Feb. 6, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame head women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum announced Friday that four student-athletes have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Irish, signing National Letters of Intent to enroll at Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2009. Lindsay Brown, a 5-7 midfielder (Ladera Ranch, Calif./Mater Dei HS/Slammers FC), Leah Fisher, a 5-3 forward (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake HS/Clearwater Chargers), Madeline Fox, a 5-8 goalkeeper (San Jose, Calif./Leigh HS/Pleasanton Rage) and Tereza Stastny, a 5-7 forward (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll HS/Calgary Foothills Colts/Calgary Southwest United Premiers 90 FC), each made their official commitments to Notre Dame during the current signing period, which began on Wednesday.
“We will be adding two more players to this list, and in the end, this overall recruiting class will be a very good one for our program,” Waldrum said. “We lost some key seniors this past year, but this always seems to be the case. We added great talent, and a class that is extremely athletic. This class will clearly help our overall team speed, and the competitive nature that these players possess will continue to add to a team that is already driven for success. I’m extremely excited for next fall, and to begin working with this new class.”
Notre Dame will return 23 players, including seven starters, from last year’s 26-1 squad that finished as the NCAA national runner-up and set school records with 26 victories and a 26-match winning streak. The Irish, who were the consensus No. 1 team in the nation for the final two months of the season, also defeated 10 ranked opponents last season and won their 11th BIG EAST Conference regular-season title, as well as their 10th BIG EAST post-season crown.
A capsule look at the newest additions to the Notre Dame women’s soccer program follows:
LINDSAY BROWN, 5-7, Midfielder (Ladera Ranch, Calif./Mater Dei High School/Slammers FC)
Olympic Development Program (ODP)/Club Team Highlights: Selected for 2008 Region IV ODP Invitational team (1991s), which finished fourth at US Youth Soccer (USYS) nationals in Frisco, Texas, last March … competed with Region IV ODP squad for two years (2007-08) … also saw time with ODP Region II team (U-14) in 2005 while still living in Illinois … played for head coach Walid Khoury with Slammers Futbol Club in Newport Beach, Calif., considered one of the top club programs in southern California and ranked as the No. 4 girls’ youth club in the February 2009 issue of Soccer America … member of U-15, U-16 and U-17 Southern California champions, as well as Region IV semifinalists all three years.
Prep & Personal Data: Slated to graduate from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., this spring … plays for head coach Matty West … team captain … has piled up team-high six goals and eight assists this season, including a hat trick and an assist on Tuesday (Feb. 3) in a win over Santa Margarita … team currently is 12-3-4 this season and poised to win third consecutive league championship … also helped Mater Dei to California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) titles in 2006-07 and 2007-08, as well as Trinity League crowns both years … named 2008 Mater Dei Offensive Player of the Year … three-time CIF-SS Scholar-Athlete selection (2006-08) … member of Mater Dei Principal’s Honor Roll (2005-09) … vice-president of school’s Operation Smile club (international charitable organization designed to help children suffering from facial deformities) and traveled to Madagascar in November 2008 as student volunteer on medical mission with Operation Smile … daughter of Linda and Mark Brown … has one older brother and two younger siblings (sister and brother) … hopes to major in business or international relations at Notre Dame … matriculating from the same high school that produced Notre Dame’s first standout goalkeeper, Michelle Lodyga (1989-92).
Waldrum on Brown…
“Lindsay is a very gifted player, very sound in her technical ability, and will certainly add to a long list of creative players that are in our program. She is very comfortable playing in central and wide areas. Her versatility makes her very attractive to our program, and she will certainly have an impact in our program right away.”
Brown on her decision to attend Notre Dame…
“I am looking forward to attending Notre Dame, not only because of the competitive soccer program, but also the school’s spirit, tradition and challenging academics. Notre Dame is the perfect place where I can grow as a soccer player, student and person.”
