Women’s Soccer Bolsters Roster with Five Signees
2/10/2017 9:16:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women's soccer team increased its talent and depth with the addition of five athletes in the 2017 signing class. The group will contribute in all areas on the pitch and includes signees from all over the country, as well as Germany.
Santoro has continued to sign recruits from the Pack's pipelines in California, Virginia and Germany, as well as, signed a recruit from Colorado for the first time in his tenure. The addition of these signees along with early enrollees Lexi Moore and Naomi Powell brings the Pack's signing class to seven athletes.
Santoro's signing-day class includes Jessica Berlin (GK – Virginia), Luisa Guttenberger (DEF – Germany), Mikhail Johnson (MF/DEF – Virginia), Hope McQueen (DEF – California) and Tea Smith (FWD – Colorado).
"After a few larger recruiting classes the last few years, we're able to get back on track with filling specific needs in certain positions and building our depth," Santoro said. "This group, along with Lexi and Naomi, has versatility and quality and covers every line in the team"
Jessica Berlin, GK
Berlin has spent the last six years with Annandale United under coach Ann Germain, while training in goal with Llyod Yaxley and Edward Brown. Most recently, Berlin led the club to a Virginia State Cup Championship, and finished as a runner up in 2015. The club was also VYSA Region 1 Tournament finalists in 2015. Berlin was part of the Virginia State Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2012-2015 and was selected for the Region 1 Inter-Regional Tournament Team in 2014-15. She played high school soccer with Lake Braddock Secondary School has been an all-conference selection since 2014. In addition to soccer, Berlin is an all-region performer in the shot put and discus in track and field. Berlin is also a member of National Honor Society and Student Government, while making the A Honor Roll all four years.
"Jess will help continue building our goalkeeping position and push the others for playing time," Santoro said. "She's got a good frame for the position, has a solid aerial game and has great intelligence for the position with excellent communication skills.
Luisa Guttenberger, DEF
Guttenberger is the fourth German international coach Santoro has signed. The defender was a key player in Bayern Munich's academy, and made her Bayern II debut during the 2014-15 season at the age of 16 in the 2. Bundesliga. Guttenberger made eight starts and 11 total appearances for Bayern II during the 2015-16 season, while netting a goal against Saarbrücken. Most recently, Guttenberger has made four appearances during the 2016-17 season, while playing the full 90 minutes in three matches. She also has experience playing with the German U-17 national team and made her debut at the UEFA European Women's U-17 Championship in 2015. Guttenberger has made six starts in UEFA completions for the national team.
"Lulu is a very experienced central defender at both Bayern Munich and with the German National Team program," Santoro said. "Her physical presence along with very good vision and passing ability will strengthen our backline immediately. It's fun to keep building on our relationship with Bayern and Lulu will follow nicely in that tradition behind Franziska, Ricci and Krissi."
Mikhail Johnson, MF/DEF
Johnson is the second player to join NC State from the Fredericksburg Football Club (FFC) in two seasons. Johnson was coached by Jens Baeumer and David Shaw at FFC and went on to capture titles at the WAGS Showcase, Disney Showcase, CASL Showcase and US Club Soccer National Cup between 2014-2016 with her club. Johnson gained ODP experience from 2007-2014 and went to the USYSA Region I Interregional trips to Florida, Costa Rica, Germany and France. Johnson is a second generation DI athlete, her mother, Cheryl was a track and field athlete at Samford, while her father, Albert competed in track and field at Virginia Tech.
"Mikhail has a nice understanding of playing in deeper central roles, primarily a two-way midfielder but can also play in defense," Santoro said. "She's comfortable on the ball and has great athleticism to go with it. I like her pedigree as well, as she comes from a club with top coaching and teaching."
Hope McQueen, DEF
McQueen becomes the Pack's fourth member from San Diego, Calif. The defender played for the San Diego Surf at a club level. The team finished fifth at the Elite Club National League (ECNL) Championships in 2015 and finished as Surf Cup Champions in 2011 and 2015. McQueen earned ODP experience in 2013 where she made the USYSA Region IV team and trained at the SoCal ODP camp.
"Hope is a very composed distributor of the ball, reads the game well from the back and is a ball winner," Santoro said. "As we've tried to build our numbers in the back line, Hope was someone we felt could fit in and evolve in our system of central defenders who can play soccer from deep parts of the field."
Tea Smith, FWD
Smith joins the Pack from Real Colorado in the ECNL, where she's spent the last three seasons. Prior to her time at Real Colorado, she spent 10 years in the club system of FC Boulder. Her team has qualified for the ECNL National Championships and in 2015 the club finished the tournament as a finalist. Smith is an accomplished forward and has also played with Fairview High School, where she was named an All-Region performer in 2015 and to the All-State team in 2016. Her father, Conley Smith played football with the University of Colorado and her sister Reci Smith currently plays soccer for Wake Forest.
"Tea is very athletic and dangerous attacking player who really developed a lot in the last year," Santoro said. "Her ability to run behind the opposition and score goals are things that every team needs. She will learn a lot from the players around her and will add to an already potent attack that we have."
Santoro has continued to sign recruits from the Pack's pipelines in California, Virginia and Germany, as well as, signed a recruit from Colorado for the first time in his tenure. The addition of these signees along with early enrollees Lexi Moore and Naomi Powell brings the Pack's signing class to seven athletes.
