Feb. 21, 2001
VILLANOVA, PA-- Villanova University head women's soccer coach Ann Clifton today announced the signing of five recruits to National Letters of Intent. Clifton also announced the addition of one transfer to the team's 2001 class. The Wildcats' 2001 recruiting class focused on strengthening the team's midfield and frontlines, and features prep stars from up and down the East Coast.
Coming to Villanova from Providence Senior High School and Charlotte, N.C., is forward Laura Johnson. Johnson has been a member of the Region III Olympic Development Team for the past two seasons, and also attended the National Camp during the summer of 2000. She was named to the North Carolina All-State Team this past season. In addition, Johnson was recently selected to the U.S. Olympic Development Academic All-America Team, and was featured in ESPN Magazine as a U.S. Navy Scholastic first team All-America selection.
"Laura (Johnson) is a terrific asset to our program and will make an immediate impact on the Big East Conference," stated head coach Ann Clifton. "She has a great presence on the field and is a dangerous forward that will cause havoc for Wildcat opponents."
Hailing from Red Bank, N.J., where she attended Red Bank Catholic High School, Patricia Misciagna will give Villanova a versatile performer in both the midfield, as well as on defense. For her performance during the 2000 season, Misciagna was named to the All-Parochial, All-State and All-Shore Teams. She also received the Shore Conference Officials Association Senior Excellence Award in both 1999 and 2000. This past season, Misciagna led her high school team to a North Shore Conference Championship, and she will leave Red Bank Catholic is the program's third all-time leading scorer. She has been a member of the New Jersey Olympic Development Team since 1999.
"Patricia (Misciagna) is a very versatile play with a dangerous left foot, " said Clifton. "She will provide a lot of depth to our midfield. Tricia has an innate ability to read the game and will be an asset to our entire program."
A native of Suffield, Conn., Suffield High School star Tracy Naida led her team to the Connecticut State Championship in 2000, and was selected to play in the 2000 Connecticut Senior Bowl. Naida's other honors in 2000 include All-Conference and All-State accolades, as well as being selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America Regional Team. A member of the Connecticut Olympic Development Team since 1998, she will participate in the National Olympic Development Championships in Las Vegas during March 2001.
"Tracey (Naida) will be a wonderful addition to our team and will find time in the midfield and defensive areas of the field," said Clifton. "She has outstanding vision with the ball at her foot and possesses a deadly shot from long range."
The second of three New Jersey prep stars to sign with the Wildcats is Erica Stewart, from Cranford, N.J., and Cranford High School. During the 2000 season, Stewart led one of the nation's top high school teams to a No. 2 ranking in the USA Today Poll and the NSCAA High School Poll. Her Cranford team was also ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and won the Group 2 State Championship. Stewart accumulated first team All-Conference, All-County and All-State honors. A member of the N.J. Olympic Development Team since 1996, Stewart was twice named to the Olympic Development National Team Pool. She also plays for the MC Dynamo Club Team that won the New Jersey State Cup Championships in 1998-2000.
"We will count on Erica (Stewart) to solidify our central midfield," said Clifton. "She has a great defensive presence to her game, and possesses the ability to start the attack from her role as a defensive midfielder."
Adding a presence to the Wildcats' frontline in 2001 will be Woodbury Heights, N.J. native Regina Villari. Villari was selected to the All-Conference, All-County and New Jersey All-State Teams in 2000. She was also named to the Courier Post Player of the Week a number of times during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Villari is currently a member of the Mt. Laurel Shockwaves and head coach Frank Schillig (father of current Wildcat goalkeeper Janel Schillig). The Shockwaves have won the New Jersey State Cup the Past Six Years.
"Regina (Villari) is a tremendously talented athlete with blazing speed," said Clifton. "She will be an immediate star forward for the Wildcats, who is dangerous with the ball at her foot and loves to go at defenses."
Joining the Villanova program in 2001 is Wheaton College (Mass.) transfer and Etna, New Hampshire native Alison Bimba. Bimba was named to the 2000 NSCAA Division III All-America second team performer in 1999 and first team in 2000. She was honored as the New Englandd Women's Athletic Conference Athlete of the year in 2000, following a season in which she led Wheaton to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Bimba scored five consecutive game-winning goals in conference and NCAA Tournament action, leading the team to the title game of the New England Region. She set a single season school record in 1999 for goals (22) and points (58).
"Ali (Bimba) is an outstanding addition to our team," said Clifton. "She is a proven scorer at the collegiate level and we will look for her to spark our offense."
Villanova is coming off of a season in which it posted an 11-8-0 overall record and registered a 2-4-0 mark in Big East Conference play.
2001 VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNINGSName Position(s) Hometown/ High SchoolLaura Johnson Forward Charlotte, N.C./ Providence Senior High SchoolPatricia Misciagna Midfield/Defense Red Bank, N.J./ Red Bank Catholic High SchoolTracy Naida Midfield Suffield, Conn./ Suffield High SchoolErica Stewart Midfield Cranford, N.J./ Cranford High SchoolRegina Villari Forward Woodbury Heights, N.J./ Woodbury HeightsAlison Bimba Midfield/Defense Etna, N.H./ Wheaton College (Transfer)
