SALEM, Ore. – Corban University head women's soccer coach Likius Hafeni announced his 2017 recruiting class on Wednesday afternoon, naming 10 players that would be joining this year's Warrior team. In his first year as head coach, Hafeni guided the Warriors to a 12-6-1 overall record and a third-place finish in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) regular season.
"The class of 2017-18 will be a class that will help take our program to the next level," said Hafeni. "We intentionally recruited good technical and tactical players, and we looked at players that will allow us to play our dominant soccer philosophy. The players that we recruited this year are players that fit our philosophy and have been dominant in their schools and clubs. We are very excited and looking forward to a great season with the new recruits."
Monique Heiniger – 5' 8" – Goalkeeper – Manitou Springs HS – Colorado
Heiniger comes to play for the Warriors after a successful high school career in Colorado. While garnering All-State Second-Team plaudits, she led her team to the league title three times. On top of being a perennial All-League performer on the field, she collected Academic All-State plaudits as well.
Heiniger plans to major in Education at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Heiniger:
"Monique was the starting goalkeeper for her school for the last four years and was voted second team all-state last year. She is a good distributor of the ball and great with her feet. She is also very good at getting off her line and communicating with her defense."
Megan Harvey – 5' 4" – Defender – Boise HS – Idaho
Harvey joins Corban after a standout high school career that saw a lot of success, both as an individual, and on her varying teams. While being named to the All-State and All-Conference teams in 2016, she led her squad to the District runner-up finish. In 2015, her team won the District Championship and placed third overall at the State Tournament, and her high school team ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation.
Additionally, Harvey was selected to play on the FC NOVA Elite ECNL, and she led her club team to four state championships.
Harvey plans to major in Business Marketing. Hafeni had this to say about Harvey:
"Megan is very coachable, dedicated, and a versatile player. She is technical, fast, and is able to play multiple positions. She reads the game very well and gets involve in the attack as an outside back. She knows when to go forward, but also possess the physical skills to recover quickly. She is an All-Conference defender, All-State defender and was a co-captain in 2016. She is a three time state champion with three different clubs and was recently selected to play on the FC NOVA Elite ENCL team."
Emily Heaton – 5' 4" – Defender – Columbia HS – Clark CC – Washington
Heaton, a transfer from Clark CC, will look to come in and make an immediate impact with the Warriors. Hailing from Vancouver, she collected NWAC All-Region and All-Star honors in each of her two years playing at Clark CC. During her sophomore year, she led the team to the league title for the first time in program history. In high school, she led her team to the State Championship, scoring the game-winning goal during her sophomore year.
On top of those accomplishments, Heaton also competed for the Washington Timbers Women's semi-pro team, garnering Athlete of the Week honors while on the squad.
Heaton plans to major in Exercise Science at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Heaton:
"Emily is a transfer from Clark Community College. She was their best player and helped Clark to their first ever-South Region Women Soccer Championship. She is a center back that is fast, technical, and very good in the air. She is very smart and will help us play out of the back. Emily was NWAC All-Star in both 2015 and 2016, and she was nominated as the defensive player of the week for June while Playing for Washington Timbers in the Northwest Premier league."
Eve Ponce – 5' 5" – Midfielder – South Salem HS – Chemeketa CC – Oregon
Ponce joins the Warriors after a pair of years playing at Chemeketa CC. While Collecting NWAC All-Region and All-Star accolades at Chemeketa, she led her team in goal scoring both years. In 2016, she was named the team captain and collected MVP honors.
During her high school years, she led her team in scoring throughout her career, collecting All-Conference plaudits during her time at South Salem. During her senior year, she led her team to the quarterfinals in the State Tournament.
Ponce plans to major in Business at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Ponce:
"Eve was an NWAC All-Region and All-Star player in 2015 and 2016. She was the leading goal scorer for Chemeketa for both years and was captain of the team in 2016. She was also the MVP of her team 2016. Eve is technical and will help us keep the ball in the midfield. She is very smart with the ball and plays simple. She will bring leadership and maturity to our midfield."
