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University of Houston Athletics
Soccer Announces 2008 Signing Class
2/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Feb. 12, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston soccer team signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, including two midfielders, two defenders, two forwards and goalkeeper, head coach Susan Bush announced Tuesday.
The 2008 signing class is made up of Ashlee Briggerman (Kyle, Texas/Hays HS/Lonestars), Ryan Bruz (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral HS/Sereno), Riley Canfield (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch HS/Texas Premier), Stephanie Derieg (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS/Slammers), Lauren Frazier (Round Rock, Texas/ /Lonestars), Kaitlin Thulin (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS/Santiago Canyon College/Slammers) and Jessica Zavalza (Santa Ana, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal/Slammers).
Bush, entering her second season, was pleased with her first recruiting class as head coach.
"The 2008 recruiting class is a mixture of soccer savvy and athleticism," Bush said. "I'm extremely pleased with this group of special young women.
"The student-athletes we've recruited will make our team much more dynamic by increasing our overall team speed. Each of these players has a visible passion and competitive spirit that separate them from the general mass of high school soccer players. They are each determined to impact our program in a positive manner and they all have the talent to do so."
Recruiting coordinator Eric Quill also added his approval of the signing class.
"This `08 class is going to not only improve our team as a whole, but set a new and much higher standard that the soccer program here at UH deserves," Quill said.
Below is a player-by-player breakdown of the 2008 class.
Ashlee Briggerman • D • Kyle, Texas/Hays HS/Lonestars
Briggerman is an athletic defender who played with the Lonestars Soccer Club in Austin. Two current UH players, Stephanie Booker and Crystal Trevino, are also Lonestars alums. Briggerman, whose versatility will be a huge asset in the Fall, could also see time at forward.
"She reads the game very well," Bush said. "Ashlee will compete for a role on the back line of defense or up front as a forward. She has an attacking mind and will help us create offense out of the back third of the field."
Ryan Bruz • MF • Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral HS/Sereno
Bruz, a physical presence out of Arizona, comes from a highly touted club program at Sereno. She served as a two-year team captain and was part of a team that won four state titles. She will make an immediate impact in the center midfield slot.
"Ryan is a tough, hard-nosed midfielder with a tireless work rate," Bush said. "She will look to command a defensive center midfielder position where she will control the air game and be a presence physically. Bruz is a player to watch for the fall 2008 season."
Riley Canfield • MF/F • Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch HS/Texas Premier
Canfield, a former Region 3 ODP player, is a dynamic attacking personality who is expected to compete for a starting role at forward or in a wide midfield slot and contribute right away.
"She's a competitive player with a great mind for the game," Bush said. "Her left foot and ability to assist make her a special player. We look forward to great things out of her."
Stephanie Derieg • D • Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS/Slammers
Derieg is a teammate of fellow signee Zavalza on the highly touted Slammers Soccer Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
She is an explosive defensive player who also likes to get involved in the offense. Derieg possess the ability to be a shutdown defender who will likely match up against the opponents' top offensive threat.
"She is a very special player who has the promise to be a very strong defender," Bush said. "Not only is Stephanie a tremendous athlete but the kind of kid who is disciplined and competitive. She is the type of player that fits into the kind of culture and atmosphere we are building at the University of Houston."
Lauren Frazier • GK • Round Rock, Texas/Lonestars
Frazier is a versatile goalkeeper out of the Lonestars Soccer Club. She also has the ability to play up top in a forward role, but will likely compete for playing time with senior Shelby Scott.
"Lauren's shear athleticism and fearlessness will make her a force in the goal," Bush said. "She has the ability to organize defenses and come up with game changing saves. We look forward to her continued development."
Kaitlin Thulin • MF/F • Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS/Slammers
Thulin, a midfielder/forward junior-college transfer, will enroll at Houston as a junior and have two seasons of eligibility left after playing two years at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, Calif.
Thulin was part of a Hawks team at SCC that went 26-1 last season and won two straight Orange Empire Conference titles. She led the team with 16 assists and, tallied 13 goals and was named First-Team All-OEC.
"Kaitlin is a competitor and playmaker who will make an instant impact in the Fall," Bush said. "She has leadership qualities of a seasoned college player and will be a tremendous addition for our 2008 squad."
Jessica Zavalza • F • Santa Ana, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal/Slammers
Zavalza was an NSCAA HS All-Region player who played at the highly acclaimed Newport Beach Slammers Club. She is an immediate impact player who brings quickness and pace and should inject scoring into the Houston offense next year.
"Jessica can be a threat every time she touches the ball," Bush said. She is the kind of player coaches want on their team because she is hard-working, dynamic and has the capacity to take over the game. We expect big things out of her in 2008."
