April 6, 2011
Bronx, N.Y. -
Fordham women's soccer head coach Ness Selmani announced the newest additions to the 2011 squad today, as six players will join the Rams. The list includes and forward Kristina Maksuti (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central), midfielder/forward Maria Lorena Canicatti (Whitestone, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), midfielder/defender Jessica Widmann (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow), forward Megan Poiesz (Chalfont, Pa./Lansdale Catholic), forward Kate McDonnell (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell), and goalkeeper Ally White (Diablo, Calif./Carondelet).
Maksuti was honored as a 2010 NSCAA All-American and was the Suburban Council Player of the Year. A First Team Suburban Council selection, she aided Bethlehem Central to the 2010 AA Suburban Council Championship. Over her high school career, she has a long list of accolades including, Suburban Council Class AA First Team All-Star, the 2009 Times Union Most Valuable Player, Troy Record Most Valuable Player, All-Star High School Teams leading goal scorer, Suburban Council Class AA semifinalist, and All-State Second Team.
Maksuti played her club soccer for Quickstrike FC, was a four-year member of the NYS ODP team, and a two-year Super Y League National ODP Player. In 2009, she was selected to the National Super Y All-Star Team.
Along with soccer, Maksuti was a two-year starter on her varsity Lacrosse team, helping the squad to the Suburban Council Class AA finals, and a three-year varsity basketball player.
Selmani on Maksuti - "A powerful forward, who can do all the right things to perfection in the offensive third, and can score from anywhere with both feet. We anticipate her to be a program changing player."
Canicatti has been a Regional ODP player and a National Pool player since 2007, and attended the National Team training camp in Pomona, California in 2007. Her talent has kept her on the ENY State ODP team since 2005 and her club team, the Syosset Sting, have been State Cup Champions every year since 2008.
Along with fellow incoming freshman Jessica Widmann, Canicatti helped her club make it to the finals of the 2010 US Youth Soccer U-17 National Championships.
In 2009, Canicatti was invited to the adidas Elite Soccer Program in Pomona, California, and, in 2010, she was one of four players from New York asked to play for the Region 1 team at the US Youth Soccer ODP girls Thanksgiving Inter-regionals in Florida.
Selmani on Canicatti - "Maria can play equally well in both forward and midfield positions, her tremendous skill and speed should help our program immensely.
Widmann was a four-year member of the varsity women's soccer team at East Meadow High School, where she served as team captain in each of her final two seasons. She earned First Team All-New York State twice (2009-10), All-County honors three times (2008-10), and was named the Conference Player of the Year in 2010.
In 2010, Widmann helped her club team, the Syosset Sting, win the U17 New York State Championship, the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Championship, and went to the finals in the 2010 US Youth Soccer U-17 National Championships.
Away from the pitch, Widmann is a member of the National Honor Society and Italian Honor Society. Along with soccer, she also played lacrosse, basketball, and ran track in high school.
Selmani on Widmann - "Jessica will strengthen our squad in both the midfield and defensive positions. She is a fierce competitor and will bring a winning attitude to the team."
Poiesz attends Lansdale Catholic High School, where she is a senior captain and four-year letterwinner. She was honored as a First Team All-Catholic selection in three consecutive seasons. She had a standout sophomore season, taking home the league MVP award, as well as earning All-Southeast Pennsylvania and All-State accolades.
Poiesz has been a member of the PA Rush soccer club from U-9 to U-18. She played Pennsylvania East ODP in 2009 and 2010, winning the Regional championship and making the national semifinals in 2009.
In her free time, Poiesz volunteers at Work-Camp Heart, and in the classroom she is an honor student with a GPA of 4.0.
Selmani on Poiesz - "We expect Megan to make an immediate impact on the team with her skills and speed and nose for the goal."
McDonnell was a soccer standout at James Caldwell High School. She set the school record in assists and is second all-time in goals scored. During her career, she was the team leader in assists all four years, and led the team in goal scoring three times for a total of 63 goals and 53 assists. She has been honored by the Star Ledger with First Team All-Group II and All-State accolades, while receiving First Team Coaches All-County, First Team Coaches All-Conference and All-State Coaches honors as well.
McDonnell plays club soccer for the STA Crush and Millburn Magic (WPSL), and in the classroom she is an Honor Roll student.
Selmani on McDonnell - "Katie is very `soccer smart', has good vision, and holds the ball well. She will compete for time on the front line."
White attended Carondelet in Concord, California, where she helped lead the team to EBAL League Championships in 2010 and 2011, the NCS quarterfinals in 2009 and NCS semifinals in 2010. She ranked first in EBAL in goals against average for last two seasons, posting a 0.52 and 0.20 GAA, respectively.
White played her club soccer with the Pleasanton Rage Premier since U-14. The team finished third in B bracket of Elite Club National League (ECNL) in 2010. Over the last three years with White in goal, she registered a 0.60 goals against average with 33 shutouts. Pleasanton Rage Premier was ranked as high as #3 nationally (2010-2011) on the ESPN Rise Top50, while in overall goalkeeping stats, the team was eighth in nation according to ESPN Rise.
In the classroom, White was a CIF scholar-athlete all four years.
Selmani on White - "Ally has great presence in net and we expect her to challenge our veteran keepers for the number one spot."
