Sarah Dejak is one six freshmen who join the Orange program this fall. She earned regional and conference goalkeeper of the year honors as a senior at Pinecrest High School.
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Orange Frosh Look to Make Impact
8/12/2011 1:18:54 PM | Women's Soccer
Preseason Practice Photo Gallery
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse is one week away from opening the 2011 season against Robert Morris. The roster for the season opener will include six players who will don the orange for the first time.
This year's freshman class includes Sarah Dejak, Megan Hunsberger, Alexis Koval, Kylie Perrin, Hanna Strong and Jasmine Sampson.
"I am excited about the talented group of freshmen we have coming in," said Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon. "They each bring a certain quality to the team that we need. Kylie, Jasmine and Alexis give us exciting attack options. Hanna will add to our midfield. She works hard and will contribute for sure. Megan has extensive experience in the back and we hope she uses that experience to help us, while Sarah will provide good depth in goal.
Dejak, a native of Pinehurst, N.C., earned regional and conference goalkeeper of the year honors in 2010. She was also named to the all-region and all-conference teams. Dejak was named Pinecrest High School's team MVP last season. In addition, she led the 92 Spartan Elite to the 2010-11 North Carolina state championship.
Hunsberger was a member of the under-15 national team and was involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) throughout her career at Freedom High School. She earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and earned the team's most valuable attacking player award. The Bethlehem, Pa. native also played for the Albertson Fury and AC Perugia.
A Syracuse native, Koval graduated from Christian Brothers Academy (CBA). She was the 2010 CNY Player of the Year after recording 25 goals and 19 assists and leading the Brothers to the state finals. Koval is a three-time All-CNY First Team selection and a two-time all-region first team honoree. She led Central New York in scoring the past three seasons.
Perrin was a two-time all-state and three-time all-conference performer at Gorham High School in Gorham, Maine. She recorded 15 goals and 10 assists as a senior. Perrin led her club team, Seacoast, to the 2011 New Hampshire state title.
Sampson, a native of Germantown, Md., earned second-team All-America honors the past two seasons. She has been a member of the Trinidad and Tobago under-17 team and played for the Bethesda Freedom from 2008-11. Sampson was a two-year team captain and earned MVP honors at Seneca Valley High School.
Strong was a three-time all-state and All-Western Massachusetts selection at Monson High School. In 2010, she recorded 17 goals and 15 assists, leading the squad to an 18-0-0 record, the league championship and the division two finals. Strong finished her career with 140 points on 97 goals and 43 assists.
Last season, the Orange Syracuse posted six victories, its most wins since the 2007 season. The Orange also recorded its best start in BIG EAST play. Syracuse finished in a tie for sixth place in the American Division, just two points shy of a top-five finish which would have given the Orange a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. This season, Syracuse was picked to place seventh in the American Division in a preseason vote by the league's head coaches.
The season officially kicks off on Friday, August 19 when the Orange takes on Robert Morris in the Embassy Suites Kick Off Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse is one week away from opening the 2011 season against Robert Morris. The roster for the season opener will include six players who will don the orange for the first time.
This year's freshman class includes Sarah Dejak, Megan Hunsberger, Alexis Koval, Kylie Perrin, Hanna Strong and Jasmine Sampson.
"I am excited about the talented group of freshmen we have coming in," said Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon. "They each bring a certain quality to the team that we need. Kylie, Jasmine and Alexis give us exciting attack options. Hanna will add to our midfield. She works hard and will contribute for sure. Megan has extensive experience in the back and we hope she uses that experience to help us, while Sarah will provide good depth in goal.
Dejak, a native of Pinehurst, N.C., earned regional and conference goalkeeper of the year honors in 2010. She was also named to the all-region and all-conference teams. Dejak was named Pinecrest High School's team MVP last season. In addition, she led the 92 Spartan Elite to the 2010-11 North Carolina state championship.
Hunsberger was a member of the under-15 national team and was involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) throughout her career at Freedom High School. She earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and earned the team's most valuable attacking player award. The Bethlehem, Pa. native also played for the Albertson Fury and AC Perugia.
A Syracuse native, Koval graduated from Christian Brothers Academy (CBA). She was the 2010 CNY Player of the Year after recording 25 goals and 19 assists and leading the Brothers to the state finals. Koval is a three-time All-CNY First Team selection and a two-time all-region first team honoree. She led Central New York in scoring the past three seasons.
Perrin was a two-time all-state and three-time all-conference performer at Gorham High School in Gorham, Maine. She recorded 15 goals and 10 assists as a senior. Perrin led her club team, Seacoast, to the 2011 New Hampshire state title.
Sampson, a native of Germantown, Md., earned second-team All-America honors the past two seasons. She has been a member of the Trinidad and Tobago under-17 team and played for the Bethesda Freedom from 2008-11. Sampson was a two-year team captain and earned MVP honors at Seneca Valley High School.
Strong was a three-time all-state and All-Western Massachusetts selection at Monson High School. In 2010, she recorded 17 goals and 15 assists, leading the squad to an 18-0-0 record, the league championship and the division two finals. Strong finished her career with 140 points on 97 goals and 43 assists.
Last season, the Orange Syracuse posted six victories, its most wins since the 2007 season. The Orange also recorded its best start in BIG EAST play. Syracuse finished in a tie for sixth place in the American Division, just two points shy of a top-five finish which would have given the Orange a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. This season, Syracuse was picked to place seventh in the American Division in a preseason vote by the league's head coaches.
The season officially kicks off on Friday, August 19 when the Orange takes on Robert Morris in the Embassy Suites Kick Off Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
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