Top Athletes Sign To Play Women's Soccer At BYU
Aleisha Cramer, who's already made six appearances with the U.S. National Team is among the five high school athletes who signed letters of intent to play their collegiate career with BYU's women's soccer program.
Cramer was the 1999 National High School Player of the Year, a two-time State Champion at Green Mountain High School and played on the '99 National Club Championship with the Colorado Rush Club Team. Cramer is a 5-10 midfielder from Lakewood, Colorado who's also been a member of the U-16, U-17 and a current member of the U-21 national team.
Two Utah defenders are among the members of the 2000 recruiting class for the Cougars. They are Annie Hoercherl, from West Valley City, and Britney Holman from Orem, Utah. Hoercherl, who plays at Skyline High School was named First Team All-State in 1997 and 1999 and Second Team All-State in 1998. She's a three-year varsity player for Skyline and a current member of the Soccer Club Starz. She has played on the Utah Olympic Development Program for the past six years.
Holman was named to the 1998 First Team All-State and Region and was on the 1998 State Runner Up Team from Mountain View High School. Her team finished in third place in the 1999 State Tournament and has been with the Utah Olympic Development Program for two years. Her club team Utah United Premier won the 1999 State Cup Championship.
Meagan Dickerson and Lydia Ojuka, both forwards complete the 2000 freshman class for BYU. Dickerson, from Midlothian, Virginia has been named District Player of the Year as junior, was Second Team All-State in 1998 and 1999, playing on the Braddock High School Team for four years. Her club team Braddock Road Legend are the Champions of the prestigious Washington Area Girls Soccer Tournament (WAGS) and the Raleigh Shootout.
Ojuka, is a senior at St. Francis High School in Tucson, Arizona. She's been All-State in 1999 and 2000 and made the All-Southern Arizona team the last four years. Ojuka holds the school's record for goals scored in a career (102) and has been Team MVP from 1997 to the present. Her club team St. Francis Demons were Club Champions in 1999.
"We couldn't be more pleased with the recruits for the upcoming season, especially in the quality of athletes that will join our program," head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "We've been working on getting some top players and certainly this year is no exception."
Rockwood adds that the five signees bring a lot of experience and a balance to the program. "This group of players brings a lot more team speed and are extremely athletic players. We're balanced in the various positions, and we anticipate they will play an impact on our team immediately."
The Cougars' 2000 season is one of the toughest yet with games against top programs like Florida, Portland, USC, ASU, Washington and Minnesota. BYU's first home game is set for August 26 against instate rival Weber State. ASU and USC will also be playing at South Field in 2000.
