University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces 2010 Recruiting Class
8/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 12, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut head coach Len Tsantiris announced Thursday that nine players will join the Huskies for the 2010 season. Michelle Baj (South Windsor, Conn.), Amanda Carvalho (Cheshire, Conn.), Jessica Frech (Bethesda, Md.), Leigh-Ann Jaggon (Windsor, Conn.), Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden), Taylor Mazursky (Castle Creek, N.Y.), Devin Prendergast (Babylon, N.Y.), Danielle Schulmann (Saddle River, N.J.) and Jennifer Skogerboe (Leesburg, Va.) will all enroll at UConn this fall.
Michelle Baj, Midfield, South Windsor, Conn./Siena College Michelle Baj is a sophomore transfer from Siena College. She was a two-time All-New England and three-time All-State selection while at South Windsor High. Baj was named to the All-Conference Team all four years after leading South Windsor to three Conference Championships. The team captain as a senior, Baj was selected by the Hartford Courant as the Top Midfielder of the Year.
Amanda Carvalho, Forward, Cheshire, Conn./UMass Amanda Carvalho is the second in-state product that the Huskies will add to their roster. A four-year letterwinner at Cheshire High School, Carvalho helped her team to the 2005 Class LL State Co-Championship and for her efforts was named the finals MVP. During her time at Cheshire, she led the Rams to the 2004, 2005 and 2007 SCC Title. In her senior season in 2007, Carvalho was named to the All-Housatonic and All-SCC team, All-State and New Haven Register All-Area. She also set the Cheshire High School record for most goals in a season with 33 and tied for most goals in a single game with five. Carvalho joins the huskies as a junior after a stint at UMass.
Carvalho on why she chose UConn: "I chose UConn because of the mix of great academics and athletics."
"We are happy that Amanda will be joining us in the fall," said Tsantiris. "While she hasn't played competitively in a few years, we feel that she has the potential to do well for us. She comes from a soccer family and has grown up around the game. As an attacking player, she has showed that she can score goals and we feel that she will be a great additional option for us up front," said Tsantiris.
Jessica Frech, Midfield, Potomac, Md./Maryland ODP Jessica Frech, a four-year letterwinner for Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland, helped her team to the 2009 ISL A conference championship in her senior season. Frech, a two-time captain in her junior and senior seasons, was named to the ISL All-League team from her sophomore year on. She currently holds the all-time assist record at her school. In addition to her high school accomplishments, Frech is also a three-time member of the '92 Maryland ODP Regional Championship Team and was the leading scorer in the 2009 Region I ODP tournament. Also a member of the McLean Dragons, Frech was the second leading goal scorer in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League in 2009 and was a part of the Dragons when they won the Virginia State Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2010. This past summer, McLean won the u-18 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships and advanced to the National Championships in Overland Park, Kan.
Frech on why she chose UConn: "I chose UConn because it had all the things I was looking for in a college. It's a rural campus with a good engineering program; it has a fantastic woman's soccer program and has a great environment for its athletes. Also, the chemistry of the team is a positive one; all the girls are nice and friendly and are focused on improving as individuals and as a team. Whenever I visit the campus, I am overwhelmed with a sense of belonging, which is why I'm extremely excited to be a Husky!"
"Jessie plays for one of the top clubs in the country. She is an excellent student and is a proven goal scorer for her club and state ODP teams. As an attacking player, we believe that Jessie will bring her strong work ethic and soccer abilities to help our team."
Leigh-Ann Jaggon, Goalkeeper, Windsor, Conn./Jamaican National Team Leigh-Ann Jaggon is the second Connecticut product to join the Huskies for the 2010 season. A graduate of Windsor High School, Jaggon earned All-Conference honors in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and was named a 2010 CIAC-CAS Scholar-Athlete. Jaggon, a member of the Under-20 Jamaican National Team, was the captain of her school's squad in her junior and senior seasons and was named team MVP as a sophomore and senior. Jaggon was also a member of the All-Academic team in her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons.
Jaggon on why she chose UConn: "I decided to go to UConn because I knew that I would be challenged on an academic and athletic basis. After falling in love with the campus and the sports teams, I knew that I would feel the most at home than any of my other options. I love to play soccer, and love to excel in school, and UConn was the best fit for my desires."
"Leigh-Ann is a Connecticut player that plays for an established club and has experience with the Jamaican u-20 National team. With the addition of Leigh-Ann, we now have a lot of depth in the goalkeeping position and we feel that she will add to a very competitive training environment."
