Youngstown, Ohio -- The Youngstown State women's soccer program has announced the signing of seven recruits to National Letters of Intent to join the Penguins for the 2013 season, Head Coach Will Lemke announced.
The Penguins have added midfielder/forward Katherine Baquero (Miami, Fla.), defender/midfielder Macy Dungan (Miamisburg, Ohio), midfielder/forward Rachel Hutton (Chillicothe, Ohio), goalkeeper Katie Montgomery (Mariposa, Calif.), forward/midfielder Taylor Ross (Johnstown, Ohio), defender Sarah Staley (Hudson, Fla.) and defender Sam Vaughn (Lewis Center, Ohio).
"We are very excited with the 2013 class because we feel accomplished our goals to improve the consistency of our defensive line and the midfield," Lemke said. "We also wanted to bring in players with tactical and technical flexibility to bolster our attack from different positions. This class has the technical range, defensive presence and competitiveness to help us accomplish our goals and help us build on our successes last year."
Baquero scored 48 goals with 27 assists in her career at American Senior High School and was a three-time all-county performer. She was also named the team's offensive MVP as a junior.
"Katherine is a very versatile player with exceptional technical ability and tactical understanding," Lemke said. "She has the ability to attack the defense from different positions both on and off the ball. Her technical flair will add a new dimension to the offense."
Dungan was a two-year letterwinner at Miamisburg High School and was named the offensive midfielder of the year.
"Macy is a very tall, strong and imposing presence in the middle of the field," Lemke said. "She has an extremely strong leg and is a constant threat to score from long range and on set pieces. Her strength and ability in the air will be an important addition to our midfield."
Hutton scored 31 career goals, including 16 in her senior season, at Zane Trace High School. She also posted eight assists as a senior and had 14 during her career. Hutton was named first-team all-state and all-district and led her team to the regional finals in 2012.
Rachel is a special player with a unique combination of athleticism, speed and technical ability," Lemke said. "Rachel has game breaking speed that can stretch any defense. She also has exceptional vision and is a great passer which makes her a versatile playmaker. I feel that she can make an immediate impact in our attack as a midfielder or a striker."
Montgomery, who was a four-year letterwinner at Mariposa High School, was a two-time all-league selection and the league MVP as a senior. She scored 29 goals as a senior, which is the third-highest single-season total in school history.
"We are extremely pleased to add Montgomery to our stable of young goalkeepers," Lemke said. "Katie is an excellent athlete who can play every position on the field. As a goalkeeper, she has excellent size, technique, athleticism and tactical understanding. I believe she has all the tools to be a top keeper in our league. I expect she will come into camp and compete for a starting job very quickly."
Ross was a four-year letterwinner and three time captain at Johnstown High School where she set the career record with 56 goals scored. During her senior season, she recorded 18 goals and 12 assists and was named second-team all-state. She set the schoo's single-season record with 21 goals as a junior.
"Taylor has excellent size, speed and strength which make her an opposing physical presence and a constant threat to score," Lemke said. "She has the ability technically and physically to impact the game form the forward or midfielder position. We think she will provide exceptional depth and flexibility to our attack."
Staley was a three-time all-conference selection for Hudson High School, where she earned four letters in soccer. She was named first-team all-conference as a junior and second-team as a sophomore and senior.
"Sarah is a strong and versatile defensive player who is a very stout one versus one defender and is excellent in the air, Lemke said. "She also is has great tactical understanding and a very strong leg which make her a threat to score from the back. I know that when Sarah gets comfortable with our system and her teammates she will be a strong contributor to the defensive line."
Vaughn lettered twice at Olantangy Orange High School and scored three goals from her defender position during her junior season. She also scored the game-winning goal to send her squad to the District Finals that same season.
"Sam is a very intelligent, tenacious and athletic player who can lock down opposing attackers," Lemke said. "She missed last year with an injury but has come back faster and stronger. I feel that once she learns the system and connects with her defensive teammates she will be an important part of our defensive unit."