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LEAH FISHER, 5-3, Forward (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake High School/Clearwater SC)
ODP/Club Team Highlights: Selected for 2008 Region III ODP team, as well as Florida ODP state program … played for head coach John Planamenta with Clearwater Soccer Club in Clearwater, Fla., since 2006, when she was converted from back to forward … currently on U-18 team ranked first in state of Florida and second in Region III … has amassed 33 goals and 14 assists in past two seasons at club level … leads U-18 team with 16 goals and eight assists this year … was third on U-17 team in scoring last year (17 goals, six assists), despite missing more than one-third of season with injury.
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Prep & Personal Data: Enrolled at East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Fla., where she will graduate this spring … plays for head coach John Orr (and previously head coach Raleigh Daves) … helped ELHS to three regional semifinal berths, as well as trip to state quarterfinals in 2007-08 … two-time first-team all-state selection (2006-07 and 2007-08) … three-time all-Pinellas County pick (2005-06 through 2007-08) … also three-year letterwinner in track & field, earning two all-county citations … qualified for state meet in long jump in 2005 and 2006, placing 11th both years … set school records in 100 meters (12.3s) and long jump (18-5) as a sophomore in 2006 … member of National Honor Society, as well as national honoraries in math and science … participant in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and student government … volunteers weekly at local retirement home … daughter of Catrina and Andre Fisher … has one younger brother … hopes to major in engineering at Notre Dame.
Waldrum on Fisher…
“Leah brings great athleticism to our program. She has great speed and agility, and is another player that can play in multiple positions. I think she will really explode as a player here, since we have players that can get her the ball the way she needs it. She adds a dimension that we have really needed. The only question is where we will utilize her, but I’m certain that wherever that is, she will contribute right away.”
Fisher on her decision to attend Notre Dame…
“I want to attend Notre Dame because of the rewarding academic and soccer programs. I want a program that will challenge and reward me mentally and physically. After my visits to the school, I was impressed by the family atmosphere I felt from the team members AND the student body. Walking onto the campus felt as if I never left home. I felt like I could fit in. It just felt natural.”
MADELINE FOX, 5-8, Goalkeeper (San Jose, Calif./Leigh High School/Pleasanton Rage)
National/ODP/Club Team Highlights: Selected for United States U-16 National Team player pool (2006) … invited to ODP National Development Camp (2007) … teammate of fellow incoming Irish freshman Lindsay Brown with 2008 Region IV ODP Invitational team (1991s), which finished fourth at US Youth Soccer (USYS) nationals in Frisco, Texas, last March … four-year member of Region IV ODP squad (2005-08) … began career with California state ODP program (2004-05) … twice competed in ODP Interregionals in Boca Raton, Fla. (2006-07) … played on ODP Latin American tour in April 2007, visiting Costa Rica, Chile, Panama and Mexico … has played for Pleasanton (Calif.) Rage club program past three years (rated No. 21 girls’ youth program in February 2009 issue of Soccer America) under guidance of head coach Philippe Blin … squad won 2006-07 ODP Region IV title and went 2-1 at USYS Nationals (didn’t qualify for title game) … team also was two-time State Cup finalist (2006-07 and 2007-08) … this year’s squad is 10-0 and in first place in league (she has six shutouts and 0.50 GAA) … attended adidas ESP camp in July 2007 … two-time national Futsal champion (2003, 2005) … ranked third among goalkeepers in Top Drawer Soccer Class of 2009 rankings … ranked 38th overall/fourth among goalkeepers in the ESPN RISE Magazine Class of 2009 rankings.
Prep & Personal Data: Attending Leigh High School in San Jose, Calif., where she will graduate this spring … plays for head coach Angela Larsen … team is 11-3-1 to date this season, while she has registered 11 shutouts and 0.53 GAA … has helped team to combined 60-17-1 record in her three-plus seasons … had career-low 0.20 GAA as a junior in 2007-08, when team won Blossom Valley Athletic League title (its first in 18 years) and made Central Coast Section (CCS) semifinals … LHS also finished as league runner-up her first two seasons, making CCS finals in 2005-06 and CCS quarterfinals in 2006-07 … exceptional student-athlete who has been rated No. 1 in her class the past three years … currently holds a 4.2 grade-point average (4.0 scale) and has been an honor roll selection throughout her prep career … received Presidential Achievement in Excellence award … goes by “Maddie” … daughter of Brigitte and Mike Fox … has one brother … hopes to major in business at Notre Dame.
