Valparaiso University women's soccer head coach John Marovich announced today that Katriona Anesini (Seattle, Wash.), Kelsie Bolerjack (Centerville, Ohio), Krista Carlson (Cherry Valley, Ill.), April Cronin (Glenview, Ill.), Danielle DeSciscio (North Royalton, Ohio), Allegra Godfrey (Oshkosh, Wis.), Morgan Manzke (Orland Park, Ill.), Sydney Rumple (Rockford, Ill.), Robin Wenzel (Woodstock, Ill.) and Jordan Young (Mason, Mich.) have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Crusaders, signing National Letters of Intent to enroll as freshmen in the fall of 2013.

"My staff and I are excited about this group of signees because they meet the specific needs for the future success of the program," Marovich said. "This class is bigger than previous classes, but they are fantastic fits to Valparaiso University and our soccer program.  Each player in this class possesses athleticism and competitiveness, while they are all very impactful players on their club teams.  These qualities were important to us, because the level of expectation they have for themselves will translate to success at the collegiate level.  I have no doubt that they will make a big impact as we look ahead to the fall season and throughout their careers.  Academically, this is also a standout group of student-athletes that comes with a lot of academic accolades which truly fits into the set of Valpo Soccer core values."

Katriona Anesini

Position:  Forward           Club Team:  Pacific NW

Height:  5’6”                  Hometown:  Seattle, Wash.

High School:  Ballard       Teams:  Washington ODP

Notable Accomplishments:  A 3 time All-Conference honoree by the King County 4A Conference, member of the Washington State ODP team and 3 year Honors at Biotechnology Academy.

Coach Marovich on Anesini:  “Kat is a technical player who has an attacking mentality.  She looks to take players on, especially in wide positions, creating service into the box and has the ability to penetrate centrally from wide positions.  She is a product of our VIP camp and really stood out with her performance this past summer.” 

Katriona on “Why Valpo”:  “I didn’t originally plan on attending school so far away from home, but once I visited Valpo I was impressed with the campus, the tight-knit Valpo community and the coaching staff. I also like the feel of a smaller college with a low student to teacher ratio.”

Kelsie Bolerjack

Position:  ForwardClub Team:  CUP Crew Jrs

Height:  5’5”            Hometown:  Centerville, Ohio

High School:  Centerville

Notable Accomplishments:  Kelsie led her CUP Crew Jrs club team to a 2011 Ohio South State Cup Semifinal appearance and followed in 2012 with an appearance in the Final.  She competed with her club team in the USYS National League, while the team finished as league runners up in 2011 and 2012 in the MRL Premier Division.  Bolerjack has always played with an elite level club and received outstanding coaching as she started her youth career with Carmel United.  These experiences helped her lead the Centerville squad to one regional, two sectional and two district championships while earning ESPN Fab 50 Team selection.  Kelsie was the recipient of the Jennifer Zappe-Walton Memorial Scholarship Award (2009-2012).

Coach Marovich on Bolerjack:  “Kelsie is a very quick and versatile athlete in this 2013 recruiting class.  Her pace and ability to service the ball into the box will give us another player that can play up and down the flanks, both as a forward and as an outside back.  She has a tremendous attitude and will fit in well with our team and University.”

Kelsie on “Why Valpo”: “I chose Valpo because when I was on campus it felt like home. I love the coaching staff and my future teammates are enjoyable to be around! I feel I will be able to contribute to the team's success. Lastly, I believe the academics will prepare me for life after college.”

Krista Carlson

Position:  DefenderClub Team:  Rockford Raptors

Height:  5’7”Hometown:  Cherry Valley, Ill.

High School:  Rockford Lutheran

Notable Accomplishments:  Carlson led her team to a third-place finish in the Illinois State H.S. soccer tournament while achieving three conference championships and two regional and sectional titles.  She has been an All-Conference honoree and has also been named to the All-State Sectional Team.  Krista has been the team captain of her Rockford Raptors team the last two years.

