CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Entering his fourth year head coach Paul Vasconcelos brings in another strong recruiting class to help Lesley defend its 2009 New England Collegiate Conference Championship.
Vasconcelos brings in eight recruits for preseason that will start in just a couple of weeks. The Lynx graduated three All-conference players (Folkestad, Fralick and Lowe) and had holes to fill in coming off a 15-5-1 season in 2009, that saw them win their first ever NECC Championship. The Lynx are looking to make their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2010.
Goalkeepers
Victoria Ellis from Laguna Beach, CA - Started her senior year at Laguna Beach where she was an all conference honorable mention in one of the top leagues in Southern California.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Victoria is a high character kid who works her tail off to get better, she is a great student-athlete and proven leader. We feel she will be a great fit here at Lesley."
Defenders
Taylor Smith from Sandy Hook, CT - A four year starter at Newtown where she was captain her senior year and selected to the All-Colonial Team. Smith played her club ball at CFC and comes in with State ODP experience.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Taylor comes to us from a great club program, where she played and trained with some excellent players. She is a good athlete with a great attitude and work ethic."
Casey Decareau from Haverhill, Mass. - Decareau joins Lesley after playing four years at Georgetown where she was a two-time Cape Anne All-star and Daily News Player of the Year. She also led the Royals to the Div III North Section final. She played her club ball at New England Aztecs under Mike Kersker.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Casey is a really smart player who communicates very well out of the back. She is a great soccer athlete that is capable of playing anywhere on the field, we are expecting big things from her."
Jaquelyn "Jackee" Sanchez from Fair Oaks Ranch, CA - Sanchez was a much sought after left sided player who played her club ball under Ted Chronopoulos at LAFC. She was a 1st team Foothill League and 2nd team Santa Clara Valley selection at Golden Valley High School.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Jackee was a big signing for us, she is athletic, smart and she can play every position on the outside. We are expecting her to come in and compete right away.
Midfielders
Hannah McGrath from Fairfield, CT - McGrath comes to Cambridge from Fairfield Warde High School where she was captain her senior year and played her club ball at Everton FC.
Coach Vasconcelos says:"Hannah chippy player with a real will to win. She has good technique, is a tidy player with an ability to play a killer pass."
Sarah Apgar from Andover, NJ. – Apgar was a four-year starter for Kat McPhail at Lenape Valley where she was a captain her senior year. She was also selected as an All-State honorable mention in 2008.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Sarah is a great soccer athlete and plays with a great work rate. She will give us some depth as she can play anywhere in the middle of the field."
Sarah Bassett from Clifton Park, NY - A quick midfielder, Bassett played her club ball at Clifton Park Premier and her high school ball at upstate New York powerhouse Shenendehowa where she was a 2nd team all-league selection.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Sarah played for a strong club program in New York and played against some good competition. She is a quick player with great skill, we think she will develop into a strong attacking midfielder."
Forwards
Veronica "Ronnie" Halen from Carlsbad, CA - Quick, sharp and versatile player who played her club ball under Jimmy Murphy at RSF Attack and high school ball for Dawn Lee at Cathedral Catholic where she was captain her senior year.
Coach Vasconcelos says: "Ronnie is going to come in and help us right away, she is a great kid who we fell in love with and comes from a great family. She has a great shot and is a technically sound player, we are very excited about her."