UNLV WOMEN’S SOCCER ANNOUNCES SIGNING CLASS FOR 2014
Eight players will be joining the UNLV squad for the upcoming season
UNLV women’s soccer head coach Michael Coll announced on Tuesday that eight players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Rebels, starting in the fall of 2014. Coll’s second recruiting class for UNLV features players from four different states: California, Washington, Nevada and Texas.
“This class of eight players have the skill and commitment it takes to help the program continue to challenge for a conference championship,” said Coll. “There were certain positions that needed to be prioritized in this recruiting class and we are confident that this group will come in ready to compete right away. All of these players are 100% dedicated to getting better and playing at the highest level possible. They have spent considerable time around UNLV Soccer and are excited to build on the last two winning seasons. I couldn’t be happier with this recruiting class and the individual talents that each will bring to Las Vegas and the Mountain West Conference.”
A pair of Las Vegas natives start the class, beginning with Aliza Madden, a 5-9 center defender for Coronado High. Madden played her first three years for the Cougars soccer team before switching over to the football team her senior year, serving as Coronado’s place kicker for extra point situations. Madden remained a member of the Las Vegas Premier club team, for which she has been a team captain for the past seven years and has helped them to two State Cup titles. She has been part of the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) development pool for the past four years as well.
The next local signee is Kaila Brinkman. A 5-7 forward from Bishop Gorman High, Brinkman earned several honors her senior season, including All-Southern Nevada, All-Sunset Region, All-Southwest League as well as Southwest League MVP honors. She joins Madden as teammates on Las Vegas Premier.
Coming from the state of Washington is Jordan Sallee, a native of Tacoma. A three-sport athlete at Stadium High school, Sallee was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain for the soccer team while earning three All-Narrows League honors, included first team the past two seasons. The 5-6 goalkeeper was named to the Tacoma Weekly All-City Team her sophomore, junior and senior years, and also received Team Defensive MVP and Most Inspirational honors during her career. As a senior, she finished with a 0.91 GAA and a 9.5 saves per game average. Sallee has earned three letters on the basketball team, and was the team’s Defensive MVP as a junior. She also had two letters while competing for the track and field team, participating in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x200m relays as well as the long jump. A member of the Washington Premier ’95 club team since 2007, she posted 21 shutouts during 2013 in a 32-game schedule, and helped the team to the Washington State Cup title and the regional semifinals in 2011.
Hailing from the state of Texas is the second goalkeeper of the class, 5-7 Jessie Clark. A native of Burleson, Clark earned All-District, All-County honors as a midfielder and second-team all-region as a goalkeeper while also being selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year for both the district and the county. The four-year letterwinner led Burleson High to a pair of Bi-District championships, as well as the area and sectional championships and an appearance in the regional quarterfinals in 2012. She is a member of FC Dallas, and helped them to the 2010 North Texas State Cup title.
The first recruit from the Golden State is Chidera Akubuilo, a 5-9 defender from Torrance. In her three years on West Torrance High’s squad, she has posted 66 career points, including 32 during her current senior season off 10 goals and 12 assists, and has been named first team all-area and All-Bay League. Akubuilo plays her club soccer for the defending national champions, Beach Futbol Club.
Next is Korie Bozart, another Torrance native. A 5-5 midfielder, she posted 29 points as a junior (11 goals, seven assists) and currently has 22 (seven goals, eight assists) during her senior season for South Torrance High. As a junior, she was named first team All-Pioneer League and second team all-area while helping the team to its second straight Pioneer League championship and a second straight trip to the CIF semifinals. Bozart is currently a member of the FRAM soccer club. She previously helped the Exiles SC to the national championship, as well as regional and state titles in 2010.
Sophia Cortes, a native of Newhall, Calif., is a 5-1 midfielder for Hart High. An All-Foothill League first team selection as a junior and two-time All-CIF honoree (first team in 2013, second team in 2012), she helped the Indians to the Division 1 playoffs as a junior, and is currently serving as team captain. Playing for Select Cities Avalanche, she helped that squad to the 2012 U17 League title, and to a semifinal finish at the 2013 national tournament.
The final member of the class is Clovis, Calif. native Lindsey Dovali. A 5-3 forward for Clovis High, she has been the team’s leading scorer the past three years, and earned Team Offensive Player of the Year honors while helping them to the state playoffs. Over her three-year career, she has scored a total of 61 points on 21 goals and 19 assists through the middle of her senior season. A member of the ODP in California, Dovali is a member of the San Juan Spirits, helping them to a national championship and several state cup titles.
UNLV posted a 10-8-3 record in 2013 and finished sixth in the Mountain West Conference with a 5-5 league record. Eight starters will be returning from that squad for the Rebels.