PROVO -- The nationally ranked Brigham Young University women’s soccer team announced the signing of five recruits for its upcoming 2010 roster.
Kyleigh Royall of Lehi, UT
Katherine Snyder of Lake Forest, CA
Angelica Dickson of Orem, UT
Lynda Hercules of Plano, TX
Rachel Manning of San Juan Capistrano, CA
“Today we have the opportunity to add five outstanding student athletes to our program,” said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. “We are looking forward to them joining us in August and adding to the talent and depth of our roster.”
The incoming players include two standouts from Utah, a premier midfielder and goalie from California and a showcase forward from Texas with each playing bringing her own talent and passion to a nationally recognized Cougar squad that has invited to the NCAA Women’s Soccer College Cup every year, but one, since its introduction into the Mountain West Conference in 1999.
“Our recruits will bring a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and passion for the game,” Rockwood said. “Each player has played at a very high level, has been well coached and is prepared to immediately add to the strength of the team. Not only are each of these players committed to being their very best on the field, but they understand the importance of representing the high standards of excellence expected of the entire BYU student body.”
The BYU women’s soccer team finished the 2009 season ranked in the top 15, among the best in the nation, and will look to continue its tradition of excellence in 2010.
“With the core of our team returning from next season, the need was for a small but experienced group to help fill in some gaps from our graduating seniors,” Rockwood said.
Kyleigh Royall
Midfield
Lehi, Utah
Lehi High School
Utah Avalanche ’92 Premier (Joanna Barney)
Deseret News All-State 1st Team 2008, 2009... Salt Lake Tribune All-State 1st Team 2008, 2009... All-State Honorable Mention 2006, 2007... All Valley Honorable Mention 2006... Region 7 Midfield MVP 2008, 2009... All Region 1st Team 2006-2009... High School Offensive MVP 2006, 2009... High School Leading Scorer 2009... High School Assist Leader 2007, 2008, 2009... High School Team Captain 2008... Ten-Year Member/Captain of Utah Avalanche 92 Premier Team ranked top five nationally 2009, 2010... Ranked Second in Region IV 2009, 2010... San Diego Surf College Cup Champions – Super Bracket Champions 2009, Finalists Super Bracket 2008, Gold Bracket Champions 2007... Far West Regionals Semi Finalists 2009, Quarter Finalists 2006... US Club Regionals Semi Finalists 2007... Utah Premier Soccer League Champions 2005-2009... Las Vegas College Showcase Semi Finalists 2006... Phoenix President’s Cup Semi Finalists 2006, 2009... Utah State Cup Champions 2006, 2009... Utah State Cup Finalists 2004, 2005, 2007... Utah ODP Team 2004-2008... ODP Team Captain 2007... ODP Region IV Pool 2006, 2007... ODP National Pool 2006... United States Achievement Academy Award Winner Soccer & Academics 2007, English 2008, Leadership 2008... National Honor Society 2009, 2010.
Coach Rockwood on Royall: “Kyleigh is a gifted playmaker. She has a tremendous work ethic and is always available and anxious to have the ball. She can create opportunities going forward with her 1v1 abilities, but also has tremendous vision in finding her teammates in scoring positions. She is a dual threat as an attacker and a solid possession player. She also understands the importance of controlling the flow of the midfield.”
Katherine Snyder
Goalkeeper
Lake Forest, CA
El Toro High School
Tustin United Red (Bogdan Draghici)
Scholar Athlete 2006-2010... National Honor Society 2006-2010... High School Varsity 2006-2010... High School League Champions 2006-2007, 2008-2009... CIF-SS, Semi-Finalists 2006-2007, 2008-2009... CIF-SS/El Toro “Victory with Honor” Recipient 2008-2009... OC Register’s “Scholar-Athlete of the Week” 2009-2010... played in the Coast Soccer League (CSL) “Premier” Division 2006-2010... 2008 Southern California (So Cal) Blues Cup Tournament Champions... Named MVP of Blues Cup... 2008 Slammer’s Cup Finalists, National Cup 2007 and 2008 “Sweet Sixteen”... 2008 Nike Harvest Cup Champions... Golkeeper Training from Zak Abdel, Current US Men’s National Soccer Team GK Coach.
Coach Rockwood on Snyder: "Katherine will be a great addition to the talented group of keepers we have on the roster. She has a confident and solid presence in the goal. She is a great communicator and always looking for ways to keep her teammates motivated and organized. She reads the game well. She is quick, technically solid and has also proven to be a great shot blocker."
