March 10, 2009

BRYANT UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNS TEN STUDENT-ATHLETES TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

SMITHFIELD, RI -  Bryant University head women's soccer coach Chris Flint is pleased to announce the signing of ten student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to enroll and participate in women's soccer at the University this fall.  The announcement was made today by coach Flint and Director of Athletics Bill Smith.  Joining the Bulldog freshman class this fall are forwards Morgan Derick (Ashland, MA) and Jennifer Harding (Lancaster, MA), midfielders Alex Bengston (Andover, MA), Kaitlyn Fare (Middletown, NJ), Elizabeth Gaines (East Longmeadow, MA), Krista Johnstone (Dover, NH), Regan Marin (Bedford, N.Y.) and Alison Melley (Centerville, MA), defender Marissa Slayton (Auburn, NY), and goalkeeper Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, NJ).

Bryant University will begin its second season of its four-year transition to full Division I membership.  The school will officially become a member of the NEC in the fall of 2012. 
Name Pos. Ht. Hometown/ High School
Alex Bengston MF 5-4 Andover, MA / Andover High School
Morgan Derick F 5-7 Ashland, MA / Ashland High School
Kaitlyn Fare MF 5-7 Millstone Township, NJ / St. John Vianney High School
Elizabeth Gaines MF/F 5-7 East Longmeadow, MA / East Longmeadow High School
Jennifer Harding F 5-2 Lancaster, MA / Nashoba Regional High School
Kelsi Jacob GK 5-6 Mahwah, NJ / Mahwah High School
Krista Johnstone MF 5-4 Dover, NH / Dover High School
Regan Marin MF 5-5 Bedford, NY / Byram Hills High School
Alison Melley MF 5-4 Centerville, MA / Barnstable High School
Marissa Slayton D 5-5 Auburn, NY / Auburn High School

 

 
Alex Bengston signing her letter of intent.

 

Alex Bengston  MF  5-4 Andover, MA / Andover High School
Four-year starting center midfielder for coaches Fred Tarbox and current coach Meghan Matson ... team won three Merrimack Valley league championships ... Team won 2006 Division I North title and were 2007 finalists ...  Named All-Eastern Massachusetts and All-Conference in 2006, 2007 and 2008 ... 2007 Boston Globe Player of the Week ... 2007 Team captain and Globe weekly honoree ... Team Captain of Aztec Club team that captured state title ... Four-year honor student ... AP Statistics ... Member of Red Cross Club and Project Teamwork. 

Morgan Derick   F   5-7  Ashland, MA / Ashland High School
Five-year starter at striker for coaches Miguel Vidal and Sam Cramer at Ashland High School... Led team to state tournament in 2004 and 2007... Three-time Tri-Valley League all-star... First-team all-TVL in 2004 and 2006... Most Valuable Contributor as a junior... Three-time letter award winner in indoor track... Two-year letterwinner in tennis.

 

 
Kaitlyn Fare signing.

 

Kaitlyn Fare MF 5-7 Millstone Twp., NJ / St. John Vianney HS Starting midfielder at St. John Vianney for coach Tami Coyle ... Team went 18-4 in 2008 finishing the year as Division Co-Champions and Parochial School State Finalists ... Team was Co-Division Champions in 2005 and Division Champions in 2006 ... Earned Second Team All-County honors in 2008 ... Two-time Shore Conference scoring leader in 2007 and 2008 ... Member of JAGS Select ... National Honor Society and member of school's Honor Roll ... Blue & White Award recipient and Community Service Award honoree ... Also member of Key and Pre-Med Club. 

Elizabeth Gaines  MF 5-7  East Longmeadow, MA / East Longmeadow H
Four-year starter and letterwinner at forward and midfield for East Longmeadow High School... All-league selection all four years... All-Western Mass. Selection in 2006, 2007 and 2008... Team MVP as a junior while winning the Coach's Award as a senior... All-Star selection as a senior... Selected to Regional USL Super Y team as a freshman... Varsity letterwinner in track as a sophomore... National Honor Society member.

Jennifer Harding           F          5-2       Lancaster, MA / Nashoba Regional High School
Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Pam Vaughn at Nashoba Regional High School ... Helped team to three Mid Wach B-Central Mass league championships in 2005, 2006 and 2008 ... Central Mass and Mid Wach B all-star her senior year... "Relentless Intensity" award winner... Two-year letterwinner in basketball... National Honor Society member... Academic excellence awards in English, World history and Algebra while earning Highest Academic Award in Biology.
Kelsi Jacob signing letter of intent.

 

Kelsi Jacob   GK  5-6    Mahwah, NJ / Mahwah High School
Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Michael Wright at Mahwah High School ... Helped lead team to NBIL League Championship in 2007 ... Two-time All-League selection (2007, 2008) and two-time All-League Honorable Mention (2005, 2006) ... Four-year High Honor Roll ... Member of Minds in Motion and Athletes in Action at Mahwah ... New Jersey State Championship in 2006 and 2007 allowing no goals in both finals ... Regional Player honoree in 2006, 2007, 2008 ... U.S. Youth Club, Region I Champions in 2005.  

Krista Johnstone   MF  5-4   Dover, NH / Dover High School
Three-year varsity starter at midfield for the Green Wave of Dover High School... Lead team to two league championships in 2005 and 2006 and a tournament championship in 2008... Named to Fosters Dream Team for soccer in 2007 and 2008... First team all-state midfielder as a senior... Team captain and MVP in 2008... Helped squad become first Dover High girls' soccer team to win first round of playoffs... Five year premier SUSC player and New Hampshire ODP state team... Four-year honor roll student... Female Scholar-Athlete award winner.

Regan Marin                  MF      5-5       Bedford, NY / Byram Hills High School
Four-year varsity starter for head coaches Andrew Morris and currently Bryan Horn at Byram Hills High School... Lead team to Section I large school championship in spring 2006, while advancing to the quarter-finals in fall 2006 and semi-finals in 2007 and 2008... All-league and all-section selection in spring 2006, fall 2006, 2007 and 2008... Journal news all-star team honorable mention in 2007, second team all-star in 2008... Captain of team as a senior and Byram Hills High School sportsmanship award winner... Four-year member of varsity ski team.... Captain of ski team in 2008, winning team sportsmanship award... Participated in Habitat for Humanity while also being a member of Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society).

Alison Melley                 MF      5-4       Centerville,  MA / Barnstable High School
Starting center midfielder for coach Erica Turner at Barnstable High School in Hyannis, MA ... Three-time member of Massachusetts ODP team ... Four-year varsity starter and two year captain ... Named Old Colony League First Team All-Star three times ... Rookie of the Year in 2005 and MVP in 2006 and 2007 ... National Honor Society ... Honor Roll student all four years ... Recipient of Adams Award ... Member of Key, Ski and Art Club.

Marissa Slayton             D         5-5       Auburn, NY / Auburn High School
Four-year starting defender and midfielder at Auburn High School ... Team went 15-3 in 2007 winning the league Class AA league title ... Named First Team All-League and All Central New York in 2008 ... First Team Citizen All-Star ... Named First Team All-League as a junior in 2007 and Second Team All-League as a sophomore in 2006 ... Four-Time New York State West Champion ... Member of L.E.A.D. USA and Varsity Club ... National Honor Society member.