Michigan Women's Soccer: Recruiting Class Tops Big Ten

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U-M Recruiting Class Tops Conference, Ranked Nationally

Interview with new Michigan Women's Soccer coach
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May 26, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team's 2008 recruiting class received the top ranking in the Big Ten Conference and a No. 16 ranking nationally from Soccer Buzz Magazine in its recently released recruiting rankings. The incoming class, which includes five top-200 prospects, was also tabbed as the second best in the Great Lakes Region.

Michigan will feature three newcomers that are ranked among the top 100 in the country by Soccer Buzz, led by goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lahser HS), who was ranked No. 88; midfielder/defender Courtney Mercier (Erie, Pa./McDowell HS), the 90th-ranked prospect; and forward Clare Stachel (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS), the 99th-ranked prospect. Joining them will be a pair of top 200 players in defender Kimberly Siebert (Troy, Mich./Avondale HS), rated No. 138, and midfielder/defender Natalie Horner (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS), who was tagged as the 170th best prospect in the country.

The five ranked freshmen are part of an eight-member class that also features forward/midfielder Kristen Goncalves (Ann Arbor, Mich./Gabriel Richard Catholic HS), forward Meaghan Hennessy (Westlake, Ohio/Magnificat HS) and midfielder Kelsey Rogind (Emerald Hills, Calif./St. Francis HS).

With a No. 2 regional ranking, this year's class tied a program high on the Soccer Buzz rankings set by the 1999 class. That group was highlighted by Abby Crumpton (1999-2002), the program's all-time leading point getter, and Amy Sullivant (1999-2002), who amassed the fourth-highest career assists total.

The Wolverines graduated six seniors from the 2007 squad.