Feb. 9, 2007

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago head women's soccer coach Frank Mateus has announced the signing of 10 players to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period. Mateus and his staff have secured commitments from Chicagoland players as well as recruits from around the region and country as Loyola looks to successfully defend its Horizon League title.

"First and foremost, I am extremely pleased with the quality of this class," said Mateus. "We feel like we were able to address some of the needs that we had and made ourselves better by bringing in this talented group. They will be a great complement to the student-athletes that we bring back and will help us improve the talent level and depth that helped us to a championship last season."

Maggie Doe
Fr. • 5-5 • MF
Ft. Collins, Colo./Poudre

Team captain ... Earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a senior ... Helped team advance to the round of 16 twice and the final eight in another season ... Played club soccer for Ft. Collins Arsenal Gold ... Part of club team that was State Cup champions in 2006 ... Also competed for the Ft. Collins Force in the W League

Coach Mateus on Doe: "Maggie is a very smart and intelligent player who is good with the ball and makes good decisions with it. She is one of those players who makes the other players around her better."

Colleen Dougherty
Fr. • 5-4 • GK
Novi, Mich./Detroit Country Day

Four-year varsity starter ... Helped team to a pair of Division 3 district titles, two regional championships and consecutive state finals appearances ... Posted a 0.62 goals-against average as a junior, recording shutouts in 13 of 25 matches ... Two-time all-district honoree ... Earned all-region and honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore and garnered all-area honors following her junior season ... Named team captain for upcoming senior season ... Member of Michigan's ODP state team for four years and a region II pool player for two years ... Played club soccer for Vardar.

Coach Mateus on Dougherty: "Colleen is quick and athletic and is a terrific communicator and organizer in the defensive third. We expect her to come in and compete for playing time."

Ashley Funk
Fr. • 5-4 • F/MF
Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield

Two-time all-conference honoree ... Totaled 23 goals and 22 assists over last two seasons, including 18 tallies and 16 assists last season as a junior ... Helped team to three consecutive conference titles, including two straight unbeaten seasons, and the first regional championship win in school history ... Played club soccer for NSA Premier Rockets.

Coach Mateus on Funk: "One of the things I like best about Ashley is that she is a worker out on the field. We could play her anywhere on the field, be it in the center, on the wing or up top as a forward, and she will be successful."

Lauren Gerbick
Fr. • 5-6 • F
Dyer, Ind./Andrean

Four-year varsity starter ... Holds school-record for both goals (86) and points (216) ... Scored at least 18 goals in all four seasons, including single-season high of 27 as a sophomore ... Three-time All-Area selection by both the Post-Tribune and the NWI Times ... Second Team all-state selection her season year after earning honorable mention honors as a junior ... Helped team to regional and sectional titles as well as an appearance in the round of 16 in 2004 ... First team all-district pick each of her last two years ... Two-time team most valuable player and earned the squad's offensive MVP honor a third season ... Three-time first team all-conference choice ... Played on ODP state team from 1999-2000 ... Played her club soccer for Northwest United ... High school teammate of Loyola senior defender Amanda Ward.

Coach Mateus on Gerbick: "Lauren is an offensive-minded player with great athleticism and tons of pace up front. She is going to come in here immediately and compete for time on the field."

Leah Ponticello
Fr. • 5-2 • F/MF
Kenmore, N.Y./Mount St. Mary Academy

Prolific scorer who finished her career with 102 goals, including 37 her junior season ... Led conference in scoring three different times and was a three-time first team all-conference selection ... Fourth team all-state selection her junior year and also named to second team all-Western New York squad that season ... Named team's most valuable player on two occasions ... Helped team to a pair of conference championships, including posting an unbeaten record en route to the 2006 crown ... Led team to Catholic High School state title match in 2005 and to a No. 1 ranking among small schools in Western New York her sophomore season ... Played for the Western New York State ODP team from 2004-06 and the Region I squad in 2004-05 ... Played club soccer for the Rochester Junior Rhinos ... Won state cup title in 2005 and helped them to a No. 8 ranking in Region I.

Coach Mateus on Ponticello: "Leah has great speed, is terrific on the ball and is a prime candidate to come in and instantly compete for playing time. Her skill set and style of play are a perfect fit for our program."

Allie Roufus
Fr. • 5-6 • D
New Berlin, Wis./Milwaukee Pius XI

Versatile player who can play anywhere on the field ... Earned all-conference recognition her junior season as a defender and her senior season as a forward ... Named team's defensive player of the year in 2005 and offensive player of the year in 2006 ... has ODP experience with the Wisconsin team ... Played club soccer for the Elm Grove Extreme.

Coach Mateus on Roufus: "Allie is a good athlete with terrific speed. Her versatility is something that will definitely help the depth of our team."

Brooke Schuppan
Fr. • 5-3 • MF
St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall

All-state performer in 2004 ... Also earned team's offensive most valuable player honor that season ... Totaled 41 goals and 31 assists in three seasons, including 18 goals and 14 assists in 2005 ... Helped team to third-place finish in state tournament in 2005 ... Played club soccer for St. Louis Soccer Club, which has won state championship from 1998-2006.

Coach Mateus on Schuppan: "Brooke is great on the ball, makes good decisions and is a real creator on the field. Her plays helps others on the field play well."

Nikki Staton
Fr. • 5-8 • MF
Ingleside, Ill./Grant

Two-time all-conference selection ... Earned all-area and all-sectional honors in 2005 ... Played club soccer for Eclipse Select ... Helped club to U-17 national championship in 2006, scoring a goal in the championship final ... Sister of former Loyola women's soccer player - and current Loyola cross country runner - Pam Staton.

Coach Mateus on Staton: "Nikki is a smart, aggressive player who has speed and gets up and down the field to play both ends. Plus, she has experience playing at a very high level and is a great competitor."

Miranda Wiley
Fr. • 5-7 • D
Maryville, Ill./Collinsville

Named team captain for upcoming senior season ... Two-time all-conference selection, including second team honors as a junior ... Named Honorable Mention All-Area by the Belleville News-Democrat each of the last two years ... Earned honorable mention all-sectional accolades as a junior ... Helped team to a share of the conference title as a freshman ... Has ODP experience with Super Y League ODP Midwest Team and attended SYL ODP National Camp with that squad ... Played club soccer for Metro United.

Coach Mateus on Wiley: "Miranda is another smart and hard-working defender. She reads the game really well, covers lots of ground in the back and will add a great amount of depth to our group of defenders."

Gordana Zrnich
Fr. • 5-7 • D
Morton Grove, Ill./St. Viator

Joins an experienced Loyola back four that set school-record for shutouts last season ... Helped team to Class A state championship in 2005 ... Earned most valuable player award as a freshman ... Played club soccer for KUFC Premier and also spent time with the Chicago Sockers club ... Member of the Spanish Honor Society.

Coach Mateus on Zrnich: "Gordana is a strong defender who has a high work rate and is strong in the air. She will come in and compete for playing time."