AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron head women's soccer coach Chris Pfau announced on Thursday that the program has signed nine players to national letters of intent for the 2010 season. The class is the second under Pfau and assistant coaches Shanna Caldwell and Rob Battisson. The group of signees will provide competition for playing time in all areas on the field.

Of the commitments, five hail from Ohio, and one each from Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – Taylor Ballard (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls HS), Kelly DeNiro (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson HS), Amber Kern (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS), Holly Walton (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne HS), Emily White (Richfield, Ohio/Revere HS), Alex Luevano-Harden (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View HS), Kyarah Foushee (Union, N.J./Union HS), Gillian Gross (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow HS), and Paige Foughty (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin HS).

"I’m really excited about the future of this program," said Pfau, who enters his third season at the helm. "The coaching staff has done a tremendous job in bringing together such a wide array of talent. This class brings with it many athletic honors from club, ODP and high school, including two (Kellly DeNiro and Paige Foughty) named to the ESPN Rise state-by-state top player list and two (Amber Kern and Kyarah Foushee) named to the Top Drawer Regional Ranking Top 20 list. We want to build upon the success of last year and this class will surely help us do that."

The 2009 season proved to be the most successful in the team’s nine-year history, closing out the campaign with its highest-ever finish in the Mid-American Conference – which tied for second place overall (7-3-1 MAC record) in the league standings and made the Zips East Division champions (5-0-0 divisional record).  

The offseason has also seen the addition of Kara Cooper (Youngstown, Ohio/Youngstown Christian HS), a transfer from Youngstown State, who will have two years of eligibility remaining. An industrious and athletic forward, Cooper brings with her numerous honors: Second-team All-Ohio, Second-Team All-Horizon League, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team. She lead the Penguins with 18 points (team-high eight goals and team-high-tying two assists) as a starter in all 17 matches in 2009. She was also named Horizon League Player of the Week on Aug. 2, 2009.

"This class should provide an effective complement to our returning players, which in all promises to be a really potent blend of skill, speed and athleticism," Pfau said. "This class knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, by virtue of playing for regionally and nationally recognized club programs. In addition, many have been members of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and their ODP and club experiences have exposed them to top-notch coaching and to competition against some of the best players in the country. I’m confident in saying I expect each member of this class to compete for a spot on the team from day one."

2010 SIGNING CLASS

Taylor Ballard
Olmsted Falls, Ohio (Olmsted Falls High School), 5-6, Defender

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … finished her high school career with 19 goals and 23 assists (61 points) … 11 goals (eight game-winners), seven assists (29 points) as a senior, when she was chosen Second-Team All-Southwestern Conference … honorable mention all-league selection as a sophomore.

Club Soccer: Cleveland Internationals; 2005 – state cup champions, regional semifinalist, and Super Y-League national champions. 2006 – state cup semifinalist.  2007 – Super Y-League national champions. 2008 – regional semifinalist, state cup champions and Midwest Regional League First Division champions. 2009 – state cup champions, regional champions and participated in Nationals. 

Personal: Born June, 19, 1992 in Cleveland, Ohio ... daughter of Scott Ballard and Sheri Ballard ... has one brother (Logan).

Quoting Coach Pfau: Taylor is a very talented defender and plays for one of the best club teams in the nation. She is very driven, playing not only for her club team, but also for the Cleveland Internationals Super Y-League team. Coming from this environment, she will be ready to step right in at the collegiate level. She is equally comfortable getting forward as an outside back and defending in a 1 v 1 situation.

Kelly DeNiro
Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Watterson High School), 5-5, Midfielder

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … three-time First-Team All-Central Catholic League selection (sophomore, junior and senior) … first-team all-state and first-team all-district pick as a senior, and was also chosen as team MVP … had 15 goals and eight assists (38 points) during her senior year, when team went 15-3-1 en route to being CCL champions and a district finalist …ESPN Rise state-by-state top player.

Club Soccer: Ohio Premier Eagles; 2004 and 2006 Ohio South state champions. 2006 region 2 semifinalist. 2008 and 2009 Disney Showcase finalist.

Personal: Honor Roll member … born July 25, 1992 in Columbus, Ohio ... daughter of John DeNiro and Betsy DeNiro ... has a brother (Danny) and sister (Tess).

Quoting Coach Pfau: Kelly is a very talented and technical player and will control the tempo and the flow of the game in the center of the midfield. She has a lot of experience and success at the club level with Ohio Premier Eagles. Kelly has the talent to make an impact right from the beginning.

