TicketsApril 29, 2008
CINCINNATI - First-year University of Cincinnati women's soccer coach Michelle Salmon has added three student-athletes to her first recruiting class. Deja Amato (Warren, OH/Howland),Aimee Bux (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) and Kay Young (Doylestown, OH/Chippewa) join the Bearcats for the 2008 season, strengthening the five-member class signed in early February.
"We are extremely excited to be adding these three outstanding student-athletes to our UC family," said Salmon. "We look forward to their contributions as we embark on our reawakening of Bearcats women's soccer."
Amato, a 5-7 defender from Howland High School, was a two-time district player of the year and a two-time NSCAA/adidas all-region selection. A three-time all-conference player, she was named to the all-Ohio team as a junior and senior and led the Tigers to three conference titles and a district championship as a junior. Amato was a member of the Great Lakes Divisional Olympic Development Program (ODP) team in 2005 and spent four seasons as a member of the Ohio North ODP state team. She won two Midwest Regional championships and a pair of state cups in club competition.
A 5-1 defender, Bux was a four-year starter at Owen J. Roberts High School, leading the Wildcats to four conference championships and a state runner-up finish as a sophomore. An accomplished club player, Bux has been a part of four state championships and a six-year member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) ODP team, where she was coached by current UC assistant Chris Kouns. A ODP Region I team member for four seasons where she played for Salmon, she helped the ODP squad to a 2007 national championship and played in the 2006 U-17 International Tournament in England as well as two prestigious Boca inter-regional tournaments.
Young, a 5-7 defender/midfielder, led Chippewa High School to a 69-4-4 record, four conference championships and a pair of regional titles during her prep career. A 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-American as a senior, Young totaled 57 goals and 46 assists, was a three-time all-Ohio selection, earned a pair of district player of the year awards and was named the Daily Record and Trading Post Player of the Year in 2007. She won the 2004 Super Y-League national championship with her club team, the Cleveland Internationals and won state cup titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The trio joins April Gibson (Ft. Thomas, KY/Newport Central Catholic), Erin Kaufman (Wayland, MA/Wayland), Lauren Lucas (Levittown, NY/St. Anthony's), Julie Morrisey (Abington, MA/Tabor Academy) and Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, IL/Lemont) as the newest members of the Bearcat women's soccer family.