New Ute: Clutch Goal Scorer Comes Aboard

Anne Shallenberger is no stranger to scoring goals... and scoring when the chips are down. Anne scored several important goals this past fall in leading her Orem High School team to the 4A State Championship here in Utah. (To the left you'll see a photo of her celebration after scoring in the state final game). She has also scored several important goals with her Celtic Storm club team over the years. The team has had tremendous success over the last few years, making it to the Region IV club team championships the last two years in Colorado and Nevada.

Now clutch goal scorers are supposed to be cutthroat, merciless people. They take no prisoners and will do anything it takes out on the field (and Anne definitely scores those goals that break the other team's heart). But these ruthless players are not supposed to come in such pleasant packages. Anne is a generous person that is always looking at the positive side of things. She has participated in our Utah Women's Soccer Academy in each of the last two summers and we have found her to have that rare combination of being involved in the most fierce competition while sporting a smile on her face at the same time.

Anne is a terrific all-around athlete that will help us in many ways. In addition to her soccer success, she has done very well in basketball and track (running in the 100 to 400m events).
We can't wait to have her join us this fall.

Welcome to Anne and her family!

New Ute: Another Viking Comes to the Hill

For those that don't know yet...the University of Utah campus is snuggled up against the foothills of the Wasatch mountain range. So, it is often referred to as the "hill". Well, another Viewmont Viking has agreed to come and join the Utes next year.

Viewmont High School has produced three current Ute players: redshirt sophomore goal keeper Emalee Rogers, sophomore defender Jena Roberts, and freshman forward Erin Dalley. And next year, Mallory Mitamura will join the team. Mallory has come to the Utah Women's Soccer Academy (our summer camp program) the last two years and we've gotten to know her game well.

Mallory is a versatile player, who has grown up with the Utah Rush soccer club. She can play anywhere in midfield or the back row very comfortably. She reads the game very well on offense and defense and is very comfortable on the ball. We like her versatility and soccer sense a lot.

That makes 4 Viewmont players in 4 years...we'll have to see if the streak continues.

Welcome to Mallory and her family!

New Ute: Two-sport star

Shay Kennedy has been a star in two sports at Murray High School. In the fall, she is the rock in the nets as the goal keeper for the Murray soccer team. And, in the winter, she is the rock in the post as the leading scorer on the Murray basketball team. The Utes are ecstatic on two fronts...one, that she is choosing soccer....and two, that she is choosing our school and program.

Shay is a tremendous athlete in goal. She is quick, strong and very agile. She can make the acrobatic save and also come out and get the high ball in a crowd. Shay plays for the Impact club team in the spring and has come to our Utah Women's Soccer Academy over the past two summers. She is a terrific student as well and we are excited to have her.

Welcome to Shay and her family!

New Ute: Perfect Chemistry

Let's see...if you were a chemist and wanted to combine all the perfect elements to form a great soccer player...in addition to soccer skills, you would probably want to have qualities such as competitiveness, work ethic, mental and physical toughness, intelligence, teamwork... If you can mix those up in the right proportions, you would have a winning player.

Well, Kellie Woodfield has just those qualities. She can play anywhere in the back or midfield. She is a competitive person, a quick learner and a skillful player. Kellie will come to us from Timpview High School down in Utah County. (Ute assistant coach, Laurel Roderick, used to coach at Timpview back in the day)...She also plays on the Celtic Storm soccer club...and she is currently the point guard on a Timpview basketball team that is leading its Region and having a great season...whether it be on the soccer field, basketball court or in the classroom...success for Kellie is definitely not a surprise. Kellie came to the Utah Women's Soccer Academy the past two summers and caught our eye there first.

She is interested in studying chemistry...
Welcome to Kellie and her family!

New Ute: Another Bountiful Player

We have a tradition here at Utah of getting some very good players from the Bountiful area of Utah. Bountiful is a beautiful community just about 10 miles north of Salt Lake City. Some of Utah's greats have come from Bountiful, Woods Cross and Viewmont high schools there. And our class of freshmen Utes will now include Bountiful high school's Chelsea Forbes.

Chelsea is a wonderfully skillful attacking player. She can play either forward or attacking midfield. She has SOFT feet and can control any kind of ball hit towards her under any kind of pressure. She's got good vision and is able to create chances around the goal. She will fit in well with our attacking players and will allow us to play a game with fast ball movement. She plays on the Black Diamond club team out of Park City.

Chelsea played at Bountiful High School with freshman defender, Christine Quinn. They teamed up in 2006 to lead Bountiful to the state championship.

Welcome to Chelsea and her family!