Feb. 10, 2005
The Notre Dame women’s soccer team – two months removed from claiming the program’s second national championship – will be well-positioned to make another run at the title in the fall of 2005, with a strong core of returners set to be joined by four highly-regarded national letter-of-intent signees. The signees include three national-team players and are headlined by midfielder Brittany Bock (Naperville, Ill.), who recently was rated the world’s top female soccer player for her age group. The rest of the talented class includes defender Carrie Dew (Encinitas, Calif.), midfielder/defender Kerry Inglis (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and midfielder Rebecca Mendoza (Garland, Texas).
Notre Dame loses just two regulars – starting central backs Melissa Tancredi and Gudrun Gunnarsdottir – from the national championship squad while returning 13 of the top-15 players from that 25-1-1 team. The first-year players in 2005 actually will include two prep All-Americans from the 2004 freshman class – forwards Kerri Hanks and Susan Pinnick – who did not compete in the ’04 season (Hanks due to the Under-19 World Championship and Pinnick due to injury).
“This class does not have as many players as we would have added in other seasons but their quality as a group rates up there with any in our history and they are a class that should be considered among the best in the nation this season,” said Randy Waldrum, who is set to embark on his seventh season as head coach of the Irish.
“All four of these players will have an immediate impact in our program next fall. They are great people and great soccer players who are highly-competitive and committed to excellence. This is what Notre Dame is all about and our success has been built around players like these four.”
Each of the signees has some sort of connection to current or former Notre Dame players, as referenced below (also note that bio. capsules and comments from the four signees follow below).
U.S. Under-17 standout midfielder Brittany Bock recently was rated the world’s top player for her age group.
|
 |
Bock recently earned the world’s top under-17 rating (from womensworldfootball.com) after emerging as one of the top players for the U.S. Under-16 and Under-17 National Teams. She is preparing for her senior season at Neuqua Valley High School after not playing high school soccer as a junior, instead opting to train with the Under-18 team from the Chicago Magic boys club that has been rated the nation’s top youth program. She also has starred on the highest level with her Windy City Pride team – losing in the 2002 national-title game to current ND player Ashley Jones and her SoCal United squad – and with the Team Illinois squad that won the 2003 Olympic Development Program national title (her future ND teammates Jen Buczkowski, Jill Krivacek and Kim Lorenzen also were members of that team).
“Brittany has been the captain of our youth national teams and will bring tremendous leadership qualities and a great physical presence to our program. She is a skillful player with deadly scoring ability to go along with great vision that allows her to set other players up for scoring opportunities,” says Waldrum.
“She also is truly a team player with such a warm and caring personality. We look for Brittany to have an immediate impact and she is a great fit for the program.”
Carrie Dew’s stellar all-around play in the defensive third includes a strong game in the air.
|
|
Dew – who joined Jones as co-captains of the Southern California state ODP team that won the 2004 national title – also has been a top player with the U.S. Under-16 and U-17 National Teams (she never has played on the same team with Bock, who often has played a year ahead) while captaining the San Diego Surf club program that, like the Chicago Magic, recently was rated the nation’s top youth club program (for girls teams).
“When we went looking for a replacement for Tancredi and Gunnarsdottir, it was evident that Carrie could be the perfect answer,” says Waldrum of Dew, who has also has helped La Costa Canyon High School win a pair of CIF state titles.
“She’s tactically smart, reads the game well and is great in the air. She is a very skillful player, with the ability to set play from a defensive position. She is very composed with the ball and is comfortable attacking out of the back. I felt she was the best central defender coming out of high school this year. She also has been a member of our youth national teams and has played at an extremely high level.”
The versatile Kerry Inglis is considered one of top rising young players in the Midwest region.
|
|
Inglis was a finalist for Indiana player-of-the-year honors and is one of the nation’s top emerging talents, starring for the ODP Region II team, the Fort Wayne Citadel club and Snider High School. Most recently, she was a starting outside back for the W-League’s Fort Wayne Fever team (summer ’04) that included a number of former and current Notre Dame players.
“Kerry reminds me so much of Kim Lorenzen, that player who is going to be a great college player. She is a great athlete, and is fast developing into one of the top players in this region,” says Waldrum.
“Kerry has the ability to play in multiple positions. She is technically sound and can compete both athletically and physically right away at this level, as shown by her success in the W-League as a high school junior. She is highly competitive and committed to her development – yet another great fit for our team.”
