North Carolina State University Athletics
Soccer Signs Five to Letter of Intent
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 13, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer head coach Laura Kerrigan has announced the signing of five players - Alex Caram (Lexington, Mass./Lexington HS), Jessica O'Rourke (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee HS), Aria Tanzi (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS), Vanessa Wellman (Redlands, CA/Redlands HS) and Allie Wilkerson (Bowie, Md./Bowie HS) - to national letters of intent to play for NC State beginning in the 2004 season.
"We are very excited about the 2004 class we've just signed," said Kerrigan. "The combination of skill and athleticism in this class will allow them to contribute immediately. We expect to see these five challenge our returning players for starting roles from day one."
In addition to being the captain of her senior squad at Lexington High School , Caram is a midfielder with the Spirit of Massachusetts club team. She played with the varsity team at Lexington all for years. Caram was named to the Division I Eastern Massachusetts Girls Soccer Coaches Association all-star team this past season.
"Alex has tremendous vision and distribution skills," remarked Kerrigan. "She has the ability to take over a game."
O'Rourke was a four-year starter at Cherokee High School as a forward/midfielder, but will most likely become a defender with NC State. She led Cherokee in scoring both her junior and senior years. In 2003 O'Rourke was named to the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association) High School All Region II team and was a first team all-state honoree. She has played with the Medford Strikers Scream club team since 1999, which advanced to the New Jersey Snickers State Finals in 2003.
"Jessica is a tough, aggressive defender who possesses the tactical understanding to run a defense," stated Kerrigan. She also possesses the skills necessary to attack out of the back, and be a threat in the attacking end of the field."
Tanzi is a forward out of Smithtown, N.Y. and plays with the Massapequa Spirit. Last summer her U-17 Intense Soccer Academy team won the Super Y League National Championship after she scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over DC United.
"Aria is a quick, tricky forward who has demonstrated the ability to score goals using a variety of methods," said Kerrigan. "She is tactically intelligent and knows where to be and how to get there to get on the end of crosses and balls played through."
Wellman, a midfielder/forward, will arrive at NC State from the west coast where she played with the Southern California Blues Club team. In 2002 she led her CYSA-South U-16 team to a State Cup Championship.
"Vanessa has proven she can be a factor at both the midfield and forward positions," said Kerrigan. "She can distribute the ball and create attacking opportunities from the midfield, but has also shown the ability to get on the end of scoring chances and put the ball away."
Willkerson plays the forward position with the Bethesda Rowdies in Bowie, Md. She was a Maryland State Cup Finalist in 2003. She was an All-Met Honorable Mention this past season. As a member of the Rowdies, Wilkerson played on four Maryland State Championship teams, three of which won state titles.
"Allie possesses the combination of athleticism and skill necessary to break open a game at the next level," stated Kerrigan. "She is strong, fast, and possesses the 1v1 ability to take on and beat players, as well as finish her scoring opportunities."
