Head coach Pete Kowall and the Illinois State womens soccer team had seven student-athletes sign national letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers as Redbirds.
Kowall is pleased with his recruiting class and is anxious for next season to begin.
This class has a lot of personality, and I look forward to working with these student-athletes, said Kowall. With nine seniors on next seasons roster, it was critical for us to get a large recruiting class so they have a year to get them familiar with league play.
This new class will make for more competitive practices and will push the team towards further success, added Kowall.
Geneva Baran, a native of Peachtree City, Ga., played on the Georgia State Cup Champion Concorde 03 Silver club team and was the teams leading scorer over the past three years. As a senior at McIntosh High School, Baran helped lead her team to the 2002 5A state semi-finals and was Top-20 in the region for goals and assists in 2001. She will pursue a career in nursing, while attending Illinois State.
Geneva will primarily fill the role of a forward, said Kowall. She comes from a solid club team that won the state championship and beat the national champions. Geneva is very energetic and has a great personality.
Meghan Boler, stemming from Wheaton St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Ill., became familiar with Illinois State soccer and the university after attending an overnight soccer camp. For her talents, she was named an Honorable Mention All-State by The Chicago Tribune and was an all-sectional selection by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. In addition, The Chicago Sun Times deemed her an all-area honorable mention pick. Boler will pursue a degree in education.
Meghan is a versatile player, who will find time as a forward or midfielder, said Kowall. She is a quick and technical player, who loves the game of soccer.
Kanisha Campbell of Brampton, Ontario, comes to Illinois State from St. Marguerit dYouville Secondary School and is interested in pursuing a career in business. She was a defender for the Oakville Soccer Academy, as well as an Under-19 National Pool Player.
Kanisha is very comparable to Melissa Colthrust (who was the 2002 Valley Defender of the Year), said Kowall. She is an aggressive player and is very composed. I look for Kanisha to compliment Heather Forsyth in the backfield.
Crystal Lanski, a native of Darien, Ill., plays club soccer for the Windy City Pride and attends Downers Grove South High School. She was named a 2002 all-state player by The Chicago Tribune and will fill the role of forward, while at Illinois State. Lanski will continue her academic career in the area of education.
Crystal has good size and speed and plays a very aggressive game, said Kowall.
Amanda Lauber is a versatile player from Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Mo. She plays for the Busch Soccer Club and was named to the 2002 All-Metro Girls Soccer Third Team as a defender. While at Illinois State, Lauber will pursue a degree in business.
Amanda has a great work ethic, is fundamentally solid and has a lot of club soccer experience, said Kowall.
Jaclyn Rucinsky comes to Illinois State from Seattle, Wash., where she attended Seattle Preparatory School. She was a member of the Hibernian and Caledonian Football Clubs and was named to the 2002 Girls Soccer Metroleague First Team. As a Redbird, she will play the position of forward and will work toward a degree in pre-dentistry.
Jaclyn is a small, but strong player who is not afraid to go at players, said Kowall. She has proven to be a goal scorer and is a technical player, who finishes the job.
Andrea Shaw of Lakeville, Minn., plays club soccer for the Tsunami Sota Club Team, which made it to the 2002 Final Four and was the 2002 Phoenix Presidents Day Tournament Champions. Shaw is a goalkeeper for the 1985 Region II Olympic Development Regional Pool. She is a three-year varsity player for Lakeville High School and a member of the National Honor Society with a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average.
Andrea has a great work ethic and a lot of club experience with one of the best clubs in the country, said Kowall. She will add depth to the goalkeeper position and will compliment Allison Farrington and Cheryl Sarnwick.
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