The high-flying Mendoza should add some flair to the 2005 Notre Dame midfield.
|
|
Mendoza recently made her debut with the full Mexican National Team, where her teammates include former Notre Dame All-America defender Monica Gonzalez (who captained Mexico’s 2004 Olympic quarterfinalist team). Mendoza, who holds dual citizenship , continues Notre Dame’s pipeline to top Texas talent, playing for North Garland High School and one of the nation’s top club programs, the Dallas Sting.
“After spending the past four years playing the Mexican National Team, I’ve been trying to find a player with that `flair’ that the Mexican players have. Becca is amazingly talented on the ball, very quick and very technical – she clearly has that flair,” says Waldrum.
“She is a dynamic player who sees the field very well and doesn’t get rattled by pressure. I think Becca is going to be a great match for our possession-oriented style. The soccer community is really going to enjoy watching her play.”
Bock – who has played for the top-ranked overall men’s club program and 19th-ranked women’s club (Windy City) – and Dew join several current Notre Dame players whose former clubs were among the top-20 listed in the recent Soccer America rankings. Others include: the Sereno (Ariz.) Golden Eagles (#6; sophomore forward Molly Iacrocci), the Dallas Texans (#7; sophomore midfielder Claire Gallerano, freshman goalkeeper Lauren Karas and Hanks), the Eclipse (Ill.) Select (Buczkowski, Krivacek and Lorenzen) and So-Cal United (Jones).
The yearly addition of top-ranked classes has the Notre Dame program fortified for years to come. In fact, just three prospective regulars from the upcoming 2005 team – forward Katie Thorlakson, forward/defender Candace Chapman and goalkeeper Erika Bohn – will be playing their final season of eligibility with the Irish in ’05, meaning that plenty of top-level talent will be set to return in 2006 as well.
Notes: With recent changes in NCAA rules allowing for updated news releases on signees, be sure to check back to und.com during the spring and summer for updates on the incoming Irish players (and the veterans) … Krivacek’s nicknaming skills could be needed next fall as the past few years have seen Notre Dame sign four players with different versions of the name Carrie: former player Kari Kennedy, Kerri Hanks, Carrie Dew and Kerry Inglis.
Brittany Bock earned the 2003 Golden Boot Award after helping Team Illinois win the 2003 ODP national title (three of her future ND teammates also were members of that team).
|
|
BOCK BIO. NOTES – Recently rated by www.womensworldfootball.com as world’s top player in u-17 age group (next were Amanda Poach of the U.S., Australia’s Sally Shipard and Germany’s Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi and Isabel Kershowski) … made early verbal commitment to Notre Dame on Jan. 5, 2004, making visit to campus to surprise Waldrum with the news … earned NSCAA All-America honors at u-15, u-16 and u-17 (for ’04) levels … skilled midfielder who loves attacking part of the game … tireless competitor and huge soccer fan who often plays with three or four teams in the same week … veteran member of U.S. National Team program, playing for U-16 and U-17 National Teams while being called into U-19 National Team Camp in June of ’04 (Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.) … benefited from pace and level of play at that U-19 camp (she was youngest player in attendance) … started for U-19s (central midfielder) in game vs. her U-17 teammates … served as U-16 captain at ’03 camp in Bradenton, Fla., scoring in 1-1 game vs. Germany’s U-17s(also 3-0 win over Canadian Provincial team) … named team and tournament MVP after leading U-16s to championship at ’03 Ballymena tournament in Ireland … played as holding midfielder, scoring in warmup game vs. Dublin U-19 selects (7-0) before finding net on header for first goal in 2-0 win over Northern Ireland (U.S. then beat Scotland, 5-0 and England, 2-0) … only Region-II player on that 18-player squad … team captain at ’03 Texas Shootout, with the U-16s going 3-0 … captain of ODP Region II team since ’02 … competed at ’01 ODP National Camp (Deerfield, Mass.) and aInter-Regional event in Boca Ration, Fla. (also returned to ’02 event) … competed at ’02 ESP/ODP National Camp (Wilmington, N.C.) … slated to tour Germany, Holland and Belgium with