Women’s Soccer Adds Five To 2018 Signing Class
2/13/2018 10:28:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH – The NC State women's soccer team added five players to its 2018 signing class, as announced by head coach Tim Santoro. The talented group will add depth to the program and contribute in all areas of the pitch.
The class includes athletes from all over the country, including its California and Virginia recruiting pipelines, and comprises of Jenna Butler (DEF – Virginia), Melissa Hoffheins (GK – Virginia), Abby Kassal (FWD – Colorado), Madison Kline (MF – California) and Anna Toohey (MF – North Carolina). The addition of these players along with early enrollees Mia Thillet and Kursten von Klahr and transfer Courtney Walker brings the Pack's freshman class to eight.
"At a time when we're building off consecutive top 25 seasons, NCAA Tournaments and a third-place finish in the ACC, while also returning a majority of our roster, we could be very selective with this class for both now and the future," said Santoro. "We've been very specific at every position in this class and, like past years, these players will develop quickly in our environment and improve our program short and long term."
Jenna Butler | DEF | Gainesville, Va. | FC Virginia
Butler has trained with FC Virginia under Christian Cziommer since 2017, but has previously played for Prince William Courage, Northern Virginia SC and Fredericksburg FC. With her respective club teams, she has captured titles at the Disney Showcase, WAGS Showcase, CASL Showcase, US Club Soccer National Cup as well as the VYSA State Cup on two separate occasions.
From 2012-17 she trained with the VYSA and USYSA Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She made the All-Star Team at the Boca Raton Inter-Regional Tournament in 2015, and with the Region 1 ODP Team she won the International Cup in 2016 and participated in the Mediterranean International Cup in 2017.
Santoro on Butler: "Jenna fits the mold of what an NC State center back needs to be. Comfortable on the ball, ability to pass for possession both short and long and an ability to read the game defensively. Add to that her size, athleticism and heading ability, I expect Jenna to make a strong push for playing time from day one."
Melissa Hoffheins | GK | Leesburg, Va. | Loudoun SC
Hoffheins currently trains with Loudoun SC under head coaches Randy May and Dave Allway, and specifically works with Didi Haracic for goalkeeping. She previously trained with McLean ECNL (2013-17) where her team went undefeated in eight consecutive tournaments, including three national events, during the 2015-16 season, when her team conceded an average of .56 goals per game. This past season her team was nationally ranked and won the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship.
At the ODP level she was invited to the Region 1 camp in the 2013-14 season and the USYS National ODP camp in 2015. In high school she led her team, Loudoun County, to two VHSL state championships, two regional championships and three conference championships, as her team compiled a 58-5-3 record in three seasons. She is on Loudoun County's track and field team this spring.
Santoro on Hoffheins: "Two things about Mez that I noticed right away were, first, her demeanor and personality for the position and, second, her ability to play with her feet. Of course she can do all the normal things a keeper must do with their hands, however, those first two qualities are something I believe separates this position for us and Mez has them."
Abby Kassal | FWD | Greenwood Village, Colo. | Colorado Rush
Kassal is the second Colorado native that Santoro has signed in his tenure. She has trained with Colorado Rush since the fall of 2016 under Erik Bushev and Peter May. She previously trained with Real Colorado and her team finished fourth in the nation in 2015 and were national finalists in 2016. She additionally received individual Player Development Program (PDP) invites in 2015 and '16.
As a captain of the Colorado 99 ODP Team she helped her team to win the 2015 USYS Region IV Championship with the all-star team and received multiple regional camp invites. With Regis Jesuit High School her team won the Continental League in 2016 and she earned all-conference honors her first three seasons. Kassal additionally was a CHSAA All-State Honorable Mention selection on two separate occasions and garnered CHSAA Academic All-State First Team honors in 2017.
Santoro on Kassal: "Abby is a very cerebral player who has good vision, is clean on the ball and sometimes can think outside the box in her decision making, which is always fun to see. I believe playing within our style and with some of the returning players we have is going to fit her ideas well and make her versatile in what position she can play."
Madison Kline | MF | Yorba Linda, Calif. | Legends FC
Kline has trained with Legends FC since 2014, and her accomplishments include winning a pair of CalSouth state championships (2015, '16), winning the USYS national championship in 2015 as well as Surf Cup and Cordial Cup championship titles in 2014.
With Esperanza High School she was a four-time all-conference selection and guided her team to four consecutive state tournament appearances as well as a conference championship title her senior year.
Santoro on Kline: "Maddie plays a deeper central role in such a simple but effective manner. Her ability to play below the ball and see the field and then connect the field with a clean touch and accurate passing is unique. Adjusting to the speed of play of the college game will be her number one test when she arrives but I expect her to figure things out."
Anna Toohey | MF | Winston-Salem, N.C. | NC Fusion
Toohey has been with NC Fusion since last year and is coached by Chad Heinicke. She has also played for Charlotte Soccer Academy, Tri-Cities Youth and Lake Norman SC. With her various club teams her accomplishments include winning the Disney Showcase, Jefferson Cup, US Club National Championship and being a finalist at the San Diego ECNL National Championship.
She played with the NCYSA ODP First Team from 2012-16 and received Region 3 camp invites each year. Her older sister, Mary, plays at Gardner-Webb.
Santoro on Toohey: "Anna has an unorthodox creativity that you don't teach. It's either there or it's not. She loves to dribble and attack, which are qualities we won't take away from her but only adjust for this level. Once she adapts and becomes stronger physically, I think Anna's game will mesh well with our attacking personalities."
