Feb. 25, 2009
Four transfer students and a pair of early-enrolling freshmen have joined the George Mason women's soccer team and will compete for the Patriots in the 2009 spring season. The newcomers include two freshmen transfers, a sophomore transfer, two freshmen who have entered Mason early and a junior transfer who was an NAIA All-American.
Katie Frey and Carissa Parker are the freshmen who come to Mason with no collegiate experience. Frey, a goalkeeper, graduated from Conestoga High School in Wayne, Pa., and she played for FC Delco. She was named Conestoga High Player of the Year while posting 20 shutouts in net. In 26 games she allowed just seven goals. She was also on the Super Y League Regional Team. Katie also played on the Philadelphia Liberty W league team in the summer of 2008 and was named the WPSL player of the week in July. In the summer of 2008, her FC Delco U19 team won the Region I Snickers Regional Championship and were finalist in the National Tournament.
"Katie dominates her six-box extraordinarily well and will make big time saves because of her size and presence," said Mason head coach Diane Drake. "She also organizes her backs very well and will immediately contribute minutes for us."
Parker, a forward and a wide midfielder, comes to Mason from Northern Virginia Community College. She played at Hylton High School and she is from Woodbridge, Va. Parker scored 48 goals before fracturing her leg, leaving her sidelined as a senior. While at Hylton, she was a team MVP, first team All-District and All-Region and she was Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention. She started for the Stafford Eagles club team and played four years on the Olympic Development Program's (ODP) Virginia State team. She was also selected to an ODP U16 national camp.
"Parker has so much potential," Drake said. "She is coming to us after spending a year off with a broken tibia and fibula. She is feisty and determined and a finisher."
Pattra Bo Visavakul transferred to Mason from the Naval Academy. An outside back, she played for Westfield H.S. for four years and she earned All-District and All-Region honors. She was a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention. Visavakul also played for the McClean Freedom Elite and her team won the State Cup in both 2006 and 2008.
"Bo is gritty, with a strong defensive presence, "Drake said. "She is developing a quicker speed of play. Bo will sit out the fall due to NCAA transfer rules, and will spend time developing her game savvy during this time."
Ashley Mims transfers to Mason after two years at Radford University. She was a Dean's List student there. Prior to that, she attended Forest Park High School where she was first-team All-Region, All-District and All-Area and she was a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention.
"Ashley is tough and technical with an eye for connecting the right pass," Drake said. "As she gains comfort, Ashley will be a fantastic addition to the program."
Finally, junior Omolyn Davis, a native of Kingston, Jamaica and a transfer from Lindsey Wilson College, will begin playing for the Patriots in the fall of 2009. A starting player on the Jamaican Senior National team, Davis was also an NAIA All-American. She competed in the Pan-American Games in Brazil and she played for the WPSL FC Indiana National Champions. She has also competed international in the U20 World Cup. Davis, who has been enrolled at Mason since fall of 2008, is majoring in sports management.
"Davis is a special player," Drake said. "She has the ability to penetrate, and to thread a final pass to a teammate," Drake said. "What makes her so unique is her skill on the ball. We often joke that she can be in a phone booth with 10 opponents, and come out with the ball. She is exactly what our team has been missing. She will run at opponents and tear them down. I am just thrilled to have a player of her world class quality in our program."