Region II (that ’03 trip was cancelled due to war), with that team then touring Germany, Holland and Austria in ’04 … competed with U-16s at ’03 Inter-Regional (again in ’04 with Region II) … played up an age group with Illinois ODP 1985 (birthday group) that won ’03 national title, playing alongside current ND sophomores Buczkowski, Krivacek and Lorenzen … that team beat Georgia in semifinals (1-0) and New Jersey in 1-0 final, with Bock scoring on 67th-minute header in title game en route to receiving Golden Boot Award (current ND sophomore Lizzie Reed was a member of N.J. team) … helped her age-group (’87) Illinois ODP team reach ’04 national semifinals … opted to not play high school soccer as a junior, instead benefiting from higher pace while competing with Chicago Magic under-17/18 boys club team in spring of ’04 (also winter ’03), with the Magic recently rated nation’s best boys club program (per Soccer America) … has led Windy City Pride clubto three state titles (’02-’04), plus ’02 Regional title and spot in National finals, losing to So-Cal United team led by current ND freshman Jones … scored 6-of-10 WCP goals in four games at ’02 Nationals … scored in 3-2 loss to Bethesda and 3-2 win over So-Cal United in round-robin before her hat trick sparked Pride to 5-1 win over Dallas Texans … helped WCP pride win two President’s Day Tournaments (’03, ’04), plus ’02 Alamo Cup (’03 runner-up) and ’02 Raleigh Shootout (’03 Disney Classic finalist) … had 2G-2A in team’s 6-0 showing at’04 President’s Cup (GWG vs. Santa Rosa in semifinals, beat Milan in 1-0 final) …earlier won four state titles with Team Chicago (’98-’01) … team MVP and area freshman of the year in first season at Neuqua Valley HS (all-conference, all-sectional, 1st team all-city; regional champs) … added all-Midwest and all-state honors as sophomore (regional and sectional champs, state quarterfinals) before not playing with NVHS as a junior (she is slated to play HS soccer this spring) … has written several online diaries while training at various soccer events … has played soccer since age of five while also competing in wide variety of sports in her youth … her coaches have included Hudson Fortune, Ko and Nick Thanadabouth (WCP) and Mike Matkovich … her sister Jenny just finished freshman season at Eastern Illinois and played two games vs. ND in ’04 … her father Brian was standout baseball player at Illinois … daughter of Brian and Kelly Bock.
Current Notre Dame players Jen Buczkowski (lower left), Jill Krivacek (back row, center) and Kim Lorenzen (back row, second from right) and 2005 signee Brittany Bock (second row, far right) helped lead Team Illinois to the 2003 ODP national title.
|
|
BOCK ON HER DECISION – “I feel extremely blessed to spend the next four years of my life attending Notre Dame and playing soccer with such an incredible group. Long before my official visit, I knew I wanted to be a part of the storied tradition of the Irish. Over the last few years there have been subtle hints reaching out to me everywhere, telling me that Notre Dame was to be part of my future. The first time I actually came on campus, I immediately got chills. There was something about Notre Dame that I just couldn’t get out of my mind. This school is a perfect fit for me. The whole ND community, right down to the ushers at the football game, went out of their way to make me feel like family. Visiting several times, I got the chance to stay with Kim Lorenzen, Jen Buczkowski and Amber McMillin and I felt at home with them. When I saw the outstanding talent of the team, I was so excited that I wanted to jump on the field immediately to play with them. The combination of athleticism and skilled style of play, along with great coaching, is exactly what I was looking for in a college team. Family, loyalty, and demonstrating mutual respect of others are very important to me. I will strive to be the type of player and person that my teammates and coaches can count on, both on the field and in the classroom. Notre Dame will provide me with an excellent education, allow me to grow in my faith, and bring me to the next level of athletic competition. As I look back on all the great things so far, I realize that the best is yet to come!”
Carrie Dew is one of the top players for the San Diego Surf club organization that recently was rated the nation’s best club program.
