University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces 2011 Recruiting Class
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
March 4, 2011
Storrs, Conn. - University of Connecticut Women's Soccer Head Coach Len Tsantiris announced on March 4, 2011 that 10 players will join the Huskies for the 2011 season. Joining the squad will be five midfielders, three defenders and two forwards. The ten players will be implemented in a lineup returning six of 11 starters from last season's NCAA Tournament appearance.
Mika Bussey, Forward, Brighton, Mich./Brighton High
Bussey is a 5-7 forward who competed with the Michigan Hawks and the Michigan ODP team. Bussey led the Michigan Hawks Club team to a No. 6 national ranking and two State Cup Championships. She was also a part of the Hawks' semifinal appearance at the Disney Soccer Showcase. Bussey also a member of the Honor Roll all but one semester at Brighton High.
"Mika is a player who has very good skills and reads the game well," said Tsantiris. "She is versatile and can play out wide in the midfield or up top. Mika comes from a great club team and has developed into a very good attacking player. She will be an additional attacking option for us next fall."
Bussey on why she chose UConn:
"I chose UConn for several reasons. First being the academics. I would like to get a job within the health profession and UConn has one of the best exercise science programs in the country. UConn has a history of being a great team, and a national contender. When I visited UConn I felt very welcomed by the team. I felt that I would be able to get along with the girls well and that they were all great players and would push me to take my game to the next level."
Gabrielle Charno, Defense, Seaford, N.Y./Plainedge High
Charno comes to Storrs after a successful career at Plainedge. The 5-5 defender was named All-State in 2010 as well as All-County in 2009 and 2010. Charno played club soccer for the Syosset Sting, leading the Sting to the State Cup Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as well as the Region I Championship in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, Charno and the Sting were a National Championship Finalist. She also lettered in track and lacrosse earning All-Conference honors in the long jump all-four years of high school. She owns the school record in the 4x400m relay, 4x200m relay and the long jump. Charno was a member of the National Honor Society.
"Gabby is a talented defensive player who comes from a very successful club team. She has a big personality on the field with her athletic ability and natural leadership qualities. She has a lot of potential and is a very strong and technical player. We feel Gabby will be a great addition to our team next fall."
Charno on why she chose UConn:
"I chose to attend UConn because of the athletics program as well as the engineering program. I loved the campus and the environment created for the student-athlete. As a soccer player, I have always wanted to compete at the highest level and the coaches, players and staff at UConn have created an amazing program. As I sat in Coach's office during my official visit surrounded by all the soccer jerseys of past players, I knew I had found my home for the next four years."
Gabriella Cuevas, Defense, Wayne, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy
Cuevas, a 5-5 defender and midfielder, was a member of Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA) which was named the Bergen County Program of the Decade... Cuevas was also named to the Bergen County All-Decade Team as a defender while being named All-State as a sophomore, junior and senior. Cuevas was named to the NSCAA/Adidas All-Region Team as a senior while leading IHA to the Bergen County Championship all-four years. She was a member of the honor roll in 2009 and 2010.
"Gabby is a very smart and composed player," said Tsantiris. "Her technique and ability to read the game will be a great addition to our back line. She is a standout performer with both her club and high school teams and has found a lot of success on the Regional and National level as well. We are confident in Gabby's abilities and feel she will do very well at UConn."
Cuevas on why she chose UConn:
"I chose UConn because it had everything I was looking for in a school. It has great academics, the perfect size campus, and a great soccer team. UConn has exactly what I want to study, which is Psychology and Special Education, and the campus is beautiful with a great atmosphere around it. The soccer team is a really nice group of girls who are also extremely talented on the field, along with the coaches who are very knowledgeable about the game and also very personable. The school is the perfect distance away from home and when I am there I can feel that it is just the perfect fit for me."
Kaichie Ho, Midfield, Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury High
Ho, a 5-4 midfielder, was named All-Conference in 2009 and team captain in 2010. She led Glastonbury to the CCC North Conference Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Ho is a member of the French and Chinese Foreign Language Honor Society as well as a recipient of the AP Scholar Award and the Cornell Book Award.
"Kaichie is a very strong and smart player," said Tsantiris. "She is a central player who can win balls and generate the attack from a holding midfield position. Kaichie's technical ability and vision on and off the ball will add an additional option for us in the midfield. She is coming off of a recent knee injury but when healthy she has the potential to be a great player for UConn."
Ho on why she chose UConn:
"I chose UConn because it's an overall perfect fit for me. Ranging from the excellent engineering school to the top-notch athletics program, I essentially get the best of both worlds. On the academics side, I will get the luxury of smaller class sizes and individual help from the teachers from being in the Engineering Program. On top of that, I get to choose from a broad range of engineering options along with many internship opportunities. On the athletics side, I get the opportunity to play for a Division I BIG EAST team. They are a tight-knit as well as talented group and I can't wait to be a part of their team."
Riley Houle, Midfield, Columbia, Conn./Windham High
Riley Houle, a 5-1 midfielder, comes to UConn after being named All-State all four years of high school. Houle was also an All-New England selection twice. Team captain sophomore, junior and senior year, Houle was named the team Most Valuable Player twice. Houle was a High Honors student at Windham High throughout high school.
"Riley will bring a lot of creativity to our midfield," said Tsantiris. "She is very comfortable on the ball and has the ability to make a lot of things happen in the attacking third. Riley is a true play maker and a tireless worker on both ends of the field. She has experience on both the Regional and National level which will help her adapt quickly to the level of play in college. Riley is a local player and we are very happy she has decided to stay close to home. We are looking forward to see the impact she will have on our team and program over the next four years.
