Feb. 1, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri soccer program signed five high caliber student-athletes, announced Tiger head coach Bryan Blitz on Wednesday. Michelle Collins, Katya Hessel, Breanna Thornton, Crystal Wagner and Kristin Andrighetto all signed national letters of intent to compete for the Tigers in 2006.
"Striving to continue the improvement of Mizzou's soccer program, our staff has worked very hard over the past year and a half to bring in one of the fastest and most athletic classes to date," said Blitz. "We have a great core of players who are working extremely hard this spring and making strides to improve everyday. We will definitely miss the tremendous senior class of 2005 but we feel that with our returnees and the addition of these five freshmen, our squad will continue to improve. We are excited for the 2006 season and the endless opportunities that this group of players can achieve."
| Name | Position | Height | Hometown (High School) | ||||||
| Michelle Collins | Midfielder/Forward | 5'6" | Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley) | ||||||
| Katya Hessel | Forward | 5'5" | Edwardsville, Ill. (Edwardsville) | ||||||
| Breanna Thornton | Midfielder/Forward | 5'5" | Lake View Terrace, Calif. (Los Angeles Baptist) | ||||||
| Crystal Wagner | Defender | 5'7" | Houston, Texas (Memorial) | ||||||
| Kristin Andrighetto | Midfielder/Forward | 5'5" | Pleasant Hill, Calif. (Carondelet) | ||||||
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Position: Midfielder/Forward
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
High School: Neuqua Valley
Club Team: Americas Soccer Club
Club Coach: Joe Mereau
Height: 5'6"
Collins plays for Neuqua Valley High School's soccer squad, which is ranked the No. 1 high school girls team in the nation by Student Sports Soccer. The team won the state championship in 2005 while earning conference and regional championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She was named to the All-Upstate Eight Conference and DuPage County All-Area teams as a junior in 2005. A Naperville Sun All-City second team honoree in 2005, Collins also made the Upstate Eight All-Academic in 2004. Collins helped her Americas Soccer Club squad to second-place finishes at the State Cup, NSR Cup and Palatine Celtic Cup in 2005 and the NSR Cup title in 2004.
Coach Blitz on Collins:
"Michelle is a great athlete who will add a lot of speed and strength to our forward and midfield lines. She is a dynamic individual on and off the field who will fit in very well with our team chemistry and philosophy. Her unselfish team play and attacking attitude will help our team upfront and we think that she is someone that has the potential to help us immediately."
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Position: Forward
Hometown: Edwardsville, Ill.
High School: Edwardsville
Club Team: Metro United
Height: 5'5"
Club Coach: Dave Fernandez and Dale Schilly
A National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) / ADIDAS Youth Girls All-America team selection in 2004, Hessel also attended training camp for the Women's National U16 Pool Team in 2004. Hessel, who is listed as a top-100 recruit by Soccer Buzz, earned NSCAA / ADIDAS All-Midwest Team accolades in 2005 for Edwardsville High School. A two-time Alton Telegraph Player of the Year, Hessel is a three-time all-region, all-conference and all-area first team honoree. Hessel also boasts international experience from her time with the United States Youth Soccer Association / ADIDAS All-Star Team that played in Germany, Holland and Scotland and again has the opportunity with the Olympic Development Program Region II International Tour in March, 2006. As a member of the U17 Metro United club team, Hessel won the 2004 Gateway Shootout and took second place in the 2004 Fall Metro Classic.
Coach Blitz on Hessel:
"Katya is an exciting and explosive talent that will add a great deal of experience to our team. She is also a creative and savvy playmaker that can score goals as well as set up her teammates with great passes. She is an individual that has been involved in the National Team program since she was 15 years old and we know that her knowledge and understanding of the game will make an impact in the Big 12 Conference."
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Position: Midfielder/forward
Hometown: Lake View Terrace, Calif.
High School: Los Angeles Baptist
Club Team: Southern California Blues
Club Coach: Randy Dodge
Height: 5'5"
Despite missing her senior season due to injury, Thornton scored 57 goals and 33 assists in three seasons for Los Angeles Baptist High School. An All-California Interscholastic Federation third team honoree as a sophomore and junior, Thornton is also a Los Angeles Daily News all-area selection. On the club level, she helped the Southern California Blues to the Coast League Cup Championship in 2004. Thornton also was on the Olympic Development Program California South State Team in 2004 and carries a 3.9 grade-point average.
Coach Blitz on Thornton:
"With her amazing speed and offensive mindset, Bree will have the ability to stretch our opponents by attacking their defenses. She has the ability to cause defenders problems by getting behind them and setting up her teammates or by scoring goals herself. She is a very driven and determined individual that will fit in terrific here at Mizzou."
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Position: Defender
Hometown: Houston, Texas
High School: Memorial
Club Team: Challenge `88
Club Coach: Pat O'Toole
Height: 5'7"
Partially through her senior season at Memorial High School, Wagner has 19 goals through 11 games. In 2003 and 2004, she helped lead Memorial to state semi-final finishes. Invited to the Olympic Development Festival U18 Boca Camp, Wagner will attend the College Station (Texas) event in February with the Region III Team. She helped lead her Challenge `88 club squad to an U17 state championship in 2005 and the North Oklahoma City Soccer Club United club team to Premier League Division Championship in 2003 and 2004 and a state championship in 2003. Wagner joins fellow Missouri Signee Katya Hessel as a top-100 recruit by Soccer Buzz.
Coach Blitz on Wagner:
"Crystal is a wonderful athlete that is gifted with speed, a tenacious attitude and a tremendous passion for the game. As a Region III Team member, she is a quality defender who also possesses the mindset to get forward in the attack. These qualities along with a strong desire for winning will only help bolster our team and our back line."
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Position: Midfielder/Forward
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Calif.
High School: Carondelet
Club Team: Mustang Blast
Club Coach: Pat Uriz
Height: 5'5"
An ADIDAS All-Far West Team selection in 2005, Andrighetto led Carondelet High School to a 16-1-1 record her senior season after scoring 17 goals and six assists en route to a top-150 recruit ranking by Soccer Buzz. Over her four year career, she totaled 86 goals and 33 assists as the squad earned the 2005 Golden State Soccer League Championship. Andrighetto earned Bay Valley Athletic League first and second team honors in 2004 and 2003, respectively. As a member of Olympic Development Program squads, Andrighetto was on the 2005 Super Y League National Select and 2003 Regional teams.
Coach Blitz on Andrighetto:
"Kristin is a very sophisticated player that is extremely efficient inside the 18-yard box. She is the type of player that possesses the knack for scoring big time goals as well as always being in the right place at the right time. She has the nickname "the Weasel" for this very reason. We are very excited about the depth and versatility that she will add to this recruiting class."