Angelica Dickson
Forward
Orem, Utah
Timpanogos High School
Celtic Storm
All Valley Player of the Year-Daily Herald 2009...5A Region 4 Offensive Most Valuable Player 2008...Utah Valley Offensive MVP-Daily Herald 2008...1st Team All-Valley-Daily Herald 2008...1st Team ALL STATE-Deseret News 2008- 2009...1st Team ALL STATE-Salt Lake Tribune 2008...5A All Region 1st Team 2006-2009...UHSAA Individual Goal Scoring Record Book– career and Individual Assists – career... scored 76 goals and 30 assists- 182 total points 2006-2009...Timpanogos HS All-Time Scoring Leader...Four year starter 2006-2009...Team Captain 2009...4A HS Team State Champions 2009...4A All Tournament-Forwards 2009...5A State Semi-finals-Team 2007-2008...Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd 2008...Utah County Sports Rap Region 4 Female Athlete of the Week 2007, 2009...Celtic Storm ’92 Premier Club Team Captain 2008-2009...UYSA '92 Premier League Leading Scorer 2006-2007, 2009...UYSA State Cup Finalist 2008... Champion Pikes Peak and Disney Tournaments 2007 – All Tourney 1st Team...Vegas Cup Champion 2009...Utah Region IV Olympic Development Program Team 2005-2009...ODP Region IV Championships/Region Camp 2007...All Region Academic Team / High Honor Roll 2007-2009
Coach Rockwood on Dickson: “Angelica has great speed and quickness as a forward. She has proven to be a talented goal scorer and has the ability to create her own shots off the dribble. She has great range with both her left and right foot and has a knack for finding herself in front of the goal at the right times.”
Rachel Manning
Midfield
San Juan Capistrano, California
Capistrano Valley High School
Southern California Blues (Tad Bobak)
Far West Region IV Spring League Champion 2009 ... Blues Cup Finalist 2009 ... USYSA National Championship Appearance (Arkansas) 2008 ... Far West Region IV Champion (Hawaii) 2008 ... CYSA Cal South State Cup Champion 2008 ... Far West Regional Spring League Champion 2008 ... Las Vegas College Showcase Finalist 2008 ... USYSA National Champion (Frisco, Texas) 2007 ... Far West Region IV Champion (Las Vegas) 2007 ... Far West Region IV Spring League Champion 2007 ... Surf Cup Finalist 2007 ... West Coast College Classic Finalist 2007 ... CYSA Cal South State Cup Finalist 2006 ... Surf Cup Semi-Finalist 2006 ... Blues Cup Champion 2006 ... Coast Soccer League Champion 2006 ... Celtic Cup Finalist 2006 ... Las Vegas College Showcase Champion 2006 ... Manchester United Premier Cup Semi–Finalist 2006 ... Blues Cup Champion 2005 ... USYSA Region IV Appearance (Denver) 2005 ... CYSA Cal South State Cup Champion 2004 ... Far West Region IV Finalist (Washington) 2005 ... CYSA Cal South State Cup Champion 2003 ... Scholar Athlete 2010, 2009, 2007 ... Four Year Soccer Varsity Letter ... Varsity Basketball as Freshman ... Captain Varsity Soccer Team 2009 ... South Coast 1st Team All-League 2008 ... Varsity Soccer MVP 2008 ... Excalibur All-Tournament Team 2007
Coach Rockwood on Manning: “Rachel has a great calming presence in the midfield. She is an experienced player who has consistently trained with and against the best in the country. Rachel is a tremendous ball winner especially in the air. She feels very comfortable with the ball under pressure and provides great link between the back line and the midfield. Her ability to possess the ball and start the attack from the defensive midfield position will be key in our team’s ability to go at our opponents defensive line.”
Lynda Hercules
Forward
Plano, Texas
Plano West Senior High School
Polaris Soccer Club (J.P. McDade)
2009 Polaris Soccer Club Division 1... Lake Highlands Girls Classic League USYS Region III Premier League West . . . 2008 Plano West Senior High Varsity Soccer: Offensive Player of the Year, Player of the Week . . . 2008 District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year, First Team All District . . .2008 Sting Royal - US Southern Regional Champions and Nationals’ Contender, North Texas State Cup Finalist, Red Bull National League Quarter-Finalist . . . 2007 Plano West Senior High Varsity Soccer . . . 2007 US Southern Regional Champions, North Texas State Cup Champions . . . 2006 Disney Soccer Showcase Finalist, North Texas State Cup Champions, USYS Region III Premier League Champions, Plano Labor Day Champions, US Southern Regional Quarter-Finalist . . . 2005 North Texas State Cup Champions. . . 2003-2006 ODP ‘92 Region III Team. . . 2002-2003 ODP `91 Region III Team . . . 2009-2010 Member Plano West Peer Assistance Leaders . . . Plano West Advertising 2nd Year Designer.
Coach Rockwood on Hercules: “Lynda will also add a lot of depth to our forward line. She is a dangerous striker who has the ability to get shots off in tight spaces. She also runs well off the ball amd is always available for passes into space. She knows how to unbalance and break down defenses. She is a consistent finisher and a threat to score at anytime when she is on the field.”