Houle on why she chose UConn:
"I chose UConn because I always aspired to come here since I was a little kid, seeing the team in action at all the home games it was my dream to be a Husky. UConn brings a great education and homely environment being a part of the team. I cannot wait till the season begins. Go UConn!"
Julie Hubbard, Midfield, Waverly, Pa./Penn State
Hubbard transferred to Connecticut from Penn State after two seasons and will begin her career in Storrs as a junior. Hubbard, a 5-6 midfielder, appeared in 17 games at Penn State, starting three. She recorded one goal and one assist for three points. In high school, Hubbard was named All-State as a sophomore and a senior.
"Julie is one of the best technical players I have seen in a while," said Tsantiris. "She is an attacking player who has the ability to control the game and dictate the play from either the midfield or forward positions. She is very composed in front of the net and can score goals. We are excited that Julie transferred this semester and we are looking forward for her to give us a few different attacking options this fall."
Hubbard on why she chose UConn:
"I Choose UConn because athletically and academically it is the right fit for me. The style of play, team success and coaching staff really appealed to me and made my decision fairly easy. I'm very excited to be a part of this program for the next two seasons."
Chelsea Hunter, Forward, Middletown, Conn./Loomis Chaffee School
Hunter, a 5-2 forward, played for the Loomis Chaffee School and the Oakwood Premier Team. She was an All-State selection as a sophomore, junior and senior leading Loomis Chaffee to the New England Prep School Class A Championship as a freshman and a sophomore. A member of the Region I ODP team from 2005-2008, Hunter was selected to represent the USA Olympic Reserve U-19 team in the International Women's Kuban Spring Tournament in Moscow in 2008.
"We are happy Chelsea has joined our UConn family," said Tsantiris. "She hasn't played competitively in over a year now but coming in this spring will help her prepare for the upcoming fall season. She will be a great additional option for us up front. She has an attacking mentality and found a lot of success on the youth level. Chelsea has already shown us this spring that she has the ability to score goals."
Hunter on why she chose UConn:
"I have always held UConn on a high pedestal considering its rising academic prestige, intensely competitive athletic program and impressive school spirit. It has been my ultimate dream to be privileged enough to strive for excellence on and off the field at UConn. I am truly honored and blessed to call myself a Husky."
Andrea Plucenik, Forward, Brooklyn, Conn./Woodstock Academy
Andrea Plucenik, a 5-5 forward, was named All-State and All-New England as a sophomore and junior. Plucenik was a three-time Norwich Bulletin All-Star while being named Norwich Bulletin Player of the Year as a junior after tallying 24 goals. Plucenik Scored 31 goals as a sophomore and 15 as a freshman at Woodstock Academy. She earned High Honors all-four years of high school.
"Drea has been a proven goal scorer for her club and ODP teams in the past," said Tsantiris. "She is very athletic and has the ability to beat players and get behind the back line. Drea has an attacking mentality and a very strong work ethic. She has the potential to develop into a very dangerous forward and we are excited to have her here next fall."
Plucenik on why she chose UConn:
"It has always been a dream of mine to attend UConn, not just because I grew up in the area, but also because most of my family members are UConn alumni. UConn is also one of the few schools that have the major that I would like to pursue, Speech and Language Pathology. My love for UConn soccer and the academic programming offered make UConn a perfect fit for me."
Gianna Roma, Defense, Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro High
Roma comes to UConn as a 5-5 defender. She was named team Captain as a senior at Foxoboro High. Roma was a two-time team MVP, two-time Hockomock League All-Star and a two-time Sun Chronicle All-Star. Roma appeared in the Sun Chronicle All-Star Game earning MVP honors. She was a member of the Honor Roll all-four years of high school.
"Gianna is a great kid and comes from a very good club team," said Tsantiris. "She is a very feisty one vs. one defender who can also get up and down the flank as an attacking outside back. She plays simple and has the ability to read the game very well. She will add a lot of depth to our defense next fall.
Roma on why she chose UConn:
"UConn was always in the back of my mind of schools to attend since the beginning of my freshman year in high school. Throughout the recruiting process and visits to many schools, I learned that UConn was the perfect fit for me. UConn is almost a perfect distance from my home, the Nutrition program there is considered one of the best studies in the country, the whole student body has great pride and spirit in their school and sports, and most importantly to me, I am able to fulfill the dream that I have always had of playing division 1 on a top collegiate women's soccer team in which the team players and coaches make me feel right in place."
Lindsey Watkins, Midfield, Litchfield, Conn./The Forman School
Watkins, a 5-5 midfielder, earned All-State honors as a senior and was named team MVP as a sophomore, junior and senior. She holds the Forman School record for goals in a season (44) and all-time scoring (97 in three years). Watkins was named WWNEPSSA All-League as a sophomore, junior and senior and was selected for the 2010 CGSCA Senior Bowl. She was a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior while serving as National Honor Society Vice President as a senior.
"Lew is a player that has a lot of potential," said Tsantiris. "She is a very good athlete and has great pace. She is very versatile and can play out wide in the back, midfield or up top. We feel she has the potential to be a very good flank player and we are looking forward for her to join the team."
Watkins on why she chose UConn:
"The University of Connecticut has been my top college choice long before day one of my college search process. The moment I stepped foot on UConn's campus I immediately felt like I was in a familiar place. Living in Connecticut, UConn sports have always been an exciting part of life. I've always felt proud that my state university is nationally recognized for its excellent athletic programs and offers a highly competitive learning environment for students with high academic standards."