Paige Foughty
Murrysville, Pa. (Franklin Regional Junior High School), 5-3, Midfielder/Defender

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … compiled 52 goals and 54 assists over four years … was leading scorer her sophomore and senior year … team captain her senior year … four-time all-section player … three-time All-WPIAL selection … senior year was named to the all-state team … two-time WPIAL-All Star Team pick … three-time All-East … MSA Sports Network Player to Watch in 2008 and 2009 … ESPN Rise state-by-state top player in 2009.

Club Soccer: Beadling Soccer Club; 2005-2009 PA West USYSA state cup champions. USYSA Region I Tournament semifinalist in 2007. Captain in 2008.

ODP: 2004, 2005 and 2007 ODP ID camp. 2004-2008 Ryder Tournament. 2008 qualified for Regional ODP semifinalist and finals.
 
Personal: Speaks Spanish ... school yearbook sports editor ... likes reading and photography ... Franklin Regional JHS 100-meter dash record holder ... daughter of Bill Foughty and Pam Foughty ... has a sister (Alicia) and brother (Tyler) ... born Nov. 26, 1991 in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Quoting Coach Pfau: Paige is a very technical player that reads the game very well. Can play anywhere in the midfield. Has a lot of experience from a great club team, ODP and individual training. Is hard working and always striving to get better as a player. Will be counted on to help control the midfield.

Kyarah Foushee
Union, N.J. (Union High School), 5-4, Forward

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … three-time all-county selection … twice selected as all-state, all-conference and to the Star Ledger Team … finished her high school career with 79 goals and 87 assists (245 points) … responsible for 36 game-winning goals … scored 21 points and had 30 assists (72 points) as a senior.

Club Soccer: PDA Tsunami Soccer Club; 2009 US Club National Cup champion and 2009 US Club Region B champion. 2009 Disney and CASL champions. 2009 Top Drawer regional player to watch.

Personal: Speaks Spanish and plays the flute and clarinet … born Oct. 31, 1992 in Newark, N.J. … goes by Ki-Ki ... daughter of Kyle Foushee and Denise Silver ... has a sister (Reneasha Silver) and a brother (Kyree Foushee).

Quoting Coach Pfau: Ki-Ki is a very explosive player. She plays for one of the top clubs in the country and has continued to grow and develop over the years. She is expected to play upfront, where her great speed and work rate will put a lot of pressure on defenders.


Gillian Gross
East Meadow, N.Y. (East Meadow High School), 5-3, Midfielder/Defender

High School: Five-year varsity letterwinner and starter as a defender (was called up to play varsity as an eighth grader) … team captain as a junior and senior, when she was also an all-state and all-county choice … an ESPN All-Area selection as a junior (list of top players to watch) … team was a county championship finalist during her senior and sophomore seasons, and advanced to the semifinals when she was a freshman and junior.

Club Soccer: HBC Intense Arsenal; 2009 NEWSS champions.

ODP:  2003 – 2009 ODP team. 2009 Region 1 Regional Pool.

Personal: National Honor Society member and is active in Key Club … has an identical twin sister, Courtney, who will be playing soccer at University at Buffalo in 2010 … older sister, Marissa, played soccer at Towson … daughter of Allan Gross and Donna Gross ... born Feb. 28, 1992 in Manhasset, N.Y.

Quoting Coach Pfau: Gillian is a very talented player who can play in the back or in the center of the midfield. She is very technical and reads the game extremely well. Her experience with the ODP regional pool will be very beneficial in the college game for both her and the team.


Amber Kern
Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Coffman High School), 5-7, Midfielder/Forward

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … finished her high school career with 28 goals and 27 assists (83 points) … First-Team All-Central Division and All-Ohio Capital Conference choice as a senior, when her team was a district and regional champion and a finalist in the state tournament with a 14-6-3 record … team captain and voted team MVP as a senior … senior year was named to the Central Ohio Super 12 team…team closed out her senior season rated No. 20 by ESPN Rise.

Club Soccer: 10-year member of Ohio Premier Eagles team, which was rated by "Got Soccer" No. 1 in Ohio South and No. 2 regionally at the end of the 2009 season. 2009 Disney Showcase finalist, 2010 Midwest Regional League Premier Division second place. 2009 Top Drawer regional player to watch.

ODP: 2004 – 2009 ODP state team. 2004–09 regional camp. 2009 Region II Team Tournament finalist.

