Central Michigan University Athletics
Eight Sign On With Chippewa Soccer Program
2/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Central Michigan women's soccer coach Peter McGahey announced on Friday the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.
The eight newcomers will join the program for the fall, 2017 season.
"I think this class helps move the program forward both in terms of the culture, and in terms of being successful student-athletes within the Championship Culture that we've set as a women's soccer program," said McGahey, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program. "On paper, they will add strengths and unique talents to every line on the field. You have a goalkeeper, you have defenders, you have midfielders, you have forwards. And you have unique talents among the eight in each of those lines."
The eight-member class includes six in-state players along with one from Wisconsin and another from Ontario.
"This group represents for us both tangibles and intangibles that you want in a recruiting class," said McGahey, who guided the Chippewas to a 15-3-3 finish in 2016. "You try to build a group that has good character and are good people and I think this class has that across the board.
"I think you're looking for people who are passionate about Central Michigan, who want to come here, want to earn a degree, are excited about their academic pursuits."
McGahey said this group of players fits the mold he has established since he arrived for the 2013 season. Talent and speed are critical, as is a level of requisite toughness and, of course, work ethic.
"They know how to face the mountain, they know that you can't climb the mountain alone, and they also know that when you climb one mountain, there's another mountain left to climb," he said.
 | Grace Backus • Defender • Novi, Mich./Novi HS/Michigan Jaguars Three-year varsity letterwinner at NHS ... named all-conference honorable mention, 2015-16 ... also earned a varsity letter in cross country ... KLAA Scholar Athlete all four years of high school ... played club soccer with the Michigan Jaguars ... made Michigan ODP State Team. | |
 | Natalie Belsito • Forward • Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS/Midwest United FC Three-year varsity letterwinner ... two-time team captain ... scored 31 goals for career ... in 2016, scored 19 goals en route to earning all-conference, all-district, all-region and second team all-state honors ... won a regional championship and advanced to the Division 2 state finals ... received all-conference and all-district recognition and captured conference championships in 2014 and 2015 ... played club soccer with Midwest United FC for 10 years. | |
 | Haddie Carlson • Forward/Midfield • Oconomowoc, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran HS/SC Waukesha Three-year varsity letterwinner heading into senior season ... scored a Lake Country Lutheran career-record 54 goals ... also totaled 19 career assists ... second team All-American forward (2015-16) ... named All-Midwest Classic First Team and Midwest Classic Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016 ... earned all-conference second team honors in 2014 ... played club soccer with SC Waukesha ... named team captain ... Wisconsin state champion (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) ... played on ODP Region II team in 2014 and on ODP Wisconsin state team in 2013 and 2014. | |
 | Sheila Magnan • Midfielder • Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS/Michigan Hawks Played club soccer with the Michigan Hawks (u11-u18) ... won an ECNL national championship in 2016 ... played on 1998 Girls ODP Region II Team, Costa Rica (Feb. 2013), 1998 Girls ODP Region II Team, Boca Raton, Fla. (alt. selection, Nov. 2012) and Girls ODP Region II Pools' 1998 Team selection (DeKalb, Ill.) ...earned a varsity letter in cross country at BHS. | |
 | Riley Mann • Forward • Mississauga, Ont./Meadowvale Secondary/Dixie Soccer Club Played with the Dixie Soccer Club (2015-present) and Erin Mills Soccer Club (2010-15) ... Ontario/Quebec Cup champion in 2014 ... OYSL League champion in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 ... Ontario League champion in 2011 and 2012 ... Ontario Cup finalist in 2010 ... Erin Mills team captain (2010-15) ...trained at the District/Regional/Provincial levels with the Ontario Soccer Association ...school record holder in the beep test (grades 9-12) ... academic honour student. | |
 | Sara Mitchell • Defender • Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson HS/Michigan Hawks Played club soccer with the Michigan Hawks ... won an ECNL national championship in 2016 ... invited to US Club Soccer Player Development Program (2015) ... participated in national championship playoffs in 2015 ... set the school record for the 4x4 relay at SHS in 2013. | |
 | Ashley Rose • Goalkeeper • Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS/Michigan Rush Four-year letterwinner at Dow HS ... named a team captain in 2017 ... recorded 17 shutouts in 34 starts ... had an 87% career save percentage ... totaled two goals and three assists ... selected First Team Saginaw Valley League North in 2016 ... won a district championship in 2014 ... earned Saginaw Valley League All-Academic honors (2015, 2016, 2017) ... made the honor roll 2014-17 ... played club soccer with Michigan Rush (2015-16) ... notched 42 shutouts in 83 starts with a 91% save percentage ... won Disney and Capital Area Soccer League championships (2015-16) ... Midwest Regional League participant (2015-17) ... qualified for the State Cup semifinals (2015-17) ... participated in ODP winter pool (2014-15). | |
 | Abby Willerer • Defender • Northville, Mich./Northville HS/Michigan Hawks Played club soccer with the Michigan Hawks (u9-u18) ... won an ECNL national championship in 2016 ... awarded Best 11 after the ECNL semifinals and finals (2016) ... won a regional and state championship in 2012. |
