Women's Soccer 2/5/2018 1:21:00 PM

Women's Soccer expands family by 10

Loretto, Pa. – Head coach Brenda van Stralen of the Saint Francis women's soccer team continues to bring in elite talent to Loretto. Winners of four of the last seven NEC Championships, and two in a row, the Red Flash have added 10 new signees for the 2018 fall season.

"This class is deep and versatile," said van Stralen. "I expect certain members of this class to come in and immediately push our returning players for playing time as we continue to improve the quality and depth of our program."

Once again, van Stralen has plucked some of the top talent in the region as all 10 signees hail from the states of Pennsylvania or Maryland. The class has familiarity with each other with many teammates at the club and high school level joining one another in Loretto. Meet your newest members of the Red Flash family below:

	#24 M \| Ana Barone \| Loyalsock, Pa. \| Continental FC A high school teammate of Rhialle Jessell at Loyalsock, Barone was a 2016 Sun-Gazette First Team Soccer All-Star Midfielder and a 2016 Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference Soccer First Team Midfielder. She also earned Sun-Gazette and PHAC All-Conference First Team honors in 2015. Her team was PIAA Soccer Western Region Champions and State Runner-Ups during her career as she was named the Loyalsock Girls' Varsity Soccer Player of the Year in 2014. Van Stralen on Barone - "Ana is a good fit for the style we play. She reads the game well and has good technique. We are excited to watch her grow over her four years."
	# 31 F \| Leanna Choo \| Germantown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Choo, a former ODP Maryland and Region I Team member, plays her club soccer for FC Girondins de Bordeaux. The team is currently ranked #1 in the State of Maryland and was State Cup finalists in 2017. They also won the ESPN Disney Showcase Cup in 2016 and 2017. At Northwest High School, Choo was the top scorer as a freshman and junior leading her team to the Regional Finals in 2014 and 2015 and Divisional Championships in 2014 and 2016. A 4.2 student, Choo enjoyed a distinguished high school track career, winning the 4 x 800 relay silver medal at the Maryland 4a State Indoor Championship and a bronze medal in the same race at the outdoor championship. Van Stralen on Choo - "Leanna loves to attack and use her great speed. She brings contagious energy and is relentless going forward with a thirst to score goals."
	#16 F \| Alyssa Deschler \| Allentown, Pa. \| West-Mont United SC Deschler was a four-year letterwinner at Allentown Central Catholic High School where she scored 24 career goals and added 11 career assists. A co-captain as a senior, she was nominated as a top goal scorer in the Lehigh Valley area as her team was PA District XI Soccer Championship silver medalists. Deschler scored her team's only goal in the finals. Additionally, she was a Lehigh Valley Live All-Area Soccer Team Honorable Mention selection. Deschler spent three years with Lehigh Valley United Soccer Club where she was a PA Winter Classic Tournament Champion and Mainline Friendlies Tournament Champion. Her club also competed in friendlies in Spain and France. She spent last season with West-Mont Scocer Club. The team was Premier Cup Under Armour Girls Showcase Finalists. Van Stralen on Deschler - "Alyssa is a speedy forward who will be a dynamic player in the NEC as her physical ability continues to improve. We are excited to get her on campus."
	#2 D \| Aleigh Heckman \| Sunbury, Pa. \| North Union United Strikers Heckman was a four-year starter and four-time Defensive Player of the Year for Shikellamy High School. She earned all league honors all four years, landing on the first team as a sophomore and senior and second team as a freshman and junior. She also was a four-time Daily Item All-Star. Van Stralen on Heckman - "Aleigh is an athletic defender who can play anywhere along the back line. Her versatility and ability to play multiple positions will allow her to excel during her four seasons."
