WMU News

Women's soccer announces seven recruits

March 1, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University women's soccer program has signed seven players to National Letters of Intent, head coach Mike Haines announced Friday afternoon.

Marjie Fleshman (Lewis Center, Ohio), Cheryl Fox (Livonia, Mich.), Brittanny Ivanic (Grafton, Wis.), Rachel Morrell (Plymouth, Mich.), Jessica Pattison (North Olmstead, Ohio), Megan Urbats (Livonia, Mich.) and Cindy Webber (Mukwonago, Wis.) will begin their respective Bronco careers with the upcoming 2000 campaign.

"This class addresses many of our team's needs," head coach Mike Haines said. "I am very excited with the potential of this class, which is the deepest I have had in my two seasons here."

Fleshman, a goalkeeper at Olentangy High School, helped lead her team to the program's first-ever league championship by posting 11 shutouts as a senior in 1999. She left the school in possession of the career goals-against-average mark, allowing under one scoring play per game. A member of the regional pool team in 1996, Fleshman has been the starting keeper on the Ohio South State Team for the past four seasons.

A member of two state championship squads (1997, 1998), Fox earned honorable mention all-state accolades as a defender after helping lead Livonia Stevenson High School to a runner-up finish in the state tournament in 1999. She also garnered all-conference honors for her efforts a year ago and was tabbed the squad's Defensive Player of the Year. Fox claimed an indoor national championship, four state titles and one regional crown in club action with the Michigan Hawks as well.

Cedarburg High School advanced to the state tournament semifinals in 1999 thanks in part to the play of Ivanic. The forward helped lead the program to a conference championship in 1998. As a member of the Milwaukee Kickers club team, Ivanic won three state club championships (1996, 1997, 1999). Currently playing for Mequon United, she led the squad in scoring in 1999 and has also been involved in Wisconsin's Olympic Development Program for four seasons.

Recipient of Plymouth Canton High School's Coaches Award in 1998, Morrell received all-division honors that season as well. She is currently playing for the Michigan Hawks 82 club team that finished second in the nation at the National Club Championships. Morrell made the state pool each of the last five seasons and took part in the Region II camp in 1996.

In her first three seasons at North Olmstead High School, Pattison tallied 56 goals and 30 assists. Her efforts helped the team to a No. 1 ranking in northeast Ohio in 1999 and earned her first team all-conference honors. North Olmstead has been ranked as high as 12th nationally during Pattison's career. As a member of the Cleveland Cobras, she played on a state championship and regional semifinalist squad.

Urbats is the second former Livonia Stevenson standout to be joining the Broncos this season. A member of the state championship squad in 1998 along with Fox, Urbats accounted for five goals and five assists that season. She concluded the 1999 campaign with 12 goals, while also assisting on seven others, garnering third team all-state accolades in the process.

Webber, a midfielder from Mukwonago High School, has been named the team's best player at that position in each of her first three seasons with the Indians. She led the team in assists both her sophomore (9) and junior seasons (14), earning second team all-league honors in her second season. A member of the Milwaukee Kickers club team, Webber helped guide the squad to a regional title and third-place national finish in 1998.

The Broncos open the 2000 season on August 27 with exhibition action against Kalamazoo College. The regular season opens Sept. 1 against Valparaiso at the WMU Soccer Complex.

Media contact: Scott Kuykendall; 616 387-4138; scott.kuykendall@wmich.edu


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