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Maine Women's Soccer Receives Nine Commitments
June 5, 2006 ORONO, Maine-- University of Maine women's soccer coach Scott Atherley announced today that his program has received nine commitments for the 2006 season. The Black Bears have received National Letters of Intent from Hailey Blackburn (York, Maine), Cristina Di Ielsi (Laval, Quebec), Veronique Fleury (Montreal, Quebec), Anjelica Hodgson (Nepean, Ontario), Laura Martel (Lewiston, Maine) and Kaitlind Smith (Gloucester, Ontario). Jaymie Coulston (Scarborough, Maine), Katie DeLong (Presque Isle, Maine) and Kylan Smith (Presque Isle, Maine) have also committed to Maine and will join the Black Bears in the fall to 2006. Maine's recruiting class was ranked seventh in the northeast out of 41 teams by Soccer Buzz Online. The Black Bears had the 84th best recruiting class in the nation according to the site out of 310 teams. "This class rivals any that we have attracted to our program in recent history," said Atherley "I think we have addressed our positional needs adequately, and we have improved our overall athleticism as a team. Many of these young women will compete for starting spots, immediately. The great news is that we have a strong nucleus of veteran players returning, and we will not have to depend on first-year players to carry us." Blackburn is a defender who was captain for head coach Wally Caldwell last season at York High School. She was named three-time All-Conference and All-State selection. Blackburn was also named a SYL Super Y ODP Regional All-Star in 2005. She was a Seacoast United School of Excellence Selection a year ago. She was also selected to the USYSA ODP Region I Team. Blackburn is also a standout in track and basketball. "Hailey possesses many outstanding physical and technical qualities," said Atherley. "She is an excellent individual defender, and she is physically tough. Her athleticism, combined with her tenacious mentality will enable her to compete for a starting spot immediately." De Ielsi was a three-year captain and competed for Vincent Massey Collegiate and Dawson College as a defender. She also played for Les Conquerants Club team. Her team finished as provincial championship twice. De Ielsi was selected most valuable player of her high school team four years in a row. She is currently playing for the W-League Laval Comets, and has also played for the Quebec National Training Center, the Provincial Team and played in the Canada Games. "Christina is a versatile defender who can play centrally or on the outside," said Atherley. "She has size, speed and technique. She is exceptional on the ball and is adept at getting into the attack. She will impact our defensive line, immediately." Veronique Fleury is a midfielder who played in the Quebec elite league. Last season, she scored 14 goals in 15 games. Last summer she played in the Canada games. Fleury has competed in national tournaments while in the Quebec elite league. She is a former Canada U-17 National Team Pool member and part of the Quebec National Training Center. She has been named among the Top 25 International recruits by Soccer Buzz Magazine. "Veronique is a talented forward who is dangerous in one-on-one situations," said Atherley. She has exceptional vision and touch. She is hard to stop because she can beat you in many ways. She will be one of the premiere forwards in our conference, immediately." Hodgson was a two-year captain at John McCrae Secondary School. A defender, Hodgson was captain for the Ottawa Fury U17 Team which finished as Woodbridge Showcase champions. She also played for the Fury in 2004 which finished second and competed in the North American finals. Hodgson is currently playing the W-League Ottawa Fury. She is also a standout in ice hockey, field hockey and volleyball. "Angelica is big, strong and aggressive," said Atherley. She is exceptional in the air, and she possesses great communication skills. She reminds me of a young Linda Consolante. Angelica will impact our back line immediately." Martel was named the 2005 NSCAA/adidas Girl High School Player of the Year for the State of Maine. She was also named to the 2005 NSCAA/adidas Girl HS All-America team. She was named to the Maine Regional All-Star Team and also named All-State. She was named to the Super Y Divisional ODP Team. "Laura is a gifted finisher who has great ability to score goals," said Atherley. "She is composed and confident around the goal, and possesses the necessary vision to create opportunities for her teammates. She will be looked upon to contribute to our attacking needs right away." Kaitlind Smith is a midfielder and two-year captain for her Colonel By Secondary School team. She finished as the leading scorer on her high school team as a senior. Her team finished as 2005 finalists in AAA senior girls soccer. She also competed in volleyball, cross country and alpine skiing in high school. "Kaitlind is a technically gifted player," said Atherley. She has a great first touch, and her vision makes her effective at distributing the ball from midfield. She is also very tenacious and she will enable us to win balls in the center of the park." Coulston is a goalkeeper who played for Scarborough High School. In 2005, she posted eight shutouts and set the school record for career shutouts with 19. The team posted a record of 13-1 in 2004 with a 11-game winning streak and posted 11 shutouts in 2003 where she allowed just four goals all season. Plays club soccer for Odyssey Sport which finished as Maine State Region One champions in 2003 and 2005. She was an honorable mention goalkeeper in 2005. Coulston is also a standout in track and field. "Jaymie gives us great depth at the keeper position," said Atherley. "She is technical, and very athletic. She will make our keeper situation very competitive." DeLong was two-year captain for Ralph Michaud at Presque Isle High School. A forward, DeLong scored a school-record 57 goals in her high school career. Presque Isle finished as the 2004 Eastern Maine runners up. She was named first team All-Conference, All-Eastern Maine, All-State and All-New England. She was named Class B Player of the Year. She also plays on the Blackbear United Football Club. DeLong was named the Big East Player of the Year and a finalist for the Miss Basketball Award. "Katie is a phenomenal athlete," said Atherley. "Her physical qualities will enable her to compete for playing time, immediately. She is going to surprise a lot of people." Kylan Smith was a two-year captain for Ralph Michaud at Presque Island High School. She scored 28 goals and added 21 assists in her high school career, including 14 as a senior. Presque Isle finished as Eastern Maine runners up in 2004. She is a three-time all-state selection in soccer. Smith also plays soccer for Blackbear United Football Club. She has also earned all-state honors in basketball. "Kylan is great athlete who has terrific potential to impact our success," said Atherley. "She possesses excellent skills and her work ethic is exceptional."
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