Katie Hiller – 5' 5" – Midfielder – Century HS – Idaho
Hailing from Pocatello, Idaho, Hiller comes to Corban looking to make an impact in the midfield. In high school, Hiller garnered All-League First-Team honors. On top of soccer, she also played basketball, tennis, and ran on the track team. She led the basketball team to a pair of state championships while she was there as well.
Hiller plans to major in Math at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Hiller:
"Katie was a four-year varsity competitor in both soccer and basketball. She was the soccer All-Area First-Team midfielder during her senior year and was an All-Area Second Team forward her sophomore year. As an incoming freshman, she will bring enthusiasm, field vision, tenacity, motivation, hard work and encouragement. She is very strong on the ball and will help us possess the ball in the middle. She is an accurate passer of the ball and can deliver good balls to the forwards. Hiller is known as a "bulldozer and enforcer."
Hannah Hersh – 5' 5" – Defender – South Salem HS – Oregon
Hersh, a local talent, comes to Corban ready to compete for the Warriors right away. Hersh, a standout on the South Salem squad, also competed for Capital Futbol Club in Salem, serving as one of the team leaders. On top of soccer, she was a part of two State Championship basketball teams at South Salem.
Hafeni had this to say about Hersh:
"Hannah is from Salem, Oregon and graduated from South Salem High School. She is very versatile and can play in both the defense and the midfield. She is very reliable and she is very consistent wherever she plays on the field. I had an opportunity to coach her when she was very young, and she is pleasure to work with. She plays simple and is very smart on the ball. I am looking forward to working with her again at a collegiate level."
Jessica McCourt – 5' 8" – Defender – Lewis and Clark HS – Washington
McCourt competed on the Corban University women's golf team during her freshman year prior to joining the Warrior women's soccer team. Hafeni had this to say about McCourt:
"Jessica is an outside back that is physically tough and not scared to go in for tackles. She has a great vision on the field and is technically good on the ball. She is mentally tough and she never gives up on the field. She will help us in physical tough games and is someone we can count on when we have tough games. Jessica played for Corban's Women's golf last year and decided to switch to soccer this year."
Sage Johnson – 5' 3" – Defender – Lebanon HS – Oregon
Johnson joins the Warriors after a successful high school career. While serving as the team captain during the 2015-16 seasons at Lebanon, she collected First-Team All-League honors during her senior year, and was voted the team MVP during her junior and senior seasons. On top of soccer, Johnson also earned First-Team All-League accolades on the softball team.
Johnson plans to major in Psychology at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Johnson:
"Sage was Second-Team All-League in 2014-2015 and First-team All-League in 2016. She was also the Most Inspirational player in (2015), MVP (2015-2016), Best Defender and team captain in 2016. Her coach described her as the best team captain he has ever coached. She is very good at tackles and wins 50/50 balls. She is aggressive and is a quick learner. I am looking forward to working with Sage for the upcoming season."
Jada Tarnovsky – 5' 4" – Forward – Gresham HS – Oregon
Following a four-year varsity career at Gresham HS, Tarnovsky joins the Warriors for the 2017 season. While at Gresham, she collected All-League Honorable-Mention accolades on the soccer team, and she was a First-Team All-League award-winner on the Tennis squad.
Tarnovsky plans to major in Business Administration – Accounting at Corban. Hafeni had this to say about Tarnovsky:
"Jada is a graduate from Gresham High school. As a center forward, she is very good at holding the ball and she is a good passer of the ball. She will help us keep the ball up front and will also help us switching the point of attack. She was nominated as Mt Hood Conference All-League Honorable Mention at the forward position in 2016."
Heidi Fronk – 5' 4" – Defense – King's Way Christian HS – Washington
Fronk red-shirted the 2016 season at Corban due to injury, but returns to the Warrior squad in 2017. Hafeni had this to say about Fronk:
"Heidi red-shirted last year and will be a sophomore this year. She is probably one of the most technical and tactical players on the team. She reads the game very well and can play in defense or midfield. She is a great passer of the ball and is very good at switching the point of attack. She is very good at 1v1 defending and she will help us possess the ball and play out of the back. She is a great team player and I am looking forward to have her on the team again. We missed her last year and she will be a great addition to the team this year."