Santoro's signing-day class includes Jessica Berlin (GK – Virginia), Luisa Guttenberger (DEF – Germany), Mikhail Johnson (MF/DEF – Virginia), Hope McQueen (DEF – California) and Tea Smith (FWD – Colorado).
"After a few larger recruiting classes the last few years, we're able to get back on track with filling specific needs in certain positions and building our depth," Santoro said. "This group, along with Lexi and Naomi, has versatility and quality and covers every line in the team"
Jessica Berlin, GK
Berlin has spent the last six years with Annandale United under coach Ann Germain, while training in goal with Llyod Yaxley and Edward Brown. Most recently, Berlin led the club to a Virginia State Cup Championship, and finished as a runner up in 2015. The club was also VYSA Region 1 Tournament finalists in 2015. Berlin was part of the Virginia State Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2012-2015 and was selected for the Region 1 Inter-Regional Tournament Team in 2014-15. She played high school soccer with Lake Braddock Secondary School has been an all-conference selection since 2014. In addition to soccer, Berlin is an all-region performer in the shot put and discus in track and field. Berlin is also a member of National Honor Society and Student Government, while making the A Honor Roll all four years.
We're excited to introduce our signing class today! Welcome to the Pack, Jessica Berlin! pic.twitter.com/T4atgkqAlI
— PackWSoccer?? (@PackWSoccer) February 10, 2017
"Jess will help continue building our goalkeeping position and push the others for playing time," Santoro said. "She's got a good frame for the position, has a solid aerial game and has great intelligence for the position with excellent communication skills.
Luisa Guttenberger, DEF
Guttenberger is the fourth German international coach Santoro has signed. The defender was a key player in Bayern Munich's academy, and made her Bayern II debut during the 2014-15 season at the age of 16 in the 2. Bundesliga. Guttenberger made eight starts and 11 total appearances for Bayern II during the 2015-16 season, while netting a goal against Saarbrücken. Most recently, Guttenberger has made four appearances during the 2016-17 season, while playing the full 90 minutes in three matches. She also has experience playing with the German U-17 national team and made her debut at the UEFA European Women's U-17 Championship in 2015. Guttenberger has made six starts in UEFA completions for the national team.
Welcome to the Pack, Luisa Guttenberger! pic.twitter.com/P4LmOaJjOd
— PackWSoccer?? (@PackWSoccer) February 10, 2017
"Lulu is a very experienced central defender at both Bayern Munich and with the German National Team program," Santoro said. "Her physical presence along with very good vision and passing ability will strengthen our backline immediately. It's fun to keep building on our relationship with Bayern and Lulu will follow nicely in that tradition behind Franziska, Ricci and Krissi."
Mikhail Johnson, MF/DEF
Johnson is the second player to join NC State from the Fredericksburg Football Club (FFC) in two seasons. Johnson was coached by Jens Baeumer and David Shaw at FFC and went on to capture titles at the WAGS Showcase, Disney Showcase, CASL Showcase and US Club Soccer National Cup between 2014-2016 with her club. Johnson gained ODP experience from 2007-2014 and went to the USYSA Region I Interregional trips to Florida, Costa Rica, Germany and France. Johnson is a second generation DI athlete, her mother, Cheryl was a track and field athlete at Samford, while her father, Albert competed in track and field at Virginia Tech.
Welcome to the Pack, Mikhail Johnson! pic.twitter.com/3cIuagOwab
— PackWSoccer?? (@PackWSoccer) February 10, 2017
"Mikhail has a nice understanding of playing in deeper central roles, primarily a two-way midfielder but can also play in defense," Santoro said. "She's comfortable on the ball and has great athleticism to go with it. I like her pedigree as well, as she comes from a club with top coaching and teaching."
Hope McQueen, DEF
McQueen becomes the Pack's fourth member from San Diego, Calif. The defender played for the San Diego Surf at a club level. The team finished fifth at the Elite Club National League (ECNL) Championships in 2015 and finished as Surf Cup Champions in 2011 and 2015. McQueen earned ODP experience in 2013 where she made the USYSA Region IV team and trained at the SoCal ODP camp.
Welcome to the Pack, Hope McQueen! pic.twitter.com/xiEHVUZDAC
— PackWSoccer?? (@PackWSoccer) February 10, 2017
"Hope is a very composed distributor of the ball, reads the game well from the back and is a ball winner," Santoro said. "As we've tried to build our numbers in the back line, Hope was someone we felt could fit in and evolve in our system of central defenders who can play soccer from deep parts of the field."
Tea Smith, FWD
Smith joins the Pack from Real Colorado in the ECNL, where she's spent the last three seasons. Prior to her time at Real Colorado, she spent 10 years in the club system of FC Boulder. Her team has qualified for the ECNL National Championships and in 2015 the club finished the tournament as a finalist. Smith is an accomplished forward and has also played with Fairview High School, where she was named an All-Region performer in 2015 and to the All-State team in 2016. Her father, Conley Smith played football with the University of Colorado and her sister Reci Smith currently plays soccer for Wake Forest.
Welcome to the Pack, Tea Smith! pic.twitter.com/loiPPN5VjG
— PackWSoccer?? (@PackWSoccer) February 10, 2017
"Tea is very athletic and dangerous attacking player who really developed a lot in the last year," Santoro said. "Her ability to run behind the opposition and score goals are things that every team needs. She will learn a lot from the players around her and will add to an already potent attack that we have."
Players Mentioned
Defender
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