	#10 MF \| Rhialle Jessell \| Williamsport, Pa. \| North Union United Strikers Jessell, a four-year letter winner at Loyalsock High School was also a four-year PHAC First Team All-Conference selection. Loyalsock was PIAA "A" State Runner Ups her sophomore year. Jessie was named Williamsport Sun-Gazette Player of the Year in 2015 and 2017, finishing her four-year career with 64 goals and 45 assists. Twenty of her 64 goals were game-winners. Jessell captains her North Union United Club Team. The team won the PA Indoor and Outdoor State Cup Championship in 2016 and the Jefferson Cup in 2017. She is the National Honor Society Treasurer and a Distinguished Honor Roll member all four years. Van Stralen on Jessell - "Rhialle is a strong player who excels at holding the ball and picking out the right pass. She will give us tremendous depth in the midfield."
	# 18 F \| Heather Markiewicz \| Darnestown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Markiewicz plays club for FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA, competing in the top division of the Eastern Regional League. A co-captain, she led the club to the Maryland State Cup finals in 2017 and a number one ranking in the state of Maryland. Her club travelled abroad to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Van Stralen on Heather Markiewicz- "Heather is a technical player who is clever at getting herself into scoring positions. She will make an impact for us in the attack next season."
	#32 D \| Jordan Markiewicz \| Darnestown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Jordan will be joining sister Heather on campus this fall. Like Heather, she plays club for FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA, competing in the top division of the Eastern Regional League. A team captain, she led the club to the Maryland State Cup finals in 2017 and a number one ranking in the state of Maryland. Her club travelled abroad to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Van Stralen on Jordan Markiewicz - "Jordan is a tough defender who comes in with a winning pedigree. We are excited to watch her develop and help our back line."
	#9 F \| Alex Martinez \| Baltimore, Md. \| Baltimore Union Martinez started playing club soccer with Baltimore Bays and is currently with Baltimore Union. The Union won the 2017 EDP League, while also ranking 1st in Maryland and 26th nationally. Martinez was a four-year letter winner at Maryvale Prep, twice receiving the IAAM Athlete of the Week. She also was named IAAM All-Conference all four seasons in soccer and track. She qualifying for the New Balance High School Outdoor Nationals in Long Jump as a freshman and holds the high school record for long jump. Van Stralen on Martinez - "Alex brings creativity and pace to the attack. She knows how to put a defense under pressure and will be able to impact the game in many facets."
	#29 D \| Yngara Pehoua-Dupervil \| Loyalsock, Pa. \| Continental FC Pehoua-Dupervil is the fourth member of the class to play club with Girondins Bordeaux USA. With the club, she has trained with former professional Niša Saveljic, a formal footballer from the 90s on the FC Girondins Bordeaux French Club and trained overseas in Barcelona, Spain at the RCD Espanyol. She played one season at Richard Montgomery High School, earning Honorable Mention honors. Van Stralen on Pehoua-Dupervil - "Yngara is really composed on the ball and can play multiple positions. As she becomes more comfortable in the collegiate game, I envision her as a dynamic attacker out of the back."
	#30 MF \| Corinne Renninger \| Bechtelsville, Pa. \| FC Europa Renninger is one of the top talents to come out of the Lehigh Valley. A four-time all-conference selection at Boyertown High School, she earned second team honors as a freshman and sophomore and first team honors in her final two seasons as well as the Team MVP Award. She was a captain for Lehigh Valley United's club team and joined FC Europa this season. Van Stralen on Renninger- "Corinne is a very talented and versatile player. Not only is she a playmaker in the middle of the field but she is also a ball-winner. Her skillset will allow her to be an immediate contributor for us next fall."

