Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2009 Incoming Student-Athletes



Below are profiles, photos, and coaches comments for the newest members of the Cal State Stanislaus Women's Soccer Team. The Warriors signed a total of 11 players, all from California. The Warriors are coming off of a record-breaking season offensively. Cal State Stanislaus scored the most goals, posted the most assists, and gathered the most points in the program's history. The Warriors were also ranked in the Top 25 nationally and posted another winning season.

I'm absolutely thrilled about this recruiting class. Losing seven seniors is always tough. However, our team will be young and exciting in 2009. This is a special group of players and they are going to help us to continue to play the attractive attacking style of soccer we enjoy playing while also addressing some needs defensively. With a new stadium opening and all of this young exciting talent on our team, this is a great time to be a Warrior. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton.

Angela Bell -- Forward -- San Jose, Calif.

Angela Bell comes to Cal State Stanislaus from San Jose and COIL Charter High School. A natural forward and goal scorer, Bell plays her club soccer for the Ruckus and is coached by Santa Clara University men's soccer assistant Tim Martin. This past year, Bell scored 46 goals in 52 matches for her club team. She is equally adept with both feet and has explosive speed. In 2007, Bell won the Futsal National Championship in Anaheim on a team coached by Mario Gonzalez. She plans to major in Biology, Chemistry or Pre-Med.

Angela is a game changer. She has all the tools to be an outstanding goal scorer at the college level. She just has a nose for the goal and thrives on the pressure to make the big plays. Our attack was already pretty formidable in 2008. I think we are going to take it to another level in '09 by adding Angela to the mix. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Hilary Callahan -- Defender -- Jamestown, Calif.

Perhaps the best pure athlete of the entire 2009 recruiting class, Hilary Callahan joins Cal State Stanislaus from Sonora High School. Her high school boasts one of the top girls soccer programs in the Central Valley. Her team has won the Valley Oak League (VOL) the past three seasons. They have also won three consecutive Sac-San Joaquin Section Championships. A three-year varsity member Callahan was named All VOL First Team her junior year. She was also named to the Sonora Union Democrat All Area First Team and Modesto Bee All Section First Team her junior season. She is coached by legendary high school coach Buzz Garvin. In addition to soccer Callahan has also lettered in cross country, basketball, and water polo. While Callahan can play numerous positions, her primary position for her club team the California Cougars is left defender. She hails from the same club system that produced numerous Warrior greats including Kaity Bojorquez, Lisa Garcia and Vanessa Cervantes.

Hilary has tremendous pace and athletic ability. However, she isn't just an athlete, she is also a skilled soccer player. She does a great job attacking out of the back on the left side. But at the same time she is a tough, physical defender who isn't afraid to mix it up. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Shelby Cargile -- D/MF/F -- Newcastle, Calif.

Shelby Cargile joins the Warriors from Del Oro High School which is located north of Sacramento. An extremely versatile player, Cargile can play pretty much any position on the field with the exception of goalkeeper. Her blazing speed is a threat offensively as she is adept at making attacking runs. She is also known as a tenacious defender. The ultimate team player, Cargile led Del Oro High School as a forward with 18 assists her freshman year before switching to defender and becoming an All Sierra Foothill League First Team her sophomore and junior years. She mainly plays right back and right midfield for her club team, Placer United. Both her club team and high school team are coached by Nathan Williams.

Shelby brings exceptional energy and effort to the soccer field. She has the speed to get in behind defenses from any position on the field and the determination to get back immediately and defend. I love her competitive spirit! It is going to be a great asset to our team. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Sierra Casas -- Defender -- Sacramento, Calif.

Sierra Casas joins the Warriors from Del Campo High School in Sacramento where she was team captain her sophomore and junior years. Casas is known as a strong and physical defender who can play all four positions in the back line very well. She plays her club soccer for CASA Boca Jrs. and coach Emmy Barr. Casas is very familiar with Coach Bolton. She started playing competitive soccer for him and the San Juan Soccer Club at 9 years old. She also played for his Boca Jrs. '91 team in 2006. She is currently teammates with incoming Warriors Brianna Scales and Elle Porter.

Sierra is a tough defender that plays the game with a lot of heart and intensity. In addition to being a terrific soccer player and teammate she is an amazing person with outstanding character. --Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Holly Johnson -- Defender -- Fresno, Calif.

Holly Johnson joins the Warriors from Bullard High School in Fresno where she has been team captain the last two years. Known as a tough and physical center defender, Johnson currently leads Bullard High School which is ranked #4 in the Fresno region. Bullard is coached by Jay Johnson (no relation). The four-year varsity starter has twice been named Bullard H.S. Defensive Player of the Year (sophomore & junior years) and was BHS Most Valuable Player her junior year. After her junior season she was named to the 2008 Fresno Bee All Valley Second Team and was First Team All County/Metro Athletic Conference (CMAC). Johnson is also a central defender for her club team, the California Odyssey. One of the top club teams in California, the Odyssey has twice placed at the Super Y League North American Finals. Her team is coached by current Fresno State assistant coach Chris Shaw. Johnson plans on majoring in Agricultural Studies.