Marovich on Carlson: “Krista is a composed and consistent central defender.  She handles pressure well and is just simple in her decision making and distribution.  We were impressed with her ability to deal with pressure and to continually make solid decisions.  This composure will serve her well in the transition to the collegiate game.”

Krista on “Why Valpo”:  “The reason I chose to attend and play soccer at Valparaiso is because it offers everything I was looking for in a college. I knew that Valparaiso would challenge me academically as well as challenge me on the field. Valparaiso felt like the obvious choice for me because of the family-like environment. Although it has a family-like environment, it also has a competitive atmosphere that serves to better the students in all areas of life, and this atmosphere was what I wanted most in a college.”

April Cronin

Position:  ForwardClub Team:  FC United

Height:  5’7”Hometown:  Glenview, Ill.

High School:  Glenbrook South

Notable Accomplishments:  Cronin was a key contributor and the leading goal-scorer (26 goals) on the Glenbrook South team which earned a fourth-place finish at the IHSA Class 3A State Tournament.  She was named to the Pioneer Press North Stars First Team (2012) and Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Second Team (2012).  April led her FC United Club team to an Illinois State Cup Final in 2011 while being ranked 30^th in the nation.   Her accomplishments went beyond state cup, as she helped her team win the Disney Showcase in 2011, as well as earn semifinal berths in CASL, Surf Cup and Arizona President’s Day tournaments.  

Marovich on Cronin:  “April has a fantastic ability to make very effective runs off the ball.  This is the first thing I noticed about her and what separates her from most attacking players.  She has proven that she can score goals at the top level by her club and high school success, but mainly it is because of the detailed runs she makes throughout a game.  She is a true competitor and this attitude should make her very successful as she enters her collegiate career.”

April on “Why Valpo”: “I chose Valpo because it seemed the perfect fit for me. Valpo is an hour and 45 minutes from home and I wanted to stay close to my family. Valpo is a great school educationally with a great medical and nursing program, which I am looking into. The team is also very talented and the coaching staff seemed very professional and willing to take a risk with me, to help push me into reaching my full potential. I love the team and my fellow recruits; I can already feel the team chemistry.”

Danielle DeSciscio

Position:  Defender/MidfieldClub Team:  Internationals - ECNL

Height:  5’7”Hometown:  North Royalton, Ohio

High School:  North Royalton

Notable Accomplishments:  Danielle earned Northeast Ohio All-Conference accolades in 2011 and 2012.  She is currently leading her Internationals ECNL team in their first year in the league.

Marovich on DeSciscio:  “Danielle was someone that we saw and immediately knew that she had a bright future.  She is an outstanding athlete that is a tenacious defender and has a tremendous ability to win head balls.  She has continued to grow as a player in the Internationals system.  It is great to have another recruit playing every day at such a high level.”

Allegra Godfrey

Position:  ForwardClub Team:   Wisconsin Eclipse -  ECNL

Height:  5’5”Hometown:  Oshkosh, Wis.

High School:  OshkoshTeam:  Wisconsin ODP

Notable Accomplishments:  An Honorable Mention selection by the Fox Valley Association as a freshman at Oshkosh H.S., Godfrey is also leading her Wisconsin Eclipse ECNL team this season.

Marovich on Godfrey:  “Allegra was the player that just kept catching our eye in the recruiting process.  She always seemed to do something that was impactful in the game for her ECNL team.  The final factor was when we saw how competitive she was at our VIP camp.  She competed in every activity and has a tremendous desire to succeed.  We are excited to have her personality and attitude in our program.  She fits the mold of so many former successful players at Valpo.”

Morgan Manzke

Position:  MidfieldClub Team:  Windy City Pride

Height:  5’7”Hometown:  Orland Park, Ill.

High School:  Carl Sandburg

Notable Accomplishments:  Manzke has led Carl Sandburg H.S. in scoring the last two seasons, and has three times been named an All-Southwest Suburban Conference selection.  She also twice earned Southtown Star – Chicago Fire All-Area Team accolades and was also an All-State Selection.