|
|
DEW BIO. NOTES – A three-time NSCAA All-American (’02-’04) who has played with the U.S. Under-16 and Under-17 (’02-’03) national teams and the U.S. Under-19 Regional Team …known as a highly-motivated and prepared competitor who has an unassuming personality and leads by example … has dominated the game during her prep career while coordinating the attack from the midfield with effective distribution … also a fearless presence in the air … member of the Olympic Development Region IV team in ’00 and ’02-`04, also playing on the Cal-South state ODP level since ’98 … played five seasons alongside current ND freshman midfielder Ashley Jones on state ODP squad, helping Cal-South win 2003 regional title (for ’85 age group) and ’04 national titles (’86 age group) … she and Jones served as co-captains of that national-title team … also captained her Cal-South team in ’02 and has served as Region IV team captain … competed with USYSA Adidas All-Star team on 2003 international tour … played with ’86 ODP Region IV team at the ’03 Houston Shootout … attended ODP/ESP National Camp in 2002, also competing with under-17 National Team at ’02 Inter-Regional Event … has played 10 years for San Diego Surf club program that recently was ranked the nation’s top women’s club program (per Soccer America), currently serving as the team’s captain … helped Surf win under-16 national title, plus three state titles (’99, ’01, ’03) and the ’03 Region IV Championship (runner-up in ’99, ’01) … played with Surf at ’02 Adidas Final Four Showcase … named MVP at the 2002 Blues Cup Summer Tournament and the 2000 and ’04 Surf Cups … standout stopper and defensive midfielder at La Costa Canyon HS in the San Diego area (Carlsbad), helping team win two CIF state titles … current captain of ’05 team … her junior honors with ’04 CIF champs included CIF player of the year, county player of the year, 1st team all-section and all-league and team MVP (for CIF champs) … helped team win second of three straight league titles, as a sophomore in ’03, earning CIF and Goal Coast Player of the Year, 1st team all-county, all-section and all-league (also named team’s top defensive player) … also a 1st team all-league performer (2nd team all-section) for Mavericks team that won `02 CIF title … totaled 30 goals and 21 assists in her first three seasons at LCCHS, starting all 85 games … received 2004 California Legislative Sports Award … also named the San Diego Hall of Champions athlete of the month (March, 2004) … her coaches have included Lucas Curtolo (Surf, LCCHS) and David Emerson (LCCHS) … her sister Natalie played soccer at Cornell … owns a 4.12 GPA … interested in studying medicine or business during her college career … daughter of Jim and Pam Dew … born Dec. 8, 1986.
Carrie Dew (pictured) and current Notre Dame freshman Ashley Jones captained their Cal-South state team to the 2004 ODP national title.
|
|
DEW ON HER DECISION: “After taking my unofficial visit to Notre Dame, I knew it was where I wanted to go to college. I love not only the soccer program. But the campus, the people, the lifestyle, the tradition and the academic as well. I can’t wait to begin training and playing with many of the best players and coaches in the country. Notre Dame provides everything I could ask for in a university and I can’t wait to begin my college experience there in the fall.”
Kerry Inglis (center) was reunited with current Notre Dame players – and her 2004 summer teammates with the Fort Wayne Fever – (from left) Christie Shaner, Amanda Cinalli, Jill Krivacek and Kim Lorenzen during the ’04 season.
|
|
INGLIS BIO. NOTES – Played for ODP II team in ’01 and ’02 … center midfielder at ’02 Adidas ESP/ODP National Camp, ’01 Texas Shootout (Spring, Texas) and Thanksgiving Inter-Regional (Boca Raton, Fla.) … attended National Camp in Deerfield, Mass. … member of Indiana State ODP from ’98-’02, attending Region II Camp each year … played alongside several former and current ND players (among them Lorenzen, Christie Shaner, Kim Lorenzen, Amanda Cinalli and Lauren Karas) during summer of ’04, with W-League’s Fort Wayne Fever … started 10 of 13 games with Fever, at left back (usually alongside Shaner) … started in Fever’s 1-0 win over Australian National Team during their Pre-Olympic tour … ripped in goal from 30 yards out into the upper corner for 1-0 lead over Cleveland Internationals (won 3-1) … served as guest player with Carmel Heat in summer of ’04, beating nation’s #1-ranked team the Dallas Sting Royal … played with Fort Wayne Citadel premier club from ’98-’04, playing as a forward for ’02 team that reached state semifinals … starred as center midfielder/forward for Nelson Snider HS, setting school record with 215 career points (84 goals, 47 assists) … rated by StudentSports.com as nation’s #7 defender and also on its first team fall All-America team for ’04… led the city of Ft. Wayne in scoring as senior (31G-18A), including 3G each in the sectional, regional and semi-state rounds (1G-1A in the state semifinals) … other ’04 honors included NSCAA Scholar All America and all-region, 1st team all-state, all-district, state all-academic