BYU Announces New Recruits

PROVO -- The BYU women's soccer team announced another strong recruiting class on Wednesday, the Cougars signed nine girls including five Utah athletes.

Among the Utah athletes headed to BYU is the 5A MVP in 2002 Elizabeth Affleck out of Alta High School and the two-time 4A MVP Courtney Asay from Mountain View High School.

"We are excited to have some really talented and experienced local players coming in this year," said head coach Jen Rockwood. "The athleticism and talent of all the incoming freshman will help us plan for the future."

The Cougars' incoming class ranks along side with the best classes the school has ever had. Affleck and Bobbi Tillotson were both members of the 5A State Championship Alta High School, and Asay, Haylee Cuthbert, and Ali Williams all played for the three-time 4A State Championship Mountian View Bruins.

"This group equally compares to any group that we have brought into the program including last year's group of freshman," said Rockwood. "That group last year did an outstanding job right from the start, and I think this group has the same potential for several of them to come in and become big contributors from the beginning."

Another strong recruit for BYU is Nicole Jensen, a 2002 All-State selection out of Denver, CO, who attends the same high school as BYU standout Soccer Buzz All-American Aleisha Cramer-Rose.

Rockwood said, "Nicole Jensen is someone we are hoping will come in and help solidify our defensive line."

The four-time Mountain West Conference Champion Cougars are getting set for yet another run at the conference crown as team will lose only one senior this year from last season's championship team.

The following is a list of the recruits now committed to BYU highlighting their career:

Claire Thomas

Midfielder

Poway, CA -- Poway HS -- San Diego Surf

A four-year varsity athlete ... 2002 and 2003 Barons All-Tournament Team selection ... 2002 Second Team All-Palomar ... 2000 Palomar League Champion Team member ... Four-year Scholar Athlete ... Three-year All-CIF Academic Team ... Four-year varsity lacrosse athlete ... Will graduate at age 16 with a 3.9 GPA

Amberlea Anderson

Midfielder

Orem, UT -- Orem HS -- Celtic Storm

A four-year varsity starter ... Two consecutive second team All-State selections (2001-2002) ... First team All-Region in 2001 and 2002 ... Led the league in scoring four years in a row ... Holds the school single game scoring record with six goals ... Team captain in 2001 and 2002 ... 2002 Player of the year ... Three-time offensive MVP ... Region 7 halfback MVP in 2002 ... Celtic Storm club team member 1994-2002 ... 2001 Celtic Pride Award winner ... Second leading scorer three times ... Member of the two-time State Cup winning team ... 1999 Most Improved Player ... Varsity basketball athlete 2000-2002 ... Graduating with a 4.0 GPA

Bobbi Tillotson

Midfielder

Sandy, UT -- Alta HS - Sparta

First-team All-State 5A selection in 2001 and 2002 ... Member 2002 5A Utah State Championship Team ... Sparta Premier club soccer team member ... 2002 State Cup Champions ... Two-year lettermen in basketball ... Member of 2002 5A State Championship basketball team ... Second-team All-State basketball selection ... Lettered in cross country and track ... 1999 All-State in track and cross country ... Graduating with a 3.87 GPA

Elizabeth Affleck

Forward

Sandy, UT -- Alta HS

Four-year varsity letterman athlete ... Deseret News 2002 5A MVP ... 2002 NSCAA/Adidas State Player of the year ... 2002 NSCAA/Adidas All-America Award ... Member of two state championship teams ... Scored 28 goals in 2002 ... 2002 Prep of the Week in both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News ... 2002 Team Captain ... 2001 5A second team in both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News ... 2002 5A first team in both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News ... Played with Starz, Sparta gold, H2O, and Celtic Storm club teams ... Scored the winning goal in the 2000 State Cup game while playing with Sparta in 2000

Ali Williams

Defender

Portland, OR -- Tualatin HS -- FC Portland

Four-year varsity starter ... Lettered four years ... 2000 First-team All-League at Tualatin High School in Portland, OR ... 2001 and 2002 First-team All-Region at Mountain View High School ... Region Defensive MVP 2002 ... State Champion 2001 and 2002 ... Team captain 2002 ... State Champion with FC Portland in 2001 ... Regional semi-finalist 2001 ... Team captain 1999-2002 ... State semi-finalist with Celtic Storm in Utah 2002 ... Oregon state ODP team 1998-2001 ... Region IV ODP Team 1999-2000... Graduating with a 3.97 GPA

Courtney Asay

Forward

Orem, UT -- Mountain View HS -- Celtic Storm

Four-year varsity starter ... 2001 and 2002 4A State MVP in both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News ... 2001 and 2002 All-Region Forward MVP ... 2001 and 2002 4A State Champions ... KSL Prep Athlete of the Week ... 2002 Utah county All-Valley Team MVP ... 2002 Utah Valley Hal of fame Selection ... First-team All-State Defender 2000 ... First-Team All-Region Defender 2000 ... Member of 2000 State Championship team ... 1999 Track spring MVP ... 1998-2000 State Cup winners with the Celtic Storm club team ... 1998, 1999, and 2000 D1 All-Star Team ... Offensive MVP Celtic Storm Premier Club team 2000, 2001, and 2002

Haylee Cuthbert

Defender

Orem, UT -- Mountain View HS -- Celtic Storm

Four-year varsity athlete ... Member of the three-time state championship team ... First-team All State 2002 ... First-team Utah Valley team ... 2000, 2001, and 2002 First-team All-Region ... Member Celtic Storm Premier Club team State Cup championship team 1998 and 1999 ... 2001 Defensive MVP ... Three-year letter athlete in track ... Graduating with a 3.75 GPA

Annie Zwahlen

Forward

Modesto, CA -- Grace Davis HS -- Ajax United

2002 League MVP ... 2002 All-District team ... 2002 Team captain ... All-CCC Academic Team ... Outstanding citizenship award 2002 ... All-CCC Honorable Mention 2001 ... Scholastic All-CIF 2001 ... CIF Exemplary Sportsmanship/Citizenship Recognition ... All-CCC Academic Team 2001 ... 20001 Most Inspirational Player ... 2000 All-CCC Second-Team ... 2000 All-CCC Academic Team ... member of Modesto Ajax Shockers 1996-1998 ... member San Joaquin Stanislaus Football Club 1999-2001 ... Ajax United Arsenal Premier 2002 ... 1999 All-District 8 ODP team ... 2001 CIF Exemplary Sportsmanship/Citizenship Recognition ... 2001 Scholar Athlete Award ... Four-year letter athlete in water polo ... Graduating with a 3.72 GPA

Nicole Jensen

Defender

Denver, CO -- Green Mountain HS -- Colorado Soccer Academy

Four-year letter athlete ... 2002 All-State ... 2002 All-Conference ... 2001 Second-team All-Conference ... Arapahoe Tournament Team ... Member of the Nike Cup Championship team in 2000 ... Regional Finalist 2000 and 2001 ... Regional Semi-finalist 2002 ... Colorado State Fair Play Award ... Five-time state champion ... Colorado State Team 1996-2002 for ODP ... Regional ODP Pool 1998 and 1999 ... Letter athlete in basketball ... Attended same high school as BYU three-time Soccer Buzz All-American Aleisha Cramer-Rose