PORTLAND, Ore. – The Concordia women's soccer program has signed five new recruits to play for the Cavaliers in 2011, head coach Grant Landy announced today.

 

Joining the Cavaliers for the 2011 season will be Ashley Ames of Liberty Lake, Wash., Annika Hayman of Redmond, Wash., Erin Huisingh of Pasco, Wash., Becca Long of Meridian, Idaho, and Hannah Scott of Milwaukie, Ore.

 

“It is a pleasure to add these players to our program in the fall,” Landy said. “This is an outstanding group of young women who I think will be a lot of fun to coach and who will impact our team immediately.”

 

Ames, a forward/midfielder at Gonzaga Prep, is a three-year letterwinner for the Bullpups. She has led her team in assists each of the past two years and ranked second on the squad in goals each of the past three years. She has received first-team All-Greater Spokane League honors in each of the past two seasons and served as a team captain and MVP her senior year. Ames also plays for the Spokane Shadow on the club level.

 

“Ashley is good with her back to the goal, but her pace and athleticism makes her dangerous as well in taking on defenders,” Landy said. “She has a fun personality and infectious spirit that will fit in great with our returning group. She is mature, hard working and has a ton of athleticism. The sky is the limit for Ashley, and she will only improve while competing with our group and against our tough opponents this fall.”

 

Hayman, a forward/midfielder at Redmond High School, led the Mustangs in goals and minutes played and tied for the team lead in assists in earning All-KingCo first-team recognition this past season. She is a three-year letterwinner and the team captain and MVP in 2010. She was a two-time state champion in gymnastics, as well as a fourth-place finisher on the balance beam at nationals, before turning her attention to soccer in 2007. Hayman is also a member of the Northwest Nationals Red club team.

 

“Annika has a tremendous amount of potential at the college level,” Landy said. “I love her tenacity, work rate and ability to create chances around the net. She is multi-dimensional, as she can serve and score effectively with both feet. She will probably find herself in a flank role in the fall, as she can take players one-on-one while her services into the box are lethal.”

 

Huisingh is a three-year letterwinner and team captain at forward/midfield during her high school career. She spent her freshman year in Papua New Guinea before attending Pasco High School from 2008-09 and Chiawana High School from 2009-11. She has earned first-team all-area recognition as well as Team MVP honors in each of the past two seasons and second-team all-state honors as a senior forward for the Riverhawks. Her team reached the second round of the state tournament in 2010, as Huisingh was named League Co-MVP. Huisingh also plays for Three Rivers Soccer Club .

 

“Erin has that 'it' factor that coaches want to find while recruiting players,” Landy said. “She combines an inherent athleticism and pace with a work ethic and a maturity, which is hard to find. I expect her to impact our team immediately, both on and off the field. She has a nose for the goal and likes to run at defenders, so she can complement our attacking group in a variety of roles.”

 

Long is a four-year letterwinner at midfield for Bishop Kelly High School and served as team captain on the 2010 Knights' squad that went undefeated and earned the state championship, with Long being named SIC Player of the Year. She received all-conference recognition all four years at Bishop Kelly and her team won the conference championship and participated in the state tournament each year. Long is also a member of the FC Nova club team.

 

“I love Becca's tenacity and physical play, whether in the midfield or on the backline,” Landy sad. “She has the chance to play a variety of roles for us next year. Becca is an excellent defender, but also makes good choices with the ball and distributes well from either the back or the center of the park. I know she will come right in and push our returning group in both positions because she is both tenacious and athletic.”

 

Scott attended Eastern Washington University before transferring to Concordia. In high school she received all-conference recognition all four years at Milwaukie High School, including first-team honors each of the past three seasons. She was a three-time team MVP at midfield/forward for the Mustangs and was named second-team all-state in 2010. She also lettered in track and field all four years at Milwaukie, participating in the state competition in the triple jump her junior and senior years. Scott played for THUSC Neon at the club level, helping the team, to a 2010 Oregon State Cup U-18 Championship.

 

“It has been great having Hannah on campus this semester, as she is getting to know the players and getting comfortable with our program,” Landy said. “She has a tremendous amount of potential, is very athletic and is really quick and powerful, especially over the first 10-15 yards. Her pace and ability to score goals will help us immediately up front or on the flank.”

 

Landy's team reached No. 1 in the NAIA poll for the first time in school history in 2010 as the team earned its 11th-straight Cascade Collegiate Conference championship and finished the regular season undefeated before falling to Hastings in the NAIA championships. With four seniors graduating, the CU coach is excited for the potential of next year's team.

 

“This is a hard-working, mature and athletic recruiting class,” Landy said. “We have an experienced and focused returning team eager to bring this group in and get everyone on the same page. On paper, I like our mixture of talent from back to front. Our challenge, as always, will be to make it all work as we try and secure our 12th straight conference title and make a run on the national stage.”