2017 Recruits

I don't pretend to know that much about soccer recruiting, and there may be another thread here somewhere about next season's recruits, but I happened to notice that UP recruit and Squalicum senior midfielder Kendra Steele was selected to the Class 3A All-State Girls Soccer first team by the Washington State Soccer Coaches Association, which released the teams late Wednesday. (In Washington high school athletics there are 4 levels of classification).



Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/high-school/prep-soccer/article126139239.html#storylink=cpy

Believe it or not, there used to be very, very active discussion on here about the program. Maybe even more so than basketball. How times have changed.

Thanks for the update.

Two-time Metro League POY Olivia Dendinger signed a letter of intent yesterday to play for the Pilots.

The USA Today preseason all-American led Glencoe to a 11-3-2 overall record and fourth place finish in the Metro League.



Sorry, my only reference for this post is my mom.....don't know where she got it.  

Today Squalicum High School (Bellingham) midfielder Kendra Steele (mentioned and pictured above) signed with UP.



I'm sure the signings will eventually show up on the UP website.

Portland Pilots wrote:  It's signing day on The Bluff! Many announcements coming in the next few days, but for now welcome to the UP family 2017 recruits! #GoPilots  

Here is a link to the whole class:

[url= http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2017/2/2/wsoc-pilots-sign-a-group-of-six-to-nli-s.aspx] http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2017/2/2/wsoc-pilots-sign-a-group-of-six-to-nli-s.aspx[/url]

Thanks, but couldn't make that link work for me....try this one:
http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2017/2/2/wsoc-pilots-sign-a-group-of-six-to-nli-s.aspx

Great picture...

One sage has suggested that the class is a strong one and possibly will rescue us from the downward trend the team has been following.

"I think a lot depends on the incoming class of recruits. (I have heard that it is a strong one.)"

I hope he is right.

Gosh I hope so too. We just don't get those blue chip type recruits anymore. I fear that the days of national team members are over once Rapinoe retires.

This trend has been very upsetting since I remember a team very well in the past that could have won the championship but lost too early in the playoffs due to... well... soccer being fickle.

We need this program to be rescued. It's what we built our name on. I don't want to be like USF 50 years from now remembering when we won those NCAA titles in the way back when times.

I think this is a pretty good class, with possibly one more announcement coming.



Maki appears to be a senior, from Japan, and has been playing for the Sereno soccer club.

Plus the transfer from Colorado, Juliana Guthner, another FC Portland player.

I question having so many FC Portland players on the roster. I count 11 on the roster right now! Has to be a record.

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:Plus the transfer from Colorado, Juliana Guthner, another FC Portland player.

Having played in only 4 games this past season and in zero games her last 2 yeas in high school, it may take awhile for her to be match ready regardless of her understanding "the culture we have here."

For her sake, we have to hope she can stay injury free!

Geezaldinho wrote:I think this is a pretty good class, with possibly one more announcement coming.

Maki appears to be a senior, from Japan, and has been playing for the Sereno soccer club.

Good find!

If her tweet is correct, it seems rather strange she was not included with the original 6 by UP....

StudentPilot wrote:

Geezaldinho wrote:I think this is a pretty good class, with possibly one more announcement coming.

Maki appears to be a senior, from Japan, and has been playing for the Sereno soccer club.

Good find!

If her tweet is correct, it seems rather strange she was not included with the original 6 by UP....

Over the years it has taken longer for the NCAA to clear internationals and transfer students. That's probably why the two additional players haven't been announced yet.

Actually, the Pilots announced the transfer from Colorado in mid-January. http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2017/1/19/wsoc-pilots-add-transfer-juliana-guthner-from-colorado.aspx?path=wsoc  No one here caught it, I guess.

Apparently, we can add a goalkeeper to the incoming class. I was just thinking to myself yesterday how I miss the hype for women's soccer on the Bluff.

SouthCarolinaPilot wrote:Apparently, we can add a goalkeeper to the incoming class. I was just thinking to myself yesterday how I miss the hype for women's soccer on the Bluff.

Yeah, I'm wondering if Coach Smith was waiting and working on getting some experience through a transfer, but instead there will be two freshman GKs to push junior to be, Rachel.

At 6-0, Carly could use her size to move her way past both Rachel and Madison who are listed at 5-7.

Still no word on Maki Kono?

Just posting this photo because I don't have access to the article itself. Villa Drum Squad tweeted out that the women's recruiting class was ranked 28th in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. This gives me some hope!

It would be nice, but as the Geez will confirm, Top Drawer Soccer doesn't have a lot of credibility.

StudentPilot wrote:
Still no word on Maki Kono?

Didn't see her on the updated roster, so did some googling and looks like she decided to head to LMU instead.

http://www.lmulions.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/033017aac.html