Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Women's Soccer Freshman Class Ranked Ninth In The Nation

Aug. 16, 2002

Notre Dame, Ind. – Preseason training has begun for the 2002 Notre Dame women’s soccer team and members of its freshman class, which was judged by Soccer America to be the nation’s ninth-best incoming class. The Irish newcomers and veterans are preparing for next week’s Soccer Showcase in Fort Wayne, Ind., with Notre Dame slated to face North Carolina on Friday night, Aug. 23 (8:30), before playing Kentucky on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Fans expecting to see some of the leading members of Notre Dame’s freshman class will have to wait at least two more weeks, as midfielder Katie Thorlakson (Langley, B.C.) is preparing to compete with the Canadian Under-19 National Team at the upcoming Under-19 World Cup (Aug. 17-Sept. 3 in various Canadian cities). Notre Dame sophomore Candace Chapman, the team’s returning starter at the defensive right back position, also is a starter on the Canadian Under-19 team.

Another Notre Dame freshman – midfielder Annie Schefter (Yakima, Wash.) – also was slated to play in the Under-19 World Cup (with the U.S. team) but she has been lost for the entire 2002 season, after suffering an anterior-cruciate ligament knee injury in late July. Schefter – who was ranked 11th by Soccer America among its list of the top-25 incoming recruits – was a starter with the U.S. team and was expected to contend for a starting position in the Irish midfield or at the open left back spot.

Notre Dame’s other two signees include goalkeeper Erika Bohn (Brookfield, Conn.) and defender Catherine Sigler (Windsor, Calif.). Bohn and junior Lauren Kent will compete for time in the nets, following the graduation of two-year starter Liz Wagner, while Sigler could emerge at the open central defender spot or at outside back.

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Katie Thorlakson is preparing to compete with the Canadian team in the Under-19 World Cup.

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Notre Dame’s 2002 roster currently includes 13 returning players and 12 newcomers, with sophomore midfielder Sarah Halpenny (Glendale, Calif.) transferring from the University of California-Irvine while several others have joined the Irish program as prospective walk-ons. That group includes forwards Maggie Manning (Lake Oswego, Ore.) and Holly Law (Pittsburgh, Pa.), midfielders Jenny Walz (Bloomington, Ill) and Michelle Daley (Redondo Beach, Calif.), and defenders Amber McMillin (West Harrison, Ind.), Anne Wieber (South Bend, Ind.) and Miranda Ford (Portola Valley, Calif.).

Note: Soccer America released its list of top recruiting classes and top recruits in March (a month after national signing day), but NCAA regulations prohibit schools from releasing updated information on signees until they arrive on campus to begin their careers at the respective schools.