WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Head coach
John Natale and the University of Hartford women's soccer program announced a freshman class of ten incoming student-athletes for the 2010 season. The class, which includes three California natives and two international student-athletes, will join 15 returning student-athletes as the Hawks begin the search for their sixth America East championship.
Arielle Aikens comes to Hartford from Wantage, N.J., where she played four years of varsity soccer at Blair Academy. A three-time first team all-prep selection and a two-time First Team All-MAPL performer, the forward scored a Blair-record 99 goals during her tenure on the team. All told, she earned 12 varsity letters, also playing four years of basketball, two years of lacrosse and two years of track and field.
After getting her start playing for boys teams which culminated in an U-14 New Jersey State Cup championship in 2005, Aikens played three seasons with the Arsenal World Class Hawks club team which was ranked second in New Jersey and 35th in the nation during her time on the squad. Currently, she plays for the New Jersey Rangers FC. The 5'4” Aikens is the daughter of Roseanne and Shawn Aikens.
Out of Northampton, England, Lizzy Clarke played five years of soccer at the Roade Secondary School, helping them win a league championship in 2005. The recipient of the Sports Leaders Award in 2007, Clarke was an attacking midfielder for Roade and also played at the county level in England.
The daughter of Louise Payne, Clarke is enrolled in the School of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. The 5'9” Clarke plans to major in Elementary Education and Teaching.
Ashley Cross comes to the Hawks from Maple Hill High School in Albany. Twice a First Team All-Patroon Conference selection, Cross helped her squad to the 2007 Section 2 Class C finals. The team was also a finalist of the Class C/CC Region in 2008. The 5'2” forward also starred for the track and field team, helping set a school record for the 4x100 relay.
Cross saw action for the Adirondack Lynx of the WPSL in 2008-09, playing alongside Hartford alum Katie Gardner. Cross, who speaks four languages, is the daughter of Margaret and Tim Cross. She is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences and plans to major in biology at Hartford.
Jenee King comes to the Hawks from Holyoke Community College, where she led her team to the MCCAC State Championship in 2009 and the 2009 NJCAA Regional 21 Championship. Holyoke was ranked seventh in the nation last season, as King scored six goals and assisted on four from center defense. The prior season, playing center midfield, King scored a goal and tallied 13 assists. King twice earned selections to the NJCAA Division III All-New England team, and was a 2009 NJCAA Division III All-American selection.
A native of Holyoke, Mass., King attended Holyoke High School prior to HCC, where she earned four varsity soccer letters, four track and field letters, and one softball letter. The daughter of Jennifer Keitt, King is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, with intentions to major in political science.
A center back out of Cypress College in Cypress, Calif., Christiana Lang was a team captain and Second Team All-Orange Empire Conference selection in one season with the Chargers. Lang helped lead a defense which put up 15 shutouts en route to a 17-3-3 record last season. In her only season with Cypress, Lang was nominated for the Orange Empire Conference Women's Athlete Character Award.
Prior to her year at Cypress, Lang attended Temecula Valley High School in Huntington Beach. There, she played four years of varsity soccer, leading the team to a league championship in 2007. As a senior in 2008, she was a First Team All-Southwestern League selection and a team captain. Lang was raised by her sister, Danielle Lang. The 5'5” defender is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences and will major in politics and government.
Amanda Lo Bello joins the Hawks after two seasons at Cypress College in California. There, the 5'7” midfielder/defender earned a Second Team All-Orange Empire Conference selection in 2008. That season, she was third on the team in points, scoring six goals and dishing out six assists for 18 points. As a sophomore, Lo Bello helped lead the Chargers to a 17-3-3 record, including an 11-3-2 mark in the Orange Empire Conference.
A native of Garden Grove, Calif., Lo Bello earned four straight First Team All-Garden Grove League selections while starring at Garden Grove High School. In addition to earning the school's Argo of the Year award for being named the top female athlete, Lo Bello compiled a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. She also excelled for the track and field team. Lo Bello is the daughter of Connie and Miguel Lo Bello.
Raelynn Mikell is a 5'10” midfielder/striker from Gilbertsville, Pa. At Boyertown Area High School, Mikell helped her team to the PAC-10 Conference championship in 2008 and 2009. As a senior, she was named the league's Most Valuable Player and also earned recognition as a First Team All-Area selection by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association named her First Team All-State that season, in which she became the all-time career goal-scoring leader at Boyertown.
Also a standout lacrosse player, Mikell was a part of three PAC-10 lacrosse championship squads and earned a spot on the 2009 Under Armour Underclass All-American Philadelphia team. The daughter of Kathi and Ray Mikell, Raelynn is undecided on a major at Hartford.
Amelia do Vale Pereira comes to Hartford from Madeira Island, Portugal by way of Tennessee. Prior to spending a year at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee, the forward/midfielder attended Escola da APEL and Liceu Camões in her native Portugal. At Martin, Pereira led the team with 15 goals in 21 games, leading them to the NAIA National Quarterfinals.
A member of the U-19 Portuguese National team since she was 16 years old, Pereira helped her club team, Odivelas Futebol Clube in Lisbon, to the national championship in 2008-09. That season, she poured in 15 goals in the team's 20 games. The daughter of Lidia and Jose Pereira, Amelia is enrolled in the Barney School of Business with plans to major in management.
A native of South Salem, NY, Nicole Silenok was a four-year varsity player at John Jay High School. A starting forward all four seasons, Silenok led the team in scoring three years (2007-2009), was the assist leader as a senior and led the team to two League Championships in 2008 and 2009. A two-time all-section and three-time all-league selection, Silenok was named to the Lower Hudson Journal News All-Star team, selected the team's Most Valuable Player and was team captain her senior year. In addition to excelling at the forward position, Silenok can also be slotted at midfield, where she played for six years on the English premier team Everton.
Silenok is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences with a desire to major in secondary education for mathematics. The daughter of Alex and Dale Silenok, Nicole also played two years of basketball at John Jay.
Nicole Weil joins former Cypress College teammates Christiana Lang and Amanda Lo Bello at the University of Hartford after two years as a First Team All-Orange Empire Conference performer with Cypress. A captain both seasons with the Chargers, Weil was named the team's Most Valuable Player during her sophomore campaign.
A 5'8” defender, Weil starred at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif. prior to enrolling at Cypress. She helped Pacifica to three Garden Grove League championships and an Empire League championship while there. The daughter of Sara and Rob Weil, Nicole was a multi-sport talent who ran track at Pacifica and played a year of softball while at Cypress. She is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences at Hartford and plans to major in criminal justice and psychology.
