Signing Day Recap

What an exciting week last week! We could not be more proud of and excited for our newest class of Utes! Signing day is one that each girl will always remember. Check out a compilation of all of the excited faces of players, friends, and family throughout the process last week! Stay tuned for more photos to come as well as updates on the players!

New Ute: Leslie Muirhead - Conducting the Orchestra

Leslie Muirhead is leaving the beaches of Santa Cruz, California to pursue her soccer and academic dreams in the mountains of Utah. Leslie brings a mature game with her. She is a midfielder with tremendous skills and vision. With the ball at her feet, Leslie conducts the orchestra...making sure the ball is spread around to both sides of the field and finding openings in the other team's defense.

Leslie comes from Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. She plays for the DeAnza Force soccer club. The Force capped a dream-like season by winning the u16 National Championship last summer. We are excited she will be bringing that championship experience and mentality to the U.

Our Women's Soccer Program here at the U is familiar with this club as former standout players Ashley Mason (Goalkeeper) and Melissa Crespo (Midfielder). Her club coach, Shawn Medved, was an outstanding player in the MLS; he scored the winning goal in the first MLS cup for D.C. United!



Here is what Coach Manning says about Leslie:
"Leslie is mature beyond her years and it shows in her game. She has many of the important pieces of a central midfielder in her game. She has soft feet, reads the game well, hits excellent long passes and plays with poise. Her championship experience will help her adjust to the college game as well."



Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Harley Spier - Pulsating Heart and Crunching Tackles

Harley Spier joins us from down south...Lehi, Utah. This defender attends Lehi High School (same as current outstanding defender Nicole Cardon!) and plays for the Utah Avalanche, where
she is currently teammates with incoming freshman Cheyanne Mulcock.

Harley is a tenacious defender. She can disrupt an attack with pesky marking or a crunching tackle. She has a great understanding of team defending. And she is fantastic in the air...the ball seems to be a magnet for her head! Harley will play either in the center of defense or at holding midfield.

Here she is at her signing party with Avalanche:




And here is what Coach Manning has to say about Harley:
"Harley is a very good overall defender. She is incredible in the air. I would guess that she heads the ball as well as anyone on our team. She understands team defense and is a good organizer. We also love the intangibles she will bring to the team... good leader, great teammate, excellent work ethic. Harley spent her junior year fighting off illness and injury and we're excited that she is healthy and coming back into form!"

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Cheyanne Mulcock - Goal Keeping at its Fiercest

The first thing you need to know about new Ute goal keeper, Cheyanne Mulcock, is the name...it is pronounced "shy - ann"...however, Chey is not shy! She is aggressive about protecting her goal. And she is vocal in organizing things her defense.




Here is Cheyanne (far left) at her signing party on Wednesday with some teammates, including fellow Ute signee Harley Spier (far right)...We love the red!

"Chey" is a from Bingham High School. She plays for Utah Avalanche, one of the best local girl's club teams and the home of current Utah captain Lauren Porter. Chey and Lauren were both coached by former Utah great Jo Barney. Their Avalanche Club Team won the Surf Cup Tournament in the Fall of 2009; quite an accomplishment as they were the first Utah girl's club team to attain this success!

Cheyanne will join current sophomore, Hannah Turpen, and fellow signee Hallie Koeppen to form the goal keeping corps for next fall's Utah team.


Here is what Coach Manning says about Cheyanne:
"Chey is a fierce competitor. She will do everything in her power to keep the ball out of her net. She is a tremendous shot stopper and is great with her feet. Chey is a good leader, which is very important in goal. We love her command of the penalty area as well. She is not afraid to come off her line to cut out danger."


Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Hallie Koeppen - Powerful Presence in Goal

Hallie Koeppen will join returner Hannah Turpen and another new Ute (to be named!) in goal next fall. This outstanding 3-sport athlete will be making the move this fall from our neighboring state of Idaho. Hallie plays soccer, basketball, and runs track in high school! She is tends the goal for the Les Bois Club Team. Koeppen attends Eagle High School, the same high school of former Utah Great Katie Battazzo!

Hallie parents, Dave and Kay, will have some wardrobe choices to make over the next few years. Hallie's older sister, Kim, is a starting center back at the Air Force Academy. Hallie and her sister will definitely be battling it out during Mountain West Conference play!

Here is what Coach Manning says about Hallie:
"Hallie is a tremendous athlete. In addition to playing on a championship soccer team, she has excelled in basketball and track. She brings that athletic dimension to her goal keeping. She is strong in the air and has good foot skills, two things that are important at the college level. Hallie will have a chance to focus on soccer once she gets to the U., and we expect to see tremendous development."

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Stacey Fujikuni - Silky Smooth from So. Cal

Another player from the rich talent pool of Southern California has decided to come to Salt Lake City. Stacey Fujikuni is a defender/midfielder who joins us from the Real So. Cal soccer club. Stacey can play on either side of the field as an outside back or midfielder.

She will be in good company coming from Southern California. Several great current and former Utah Alums (Chelsea Card, Kiley Jones, Morgan Skeen, Hannah Turpen) have come from her area. Stacey attends Moorpark High School and is a friend of quarterback Brian Blechen who also signed with the University of Utah today!

Here's another bit of trivia: Utah Coach Rich Manning is a childhood friend of both Alberto Bru and Scott Murray, the directors of the Real So Cal soccer club!

Here is what Coach Manning says about Stacey:
"Stacey is a skillful, versatile player. We love her composure on the ball. She holds it well under pressure and keeps things simple when she has it. Stacey can play any position on the left or right side of the field. She comes from one of the top club teams (Real So Cal) in the nation for her age group. She'll be used to the type of competitive environment we have here. She has played in many big games and will bring tremendous experience with her to the U."




Click here to check out a highlight video of Stacey!

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Jen Ericson - Sacramento Speedster

(photo from Sacramento Bee)
Jen Ericson is a Midfielder/Outside Defender who will be joining us from Sacramento, CA! Ericson attends Christian Brother's High School. She grew up playing for the Boca Jrs. Club, and is now a member of the San Ramon Shock squad. An interesting fact about Jennifer- she was coached as a kid by former University of Utah Assistant Coach Gabe Bolton...small world! We couldn't be more excited to have this young talent joining us this fall!

Here is what Coach Manning is saying about Jen:
"Jen has two qualities that we prize in our players. She has excellent speed and quickness and she makes great decisions with the ball. We value those things highly and that will help her fit right in with our current players come August. Jen has a great sense of the game and has a great passing touch. She is also very comfortable on the left side. She can play on any row. We'll start training Jen in midfield, but she may end up at another spot."

Photos to come...

Welcome to the U!