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News Release

Women’s Soccer Announces 2008 Recruiting Class

6/3/2008

BALTIMORE—UMBC head women’s soccer coach Alyssa Radu today announced that six freshmen will join the Retrievers in Fall 2008.

“These players have great personalities and will fit in well with the team on and off the field,” Radu said. “I am very excited to work with them and develop them as college soccer players. They all come from good, quality club programs, which will help them as they take on the challenge of transitioning to the Division I level.”

Toni DiRenzo is a back/midfielder from Monhton, Pa. She was a four-year starter at Twin Valley High School, leading the Raiders in scoring as a freshman. She earned All-Area honors as a defender in 2006, but missed most of her junior season due to injury. DiRenzo did not compete for the Raiders as a senior because she graduated early to train with the Retrievers. She was a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP team from 2005-08 and was a Region I pool player in 2006-07. She also plays for the Mt. Laurel United Club Team in New Jersey.

“I think Toni has a lot of potential,” Radu said. “Coming in early will help her transition to the Division I level and enable her to compete early on.”

LeAnne Edger is a midfielder from Mechanicsville, Md., who attended Chopticon High School. She was a 2008 NSCAA adidas High School Scholar All-American and the 2007 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She earned first-team all-conference accolades in each of her last three seasons and was a second-team all-state honoree as a senior. Edgar led her club team, the McLean Freedom (Va.), to a regional and national championship in 2007, and to the Virginia State Cup title in 2008. Her brother, Richard Edgar, is a starting midfielder at George Mason and also played for the U-17 National Team.

“LeAnne is a smart, technical, very talented player who should compete early for time,” Radu said. “She comes from a very talented, accomplished club team that has prepared her well, and this will help in her transition to Division I. I am very excited to see her reach her potential and in turn help this program in the next four years.”

Danielle Kell is a center midfielder/center back from Willards, Md., who attended Parkside High School. She is a three-time first-team all-conference honoree and earned first-team all-state accolades as a senior. Kell led the Rams to the state finals in 2006 and the state semifinals in 2005 and 2007. In addition, she was a member of the three-time regional champion Maryland ODP team that also shared the national championship in 2006.

“Danielle is a very coachable player who has good vision,” Radu said. “She is defensively tactically aware and technically sound on the ball.”

Brooke Piper is a forward from London, Ontario, who attended A.B. Lucas Secondary School. She led the Vikings to the city title in 2006 and 2008 and to the OFSAA gold medal in 2007. Piper was the second-highest overall goal scorer in the 2006 U-16 Canadian National Championships, when her club team, the London Supernova, won the title. The Supernova were also Ontario Cup Provincial champions that year after winning the Ontario Youth Soccer League crown in 2005. Formerly a goalie, Piper was the starting keeper on the 2004 U-14 Canadian national championship team and Ontario Cup Provincial championship squad, as well. In addition, she was scouted by the Canadian National Training Program in 2004.

“Brooke has the ability to score in a variety of ways,” Radu said. “She has great vision and she looks to find the ball. She is very dangerous on the offensive third of the field. She will transition well into the college game and fit in very well in the America East Conference.”

Jenna Quaranta is a midfielder from Baltimore, who attended John Carroll High School. She is a three-time all-county selection who also earned all-metro and all-state honors in 2007. Quaranta led the Patriots to back-to-back IAAM Conference championships in 2004 and 2005. She also played for the Maryland ODP team for six years and was a member of the Super Y National Camp in 2006.

Quaranta trains with her cousin, Santino Quaranta, an eight-year Major League Soccer veteran who currently plays for D.C. United. A first-round draft choice (eighth overall) in 2001 by D.C. United, he was the youngest player ever drafted at the time of his selection, and he was also the youngest player in MLS history to earn All-Star honors that same year. Santino was also a member of the U.S. National Team in 2005 for World Cup qualifying competitions. In addition, Jenna’s father, Steve Quaranta, was an All-American at Essex Community College who played professionally for the Kansas City Comets and Baltimore Bays.

“For her size (5-2), Jenna has great presence as a player,” Radu said. “She is versatile and plays with a lot of heart. She is a well-rounded, sound player.”

Moriah Van Vlerah is a goalkeeper from Boyds, Md., who averaged 4.5 saves per game at Northwest High School. She earned all-state and first-team all-county honors as a senior to go along with second-team all-county accolades as a sophomore and junior. She was also named team MVP as a freshman and a senior. Van Vlerah led her Bethesda Blast club team to four straight State Cup titles and two regional finals.

“Mo controls the box very well, and she plays very well with her feet,” Radu said. “She is a very vocal goalkeeper who has quick distribution after a save. She’s very coachable, has a great mentality, she has good hands and a quick first step.”

The six newcomers will help fill voids left by last seasons’ three seniors, including forward Jessica Young, who ranks among the Retrievers’ all-time leaders in goals scored, as well as captains Alexis Rogowsky and Morgan Sacchetti.