Marovich on Manzke:  “Morgan is a student of the game - that soccer junkie that is looking to play all the time.  She is a possession oriented midfielder who is always aware of her positioning around the ball.  She is another of our VIP campers that stood out during the week from a competitive and athletic standpoint.  It was enjoyable to work with her because of her interest to take in everything the coaches were giving her.  We are looking forward to having her in the program.”

Sydney Rumple

Position:  MidfieldClub Team:  FC United

Height:  5’6”Hometown:  Rockford, Ill.

High School:  Boylan Central Catholic

Notable Accomplishments:  Rumple earned All Northern Illinois Conference-10 recognition in 2012 and was also an All-Sectional selection while leading her Boylan Central Catholic H.S. team.

Marovich on Rumple:  “Sydney has a tremendous work rate and has a great sense of positioning to keep possession in the middle of the park.  We were most impressed with her movement and decision making under pressure.  Her sense of problem solving has always impressed us.

Robin Wenzel

Position:  ForwardClub Team:  Crystal Lake Force Elite

Height:  5’3Hometown:  Woodstock, Ill.

High School:  Marian Central Catholic

Notable Accomplishments:  Wenzel led her Marian Central Catholic team to an IHSA Class 2A State runner-up finish in 2011, along the way earning NW Herald All-Area First Team and All-Conference honors, as well as being named the Offensive Player of the Year.  She followed up in 2012 as team captain, leading her squad to a IHSA Class 2A regional championship and repeating as an All-Area and All-Conference selection.  Wenzel travelled to Spain with Three Lions Internationals in 2011.  She led her club team to two third-place finishes in Super Y League Nationals in 2009 and 2010, and was also named a Super Y League ODP National Player.

Marovich on Wenzel:  “Robin’s pace and athleticism is her strength.  She is a true attacking player.  She has an outstanding ability to find the little pockets of space in the attacking third of the field.  We are excited about her potential to score goals and creating space by her willingness to move off the ball.”

Robin on “Why Valpo”:  “I chose Valpo because of its great academic reputation, its proximity to Chicago, and the competitive schedule the women's soccer team plays in and out of conference.  I liked the size of the school and the family atmosphere the team shared with one another.  After meeting with Coach Marovich and Coach Vella and spending time with some of the current team, I realized Valpo had what I was looking for.  They want to see us succeed both on and off the field. I look forward to starting my collegiate career on the field and in classroom at Valparaiso. “

Jordan Young

Position:  DefenderClub Team:  Vardar  - ECNL

Height:  5’4”Hometown:  Mason, Mich.

High School:  Mason

Notable Accomplishments:   Jordan has been recognized by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association as an All-District team selection in 2011 and 2012 and was also selected to the All-Regional team in 2012.  She will be playing her senior season at Mason this spring as the team captain.  She has also earned All-Conference honors each of the last two years.  Young has earned the Mason High School Athletic Achievement Award which recognizes the individual with the highest goals and assists combination.

Coach Marovich on Young:  “Jordan is an outstanding athlete that impressed us every time we saw her play.  She stood out during our VIP camp, where we got to experience her personality and not just the soccer ability.  We knew at that point that Jordan was a fantastic fit for our University and our program.  She is a versatile player with an excellent skill set which will enable us to see which third of the field she will help us the most.”

Jordan on “Why Valpo”:   “I started my recruiting process early; I knew I wanted a school that had academic quality and a soccer coach that I could relate to/connect to.  I visited many schools and got to know many coaches.  Early in the fall of 2011, I had my decision down to two schools:  Valparaiso University and Central Michigan University.  I visited both schools several times.  In October of 2011, I chose Valpo based on several factors:  the outstanding academics/academic reputation, the University’s safety record, the fact that an academic advisor was willing to meet with me on a Saturday morning for several hours (when I knew she had young children at home and was giving up her precious personal time) therefore showing me the employees at the university truly love the school, the women’s soccer team camaraderie and commitment, and of course, the Valpo coaching staff.  I think Coach Marovich and Assistant Coach Vella are sincerely dedicated to the Valparaiso women’s soccer program, and they both are driven and require excellence from the players; qualities I was looking for in the coaching staff.”