FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason head coach Todd Bramble announced on Friday the addition of nine new student-athletes that have signed their letters of intent to join the Patriots for the fall of 2017.
Head Coach Todd Bramble on the group:
"This class is big in both size and ability, Bramble said. "The unusually large number of players will create a sense of urgency and competition for positions that has not existed in our program recently. There are an impressive variety of talents included in this group across all positions. The championship pedigree of this group stands out as well as most of these players have raised trophies for their respective high schools and/or club teams recently. Most importantly, this is a collection of high character young ladies who will have high expectations for what they will accomplish in the classroom and the community in their time at George Mason."
Jisca Adigo | Woodrow Wilson Senior High School | ABGC Annandale FC, Virginia | Washington, D.C.
Adigo, a 5-6 forward, will add an offensive flair to the Mason lineup after being named Offensive MVP in 2015 and 2016 and Second-Team All-Met while playing for the Tigers in 2016.
"Jisca is a diamond in the rough who will be a force to be reckoned with once she adjusts to the college game," said Bramble. "She has a tremendous amount of pure speed and has a great feel for the game. She is a skilled finisher in one-on-one situations and can create chances for her teammates as well."
To compliment her on-field accomplishments, Adigo was an Honor Roll recipient four years in a row.
"I chose Mason because the campus was so beautiful and it felt like the perfect place for me," Adigo said. "I also really liked the coaches and the team and I saw myself playing there."
"Jisca is a great athlete with excellent speed. She has the ability to stretch the defense on attack and on the defensive side of the ball puts opponents under tremendous pressure with her closing speed". Ann Germain – Annandale Club Coach
Magdalena Bellinger | Stafford High School | Prince William Soccer Association | Fredericksburg, Va.
Bellinger, a 5-8 defender, was named All-Conference three times while playing for the Indians. She was also tabbed to attend the Super Y National ODP Camp and was named one of Potomac Soccer Wire's Best 11 Players for Aug. 2015.
"Magdalena is a prototypical central defender who has good size, speed and the physical and mental toughness for the position," Bramble said. "She is comfortable on the ball in possession and can open teams up by hitting quality long passes as well."
Off the field, Bellinger received the Summa Cum Laude her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She earned the AP Scholar Award, Distinguished Honors Award and was a member of the National Honor Society.
"I chose Mason because it was the best fit for me and offered me the best environment for both academics and soccer," Bellinger said. "Mason provides me with the opportunities I want to pursue and gives me a foundation to thrive in."
"Maggie Bellinger is a dedicated player with a great work ethic. She's an excellent individual defender, an excellent tackler and adds an element of toughness that's valuable to any side". Adam Soos – PWSI Club Coach
Kayla Hamric | Battlefield High School | Loudon Soccer Club/Annandale Soccer Club | Haymarket, Va.
Hamric, a 5-5 midfielder/forward, was part of Battlefield High School's three consecutive Virginia State Championship teams (2014, 2015 and 2016). She was a First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Conference selection and named All-Conference Player of the Year.
"Kayla is an extremely fit, creative attacking midfielder who is equally adept at scoring goals as setting up her teammates," said Bramble. "She has an incredible work rate, great vision and can strike the ball well with both feet."
Hamric also earned the honor of being selected Battlefield's Most Valuable Player.
"I chose Mason because it is the only place that feels like home to me," Hamric said. "It is a perfect fit with outstanding academics and athletics."
"Kayla is a superbly technically, talented player. She is a versatile player with a very impressive skill set. She will play great penetrating balls, but can also penetrate with the ball on her foot. She can also challenge the goalkeeper from 35 yards as a great ball striker, while still willing to do the dirty, defensive work as well." Kevin Hilton – Battlefield HS Coach
Sophie Karas | Battlefield High School | Herndon United | Haymarket, Va.
Karas, a 5-4 defender, joins the Patriots after helping the Battlefield Bobcats to three consecutive Virginia State Championships (2014, 2015 and 2016), while earning three All-Conference selections during her high school career.
"Sophie is a speedy, attacking-minded outside back with a tireless work rate," said Bramble. "She has the range to play end-line to end-line while being a good one-on-one defender and serving quality crosses into the penalty area on attack."
Karas's club team, Herdon United, finished the season as 2016 Bethesda Champions and won the 2016 Disney Championship.
"I chose George Mason because Mason has a Women's Soccer National championship and I want to help get another," Karas said.
"Sophie is a tenacious one-on-one defender, who loves to get forward out of the back. Her work ethic is exceptional and her passion for the game is infectious." Kevin Hilton - Battlefield HS Coach
Emma Lee | Battlefield High School | McLean Youth Soccer – ECNL | Haymarket, Va.
Lee, a 5-9 midfielder, will join Mason after helping Battlefield High School to three straight Virginia State Championships from 2014 through 2016. She was named to VYSA State and District teams four years and was a member of the Virginia Soccer Association club that captured a VYSA Virginia State Cup Championship.
"Emma is a tall left-footed attacking midfielder who is comfortable playing in the middle or out wide," Bramble said. "Her game has really started to take off in the past several months and she is a player who we feel has untapped potential."
Lee was also a member of the USYSA Region 1 League Championship team and U.S. Soccer Club National and Regional Championship teams.
