May 16, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland women's soccer recruiting class for this fall was tabbed the 20th best in the nation according to Soccer Buzz. The mark is the second-highest ranking for a Maryland recruiting class since Soccer Buzz began its polls in 1998 and highest for head coach Brian Pensky, who took over the program in 2005.
The ranking is also third in the Mid-Atlantic region, behind only Virginia and Penn State.
"We're excited about the direction of the program and this is another indication that we're moving forward," said Pensky, who enters his third season with the Terps this fall. "We play in the nation's toughest conference and seven ACC schools are ranked among the top 21 recruiting classes, so our goal is to continue to continue to take the necessary steps establish Maryland as one of the country's elite programs."
The class includes: midfielder/forward 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.), defender Chelsea Sprague (Laurel, Md.) and midfielder Erika Theisen (Clarksville, Md.)
Balogun is the highest rated player to commit to Maryland. SoccerBuzz named the All-America goalkeeper from Roosevelt High School the third best recruit in the nation. Theisen was also a top 100 recruit, according to SoccerBuzz.
Here's a look at the top 10:
1. UCLA
2. Florida State
3. North Carolina
4. Boston College
5. California
6. Santa Clara
7. Portland
8. Duke
9. Vanderbilt
10. Notre Dame
...20. Maryland
