TicketsFeb. 7, 2008
CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team has signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in head coach Michelle Salmon's first recruiting class at UC. Newport Central Catholic goalkeeper April Gibson (Ft. Thomas, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) highlights the six-member class.
"We're delighted to add these five exceptional student-athletes to our Bearcat family," said Salmon, who was hired on Jan. 10. "They are all great soccer players and will be instrumental in our championship approach as we begin our quest for our first BIG EAST Championship."
Gibson, a 5-7 goalkeeper, was a four-year all-conference and all-region selection as a prep. She was named first-team all-state as a sophomore, junior and senior and holds a Newport Central Catholic school record with 45 shutouts. A member of the state championship club Ohio Elite, Gibson was a Kentucky state Olympic Development Program player from 2003-2006.
Erin Kaufman (Wayland, Mass./Wayland), a 5-8 defender, was a two-time all-conference selection and conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman in high school. A two-time state champion with the FC Greater Boston Bolts club team, Kaufman won a Region One Championship in 2006 and US Club Soccer Region A Championship in 2005.
A 5-4 midfielder/defender, Lauren Lucas (Levittown, N.Y./St. Anthony's) captained her high school team to a 20-0-0 record and a No. 14 NSCAA/adidas National ranking as a senior. She won league championships each of her four years and won a pair of state titles. Lucas was a member of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program team for three years and won state cup championship with her club team, the Albertson Fury.
Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass./Tabor Academy), a 5-7central midfieler, was a two-time all-state and all-New England selection as well as a three-time team MVP at Tabor Academy. She helped the team to a pair of New England Class B championships and did not lose a match until her senior season. A member of Massachusetts Olympic Development Program state team for three years, Morrissey was an ODP regional pool player for two seasons.
A 5-4 defender, Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) won a pair of conference and regional championships and earned two all-conference, all-section and all-region selections. On the club circuit, she won seven state championships with the Chicago Magic and was part of Super Y-League national champion teams in 2005 and 2006. Pawelko was a member of the Illinois Olympic Development Program team for two years.
April Gibson 5-7 GK Ft. Thomas, Ky. Newport Central Catholic High School
Four-year all-conference and all-region selection at Newport Central Catholic High School ... first-team all-state selection as a sophomore, junior and senior ... holds school record with 45 shutouts, which ranks fifth in Kentucky High School history ... selected to the Kentucky Enquirer All-Star Team as a sophomore, junior and senior ... a member of the Kentucky Post All-Star Team as a freshman and sophomore ... won state club championship with Ohio Elite in 2007 ... member of Kentucky state Olympic Development Program from 2003-2006 ... regional II ODP participant in 2005 ... invited to prestigious Nike Premier 50 camp ... born April 8, 1990 ... daughter of Grady and Suzanne Gibson ... plans to major in pre-medicine.
Erin Kaufman 5-8 D Wayland, Mass. Wayland High School
Two-time all-conference selection at Wayland High School ... named conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman ... won the team's Unsung Hero award as a junior ... led the squad in scoring as a freshman and sophomore ... two-time state champion with FC Greater Boston Bolts club team ... won Region One championship in 2006 and US Club Soccer Region A championship in 2005 ... born May 22, 1990 ... daughter of Ronald and Michelle Kaufman ... plans to major in physical therapy.
Lauren Lucas 5-4 MF/D Levittown, N.Y. St. Anthony's High School
Captain of her St. Anthony's High School squad as a senior ... led team to a 20-0-0 record and a No. 14 NSCAA/adidas National ranking ... won league championships each of her four years and won a pair of state championships ... a member of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program team for three years ... won state cup championship with club team, Albertson Fury ... won a pair of state cup championships with East Meadows Dynamite club team and advanced to the regional finals in 2004 ... named a "Player to be Watched" by Top Drawer Soccer ... born March 10, 1990 ... daughter of George and Josephine Lucas ... plans to major in education.
Julie Morrissey 5-7 MF Abington, Mass. Tabor Academy
Two-time all-state and all-New England selection ... three-time team MVP at Tabor Academy ... helped team to a pair of New England Class B championships ... part of a team that didn't lose a match until her senior season ... member of Massachusetts Olympic Development Program state team for three years ... ODP regional pool player for two seasons ... won state championships with U-15 and U-17 club teams ... born June 10, 1990 ... daughter of Mark and karen Morrissey ... intends to major in business.
Kelli Pawelko 5-4 D Lemont, Ill. Lemont High School
Won a pair of conference and regional championships at Lemont High School ... two-time all-conference, all-section and all-region selection ... team MVP as a junior ... offensive MVP as a freshman ... won seven state club championships with Chicago Magic ... Super Y-League national champions in 2005 and 2006 ... Illinois Olympic Development Program team member for two years ... born Oct. 2, 1989 ... daughter of Tom and Robyn Pawelko ... undecided on an academic major.