The class includes athletes from all over the country, including its California and Virginia recruiting pipelines, and comprises of Jenna Butler (DEF – Virginia), Melissa Hoffheins (GK – Virginia), Abby Kassal (FWD – Colorado), Madison Kline (MF – California) and Anna Toohey (MF – North Carolina). The addition of these players along with early enrollees Mia Thillet and Kursten von Klahr and transfer Courtney Walker brings the Pack's freshman class to eight.
"At a time when we're building off consecutive top 25 seasons, NCAA Tournaments and a third-place finish in the ACC, while also returning a majority of our roster, we could be very selective with this class for both now and the future," said Santoro. "We've been very specific at every position in this class and, like past years, these players will develop quickly in our environment and improve our program short and long term."
Jenna Butler | DEF | Gainesville, Va. | FC Virginia
Butler has trained with FC Virginia under Christian Cziommer since 2017, but has previously played for Prince William Courage, Northern Virginia SC and Fredericksburg FC. With her respective club teams, she has captured titles at the Disney Showcase, WAGS Showcase, CASL Showcase, US Club Soccer National Cup as well as the VYSA State Cup on two separate occasions.
From 2012-17 she trained with the VYSA and USYSA Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She made the All-Star Team at the Boca Raton Inter-Regional Tournament in 2015, and with the Region 1 ODP Team she won the International Cup in 2016 and participated in the Mediterranean International Cup in 2017.
Santoro on Butler: "Jenna fits the mold of what an NC State center back needs to be. Comfortable on the ball, ability to pass for possession both short and long and an ability to read the game defensively. Add to that her size, athleticism and heading ability, I expect Jenna to make a strong push for playing time from day one."
Melissa Hoffheins | GK | Leesburg, Va. | Loudoun SC
Hoffheins currently trains with Loudoun SC under head coaches Randy May and Dave Allway, and specifically works with Didi Haracic for goalkeeping. She previously trained with McLean ECNL (2013-17) where her team went undefeated in eight consecutive tournaments, including three national events, during the 2015-16 season, when her team conceded an average of .56 goals per game. This past season her team was nationally ranked and won the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship.
At the ODP level she was invited to the Region 1 camp in the 2013-14 season and the USYS National ODP camp in 2015. In high school she led her team, Loudoun County, to two VHSL state championships, two regional championships and three conference championships, as her team compiled a 58-5-3 record in three seasons. She is on Loudoun County's track and field team this spring.
Santoro on Hoffheins: "Two things about Mez that I noticed right away were, first, her demeanor and personality for the position and, second, her ability to play with her feet. Of course she can do all the normal things a keeper must do with their hands, however, those first two qualities are something I believe separates this position for us and Mez has them."
Abby Kassal | FWD | Greenwood Village, Colo. | Colorado Rush
Kassal is the second Colorado native that Santoro has signed in his tenure. She has trained with Colorado Rush since the fall of 2016 under Erik Bushev and Peter May. She previously trained with Real Colorado and her team finished fourth in the nation in 2015 and were national finalists in 2016. She additionally received individual Player Development Program (PDP) invites in 2015 and '16.
As a captain of the Colorado 99 ODP Team she helped her team to win the 2015 USYS Region IV Championship with the all-star team and received multiple regional camp invites. With Regis Jesuit High School her team won the Continental League in 2016 and she earned all-conference honors her first three seasons. Kassal additionally was a CHSAA All-State Honorable Mention selection on two separate occasions and garnered CHSAA Academic All-State First Team honors in 2017.
Santoro on Kassal: "Abby is a very cerebral player who has good vision, is clean on the ball and sometimes can think outside the box in her decision making, which is always fun to see. I believe playing within our style and with some of the returning players we have is going to fit her ideas well and make her versatile in what position she can play."
Madison Kline | MF | Yorba Linda, Calif. | Legends FC
Kline has trained with Legends FC since 2014, and her accomplishments include winning a pair of CalSouth state championships (2015, '16), winning the USYS national championship in 2015 as well as Surf Cup and Cordial Cup championship titles in 2014.
With Esperanza High School she was a four-time all-conference selection and guided her team to four consecutive state tournament appearances as well as a conference championship title her senior year.
Santoro on Kline: "Maddie plays a deeper central role in such a simple but effective manner. Her ability to play below the ball and see the field and then connect the field with a clean touch and accurate passing is unique. Adjusting to the speed of play of the college game will be her number one test when she arrives but I expect her to figure things out."
Anna Toohey | MF | Winston-Salem, N.C. | NC Fusion
Toohey has been with NC Fusion since last year and is coached by Chad Heinicke. She has also played for Charlotte Soccer Academy, Tri-Cities Youth and Lake Norman SC. With her various club teams her accomplishments include winning the Disney Showcase, Jefferson Cup, US Club National Championship and being a finalist at the San Diego ECNL National Championship.
She played with the NCYSA ODP First Team from 2012-16 and received Region 3 camp invites each year. Her older sister, Mary, plays at Gardner-Webb.
Santoro on Toohey: "Anna has an unorthodox creativity that you don't teach. It's either there or it's not. She loves to dribble and attack, which are qualities we won't take away from her but only adjust for this level. Once she adapts and becomes stronger physically, I think Anna's game will mesh well with our attacking personalities."
Players Mentioned
Defender
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Midfielder
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Forward
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