and conference MVP … helped Snider make its only two appearance in state semi-finals … named MVP after leading ’03 team in scoring as junior (12G-8A), guiding team to sectional finals while earning honorable mention all-state, all-district, 1st team all-conference and state all-academic … her 22G-10A led ’02 team to state semifinals (1st team all-state, 1st team all-conference) … opened hSnider career as ’01 leading scorer with 19G-11A (finalist in semi-state round; 2nd team all-state, all-conference) … her coaches have included Tom Turner (Region II ODP), Russell Gee (ESP/ODP National Camp), John Marovich (Indiana ODP), Terry Stefankiewicz and Mike Harper (both with Ft. Wayne Citadel) and Tony Cardenas (Snider HS) … played three years of varsity tennis, earning team MVP as freshman (11-3 at #3 singles), 2nd team all-conference as sophomore (#2 singles), 1st team all-conference as junior (#1 singles) … member of National Honor Society (4.03 GPA) … extensive extra-curricular involvement includes: Young Life-Student Leader, sports editor of school paper, president of Student Athletic Council, secretary and district I chair of IHSAA Student Advisory Committee (comprised of 18 members throughout the state), president and founder of Student Athletic Council at Snider, school rep. at IHSAA Sportsmanship Seminar, and attendee at SAC Sportsmanship conference … former ND volleyball standouts Angie Harris (’99) and Emily Loomis (’05) also hailed from Fort Wayne (both attended Bishop Luers HS) … daughter of Michael and Allyson Inglis … born Jan. 12, 1987
INGLIS ON HER DECISION: “While visiting Notre Dame, I realized that there is no place else like it. I love everything about it, the great academics, the amazing soccer program and the overall quality of people. I played this summer for the Fort Wayne Fever with alumni Kim Carpenter, Amy Warner and Meotis Erikson as well as some current players. They instantly accepted me and continued to teach me more about the game. It was an amazing experience and I knew that these were the people that I wanted to stay teammates with. The coaching staff, players like Lauren Karas and Amanda Cinalli, and many of the other girls have made me feel like family. I am excited to enter a program where I know I will be pushed to be the best player and person that I can be.”
Becca Mendoza already has cracked Mexico’s full national team and likely will face her former Notre Dame teammates this spring at Alumni Field.
|
|
MENDOZA BIO. NOTES – Holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico … recently made her debut with the full Mexican National Team (which reached the 2004 Olympics quarterfinal round) in game vs. the United States (Mia Hamm’s farewell game) … has been selected to participate with Mexico at upcoming Algarve Cup in Portugal (March ’05) … had 2G-1A for Mexico team at the 2004 Under-19 World Championships in Canada … played for the North Texas Olympic Development state team in 2003 and ’04 (’87 birthday age group) … selected for the ODP Region III team in 2003 before moving to the Mexican program … a high-scoring midfielder during her seven years with the elite Dallas Sting club program (’99-’05), playing with the ’87 Royal team … centered the Sting to USYSA Nationals in `02 and ’03 (3rd place) … helped Sting win Region III titles in ’02 and ’03 (’01 runner-up, ’04 semifinalist) and ’01-’03 North Texas titles … has led Sting to six Texas Cup title games (champs in ’99, ’03-’05; ’00, ’02 runner-up) and five Lake Highlands Girls Classic League grand championships (’99, ’00-’03) – also winning three times at the Spring Classic at Dallas Cup (’99, ’01, ’03; ’02 finalist) and Alamo Cup (’03-’05) and four times at the Plano Labor Day tournament (’99-’02; ’03 semifinalist), plus the ’03 and ’04 Disney Showcase and the ’02 St. Louis Cup … also member of Sting teams that won ’99 and ’01 North Texas State Cups and the ’01 Texas State Championship – while reaching the finals of the annual WAGS tournament in Washington, D.C. (’00) and being a ’01 Surf Cup semifinalist … played one season with D’Feeters club team (’98) before joining the Sting … four-year team MVP at North Garland HS, totaling 77 goals and 58 assists in her first three seasons … city and district MVP as a junior and senior, three times all-district … owns 3.78 GPA, with her studies including a math, science and technology emphasis in engineering and architecture … her coaches have included Leo Cuellar (Mexico), Derrick Leader (ODP Region III), Kenny Jones (North Texas ODP), Antonio Pecorari “Tatu” (Sting) and Sara Harvey (North Garland HS) … former Notre Dame football right guard Mike Gandy (’96-’00), who went on to play in the NFL, also hailed from Garland, Texas (Garland HS) … known by “Becca” to her friends … daughter of Angel and Rebecca Mendoza … full name is Alexandrea Rebecca Mendoza …
MENDOZA ON HER DECISION: “I want to obtain a top-level education while participating with a great soccer program. The prestige and notoriety of Notre Dame is just an added bonus. I’m very excited for all that Notre Dame has to offer and I am interested in pursuing an engineering degree.”