March 13, 2008
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego head women's soccer coach Ada Greenwood has announced the additions of eight players to the women's soccer team for the 2008 season.
Signing National Letters of Intent with the Toreros are Stephanie Ochs (San Diego, CA/Patrick Henry HS), Danielle Russell (Long Beach, CA/Wilson HS), Maggie McGuire (Anchorage, AL/West Anchorage HS), Courtney Parsons (Rohnert Park, CA/Ursuline HS), Natalie Garcia (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual HS), Alexis Doel (Ladera Ranch, CA/Alisa Niguel HS) and Elissa Magracia (Chula Visat, CA/Bonia Vista HS). Also joining the Toreros will be Jacqueline Zinke, a transfer from the University of Arizona.
Ochs has played for the Surf Soccer club and helped lead the team to the Surf Cup Championship in 2006. She was also a member of the Olympic Development Program and was a Regional Pool selection in both 2005 and 2006 as well as a State Team member in the same years. In 2006, she was an ODP Region 4 champion, a OPD National champion, and in 2007 she was a ODP Region 4 champion and a ODP national finalist. In high school, she was named the Eastern League Player of the year as a senior, was named first-team All-league as a junior and senior and as a junior was named a second-team All-CIF honoree.
"Stephanie is another great athlete with pace in this class who will play up front. She brings a high level experience to score goals and has exceptional abilities in the final third," stated Greenwood. "She has all the attributes to be a top level forward for the future here at USD."
Russell, a defender, has plays for the Infinity Club team and was a member of the ODP State team in both 2006 and 2007. She was a Region IV pool member in 2006. While playing at Wilson High School, she was named first-team All-CIF as a junior and was named her conference Player of the Year as a junior and senior. She was also selected to the Press Telegram's first-team Dream-Team in 2007.
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"Dani is a very strong defensive player who can play wide or central in the back. She reads and plays the game extremely well and brings a high level of experience from Club and ODP," said Greenwood. "She is a top level player and we are very excited about her future here at USD."
McGuire comes to USD after a standout career at West Anchorage High School. She was also a member of the eight-time state champion Alaska Rush club team and was a Region IV ODP tem member. She took home first-team All-Conference honors in high school all four years and was named her league's offensive MVP all four years as well. McGuire also played tennis and ran track and field at WAHS.
"We are very excited about Maggie for the future here with the Toreros. She is a great goal scorer, added with her pace and abilities to finish in the final third," said Greenwood. "Like this whole class, she is a very experienced player with club and ODP."
Parsons, a goalkeeper from Ursuline HS, has been a member of the Santa Rosa Club team and was an ODP Region IV player. She was an ODP National Development Camp member and was named first-team All-Conference as a junior in high school. In 2006, she helped lead Ursuline High School to a No. 1 national ranking.
"Courtney is very strong goalkeeper who will add depth and experience to the Toreros in the goal," said Greenwood. "Her playing career with club and ODP added with her athletic abilities for the future is excellent."
Garcia, a defender from San Pasqual High School, also played for the Surf Club team. She helped lead her club team reach the state cup finals four times and won two regional championship titles. She was also a member of the Cal South ODP from 2004-06 and an ODP Regional Pool member in 2006.
"Natalie is a high level defender who makes great decisions on and off the ball and can play in the midfield as well. She will add even more strength to the team defensively and in the midfield," stated Greenwood. "She will bring a special quality and experience to the Toreros for the future."
Doel comes to USD after a stand-out career at Alisa Niguel HS, where she was a first-team All-CIF selection as a senior and was a scholar athlete. She also played for the SoCal Blues club team. During her time with the SoCal Blues, she helped lead the team to the 2005 national championship and the 2007 Premier League Cup Championship.
"Alexis is an outstanding athlete and an extremely versatile player. She has great pace and will add even more depth and experience to the roster," stated Greenwood. "She brings a wealth of potential for the future for the Toreros."
Magracia, comes to USD fro nearby Chula Vista. She was named as the Mesa League Player of the Year during her junior and senior seasons. As a junior she was a second-team All-CIF selection, and helped lead her team to back-to-back league championships. She was also a member of the Surf Club team and helped lead her team to the 2006 state cup championship in 2006 and to a regional championship in 2005.
"Elissa is an extremely creative player and has an outstanding ability to read the opposition and play through them. She is a total soccer player and can play in the midfield and up front," stated Greenwood. "She consistently shows up in the final third, scoring goals and playmaking for her team. We are very excited about Elissa at USD"
Zinke joins the Toreros following a promising season with the Wildcats, in which she was a mainstay in the midfield, helping the team to a 6-13-1 overall record. During her first collegiate season she tallied two assists for two points and was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team.