Waldrum on Fox…
“I felt that Maddie was one of the top three goalkeepers in the country this year. She has great experience at one of the most successful clubs in the country, and also with our regional teams and our Olympic Development program. She is very sound with her fundamentals, and plays with a confidence that I like to see in a goalkeeper. She will clearly come in and compete for a position right away.”
Fox on her decision to attend Notre Dame…
“Notre Dame offers the perfect combination of academic and athletic excellence. Joining the Fighting Irish family is a dream come true. The welcoming atmosphere and the beauty of the campus have made me feel immediately comfortable. I can’t wait to make my contribution towards another national championship!”
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TEREZA STASTNY, 5-7, Forward (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll High School/Calgary Foothills Colts/Calgary Southwest United Premiers 90 FC)
National/Club Team Highlights: Named to 2008 Canada U-17 Women’s World Cup Team player pool, but did not play due to injury … also member of Canadian National Team pools at U-14, U-16 and U-18 levels … attended Canadian National Team player camps in February 2005 and November 2007 … member of Alberta state pool teams in 2003 and 2007 (silver medalist in All-Star Canadian Championship in ’07) … currently competing with Calgary Foothills Colts program under head coach Graham Kennedy … program won 2008 Canadian national championship … had four goals and six assists … spent five years (2003-07) with Calgary Southwest United Premiers 90 FC under head coach Raf Premji … competed in 23 tournaments with Calgary Southwest United, winning nine titles and finishing as runner-up six times … two-time Canadian national medalists (silver and bronze) … four-time Alberta provincial champion … six-time city champion … teams combined for 164-41-21 (.772) record during her tenure with Calgary Southwest United, when she often played with teammates one or two years older than her.
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Prep & Personal Data: Slated to graduate from Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alberta, this spring … did not compete in soccer at high school level … trained with Czech Republic’s Sparta Prague Women’s “A” Soccer Team in 2006 and turned down offer to compete for Czech junior national team (she was born in the Czech Republic and moved to Canada when she was eight months old) … competed in track & field at Bishop Carroll, winning 100-meter private school city title, as well as 200-meter overall city title in 2006 … won total of 12 track medals in prep career in sprints, middle distances and long jump … member of school’s Honor Roll, and also has earned headmasters’ award and school’s Award of Excellence for academics … highly proficient in martial arts, having progressed to intermediate level in Muay Thai kickboxing and also earning green belt in karate by age 10 (fourth on seven-step scale) … goes by “Terri” … hopes to major in biology and also study writing at Notre Dame … first Alberta resident to play for the Irish, but latest in great tradition of Canadian players at Notre Dame, including 2004 national player of the year Katie Thorlakson and two-time All-Americans Candace Chapman and Melissa Tancredi.
Waldrum on Stastny…
“Terri is another one of those players that we seem to like here at Notre Dame. She is one that can play in so many different positions, and she (like Leah) brings great athleticism to our program. She is very technical, very fast and powerful, and competes like a former player of ours, Vanessa Pruzinsky. Terri has National Team experience, and is another Canadian player in a list of great Canadians that have donned the Irish jersey. She will definitely come in an impact our program right away.”
Stastny on her decision to attend Notre Dame…
“It’s always been my goal to play on a top university team, so when I got the opportunity to go to Notre Dame, it was like a dream come true. I can’t even express how excited I am to be joining the Fighting Irish women’s soccer program. I am looking forward to some great years of soccer at a great school and doing my part to help the Fighting Irish win the national title.” — ND —