-Grossmont-South League First-Team honors her final three prep seasons as well as honorable mention honors as a freshman... also considered the U.S. Naval Academy, San Diego State, Point Loma Nazarene, Cal Baptist, and Oregon State... played club soccer for the Hotspurs.
"The two best words to describe her are relentless and aggressive," Brown said. "She is a left-sided player with great pace and has the ability to be dangerous from anywhere in the attack especially on set pieces. Coming from the junior college level, she has great experiences playing at a higher level which should help her transition into the Division I environment."
Lindsey Maricic / 5-4 / GK / Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Osos HS)
Three-year varsity letter winner for the Grizzlies... first-team All-Baseline League honoree as a junior... second-team All-Baseline League selection as a senior... earned honorable mention all-league honors as a sophomore... second-team All-Inland Valley as a junior... helped Los Osos to the second round of the CIF Division I playoffs... also considered San Diego State and Occidental College... played club soccer for the Claremont Stars.
"Lindsey is very athletic and talented goalkeeper," Brown said. "She has great reactions and has the athleticism to control the entire 18-yard box. Her distribution from the ground and out of her hands is a definite strength."
Erica Mazeau / 5-5 / MF-F / Yorba Linda, Calif. (Esperanza HS)
Played four seasons for the Aztecs... sister, JeAnne, will be a redshirt sophomore for the Titans in 2010... voted team's offensive MVP as a freshman... first-team All-Sunset League selection as a junior and senior... second-team All-Orange County selection as a senior... offensive MVP as a senior... Aztecs finished 25-0-4 in 2010, claiming the Sunset League, CIF Division I championship, and Division I Regional Championship... also considered Boston College, Oregon State, Vanguard, and Drake... played club soccer for the So Cal Blues.
"Erica is the type of player every team needs," Brown said. "She has a tremendous work rate, great skill but, more important, she is a winner. From her club, where she has been a two time national champion, to her high school team, which won their league title, CIF championship, and regional championship in her senior year. Erica has the ability to play in a number of attacking positions but don't be surprised if she joins the defensive corps at some point in her career."
Nikki McCants / 5-7 / F / Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)
Three-year letter winner for the Sharks... full name is Nikeidra, but goes by Nikki... finished her senior season with eight goals and 15 assists (31 points)... helped Santiago HS to the CIF Division III championship game before falling to Riverside Martin Luther King HS in penalties... Sharks finished 2010 with a 27-3-2 overall record... also considered Whittier College, Hope International, Concordia, and Chico State... her brother is a running back for Oregon State... played club soccer for the Fullerton Rangers.
"(Nikki) is a pure forward, strong, fast and skillful," Brown said. "She has all of the physical tools and determination to be a successful Division I soccer player. Adding a player of her ability to our attacking unit provides tremendous depth and goal scoring opportunities."
Lauren Mellano / 5-7 / MF-D / Fullerton, Calif. (Troy HS)
Four-year letter winner for the Warriors... her sister, Caitlin, will be a junior for the Titans in 2010... four-time first-team All-Freeway League honoree... team and Freeway League MVP as a senior... first-team All-CIF selection and third-team All-Orange County honoree as a senior... first-team All-CIF and third-team all-county choice as a junior... CIF Defensive Player of the Year as a junior... second-team All-CIF as a sophomore... also considered Jacksonville and Cal State San Marcos... played club soccer for the Irvine Strikers, helping them to the 2008 U.S. Soccer National Championship.
"Lauren is solid defender who can play either at the center back or left back position," Brown said. "She has great timing, both in the air and into tackles."
Kaitlyn Mendoza / 5-7 / F / Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Ontario Christian HS)
Four-year letter winner for the Knights... four-time All-Christian League First-Team honoree... league MVP as a junior and senior... finished her senior season with 63 goals and 21 assists in helping the Knights to a 24-2-3 overall record and a trip to the CIF Division VI semifinals... scored more than 100 goals in her career, and broke the school's single-season assist mark as a senior... helped the Knights to a league title as a junior, finishing with 37 goals and 21 assists... named All-CIF First Team as a junior... All-CIF Third-Team honoree as a sophomore after scoring 21 goals and helping the Knights to a league title... scored 25 goals as a freshman, standing as the only rookie on the all-league first team... also earned All-CIF Second-Team honors and helped the Knights to the CIF championship... also considered TCU, Seattle Pacific, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, San Diego State, Arizona, and USC... played club soccer for Arsenal FC, helping the team to the State Cup quarterfinals and was named MVP of the California Tournament (Premier Flight)... also played for the Fullerton Rangers, helping them to a second-place league finish last season.
"Kaitlyn is a proven goal scorer, scoring over 60 goals and adding 20 assists in her senior year," Brown said. "She is a dynamic soccer player, can read the game very well, and is able to anticipate the next pass which leads to her being in the right place for goals."