Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Women's Soccer Announces 2010 Recruiting Class
2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 12, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's soccer program announced its 2010 recruiting class, which features nine highly decorated high school women's soccer players.
"This class addresses a lot of our needs," head coach Tony da Luz said. "We lost seven very high quality players in our 2009 senior class. I think the biggest loss is in the front three with the loss of (Kaley) Fountain, (Jill) Hutchinson and (Allie) Sadow. There were a lot of goals, personality and leadership in those three players. We feel like we have some really good attacking players coming in to replace them.
"We also lost defensive players such as Caitlin Farrell, Bess Harrington, Laura Morse and Sarah Winslow that will be tough to replace," da Luz continued. "We've got some good players coming in. Cheyenne Biehl is already here. Jackie McSally, who can play in the back or in the midfield, has a defensive personality.
"We have a lot of really good players in this class," da Luz said. "It's a great follow up to the 2009 freshman class, who did really well. I think the class will be rated pretty highly."
Eight of the players will join the team this summer, while Cheyenne Biehl enrolled in school this spring and is currently practicing with the team. Along with Biehl, the recruiting class includes Aubrey Bledsoe, Chelsea DeLiberto, Jackie McSally, Rachel Nuzzolese, Courtney Owen, Lee Page, Katherine Stengel and Kelsey Zalimeni.
Bledsoe, Nuzzolese and Stengel each have experience with U.S. Youth National Teams. Bledsoe and Stengel have each seen time with the U-18 team, while Nuzzolese has been a part of the U-15, U-17 and U-18 teams. All three players were recently selected to be on the U-18 team at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain.
Wake Forest enjoyed the most successful season in program history in 2009, finishing the year with a 16-6-2 record and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
Cheyenne Biehl - D - 5-9 - Mesa, Ariz. - Red Mountain HS
Entered Wake Forest a semester early and is currently practicing with the team ... Member of Sereno Soccer Club, which has won seven consecutive Arizona state championships ... Played on the Arizona '91 ODP team ... Named to the Honor Roll from 2006-10 ... Born on October 6, 1991 ... Daughter of Mike and Cheryl Dils.
Da Luz on Biehl: "Cheyenne has a great personality. She's very vocal on the field and very eager to learn. She has a great work ethic. She's very good in the air and a tough physical player. Having her here in the spring will give her a great starting point going into the fall."
Aubrey Bledsoe - GK - 5-9 - Cincinnati, Ohio - St. Ursula Academy
Three-year letterwinner at St. Ursula Academy ... Participated in U-18 WNT training camp in early 2010 and was recently selected to be on the U-18 team at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain ... Member of high school state championship team in 2007 and 2008 ... High school team has posted a 58-3-5 over the last three seasons ... Allowed just one goal in past two years of postseason play (12 games) ... Earned All-State honors in 2009 and was an All-Conference choice in 2008 and 2009 ... Named to the ESPN Rise All-Area team and the Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star team ... Played in 2009 southwest Ohio district All-Star game ... Won the 2005 Ohio South State Cup with Cardinal Soccer Club ... Played with Kings Soccer Academy, which was a finalist at the 2009 Kentucky State Cup ... Also earned three letters on the school's basketball team ... High school teammate of current Deac, Ally Berry ... Member of National Honor Society ... Born on November 20, 1991 ... Daughter of Paul and Char Bledsoe ... Twin sister, Amber, is also a goalkeeper and will play at Brown University in 2010.
Da Luz on Bledsoe: "Aubrey is developing very quickly. She was recently invited into the U-18 national team camp and is going to Spain with the national team, so she obviously made a great impression. She has great physical tools and is a very athletic goalkeeper, who I think is going to keep developing."
Chelsea DeLiberto - M - 5-7 - Wilmington, N.C. - Hoggard High School
Four-year letterwinner at Hoggard High School ... Earned All-Region honors in 2008 and 2009 and was named to the All-Conference team in 2007 ... Attended adidas ESP camp in 2008 ... Selected to play in the East/West All-Star Game in 2008 and 2009 ... Member of Cape Fear '90 and Cape Fear '91 Premier Team ... Also earned three varsity letters in cross country, where she was a three-time All-Conference selection ... Member of National Honor Society ... Born on June 27, 1992 ... Daughter of Debby and Joseph DeLiberto.
Da Luz on DeLiberto: "Chelsea is a very good athlete. She's a left-footed player. She's very good at attacking 1v1 and getting crosses in. I think she has the work ethic and the desire to really excel her. She definitely has the athletic tools to be successful. I think she has great potential to help us down the road."
Jackie McSally - D/M - 5-4 - Monroe, Conn. - Masuk High School
Four-year letterwinner at Masuk High School ... Helped high school team to four conference championship and two appearances in the state semifinals ... Named All-State and All-Conference following sophomore and junior seasons ... Earned team MVP honors after junior campaign ... Received NSCAA/adidas All-Region team accolades after sophomore year ... Named to CGSCA All-New England team after junior year ... Earned Connecticut Post All-Area team recognition after sophomore and junior seasons ... Also earned one varsity letter in basketball ... Member of National Honor Society ... Born on March 4, 1992 ... Daughter of Sheree and Richard McSally.