Holly is a terrific defender that not only has the toughness and athletic ability to make an impact at this level but she is also very skillful with the ball. Holly is going to add a lot to our backline and our overall defensive ability. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Rachel Naranjo -- D/MF/F -- San Diego, Calif.

Rachel Naranjo is one of the most versatile players in this recruiting class. Primarily a defender for her club team Nado Select out of Coronado, Naranjo can play most positions on the the field. For Nado and coach Brian Hiatt-Aleu, she spends most of her time at sweeper. She is currently club teammates with incoming Warrior Taylor Waldon. Known for her blazing speed and long dribbling runs out of the back, she is also adept at the forward and wing positions. Naranjo plays her high school soccer for the Eastlake Titans and coach Martin Casas. In addition to competing in soccer, Naranjo will run track for the Warriors.

Rachel is just a special player. She has some unique skills that set her apart from others. Obviously she is a tremendous athlete or she wouldn't be able to play two sports at the college level. Her ability to dribble an entire team is amazing. She is going to do a lot of things for us on the field and on the track. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

I am very excited to have Rachel join the middle distance program in track. I anticipate her doing great things in the 800 meters. Her versatility is going to make her a great dual sport student-athlete at CSUS. -- Track Coach Diljeet Dosanjh Taylor

Elle Porter -- Forward -- Sacramento, Calif.

Elle Porter joins the Warriors from Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks. An explosive and dynamic forward, Porter is expected to add tremendous attacking skill to the squad. Porter is known for her speed and tremendous crossing ability. She plays her club soccer for CASA Boca Jrs. in Sacramento. This will be the third time Porter has played for Coach Bolton. In 2001, she began her competitive soccer for the San Juan Soccer Club and Coach Bolton. She also played for him in 2006, winning a US Club National Championship for Boca Jrs. She was teammates with current Cal State Stanislaus women's soccer player Millie Brown and is currently teammates with incoming Warriors Sierra Casas and Brianna Scales

Elle is a fantastic talent! She is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached. She always wants to win. She has the athletic ability and skill to make a huge impact on our program. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Brianna Scales -- MF/F -- Cameron Park, Calif.

Brianna Scales comes to the Warriors from Ponderosa High School in Cameron Park. A four-year varsity player for the Bruins, Scales is a 2-time SVC First Team performer. She is also team captain for the Bruins. Scales plays her club soccer for Emmy Barr and the CASA Boca Jrs. She is an explosive wing player with tremendous speed. This will be the second time Scales has played for Coach Bolton. She also played for him in 2006 for Boca Jrs., winning a US Club National Championship. She played her club soccer with current Cal State Stanislaus goalkeeper Millie Brown and is on the same club team as incoming Warriors Elle Porter and Sierra Casas.

Bri is a tenacious attacking player. She has the speed and skill to get in behind defenses and the determination to make things happen. Bri is going to be a fantastic addition to our wing play. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton.

Jen Thornton -- Midfielder -- Corona, Calif.

A dynamic midfielder from Southern California, Jen Thornton, brings her talent to Cal State Stanislaus from Santiago High School. She is a four-year varsity member for the Sharks and was named All-League First team for the Big XIII League her junior year. She is also a three-time Big XIII Scholar Athlete (2006, 2007, 2008). Her high school coach is Mike Fleming. Thornton is also a product of one of the top clubs in Southern California, Orange County Premier (formerly OJSC). Her club team is coached by Randi Martinez.

Jen is a terrific center midfielder. She has the athletic ability to cover the ground needed in our system and she has the technical skill to keep possession of the ball for us. She also has the tremendous benefit of having played for a top club in the top youth soccer league in the nation. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Taylor Waldon -- Forward -- Poway, Calif.

Taylor Waldon is an explosive forward from Southern California and Poway High School. Known for her goal scoring ability, Waldon was named Most Valuable Offensive Player for Poway High School as a junior. She is also a three-time San Diego Union Tribune Scholar Athlete. Waldon has proved to be equally as potent of a scorer at the club level having led her team, Nado Select, in goals the last four years. Her club coach is Brian Hiatt-Aleu and she is teammates with incoming freshman Rachel Naranjo. Waldon is planning on majoring in Psychology.

I have no doubt that Taylor is going to be a terrific forward for us. Having lost some impact forwards from 2008 we are looking for Taylor to step in immediately. She is the perfect fit for our system. She has the speed, work rate and athletic ability to play any position along the forward line and she knows how to finish. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton

Apryl Whitney -- Defender -- Modesto, Calif.

Apryl Whitney will travel the shortest distance of any of the 2009 incoming freshmen to join the Warriors. A defender from Modesto High School, Whitney is known as an extremely physical player that can play all four positions in the back line. A three-year varsity player, Whitney was named Rookie of the Year her freshman year and All Modesto Metro League First Team her sophomore and junior years. Strong in the air, a tough tackler of the ball, and a great free kick specialist, Whitney will play her college soccer in front of friends and family. She plays her club soccer for Ajax United and highly regarded youth soccer coach Steven Dean. Whitney plans on majoring in Nursing.

Apryl is just a hammer on the field. She is fantastic in the air, physical, and nearly impossible to beat in 1v1 situations. Her toughness and athletic ability are going to make a big difference for our team. -- Head Coach Gabriel Bolton