Feb. 8, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland women's soccer head coach Brian Pensky welcomes nine high school standouts from five different states to the Terrapin soccer program for the 2007 season as part of National Signing Day.

"This is an exciting time for our program," said Pensky. "We're adding talented players at every position, which will undoubtedly help our overall team depth. I am confident that this group will add greatly to the outstanding players that we already have within this program."

Coming to College Park to don the red and black will be midfielder Mallory Baker (Brick, N.J.), goalkeeper Wendy Balogun (Bowie, Md.), defender Alissa Bourne (Glenwood, Md.), midfielder Colleen Deegan (Centreville, Va.), forward Annesia Faulkner (Laurel, Md.), midfielder Caitlin McDowell (Plano, Texas), defender Olivia Onyeador (Loudon, Va.), forward Kylie Ricker (Bolton, Mass.) and midfielder Erika Theisen (Clarksville, Md.).

Mallory Baker (MF/F): A midfielder/forward from Brick Memorial High School in Brick, N.J. ... talented prospect that missed the 2006 season due to injury ... named team captain and offensive MVP as a junior in 2005 ... second team all-state selection ... first team all-shore ... two-time first team all-county and all-conference ... helped lead BMHS to Shore Conference championship and A South Championship ... offensive MVP as a sophomore, leading the Mustangs to their second-straight New Jersey Group 4 state championship ... played for the PDA Fury club team ... lead PDA Fury to the 2006 NJ State National Series championship and the 2006 Las Vegas College Showcase Tournament title ... two-time Region 1 champions ... a five-time member of the New Jersey state ODP team.

Pensky on Baker: "Mallory is an athletic, skillful, attacking-minded midfielder/forward. Mallory is an excellent passer and can strike the ball quite well. She has consistently been one of the top players on one of the best club teams in the country."

Wendy Balogun (GK): One of the nation's top goalkeeping recruits hailing from Roosevelt High School in Bowie, Md. ... currently participating (February 4-11) in the U20 National Camp in Carson, CA... U14-U17 U.S. women's national team pool selection for her age group ... two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American ... 2006 NSCAA/adidas High School All-American ... two-time Washington Post first team All-Met ... 2006 first team all-state after being a second-team honoree in 2005 ... three-time first team all-county ... two-time first team all-Examiner ... selected team captain as a senior ... helped lead the Raiders to the 2003 Maryland state 4A state championship ... member of the Maryland state ODP team and the Region 1 ODP team from 2002 to present ... selected for the 2005 US Youth Soccer ODP U17 adidas All-Star team ... four-year member of the National Honor Society ... four-year winner of a Minds-In-Motion Academic Award.

Pensky on Balogun: "Wendy is special. Her athletic and academic resumes speak for themselves. We certainly are happy to be getting a player like Wendy with such a rich background at the highest level. And Wendy is excited to be coming to Maryland; as she knows she will flourish quickly in our environment."

Alissa Bourne (MF/D): A tough, skilled defender from Glenelg High School in Glenwood, Md. ... two-time all-state selection ... two-time Baltimore Sun first team All-Metro ... The Gazette's 2006 Player of the Year ... helped lead the Gladiators to the 2A state championship, spearheading a defense that did not allow a goal throughout the playoffs ... named team MVP following her senior season ... team captain of TSC Lady Thunder club team ... lead the Lady Thunder to the state semifinals in each of the past five years after guiding it to the 2000 state finals ... member of the National Honor Society ... five-time winner of Glenelg's Scholar Athlete Award ... member of the honor roll in every quarter throughout her high school career.

Pensky on Bourne: "Alissa has been an accomplished two-sport athlete her entire life - playing both soccer and basketball. In addition to leading her high school soccer team to the state championship this fall, she has been the leading scorer on her high school basketball team. Alissa is a smart, skillful player - and we look forward to seeing her develop in this atmosphere."

Colleen Deegan (MF/D): A midfielder at Westfield High School, where she led the Bulldogs in scoring each of the past two seasons ... a four-year starter and a two-time team captain ... 2006 all-district honoree ... also competed in cross country, basketball and indoor track at Westfield ... a two-time qualifier for the state cross country meet ... played club soccer for the BRYC Fury and the SYA Freedom ... helped lead the Fury to the 2006 state championship, while leading the Freedom in goals and assists ... also an outstanding student in the classroom ... Summa Cum Laude all four years at Westfield ... named a National Merit quarterfinalist ... member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Business Honor Society and the Math Honor Society ... selected as Westfield's 2006 Varsity Scholar-Athlete of the Year for basketball and soccer.

Pensky on Deegan: "Colleen is really coming into her own as she has put herself in an excellent club environment. She has great size, can run all day, and will compete to play in several positions. Colleen's potential is tremendous - we're anxious to have her here and see her blossom."