Angelika Johansson, Forward, Falkenberg, Sweden/Franklin Pierce University Angelika Johansson is a transfer from Division II Franklin Pierce University who will be attending UConn in the fall as a graduate student. In 2009, Johansson was named aDaktronics Third-Team All-American and a NSCAA Third-Team All-American after helping Franklin Pierce to an 18-5-1 record and a second place finish in the NE-10 Conference. As a sophomore in 2008, Johansson earned NSCAA/Adidas First-Team All-America and East Region Player of the Year honors. She will be an offensive threat for the Huskies after compiling a 20-goal season in 2009.
Johansson on why she chose UConn: "The reason that I picked Uconn was that I wanted to play for a competitive team, a team that wants to win and is willing to sacrifice to do it."
"Angelika comes to UConn with international experience as well as college experience at the Divison II level. She has a great understanding of the game and has an excellent work rate. We are excited for Angelika to join us and believe that as an attacking player, she has the composure and maturity to help us win games."
Taylor Mazursky, Defense, Castle Creek, N.Y./Region I ODP Taylor Mazursky, is a defender out of Castle Creek, N.Y. In her final season at Chenango Forks High School, she was named First-Team All-New York and All-Conference. In four years, she was a two-time All-New York and three-time All-Conference player. Mazursky holds the school record with 120 goals scored in four years played and is a four-year Academic Honor Roll student. As a member of the BC Fusion, Taylor helped the team to two State Cup Championships. In addition to her club experience, she has played with the NY West ODP team for five years and the Region I ODP team for two years.
"Taylor is a talented defensive player that also has the ability to score. She has experience at the regional level which will help her transition to the pace of the college game."
Devin Prendergast, Midfield, Babylon, N.Y./St. John the Baptist High School Devin Prendergast, the reigning Catholic School Long Island Player of the Year, is a center midfielder coming out of St. John the Baptist High School. A native of Babylon, N.Y. and a four-year letterwinner, Prendergast was named All-State in her sophomore and senior seasons, All-League in her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons and All-Long Island in her senior year. Prendergast was a three-year captain for her squad helping to lead them to a league and state championship in her senior season while scoring 17 goals and 23 assists for 57 points during her final year.
Prendergast on why she chose UConn: "I chose UConn because I wanted to be at a school that had a top soccer program but was also very good academically. UConn was a great location for me coming from Long Island, and once I was on the campus I felt as if it was the best fit for me. I loved the coaches, and everyone at the school made me feel welcomed. UConn was the perfect fit for me as a student-athlete and I can't wait to be a Husky."
"Devin is a versatile player that has developed into a standout performer at the high school and club level. She comes from a great club organization and has a good understanding of the game both as an attacking and defensive player. She has the potential to do very well for us and we are excited to have her join us this coming fall."
Danielle Schulmann, Forward, Saddle River, N.J./Seton Hall University Danielle Schulmann transferred to Connecticut after a year at Seton Hall University and a year with Maryland. She is ineligible for the 2010 season. Schulmann was a two-time All-State, First-Team All-County and All-League selection at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J. She led her high school to league and county titles as well as the State semifinals as a freshman and sophomore. Schulmann played for the Arsenal World Class Club team, leading them to the 2007 State and Regional Championships. She played her freshman year at Maryland, scoring three goals.
"Danielle is an attacking player that is good technically and has the ability to finish. While she will have to sit out 2010, we feel that she will help during training and will be ready to go in 2011."
Jennifer Skogerboe, Midfield, Leesburg, Va./Region I ODP Jennifer Skogerboe was a four-year letterwinner for Stone Bridge High School. In her senior season, Skogerboe was named to the Virginia High School All-District team as well as the All-Region team. Her junior year, she led the team in points. A member of the Region I Olympic Development Program from 2006-09, Skogerboe played center midfield in the National Interregional Tournament in Coral Springs, Fla. She has also been a part of the Virginia State ODP Team since 2004. At the club level, Skogerboe played for the McLean Dragons Under-18 team, a team that was ranked No. 2 in the region and in the top-10 nationally, helping to capture the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Virginia State Championship title. Along with fellow incoming freshman Jessie Frech, Skogerboe helped McLean win the Region I US Youth Soccer Championship and advance to the National Championships this past July.
Skogerboe on why she chose UConn: "Trying to decide on a college was difficult, but after each visit to UConn, I liked the campus, the coaches and players more. I chose UConn because my goal as a student-athlete was to play soccer at a high level during college and after seeing the team play and meeting the coaches and players, I knew it was the right fit. UConn is considered one of the premier colleges in America and I look forward to the opportunity of playing here."
"Jen is a very smart player that has the ability to control the game and dictate play from the midfield. Jen's technical ability and her vision on and off the ball will add another option for us in the midfield this fall."
The University of Connecticut opens its season with an exhibition on Saturday, August 14 against No. 7 Boston College in a rematch of the 2009 NCAA Tournament Second Round. The Eagles defeated UConn, 2-0, back on November 15 in Newton, Mass. Saturday's game will be held at UConn's Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.
