LORETTO, Pa. - The Saint Francis women's soccer team captured its third NEC title in the last seven years in 2016 and, with nine starters returning, is poised to compete for another title in 2017. Still, head coach Brenda van Stralen continues to reload talent as she has signed an impressive nine-member class that will immediately improve the depth and quality of the 2017 squad.
 
"We are very excited about our class of 2017, said van Stralen. "Each of these players brings a high level of talent and experience, which will help us build on the success of this past season. Most importantly, they are tremendous additions to our Red Flash soccer family and will help us strengthen the soccer culture we have established here at Saint Francis."
 
Coach van Stralen continues to thrive in recruiting Pennsylvania talent as seven of the nine signees are from the state. The other two members of the class hail from Maryland. The class is well-balanced with five midfielders, two forwards, a defender and a goalkeeper.
 

	5-4 Defender Erica Carpenter (Abingdon, Md./Notre Dame Prep)   A member of the Maryland ODP State Team from 2012-16 and an ODP Regional Team player from 2014-16, Carpenter played her club soccer for Penn Fusion ECNL, qualifying for the ECNL National Playoffs twice.  She went on numerous international trips with the Region I ODP Team and Boca.   Carpenter was a two-time all-county and all-division honoree at Lock Raven High School before transferring to Notre Dame Prep, where she earned first team all-state, all-conference and all-metro accolades as a senior.   Brenda van Stralen on Carpenter – "Erica is a very solid defender and a great competitor. She will make an immediate impact on our team."
	5-3 Midfielder Teresa Reid  (Northeast, Md./Rising Sun)   Reid is a Maryland ODP Team member from 2013-16 and a Region One Pool Player from 2014-16. She starred for Kirkwood Soccer Club, the top ranked club in the state and Maryland State Cup champions in 2016.  She is another player who competed with Boca in an International Regional event.   Reid was a standout at Rising Sun High School where she garnered all-county honors three times and was named the County Player of the Year as a junior. She tallied 16 goals and added 15 assists in her first three varsity seasons before missing her senior year with an injury. She carried a 4.84 GPA in high school.   Brenda van Stralen on Reid – "Teresa is a very technical and tidy player on the ball. She has  tremendous awareness, a great feel for the game and is a very smart player."
	5-4 Midfielder Sam Jankowski (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia Area)   Jankowski starred for NU United Dynamo, the top ranked club team in Pennsylvania and the 12th ranked team in the nation.   She was a four-year letterwinner at Southern Columbia Area High School where she scored 11 goals and added 10 assists, earning all-league honors three times including first team honors as a senior. She was named a News Intern All Star and a 2016 Allstate Nominee.   Brenda van Stralen on Jankowski – "Sam is another player who will come in and add depth to our midfield. She is a versatile player who can play many roles across the midfield."
	5-5 Goalkeeper Morgan O'Loughlin (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West)   O'Loughlin is high school teammates with Sheehan at Downingtown West High School. A three-year letterwinner and team captain as a senior. she was voted team MVP in her junior and senior seasons and was a Chestmont First Team All-Conference selection and Daily Local News All-Area Team selection as a senior. She posted 27 shutouts in 37 games over her final two high school seasons.   O'Loughlin played her club soccer with Continental FC ECNL before joining Vincent United.   Brenda van Stralen on O'Loughlin – "Morgan is a technically-solid goalkeeper who will come in and challenge for playing time immediately."
	5-9 Forward Dakota Graham (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area)   Graham enjoyed a stellar prep career at Phoenixville Area High School, recording 35 career goals and 35 career assists. She set the single season assist record with 16 as a senior as well as the career mark and was awarded the Senior Excellence Award by the NSCAA as well as the Wendy Heisman Award. She earned all-conference honors in 2014 and 2015 and was first team all-division in 2016. Graham was also named Second Team All-Mercury Area three times.   She is club teammates with Morgan O'Loughlin at Vincent United, where she was a five-time team captain. The club reached the 2015 State Cup finals.   Brenda van Stralen on Graham – "Dakota is a very physically strong forward who can hold off defenders and link up play in possession. We are excited to see what she can do for us in front of goal."
	5-7 Midfielder Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley)   Barnett was a co-captain for LDC United Galaxy, the No. 2 ranked club team in the State of Pennsylvania and 2016 State Cup finalists.   She was a four-year letterwinner at Cumberland Valley, winning three district championships. A captain as a senior, Barnett earned All-Sentinel First Team honors, Mid-Penn Commonwealth First Team honors and second team all-district honors.   Brenda van Stralen on Barnett – "Emilee is very good both tactically and technically. She will immediately improve the overall quality of our side."
	5-6 Midfielder Aubrey Suydam (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township)   Suydam went to the 2016 State Cup finals with LDC United and classmate Emilee Barnett.   A four-year letterwinner at Manheim Township High School, she earned Lancaster Lebanon All-League honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.  For her career, she compiled 28 goals and 23 assists, including 13 goals and 11 assists as a senior as Manheim Township went 23-3.   Brenda van Stralen on Suydam – "Aubrey is a great athlete and has good composure on the ball. She will make us more dynamic in the attack as soon as she steps foot on campus."
	5-5 Forward Camryn Tirado (Deptford, N.J./Deptford)   Tirado led Deptford High School to its best season in school history as a senior as the Spartans went 17-4-1. She was a huge reason for the team's success as she scored 26 goals and added eight assists on the year, earning First Team Tri-County All-Conference and Third Team All-South Jersey honors.   Tirado led her club team, SJEB Rush, to top four finishes in the New Jersey State Cup in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Over the three seasons, she amassed 42 goals and 65 assists to earn club MVP honors in 2013 and 2014.   Brenda van Stralen on Tirado – "Camryn is very strong technically and has a nose for the goal. She has proven that she has the ability to score goals and we expect her to continue to do so at Saint Francis."
	5-3 Midfielder Casey Sheehan (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown West)   Sheehan was a two-time honorable mention all-county honoree at Downingtown West High School where she captained the Whippets to a 39-9-2 record in her three varsity seasons. Under her leadership, Downingtown advanced to the District Finals and State Cup Quarterfinals in 2015.   Sheehan captained her club team, Continental FC Delco ECNL.   Brenda van Stralen on Sheehan - "Casey is a reliable player who will come in and give our midfield great depth. We are excited to watch her develop over her four seasons."