Da Luz on McSally: "Jackie is a super versatile and technical midfielder. She can also play in the back. She's very composed. I think she's the same type of player as Amy Smerdzinski. She's a very smart player with a lot of vision and instincts for the game. She'll fit in really well."
Rachel Nuzzolese - F - 5-8 - Melville, N.Y. - Saint Anthony's High School
Has seen extensive time with the U.S. Youth National Teams, playing with the U-15, U-17 and U-18 teams ... Scored a hat trick for the U.S. at U-17 World Cup Qualifications in Trinidad ... Recently selected to be on the U-18 team at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain ... Scored 41 goals for St. Anthony's High School during sophomore season, helping the team to a 19-0 record ... Named to All-Long Island, All-State and All-Metro teams ... Earned NSCAA All-Region team honors ... Named a 2009 Parade All-American ... Club team, the Rockville Centre Tornadoes, was the Region 1 premier champions 2007-09 and was a finalist for the Eastern New York State Cup in 2007 and 2008 ... Participated in the Olympic Development Program from 2003-09 ... Member of National Honor Society ... Born on April 8, 1992 ... Daughter of Joyce and Michael Nuzzolese ... Father played football at the University of Louisville.
Da Luz on Nuzzolese: "Rachel is a great attacking player. She's a great passer and is able to set other players up. She can score and shoot with both feet. She's lethal on dead balls. Rachel holds the ball under pressure really well. She has a great soccer brain. We're really fortunate to be able to add her to the class."
Courtney Owen - M - 5-4 - Annandale, Va. - W.T. Woodson High School
Three-year letterwinner at W.T. Woodson High School ... Has started on varsity team since freshman year and became a team captain in her junior season ... Named second team All-District in 2008 and honorable mention All-District in 2009 ... Five-year team captain and starting midfielder for club team, Vista Shockwave ... Helped club team to Virginia State Cup championship in 2006 and 2008 and semifinal appearances in 2007 and 2009 ... Also, a member of the U20 Super-Y Washington Freedom in 2009 ... Also plays basketball at W.T. Woodson ... Member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society ... Born on November 21, 1991 ... Daughter of Jack and Amy Owen.
Da Luz on Owen: "Courtney is a hard worker. You know what you're going to get from her. She buzzes around the midfield and is always fit and conscientious about being prepared for each game. I think we'll use her as a utility player and figure out where she's going to be."
Lee Page - F/M - 5-4 - Waxhaw, N.C. - Weddington High School
Three-year letterwinner at Weddington High School ... Earned All-State honors in 2008 and 2009 ... Also named All-Region and All-Conference in 2008 and 2009 ... Named Team MVP in 2008 and 2009 ... Scored 34 goals and 26 assists during first three years of high school, including 20 goals and 11 assists in sophomore year ... Has also earned one varsity letter in basketball ... Born on February 23, 1992 ... Daughter of Sam and Claiborne Page.
Da Luz on Page: "Lee is a versatile player that can play up front or as an attacking midfield. She has a great shot with both feet. She has very good instincts for the game and holds the ball well under pressure."
Katie Stengel - F - 5-8 - West Melbourne, Fla. - Viera High School
Four-year letterwinner at Viera High School ... Recently selected to be on the U-18 team at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain ... Named Florida 4A Player of the Year and was a runner for the Gatorade Player of the Year award ... Earned All-Space Coast Team honors three times ... Led team in scoring all four years of high school, scoring 170 goals and 51 assists in 72 games played ... Posted 15 hat tricks in high school, three games with six goals and one game with eight goals ... Led the country in scoring and points per game in three seasons ...Valedictorian of senior class and member of National Honor Society ... Born on February 29, 1992 ... Daughter of Scott Stengel.
Da Luz on Stengel: "Katie is a very balanced forward. She holds the ball extremely well under pressure. She's a big, strong forward who can dish it out. She works hard to pressure defenders. She's good in the air and a great finisher around the box. She also has really good instincts for the game. Katie is a player that keeps working hard to improve all the time. I think she'll have a great career here."
Kelsey Zalimeni - D - 5-7 - Mebane, N.C. - Durham Academy
Played first two years of high school at Western Alamance HS, before transferring to Durham Academy for junior and senior seasons ... Named to All-State, All-Region and All-Conference team ... Member of North Carolina Olympic Development Program '91 team from 2005-08 ... Club team, Triangle FC, was state champions in 2008 and semifinalists at Region III regionals in 2009 ... Member of back-to-back national championship team with Super-Y U20 league team ... Named a Scholar All-American in 2009 and member of National Honor Society ... Born on December 27, 1991 ... Daughter of Laura Daughtry and Bob Zalimeni.
Da Luz on Zalimeni: "Kelsey is a left-footed player that can play in the midfield or in the back. She hits great long balls and has great composure under pressure. She really wants to learn. She's going to be playing somewhere. I think in the future she'll be a really good player for us."