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	#24 M \| Ana Barone \| Loyalsock, Pa. \| Continental FC A high school teammate of Rhialle Jessell at Loyalsock, Barone was a 2016 Sun-Gazette First Team Soccer All-Star Midfielder and a 2016 Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference Soccer First Team Midfielder. She also earned Sun-Gazette and PHAC All-Conference First Team honors in 2015. Her team was PIAA Soccer Western Region Champions and State Runner-Ups during her career as she was named the Loyalsock Girls' Varsity Soccer Player of the Year in 2014. Van Stralen on Barone - "Ana is a good fit for the style we play. She reads the game well and has good technique. We are excited to watch her grow over her four years."
	# 31 F \| Leanna Choo \| Germantown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Choo, a former ODP Maryland and Region I Team member, plays her club soccer for FC Girondins de Bordeaux. The team is currently ranked #1 in the State of Maryland and was State Cup finalists in 2017. They also won the ESPN Disney Showcase Cup in 2016 and 2017. At Northwest High School, Choo was the top scorer as a freshman and junior leading her team to the Regional Finals in 2014 and 2015 and Divisional Championships in 2014 and 2016. A 4.2 student, Choo enjoyed a distinguished high school track career, winning the 4 x 800 relay silver medal at the Maryland 4a State Indoor Championship and a bronze medal in the same race at the outdoor championship. Van Stralen on Choo - "Leanna loves to attack and use her great speed. She brings contagious energy and is relentless going forward with a thirst to score goals."
	#16 F \| Alyssa Deschler \| Allentown, Pa. \| West-Mont United SC Deschler was a four-year letterwinner at Allentown Central Catholic High School where she scored 24 career goals and added 11 career assists. A co-captain as a senior, she was nominated as a top goal scorer in the Lehigh Valley area as her team was PA District XI Soccer Championship silver medalists. Deschler scored her team's only goal in the finals. Additionally, she was a Lehigh Valley Live All-Area Soccer Team Honorable Mention selection. Deschler spent three years with Lehigh Valley United Soccer Club where she was a PA Winter Classic Tournament Champion and Mainline Friendlies Tournament Champion. Her club also competed in friendlies in Spain and France. She spent last season with West-Mont Scocer Club. The team was Premier Cup Under Armour Girls Showcase Finalists. Van Stralen on Deschler - "Alyssa is a speedy forward who will be a dynamic player in the NEC as her physical ability continues to improve. We are excited to get her on campus."
	#2 D \| Aleigh Heckman \| Sunbury, Pa. \| North Union United Strikers Heckman was a four-year starter and four-time Defensive Player of the Year for Shikellamy High School. She earned all league honors all four years, landing on the first team as a sophomore and senior and second team as a freshman and junior. She also was a four-time Daily Item All-Star. Van Stralen on Heckman - "Aleigh is an athletic defender who can play anywhere along the back line. Her versatility and ability to play multiple positions will allow her to excel during her four seasons."
	#10 MF \| Rhialle Jessell \| Williamsport, Pa. \| North Union United Strikers Jessell, a four-year letter winner at Loyalsock High School was also a four-year PHAC First Team All-Conference selection. Loyalsock was PIAA "A" State Runner Ups her sophomore year. Jessie was named Williamsport Sun-Gazette Player of the Year in 2015 and 2017, finishing her four-year career with 64 goals and 45 assists. Twenty of her 64 goals were game-winners. Jessell captains her North Union United Club Team. The team won the PA Indoor and Outdoor State Cup Championship in 2016 and the Jefferson Cup in 2017. She is the National Honor Society Treasurer and a Distinguished Honor Roll member all four years. Van Stralen on Jessell - "Rhialle is a strong player who excels at holding the ball and picking out the right pass. She will give us tremendous depth in the midfield."
	# 18 F \| Heather Markiewicz \| Darnestown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Markiewicz plays club for FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA, competing in the top division of the Eastern Regional League. A co-captain, she led the club to the Maryland State Cup finals in 2017 and a number one ranking in the state of Maryland. Her club travelled abroad to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Van Stralen on Heather Markiewicz- "Heather is a technical player who is clever at getting herself into scoring positions. She will make an impact for us in the attack next season."
	#32 D \| Jordan Markiewicz \| Darnestown, Md. \| FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA Jordan will be joining sister Heather on campus this fall. Like Heather, she plays club for FC Girondins de Bordeaux USA, competing in the top division of the Eastern Regional League. A team captain, she led the club to the Maryland State Cup finals in 2017 and a number one ranking in the state of Maryland. Her club travelled abroad to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Van Stralen on Jordan Markiewicz - "Jordan is a tough defender who comes in with a winning pedigree. We are excited to watch her develop and help our back line."
	#9 F \| Alex Martinez \| Baltimore, Md. \| Baltimore Union Martinez started playing club soccer with Baltimore Bays and is currently with Baltimore Union. The Union won the 2017 EDP League, while also ranking 1st in Maryland and 26th nationally. Martinez was a four-year letter winner at Maryvale Prep, twice receiving the IAAM Athlete of the Week. She also was named IAAM All-Conference all four seasons in soccer and track. She qualifying for the New Balance High School Outdoor Nationals in Long Jump as a freshman and holds the high school record for long jump. Van Stralen on Martinez - "Alex brings creativity and pace to the attack. She knows how to put a defense under pressure and will be able to impact the game in many facets."
	#29 D \| Yngara Pehoua-Dupervil \| Loyalsock, Pa. \| Continental FC Pehoua-Dupervil is the fourth member of the class to play club with Girondins Bordeaux USA. With the club, she has trained with former professional Niša Saveljic, a formal footballer from the 90s on the FC Girondins Bordeaux French Club and trained overseas in Barcelona, Spain at the RCD Espanyol. She played one season at Richard Montgomery High School, earning Honorable Mention honors. Van Stralen on Pehoua-Dupervil - "Yngara is really composed on the ball and can play multiple positions. As she becomes more comfortable in the collegiate game, I envision her as a dynamic attacker out of the back."
	#30 MF \| Corinne Renninger \| Bechtelsville, Pa. \| FC Europa Renninger is one of the top talents to come out of the Lehigh Valley. A four-time all-conference selection at Boyertown High School, she earned second team honors as a freshman and sophomore and first team honors in her final two seasons as well as the Team MVP Award. She was a captain for Lehigh Valley United's club team and joined FC Europa this season. Van Stralen on Renninger- "Corinne is a very talented and versatile player. Not only is she a playmaker in the middle of the field but she is also a ball-winner. Her skillset will allow her to be an immediate contributor for us next fall."