W. Soccer

UIS Women's Soccer Announces 2010 Recruiting Class

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIS women’s program has signed nine players as 2010 recruiting class it was announced today by Prairie Star Head Coach Pete Kowall.

The class includes Cameryn Barbeau, Samantha Chappell, Erin Egolf, Hannah Fyfe, Marissa McGurr, Rachel Neudahl, Katlin Petersen, Chandler Sommerfieldt and Ashley Stariha.

“I am very excited to talk about our incoming class this fall,” Kowall said. “This class gives us depth at several positions and will help us compete in a very competitive GLVC this fall. We now have a second goalkeeper in Sam who brings our team some impressive experience from both high school and college. We also get more help on defense with Cameryn, Marissa, Rachel and Hannah. All these players know the game tactically and will help organize our backline.

“We were excited to have Erin transfer in midterm. She will help us score goals and keep the ball in the attacking third. Ashley, Katlin and Chandler will also help us keep the ball in the attacking third so we can create goal scoring opportunities. My hope, with this class, is we can defend better and create goal scoring opportunities,” Kowall said.

Barbeau is from Glen Ellyn, Ill. and Glenbard West High School where she served as the team’s captain as a senior and played on the ODP team in 2006. Barbeau also has international experience, playing in Sweden in the summer of 2008. This season she was named the team’s defensive captain and named honorable mention all-conference. An outstanding student, Barbeau was named the school’s Student of the Quarter in Consumer Management this past fall.

Chappell will come to UIS from Alton, Ill. and Marquette Catholic High School. She earned first team all-conference honors in each of her three seasons on the team. Another outstanding student, Chappell is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Egolf will join the Prairie Stars after one season at Illinois State. A native of Chatham, Ill. and a standout at Glenwood High School, she was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference’s All-Freshman team in 2009 at ISU. a four-year starter at Glenwood she helped the team to sectional titles in 2006 and 2008 and was the State Journal-Register’s Player of the Year last season. A NSCAA High School All-Midwest Selection in 2008, she was a two-time IHSA All-State selection and was the Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year and a two-time all-conference selection. Egolf attended the Adidas ESP Camp and was a part of the three-time Missouri State Cup Champion St. Louis Soccer Club.

Fyfe played at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Ill. An outstanding student-athlete she earned the National Merit Scholar Award and is a member of the National Honor Society.

McGurr hails from Pekin, Ill. and was a standout at Pekin High School. A four-time All-Mid-Illini Conference selection including a three-time first team pick, McGurr was also a three-year member of the all-area team by the Peoria Journal Star. The Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association also named her its all-sectional team in each of her four seasons. A stellar student, McGurr earned high academic honors in six semesters at Pekin.

Neudahl is from Cary, Ill. and prepped at Cary-Grove High School. She won three letters in soccer and was a three-time all-conference pick and twice named to the All-Area team. Neudahl also earned all-sectional honors as a senior. In the classroom, Neudahl earned academic High Honors all four years.

Petersen comes to Springfield from Princeton, Ill. where she played at Princeton High School. A three-time all-conference pick, Petersen helped her team to an appearance in the Elite 8 as a freshman and  served as the team captain as a senior. A member of the conference all-academic team, Petersen also won three letters in volleyball and basketball.

Sommerfieldt will join the Prairie Stars from Johnsburg, Ill. and Johnsburg High School. An all-area selection by the Northwest Herald, served as team captain as a senior… twice led the team in scoring and also lead the squad in assists as a senior… Northwest Herald All-Star selection in basketball  and was the team captain as a senior… four-year member of the Honor Roll.

Stariha is from Tinley Park, Ill. and Andrew High School. A Four-year starter, she served as team captain as a senior. An outstanding athlete, Stariha also won four letters in cross country.