Lee plans to study sports business management.
"We chose George Mason after meeting coach Bramble, coach Vandeveer, and coach Thomson. They spoke to us about the goals for the George Mason women's soccer program and their personal goals for the both of us," Lee said. "We got to meet the team and did some research into the history of the Mason women's program (their National Championships and NCAA appearances). We also got to meet Mason Athletic Director, Mr. Brad Edwards, who spoke about his goals and plans for the George Mason women's soccer program and the university's sports facilities."
"Emma has the ability to calm the game down in the middle of the field. She can be a ball-winner and a quality distributor of the ball. She is a very strong technical player who has grown exponentially as an all-around player over the last four years." Kevin Hilton – Battlefield High School Coach
Shannon Lee | Battlefield High School | McLean Youth Soccer – ECNL | Haymarket, Va.
Lee, a 5-9 defender, played on three Virginia State Championship teams for Battlefield High School from 2014 through 2016 and was named All-Conference First Team three times. The defender was also a key part of her VYSA Virginia State Cup Championship team and USYSA Region 1 League Championship club.
"Shannon is a tenacious backline player who has all the tools to be a great player," said Bramble. "She can play with both feet, is fast, good in the air and strong in the tackle. Most importantly, she is a vocal leader on the field who we expect will make an immediate impact on our program."
As a member of her U.S. Soccer club, Lee was a Regional and National Champion. She was also a member of the varsity cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams, earning All-Conference accolades three times (2014, 2015 and 2016). In addition to her on-field achievements, Lee excelled in the classroom as a three-time Honor Roll recipient.
"George Mason is a perfect fit for our academic and athletic futures," Lee, who is looking to play professionally after graduation, said. "Emma and I are very excited to continue playing together in college. We have been teammates since the age of three. We are also happy that we are staying close to home and having the chance to continue playing with our high school teammates Sophie Karas and Kayla Hamric. We are also excited to be playing with our former high school teammate Becca Callison."
"Shannon is an absolute lock down defender, who is a ball-winning machine. She is a very strong player in the air, can cover a great amount of ground with her pace, and she is a tremendous vocal leader andorganizer in the back". Kevin Hilton – Battlefield High School Coach
Amanda Nhek | Patriot High School | VSA/FCV - ECNL | Gainsville, Va.
Nhek, a 5-4 forward/midfielder, was named Spring All-Met Second-Team, All-Region 6A Second-Team and Conference 8 First-Team while playing for Patriot High School during the 2016 season. Nhek participated in the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Soccer Team domestic training camp and was among the Class of 2017 Mid-Atlantic rankings Players to Watch by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
"Amanda is a finisher with an extremely high soccer IQ," Bramble said. "She has a tremendous feel for the game around her and possesses natural instincts that can't be coached. She is a tremendous player in and around the penalty area with both her head and her feet."
Off the field, Nhek has been a member of the National Honor Society three times.
"I chose George Mason because I was given the opportunity to play collegiate soccer and attend a school with a great academic program," Nhek said.
"Amanda is a hardworking player determined to bring her best to every practice and game. She is a relentless athlete and a competitive player. She is a natural leader by example. Her mentality is team first and will do anything needed for the team. I am honored to have coached her and looking forward to watching her thrive at GMU". Kelly Beauchamp-Payne - Patriot High School Coach
Olivia Reese | Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy H.S. | Weston FC - ECNL | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Reese, a 5-6 defender, comes to Mason after being named All-Broward Soccer 5A-4A First-Team and All-Broward 5A-4A Honorable Mention in 2016 while playing for the Mavericks.
"Olivia has the talent and versatility to compete for playing time in a number of different positions," said Bramble. "She has innate leadership qualities and with her combination of technical ability, athletic ability and reading the game. She could factor in anywhere in the midfield or on our back line."
In the classroom, Reese was a member of the National Honors Society, National Social Studies Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and National Science Honor Society.
"I decided to commit to George Mason University because I will be challenged both on and off the field," Reese said. "Also, their kindhearted ways showed me what it really means to be a part of the Patriot Family."
"I have known and coached Olivia for over ten years and can honestly say she has given me new definitions for dedication and work ethic. Olivia's coaches and teammates at George Mason will soon find out that not only did they gain a tremendous player, they gained a friend that will truly care about them." Mike Sica - Coach at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School
Alexis Weeren | Chantilly High School | Southwestern Youth Association | Chantilly, Va.
Weeren, a 5-7 midfielder, comes to Mason after playing at Chantilly High School, where she was a National Honors Society Athlete and Honor Roll recipient. Weeren played for coach Gary Malebranche with the Southwestern Youth Association Soccer Club that finished second in the 2017 Disney Tournament in Orlando, Fla.
"Alexis is a ball-winning defensive midfield player who can cover a lot of ground in central midfield," Bramble said. "She can really make life difficult for her opponents with her closing speed and tough tackling. She's also very responsible with the ball in possession."
While playing for the Chargers, the midfielder also received the Character Award.
"After going on my visit I knew I wanted to attend George Mason," Weeren said. "It's a great school with a great soccer program."
"Alexis is a player with a passion for the game. She will be an energetic presence in the midfield that disrupts the opposition attack and distributes the ball well." – Gary Malebranche, Coach at SYA
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