PROVO -- BYU women's soccer was listed as No. 9 regionally in the SoccerBuzz 2005 Top Recruiting Classes and No. 36 nationally, according to the website rankings, released in mid-May.
For BYU, this marks the sixth consecutive year to rank within the top 60 teams nationally, including three top 20 finishes. The recruiting rankings in the Mountain West Conference saw San Diego State at the front of the pack, followed by BYU and Utah.
Individually, the Cougar's recruiting class is led by Katie Larkin, one of the top-50 national recruits. Larkin is a two-time NSCAA High School All-American and Utah 5A MVP. She led the state in goals and assists and will look to add her offensive talents to the Cougar's line-up in the fall. Larkin was part of the 2004 5A State Champion team that was ranked as high as No. 3 in the NSCAA National high school rankings.
In early February, BYU signed nine high-impact athletes in arguably one of the most balanced and talented recruiting classes. The team plans on returning to its winning ways in 2005, following a 7-10-4 finish in 2004. Despite the first losing record in nine seasons, BYU graduated just three players and returns 10 of 11 starters from the young 2004 squad that finished second in the Mountain West Conference.
Newcomers planning on suiting up for the Cougars this fall are forwards Katie Fellows (Sandy, Utah), Katie Larkin (Sandy, Utah) and Alyssa Vaner Veur (South Jordan, Utah), midfielders Whitney Feller (Draper, Utah) and Jessica Harmon (Provo, Utah), and defenders Karen Cook (Sandy, Utah), Heidi Dearborn (Centennial, Colo.), Kelsea Kakadelas (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Andrea Willis (Riverside, Calif.).
Now going into her 11th year, BYU Head Coach Jennifer Rockwood has guided her teams to top 25 rankings in seven of the past eight years, including a Top 10 ranking in 1998, 2000 and 2003. She has twice been named conference Coach of the Year, leading BYU to seven NCAA Tournament appearances in eight years, including three "Sweet Sixteen" finishes and an "Elite Eight" appearance in 2003. The seventh winningest coach in NCAA Division I programs, Rockwood has coached a total of six All-Americans.
2005 BYU COUGAR Soccer Signees (9)
Name Pos.Ht.ClassHometown (High Schoo)Club Team
Karen Cook D5-8Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Heidi Dearborn D5-9Fr.Centennial, Colo. (Cherry Creek)Colorado Girls Soccer Acad.
Whitney Feller MF/D5-5Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Katie Fellows F/MF5-7Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Jessica Harmon MF/D5-7Fr.Provo, Utah (Timpview)Celtic Storm
Kelsea Kakadelas MF/D5-10Fr.Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon)San Diego Surf
Katie Larkin F/MF5-6Fr. Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Alyssa Vaner Veur F5-7Fr.South Jordan (Bingham)Utah Avalanche
Andrea Willis D5-7Fr.Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Poly)Irvine Strikers