Tech soccer signs ten players to LOI

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech head soccer coach Michelle Jacob announced
that 10 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the
Huskies for the 2013 season.

“We are incredibly excited about our signing class of 2013,” said head coach Michelle Jacob. “Each of these young women possess all the attributes that we look for as we recruit players for the Michigan Tech women’s soccer program; great positive character, strong, focused students and hard working players with the drive to improve and succeed. We know these young women will positively represent Michigan Tech both in the classroom and on the soccer field.

“In the fall of 2013, the Michigan Tech women’s soccer team enters its fourth season as a varsity program. “This means our outstanding first recruiting class will be graduating in large numbers. It was very important for the continuity and growth of our program that we bring in a large recruiting class this year. We believe the high quality of people and players that make up our 2013 signing class is a tribute to them and to the graduating class of 2013.”

Megan Armstrong helped lead Whitefish Bay (Wis.) High School to a third-place finish in the North Shore Conference her junior year. Armstrong, a defender, led the Blue Dukes to a 12-3-2 record in 2012. In her free time, she frequently volunteers and was involved with Relay for Life her senior year. She plans to major in mechanical engineering.

“Megan provides outstanding service for her teammates both during the run of play and from free kicks,” said Jacob. “She defends hard and makes great attacking decisions.”

Kathryn Farkas led Brighton (Mich.) High School to the Kensing Lakes Athletic Association Lakes Conference Championship in 2011. Farkas, a defender and midfielder, helped the Bulldogs to the KLAA West Divison Championship in 2010 and 2011 and was named captain her senior year. She plans to major in biomedical engineering.

“Kathryn is a resilient, hard working and positive player,” said Jacob. “She has lots of high level defensive experience in her club and high school background.”

Madeline Faust earned all-conference and all-area honors twice at West DePere (Wis.) High School as a midfielder. Faust tallied 20 goals and 10 assists in her career and was named team captain her junior and senior year. She led the Phantoms to the Bay Conference Championship in 2011 and a runner-up finish in 2012. Faust was involved in National Honor Society, SADD, band and was vice president of her class her junior and senior years. She plans to major in biomedical engineering.

“Play making and goal scoring are two of Maddie’s strengths,” said Jacob. “We look forward to her putting those strengths to work for Tech women’s soccer.”

Kathryn Fife was named the Fox River Classic Conference Player of the Year, a first team all-conference and all-area selection at Green Bay Notre Dame. Fife, a midfielder, scored 16 goals, including 13 as a junior, and 10 assists during her three year career. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Medicine, Health and Society, Spanish Club and was a Student Ambassador. She plans to major in exercise science.

“Katie is a hard working, mobile player with great anticipation, the ability to make the killer pass and has a penchant for scoring goals,” said Jacob. “She brings a nice turn of speed which we look forward to seeing in GLIAC play.”

Kirsen Hudak was a two-time All-County second team and a Southeast Conference honorable mention selection goalkeeper at J.I. Case High School (Racine, Wis.). The two-time team most valuable player and team captain led the Eagles to two regional and county championships. She posted seven shutouts with a 1.52 goals against average and .871 save percentage as a junior. Hudak is involved in numerous organizations, including student government and National Honor Society. She plans to major in exercise science.

“Kirsen is a strong, vocal and well trained leader from the back,” said Jacob. “Kirsen brings high level club and high school goalkeeping experience to Tech. She adds strong depth and competition to our goalkeeping group with the added benefit of being a very nice field player.”

Jacqueline Mielke was a three-time first team all-conference selection at Northeast Wisconsin Lutheran (Green Bay, Wis.) High School. She scored 41 goals from the midfield position and was named the Packerland Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Mielke was also involved in drama and plans to major in mechanical engineering.

“Mielke is a smart, determined and uncompromising player,” said Jacob. “Her ability to win the ball, attack and distribution skills offer great possibilities for her to contribute within our style of play.”

Emily Morin earned all-conference honors during her four year career at Barrington (Ill.) High School. Morin, a defender, helped the Fillies advance to the Elite Eight in the state tournament for three consecutive years and won conference champions in 2010 and 2012. She was a member of the Student Council, COLTS Leadership, and was a youth mentor. She plans to major in biomedical engineering.

“Emily is an intelligent, skilled player with high level defending experience in a central role,” said Jacob. “Her decision making and game reading skills will be an important asset as she transitions to the college game and GLIAC play.”

Kendra Sosnoski earned all-conference, all-area and all-district honors at Gull Lake (Kalamzoo, Mich.) High School and led the Blue Devils to the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference title. Sosnoski, a defender, was named team MVP and was co-captain. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Captains Council and plans to major in biomedical sciences.

“Kendy has great presence anywhere on the field,” said Jacob. “She is flexible and capable of transitioning both ways on the field, and she is also very dangerous serving or attacking free kicks. She brings many of the tools that we look for to compete in the GLIAC.”

Jessica Splittgerber was named first team all-conference, all-area, all-state and Green Bay Press Gazette player of the year at DePere (Wis.) High School during her four year career. Splittgerber, a midfielder, led the Redbirds to the conference, regional, sectional and state championship games in 2012. She totaled 26 goals and 24 assists in her career and was involved in National Honor Society, DREAM, Key Club and was a team officer. She plans to major in chemical engineering.

“Jessica played in all three lines for her high school team as a ball winner, distributor and goal scorer,” said Jacob. “She is a hard working player that leads by example.”

Rebecca Stoffell was named first team all-conference, all-area and all-state at Slinger (Wis.) High School as a forward/midfielder. Stoffell led the Owls to the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference championships in 2010 and 2011 and the regional championship title in 2011. She scored 22 goals and recorded 12 assists in her four year career and played club soccer for FC Milwaukee. Stoffell was involved in various organizations including SADD, Student Concil and was a teachers aid. She plans to major in psychology.

“Becca is a quick, crafty wing player that loves to come inside and is always looking to combine with her teammates,” said Jacob. “Those are all attributes that fit well in our style of play.”

Michigan Tech won a share of the 2012 GLIAC Championship with a 14-3-2, 11-1-1 record.