April 16, 2008

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University women's soccer coach Ness Selmani announced the newest recruiting class for the upcoming season, as four new players will suit up for Fordham in 2008. The newest members of the Fordham women's soccer team are midfielder Mariella Romano (Whitestone, N.Y./Townsend Harris), midfielder/defender Michaela Murphy (Dunstable, Mass./Groton Dunstable Regional), forward Katherine Wah (Arlington, Mass./Arlington), and midfielder/defender Eva DeCesaro (Portland, Ore./Sunset).

Romano, a native of Whitestone, N.Y., was a four-year varsity soccer player at Townsend Harris High School. While there, she earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 and the Coaches Award in 2005. For club soccer, Romano played for the Long Island Rough Riders, helping them to three straight league championships from 2004-06, and currently plays for the Rockville Centre Royals. A member of NYS ODP from 2003-07, she was selected to the Region 1 Team four times (2003-04, 2006-07), and was a part of the National Team Event Invite in Boca Raton, Florida in 2005. She was also a member of the Super Y-League National Pool from 2004-06. Aside from soccer, Romano was also ran cross country and track in high school. Academically, she earned a National Merit Scholarship and was Honorable Merit Summa Cum Laude in Latin.

Murphy, one of two recruits from Massachusetts, was a four-year varsity soccer player at Groton Dunstable Regional High School. A team captain, she was a two-time Lowell Sun and Mid-Wachusett All-Star (2006-07) and a 2006 Central Mass All-Star. In 2004, she helped Groton to the Division II State semifinal, while in 2005, they made the Division I Central Massachusetts semifinal. For club soccer, Murphy has been a member of the Stars of Massachusetts since 1999, helping them to two state championships in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the team captured three tournament championships at the Raleigh Shootout, Disney Showcase, and Las Vegas Showcase, while reaching the final of the Region 1 League. She is also a five-year member of the Massachusetts ODP from 2003-07. Away from soccer, Murphy is the vice-president of the National Honor Society and Student Council president at Groton, while also being a part of the French Honor Society.

Wah, a native of Arlington, Massachusetts, was a multi-sport athlete at Arlington High School, seeing time on the varsity soccer, swimming, and outdoor track teams. She helped Arlington to the Greater Boston League (GBL) and Division 2 North Sectional championships, while being a Division 2 State semifinalist. She earned All-Star status by the GBL and Eastern Massachusetts for soccer, while earning GBL All-Star honors for swimming and track. Wah has played club soccer for the F.C. Greater Boston Bolts for the past three years, helping them to the final of the Disney Showcase. Away from the pitch, Wah received the Silver Award at Arlington for academics. She is also a member of the Arlington Concert Orchestra and a certified American Red Cross lifeguard.

DeCesaro, a Portland, Oregon native, was a late addition to this year's recruiting class. She was a three-year varsity soccer player at Sunset High School, while also running two years track. For club soccer, she plays for the Westside Metros, which finished as the Oregon State Finalist in 2006 and Semifinalist in 2007, and won the 2007 Nike ODP Friendship Cup Championship. A four-year member of the Oregon ODP State team from 2004-07, she took part in the ODP Region IV Camp in 2005 & 2006. Away from the pitch, DeCesaro is a three-time scholar-athlete (2005-07) and a two-year class delegate for the ASB Leadership Council. She is also heavily involved in community service, volunteering at youth soccer camps, organizing her schoool blood drive, and being an Outreach volunteer.

The Fordham Women's Soccer team is coming off their second straight runner-up finish at the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship. The team finished the year at 10-5-5 overall, 7-1-3 in the Atlantic 10, and posted their highest regional ranking in team history. The Fordham women's soccer team is slated to open their 2008 fall season at home on Sunday, August 31st, against Iona College, beginning at 1:00 PM.