Annesia Faulkner (F): A forward from St. Vincent Pallotti in Laurel, Md. ... selected to the NSCAA All-Region IV South team ... state nominee for the Gatorade national player of the year award ... state nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman ... named the 2006 Baltimore Sun player of the year after leading the Panthers to a No. 18 NSCAA national ranking ... scored 20 goals and added 18 assists in 2006 ... first team all-Met selection by the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post ... two-time player of the year by the Prince George's Gazette ... 2006 first team all-state ... three-time first team A conference all-IAAM ... first team all-Examiner by the Washington Examiner ... second team all-state as a junior in 2005 after scoring 23 goals ... second team Baltimore Sun all-Metro and honorable mention all-Met by the Washington Post ... three-time all-county honoree ... finished her career with 105 goals and 58 assists ... also a 1,000-point scorer for the Panther's basketball ... helped lead St. Vincent Pallotti to the 2006 IAAM B conference championship ... a two-time first team B conference all-IAAM ... named the 2006 basketball MVP ... member of the National Honor Society.

Pensky on Faulkner: "Annesia has been a dual-sport athlete throughout high school. Annesia is a tenacious, hard-working forward who just finds ways to score goals. Her mentality is going to help her succeed at this level. Annesia's best days are certainly ahead of her."

Caitlin McDowell (MF): A midfielder from Plano West High School in Plano, Texas ... a four-year starter at Plano West ... team captain as a senior, leading the Wolves to a No. 4 national ranking on Rivals.com's studentsportssoccer.com ... 2006 second team all-district ... selected to the 2006 Fort Worth Nolan All-Tournament team ... helped lead PWHS to a 2005 District 8-5A championships and a berth in the area finals ... 2006 ODP U19 Invitational Regional Camp ... captain of the Solar '89 Girls club team for eight years ... a 2006 NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-Region ... member of the National Honor Society.

Pensky on McDowell: "Caitlin is a crafty midfielder who can both create and score goals. Caitlin loves to attack, and her skill and intellect will add to an already talented group of midfielders. We're very happy to have Caitlin in our program."

Olivia Onyeador (D): A powerful and fast defender from Park View High School in Sterling, VA. ... VA ODP Player ... attended US Youth National Camp ... played for the Chantilly FCV Rockets and the Sterling Pride ... 2005 Surf Cup Champions ... two-time VA State Cup Champion ... also lettered in basketball ... two-time team MVP on the hardwood ... member of the Academic Dean's List from 2003-2007 ... 2006 High Academic Achievement Award.

Pensky on Onyeador: "Olivia is fast, powerful and versatile; she has played both center-back and forward for her club team. Olivia missed her entire junior year with a knee injury, but she is close to 100 percent healthy and very eager to be here and make an immediate impact."

Kylie Ricker (F): An explosive forward from Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton, Mass. ... a 2006 NSCAA/adidas All-American after scoring 30 goals in her senior season ... 2006 Mid-Wachusett League MVP ... a three-time league scoring champion ... two-time all-state ... twice selected to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super Team ... three-time Metrowest all-star and Central Mass. all-star ... four-time MWL all-star ... set Nashoba career scoring records with 93 goals and 25 assists ... named the Nashoba Offensive Player of the Decade ... played for the Boston Renegades club team ... a four-time Super Y League ODP Region I selection ... selected to the Super Y League national select team in 2006 ... also a standout in track ... a four-time MWL all-star ... won the 55 meters in indoor track in 2006 ... an honor roll student.

Pensky on Ricker: "Simply put, Kylie came to our camp last summer and excelled in our staff games, scoring goals in bunches. We knew right away that we had to have Kylie in our program. She's going to do very well here."

Erika Theisen (MF/D): An accomplished midfielder from River Hill High School in Clarksville, Md. ... two-time NSCAA/adidas all-Region III selection ... two-time All-Met selection by the Washington Post ... two-time first team all-state ... two-time first team Baltimore Sun all-Metro ... the 2006 Baltimore Sun Howard County player of the year ... two-time all-county by the Sun ... scored 16 goals and added 11 assists as a senior ... led the Hawks to a 20-0 record and a Class 3A state title ... named the player of the year and three-time all-county by the Columbia Flyer ... totaled 48 goals and 28 assists during her career at River Hill ... helped lead the Bethesda Rapids club team to the state club championship four times ... also led the Rapids to the finals of the Region I national championship ... an honor roll student.

Pensky on Theisen: "Erika is a tenacious and skillful athlete who will vie for playing time in the midfield or in the back. Erika loves to compete, and that mentality should take her a long way in this program."