POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Kate Lyn, Marist's second year women's soccer coach announced the finalization of 2012 freshmen class, who will begin play this upcoming season. Jessica Fanelli, Jessica Hartmayer, Kristen Lopes, Megan McEnroe, Kathleen Moore, Alysa Murphy and Karsen Shultz will join the team for their first seasons of collegiate action.
Jessica Fanelli - Midfield/Defense - Katonah, N.Y./Somers High School/Middlepath FC Xtreme
A native of the lower Hudson Valley, Fanelli comes to Poughkeepsie after four successful years at Somers High School in Somers, N.Y. A captain her senior season, Fanelli and her teammates reached the state finals for the first time in any sport in Somers High School history. Throughout her four years, she was recognized on All-League teams and culminated her high school career with the Mary Ball Distinguished Athlete Award. The recipient of the Sportsmanship Award at the 2011 New York State Final Four, Fanelli played her club soccer with Middlepath FC Xtreme. She maintained honor roll and high honor roll status throughout high school.
Lyn on Fanelli: "Jess has great speed and quickness. Because of her dedication to fitness, she will remain a top candidate to rotate in the outside back position or center mid."
Jessica Hartmayer - Forward/Midfield - Shelton, Conn./Shelton High School/Academica Futbal Club & New England Mutiny
A versatile athlete with a winning pedigree, Hartmayer comes to Poughkeepsie from Shelton, Conn. During her time at Shelton High School, she was a starting member of the 2010 Connecticut Double L Championship team, a SCC Championship team and a Housatonic Division Championship team. Seeing time as both a central midfielder and forward, Hartmayer was second on her squad in assists and fourth in goals scored. An accomplished club player as well, she competed with both Academica Futbal Club and the New England Mutiny of the Women's Premiere Soccer League. With AFC she was a captain for three seasons.
Lyn on Hartmayer: "A strong and powerful forward, Jessica has the ability to shoot from distance with both power and finesse and she has a nose for the goal. She will help support our forwards as a center forward or attacking midfielder."
Kristen Lopes - Midfield - Ocean, N.J./Red Bank Catholic/Ocean Wildcats
An Ocean, New Jersey native, Lopes was a three-year varsity athlete on her Red Bank Catholic High School team that earned national recognition when it was ranked 32nd in the PowerAde Fab 50 in 2011 during their 17-3-2 campaign. An All-State and All-Shore honoree as a senior, she helped her squad to the State Finals in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. As a co-captain of her club team, the Ocean Wildcats, Lopes led them to the state semi-finals as both a midfielder and defender. A strong student as well, she received the Academics Excellence award all four years of high school and attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Conference.
Lyn on Lopes: "Kristen is a crafty technical player with good mobility. She offers good support and will be successful for us in a central or outside mid role."
Megan McEnroe - Midfield - St. James, N.Y./Smithtown High School East/Smithtown Attack
McEnroe comes to Poughkeepsie from Smithtown High School East where she was a three-sport athlete, who competed in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. An accomplished club player as well, she played with the Smithtown Attack for eight years as a Region 1 Premier team. McEnroe also participated with both New York ODP state and select teams. In the classroom, she received a scholar athlete award and was a member of the French and Spanish Honor Societies.
Lyn on McEnroe: "Megan brings good size and physique to our team. She is a hard-nosed Long Islander with a winning mentality. Like most of our tough defenders, she will bring an edge to our attacking third with her determination and ball winning skills out of the air."
Kathleen Moore - Defense/Midfield - Plainview, N.Y. /Bethpage High School
Moore joins the Red Foxes following a four-year career on the Bethpage High School varsity team. After strong junior and senior campaigns, she was honored on the All-County All Star team and as Bethpage's MVP. Selected as her team's captain as a senior, Moore was named the school's Scholar Athlete of the Year. A multi-sport athlete, she received postseason awards in both softball and lacrosse at Bethpage High School. Off the field, Moore was a member of the 2012 National First Place Marine Fitness team, as well as the National Honor Society.
Lyn on Moore: "Kathleen is a great athlete that has excellent composure and vision. Her abilities will be best utilized Ina defensive central role."
Alyssa Murphy - Defense - Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone High School/FC Delco
A three-year starter at Daniel Boone High School in Birdsboro, Pa., Murphy will join Marist's defensive corps. A two-time captain, she earned Berks All-County and All-Division playing accolades during her interscholastic career. Outside of school, Murphy competed with FC Delco for four years in the Elite Club National League (ECNL). Again, she was recognized for her leadership on defense as she served as one of the club's captains. In the classroom, she was a member of the National Honor Society during her junior and senior years of school.
Lyn on Murphy: "Alysa brings a wealth of technical skill to our Marist Women's Program. Mixed with her speed, quickness and field awareness, Alysa will offer a lot of versatility in all positions. She will most likely find time in the outside back/midfield positions."
Karsen Shultz - Midfield/Defense - West Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta High School/Oneonta Diamond Rock
Shultz comes to Poughkeepsie following a decorated four-year playing career at Oneonta High School in Oneonta, N.Y. Three times she earned All-Conference recognition and twice All-State honors. As a junior, she was Fourth Team All-New York State and as a senior she was named to the Second Team. Oneonta's single-season highest scorer as a junior, Shultz traveled with All Star teams to Spain and Italy during her sophomore and junior summers. She has captained both her high school and club team, the Oneonta Diamond Rock, during her playing career. Off the field, she was recognized as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a freshman, as well as being a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society.
Lyn on Shultz: "Karsen is a determined student of the game who continues to develop both technically and tactically. She will gain great experience from playing with our Marist veterans and earn time as an outside back/midfielder."
The Red Foxes kick off their 2012 campaign with a meeting versus Wagner on Tuesday, Aug. 21.