Personal: Member of the Honor Roll … plays the piano … born June 19, 1992 in Dayton, Ohio ... daughter of Kerry Kern and Sue Ann Kern ... has two brothers, David and Bradley.

Quoting Coach Pfau: Amber is a dynamic player that can play in the center midfield or upfront. She is a great attacking player but can also win the ball. She will be a very dangerous and will continue to only get better at the collegiate level, with the ability to take over a game. Amber plays for a very talented club and brings a lot of experience to Akron.


Alex Luevano-Harden
Las Vegas, Nev. (Arbor View High School), 5-5, Goalkeeper

High School: Four-year starter and varsity letterwinner … team won the state championship during her senior year, finishing with an 18-1-1 record … named the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior ... recorded 14 shutouts as a senior ... also had 14 shutouts as a junior, the most of any goalkeeper in southern Nevada … Earned All-Northeast Conference and All-Sunset Divison honors as a junior, when her team posted a 14-4-2 record and was a regional semifinalist … Arbor View HS shutout and saves leader as a freshman (10 shutouts, 19 saves) … team was a regional semifinalist during her freshman and sophomore seasons as well.

Club Soccer: Las Vegas Premier Soccer Club ’92 White/Neusport Football Club; 2009 Nevada state champions. 2009 Far West Regional quarterfinalist. 

ODP: 2003-2009 Nevada ODP state team. 2009 Region IV ODP Invitational Camp. 2007 ODP state team was finalist in Regional championships.

Personal: Born Aug. 29, 1992 in Fontana, Calif. ... daughter of Michael Harden and Anadel Harden ... has two sisters, Jordan and Mickelle.

Quoting Coach Pfau: Alex is a very talented 'keeper with a lot of experience and comes from an incredible club. She is hard-working and continues to push herself to get better by attending top goalkeeper camps across the country. Alex’s great work ethic and her experience will benefit our program greatly.

Maggie Rusnak
Canton, Ohio (Jackson High School), 5-8, Midfielder/Defender

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … First-Team All-Federal League … first-team All-district …  first-team all-county … team MVP … Federal League Champions … district champions … regional finalist. 

Club Soccer: Cleveland Internationals … 2008-09 State Cup champions … 2005, 60, 07, 09 USL Super Y League champions … 2008 Region II semi-finalist, 2009 Region II finalist … 2009 US Youth National Championship qualifier.

ODP: 2005-08 Ohio North State team.
 
Personal: Born September, 22, 1991 in Toledo, Ohio ... daughter of Ron and Mary Rusnak ... has one brother (Logan) and two sisters (Mallory and Amelia).

Quoting Coach Pfau: Maggie is a very talented and versatile player. She has poise and control when on the ball and is a determined competitor off it.  Her club, high school, and ODP experiences will be invaluable to our team. I expect her to be challenging for a starting spot from day one of pre-season.

Holly Walton
Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne High School), 5-5, Defender

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner … Second-Team All-Ohio Capital Conference pick in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons … first-team all-district and First-Team All-OCC as a senior.

Club Soccer: Ohio Premier Eagles; Ohio state cup champions 2004 and 2006. Regional semifinalist in 2006. 2008 and 2009 Disney Showcase finalist.

Personal: Born Dec. 18, 1991 in Columbus, Ohio ... daughter of Scott Walton and Heather Walton ... has one brother (Zachary).

Quoting Coach Pfau: Holly plays for a great club and has developed into a very tough defender. She reads the game well and will be able to help generate the attack from the back. Opponents find it very hard to get in behind her, and she is very good at winning tackles.


Emily White
Richfield, Ohio (Revere High School), 5-7, Forward/Midfielder

High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner and starter … led team in goals scored and total points all four years … finished her high school career with 54 goals, 35 assists (143 points) and 29 game-winning goals … First-Team All-District and First-Team All-Suburban League choice as a junior and senior … team captain as a senior … Revere HS was sectional champions during her freshman, sophomore and senior years, and was a district finalist when she was a junior … also lettered four years on the basketball team and earned all-league recognition as a point guard … team leader in assists on the hardwood as a junior (averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.0 assists per game) … Honor Roll student.

Club Soccer: Cleveland Futbol Club; Captain. 

Personal: Knows sign language … father, Mark White, played golf at Akron and mom is Kathy White … born Dec. 22, 1991 in Akron, Ohio.

Quoting Coach Pfau: A very talented forward, Emily has the ability to hold a ball and has excellent speed to get in behind defenders. She is very good at taking players on 1 v 1 and going to goal. She is expected to make an impact from the start.