Fordham women's soccer coach
Jessica Clinton announced the addition of eight student athletes for the upcoming 2015 season.
The list of players includes
Marjana Maksuti (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central (Marist)),
Adaeze Obinelo (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South),
Lane Cronin (Weston, Mass./Weston),
Brooklyn Gonzalez (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic),
Colleen Hickey (Bay Shore, N.Y./St. John the Baptist),
Caitlin Leen (Harriman, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury),
Brooke Salmon (West Hempstead, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), and
Kerri Villano (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge).
"We are excited to welcome this outstanding group of young women into the Fordham Women's Soccer family. With our current group of players laying the foundation of this program, we think that our incoming class of student athletes will take us one more step in the right direction," said Clinton.
Maksuti, a midfielder/defender and the twin sister of current Ram
Kristina Maksuti, is a transfer from Marist College, where she played three seasons with the Red Foxes. She missed her junior season with an injury, but still managed to start 48 of 58 games in her other three seasons, netting seven goals and one assist and was a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection. Her best season came as a sophomore, where she was named Second Team All-MAAC, netting five goals in 21 games, which included two game-winning goals. Prior to Marist, Maksuti helped Bethlehem Central to three straight Section 2 Class AA Championships and was an All-New York State Performer, while also being a part of Quickstrike FC and the Eastern New York ODP Team.
Obinelo played goalkeeper for the varsity soccer team at Nashua High School South in Nashua, New Hampshire. She was a two-time
Nashua Telegraph All-State Honorable Mention pick in 2013 and 2014, while earning All-Star honors as a senior. For club soccer, she played up an age group with the Aztec Soccer (MA) U17/18 Cyclones, where she helped capture five championships, which included the National Premier League Championship twice (2013-14), the Massachusetts State Cup (2013 – U17, 2014 – U18), and the PDA U17 Showcase Championship. She was also a New Hampshire ODP State Team member from 2011-14, selected as a Pool Member for the Region 1 U15 and U17 squads and as a Team Member for the U16 squad. Academically, Obinelo was a member of the high honor roll, the Nashua Honor Society and the Science Honor Society.
Cronin was a four-year varsity soccer player at Weston High School in Weston, Massachusetts, playing at both a forward and midfielder. A two-year captain, she was an All-State and Eastern Massachusetts All-Star selection as a senior, while being a four-time Duel County League All-Star. She helped her team win the 2014 Small Championship of the DCL as well as the 2012 State Championship. She plays club soccer for the U18 NEFC Elite, which won the 2014 Massachusetts State Championship after making the finals in 2012 and 2013, as well as the 2013 Region 1 Premier League Championship. In the classroom, Cronin was a four-year member of the honor roll and was elected by the student body as the Co-President of the student council for the 2014-15 academic year.
Gonzalez was a defender for varsity soccer team at Santa Margarita Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. She was a First Team All-League performer as a senior, helping her team to the 2014 CIF Championship. She played club soccer for DMCV Sharks Elite, which won the 2013 and 2014 National Championship and 2013 State Championship. In the classroom, Gonzalez was a three-year CSF member and recipient of the Eagle Scholar Award and the Student Athlete Award.
Hickey was a three-year starting goalkeeper at St. John the Baptist in West Islip, New York. In 2013, she led the team to the New York CHSAA State Championship as well as the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA League Championship. That squad finished the year with a #14 national ranking by the NSCAA. She played club soccer for Brentwood United, which finished third in the National Premier League for the 2013-14 season, while winning the 2013 Disney Soccer Showcase Championship and the 2014 Generation Adidas Bethesda Tournament. She also played for the New York East ODP Program from 2011-13, and was selected for the Region 1 ODP Tournament twice. In the classroom, Hickey was a four-time selection to the Suffolk CHSAA All-Academic Team, earned Magna Cum Laude honors three times, and was a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, and the National Spanish Honor Society.
Leen played forward for the varsity soccer team at Monroe Woodbury High School in Central Valley, New York. In 2014, she led New York Section 9 in scoring as a senior and was named to the All-Star Team, as she helped win the Section 9 title. She played club soccer for World Class FC, where she participated in the Elite Clubs National League's Player Development Program (PDP) for the Northeast-Metro area. The squad ended up playing in the 2014 ECNL playoffs in Seattle, Washington. In the classroom, Leen was the senior class president and a member of the honor roll throughout high school, while ranking in the top 10% of her class.
Salmon was a three-year varsity midfielder at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, New York. She served as team captain as a senior and was a three-time All-Catholic League selection from 2012-14. She earned All-State honors as a junior and helped Kellenberg to the Catholic League finals in 2012 and the semifinals in 2013 and 2014. She played club soccer for Brentwood United along with fellow recruit Colleen Hickey, which finished third in the National Premier League for the 2013-14 season, while winning the 2013 Disney Soccer Showcase Championship and the 2014 Generation Adidas Bethesda Tournament. In the classroom, Salmon was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year member of the honor roll.
Villano, a defender/midfielder, was a three-year varsity soccer player at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. A 2014 team captain, she led Ridge to an undefeated mark, winning the Skyland Conference and earning a #7 ranking in New Jersey. She received First Team All-Conference and All-County honors, while earning All-New Jersey Honorable Mention by
MSG Varsity. Prior to her senior year, she helped Ridge to a County Championship in 2013 and the 2012 North Jersey Group 4 Section 2 Championship. For club soccer, she played for the PDA Shock, where she was a four-year captain and made the finals of the 2012 and 2014 Jefferson Cup and the 2012 Disney Showcase. In the classroom, Villano was a member of the honor roll.
