Women's Soccer 2004 Recruiting Class AnnouncedMarch 3, 2004 MILWAUKEE - Complete Release in PDF Format
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team has taken another step towards repeating as the Horizon League's regular season champions. Head coach Michael Moynihan has announced the addition of seven new student-athletes on Tuesday (March 2) in an effort to take his team to another league championship. This year's recruiting class features three players from Wisconsin and four players from outside of the state. This year's recruiting list includes Sarah Freidel, Samantha George, Elizabeth McNally, Claire Pignet, Joanna Severson, Pamela Shipway and Andrea Wisnewski. "What is exciting about this class is the experience and balance they bring to our program," Moynihan said. "Samantha, Claire, Joanna, Elizabeth and Sarah all play for some of the top club teams in the Midwest. They bring experience and they understand the commitment required to play soccer at the highest level. Pam and Andrea are great athletes that have a passion for the game and are eager to learn. They will add depth across the board." Freidel and McNally could both contribute to UWM's offensive attack immediately, as each player opted to stay with their club teams year-round following their sophomore seasons in high school. "Playing club soccer instead of high school soccer is a very heated topic right now and it can be a very difficult decision for the players to make," Moynihan said. "What's the right decision? That's not for me to say. I am very excited, however, that both of these players will have been playing against some of the top colleges from the Midwest for two years by the time they get here. That's valuable experience for freshmen to bring to a program." While in high school, Freidel helped Madison West to two-straight Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state soccer championships. The left-winger then played for the Madison 56ers Capitol Elite club team and is one of 10 players from the club to advance to the collegiate soccer ranks. In the classroom, the Janesville native was a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Madison West High School Academic Honor Roll. McNally comes to UWM from Libertyville, Ill., where she has played year-round the past two seasons with the Chicago Cobras/Eclipse club team. She has helped her club team to a 2003 regional championship and national finals appearance. The Libertyville High School senior played on the varsity team there her freshman and sophomore years. McNally led the Wildcats to a record of 22-1-3 during her freshman campaign. She was named all-conference and all-area honorable mention her sophomore season while helping her team to two conference and regional championships and one state championship. "Both Liz and Sarah are very committed soccer players and very hardworking individuals," Moynihan said. "Both possess excellent shots and will make us more dangerous immediately. Liz is an excellent combination player who reads the game very well and will combine well with several of our current players. Sarah has tremendous speed and attacks very well from wide positions. With her work rate and speed, not many people can keep up with her." George played for Waukesha Catholic Memorial High School, helping her team to three conference championships. George alternated between the defender and midfielder positions, winning second-team all-conference honors her sophomore year and first-team all-conference honors her junior year. After her first three years at Catholic Memorial, the Crusaders have an overall record of 64-8-4. The Greenfield native has also played ODP soccer for five years and was also named to her high school honor roll. "Samantha is a skilled player who likes to build a possession attack," Moynihan said. "I think the training environment here will be great for her and we think she will really blossom in her collegiate years." Pignet also heads to UWM from Catholic Memorial after starring as a defender for the Crusaders over the last three seasons. She was named honorable mention all-conference her freshman and sophomore seasons before being named first-team all-state, first-team all-area and first-team all-conference as a junior. Along with her awards, she tallied 22 points (5 goals, 12 assists) and was one of two juniors in the state of Wisconsin to be named to the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association All-State First-Team. Pignet also excels in the classroom, making the honor roll regularly at Catholic Memorial. "Claire is a hard-nosed defender with a great attitude. We expect her to contribute immediately and add depth to a solid returning class of defenders," Moynihan said. "She and Sam both come from F.C. Milwaukee, which has produced many of the state's top players, and we're glad to keep that connection going." Severson is both a midfielder and defender after starting for over three years at White Bear Lake High School in White Bear Lake, Minn., where she helped lead the Bears to an overall record of 57-15-9 during her career. Along with her defensive abilities, Severson was named the team's offensive player of the year her senior year and scored 38 goals and notched 53 assists throughout her high school career. Severson was also named an NSCAA All-Midwest Region performer, was selected to the Minnesota State Tournament all-tournament team and was named to the all-state team her senior season. Severson has also performed well in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average in high school. "Joanna is another player with a great work rate. She can run all day," Moynihan said. "We see her battling for time as a defensive midfielder. She's very steady with the ball and great with her distribution. If she adds to our attack from that position, it will be an added bonus." The final two recruits for UWM are teammates in high school and on the club level. Shipway, of Vernon Hills, Ill., and Wisniewski, of Mundelein, Ill., both play at Mundelein High School and with the Lake County Fusion. Shipway plays in the midfield while Wisniewski, a natural midfielder, has played sweeper in high school. She battled through injuries her sophomore year before excelling in her final two seasons. "Pam and Andrea both flew under the radar of many programs," Moynihan said. "Their club team didn't travel and play in the regional leagues like our other recruits, so they didn't get the same level of exposure. Both are great athletes and very eager to play. We're very glad we saw them when we did and we think they'll both be great collegiate soccer players. Pam will battle for a place in the midfield. She's very composed and good with the ball at her feet. Andrea is a vocal player and will hopefully develop into a leader on the field for us. She will battle for time in the defense or as a wide midfielder."
The seven new Panthers will join a squad of 19 returning letterwinners from last year's squad that won a fourth-straight Horizon League regular season championship. UWM has also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons.
2004 Panther Women's Soccer Recruit Player Profiles
Sarah Freidel * F * 5'8" * Madison, Wis. * Madison West * Capitol Elite
Samantha George * D/MF * 5'8" * Greenfield, Wis. * Catholic Memorial * FC Milwaukee
Elizabeth McNally * F * 5'7" * Libertyville, Ill. * Libertyville * Eclipse Select
Claire Pignet * D * 5'6" * Mukwonago, Wis. * Catholic Memorial * FC Milwaukee
Joanna Severson * D/MF * 5'7" * White Bear Lake, Minn. * White Bear Lake * St. Croix Magnuson
Pamela Shipway * MF * 5'5" * Vernon Hills, Ill. * Mundelein * Lake County Fussion
Andrea Wisniewski * D/MF * 5'8" * Mundelein, Ill. * Mundelein * Lake Country Fussion
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