Feb. 20, 2007
George Mason women's soccer coach Diane Drake has announced the signing of five players to National Letters-of-Intent to compete in the fall of 2007 as well as the enrollment of a transfer student who will compete beginning this spring. The class will augment a current group of players that loses just one student-athlete to graduation and returns all 11 of the regular starters.
"This class will add some speed on the front and back lines," said Drake. "They will add a lot of attacking options. I am excited about their work ethic, personalities and courage."
The five signees are Capricia Alston of Santa Rosa, Calif., Lina Carollo of Delran, N.J., Danitte Fisher of Fairfax, Va., Kimmy Moss of South Riding, Va., and Caitlin Ward of Clifton, Va. Stephanie Hair of Gainesville, Va. joins the group after transferring from Duquesne.
Alston is a central midfielder who played for the Santa Rosa United, which won the Northern California State Cup Championship in 2005. Her team also was the 2006 Thanksgiving Surf Cup and Super Y League Champions and a National Championship Finalist in 2004. She currently attends Montgomery High School, a team that finished 2003 ranked #1 in the nation and 2004 ranked #2.
"Capricia has a tremendous defensive presence and a great read on the game with good foot skills," said Drake. "She will likely distribute as a holding midfielder for us or possibly at right central midfield. We are very excited to pick up yet another impressive California player into our program."
Carollo is a forward/outside midfielder who is a starting member of the PA Strikers. She currently attends Bishop Eustace Prep and is a first-team All-Olympic Conference pick and second-team All-Parochial N.J. selection. In 2004, she received the N.J. Coaches Award and she was a member of the 2003 U.S. Region I Olympic Development Team.
"Lina is a very courageous, deceptively fast, attacking personality who I believe will instantly provide something we need," said Drake. "She'll provide the pace and courage to run behind defensive lines."
Fisher, a midfield/forward, has led Vista United Soccer Club in points in multiple seasons. A student at Robinson High School, she received Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention as a junior and was first-team All-District and second-team All-Region.
"Danitte has a very unique flare to her game that will immediately separate her in this class," said Drake. "She has good feet and vision accompanied with the courage and pace to instantly ignite our attack."
Moss is an outside defender who leads the BRYC Fury, the six-time state champion club soccer team. She attends Broad Run where she was chosen Washington Post First-Team All-Met and First-Team All-State. As a junior, she was awarded District Player of the Year. Moss was also a former member of the Region I Olympic Development Team.
"Kimmy will be a tremendous influence on an already competitive team," said Drake. "Her commitment to excellence is evident in every facet of her life. She embodies our team vision, and has the tools to back her commitment on the field. I am very excited about adding her energy to our team."
Ward is a defender and captain for the Vista United. A teammate of Fisher, she currently attends Lake Braddock, where she started for their 2006 AAA State Championship Team and is a four-year scholar-athlete. Lake Braddock is the alma mater of current Patriots L.J. Williams and Leslie Cabe. Ward comes from an athletic family of competitive swimmers and field hockey players and she was a two-time captain of the Lake Braddock field hockey team.
"Caitlin understands what competition and athletics are all about," said Drake. "She will work very hard to earn minutes on this team. I believe every team needs an engine like Caitlin to be successful."
Hair comes to Mason after playing at Duquesne this past fall. A defender, she played in 11 games with four starts for the Dukes. She played left back for the 2006 PWSI Cardinals State Championship team where she was a teammate of Cabe and current Patriot Patti Benner. A graduate of Battlefield High School, she spent her freshman and sophomore years at Brentsville High School where they won the 2003 Virginia A High School Championship. She was also a Washington Post-First-Team All-Met player while in high school.
"Stephanie is a great ball winner with quick feet and great anticipation in picking the ball off offensive players," said Drake. "She is a pure left-sided player and will provide us immediate help on that side of the pitch in the back line."
