June 12, 2000
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University second-year women's soccer coach Shannon Stiles has announced the signing of nine freshmen recruits and one transfer for the upcoming season.
Joining the Bulldogs this fall are sophomore midfielder Lisa Wilson, a transfer from the University of San Francisco and a product of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, WA, freshmen Patty Blankenship, midfielder, South Kitsap High, Port Orchard, WA, keeper Tara Curtis, Phoenix High, Medford, OR, Sarah Halton, defender, Jesuit High, Lake Oswego, OR, Courtney Haury, keeper, Sandia High, Albuquerque, NM, Kelly Leffel, forward, Meadowdale High, Edmonds, WA, Walker Loseno, midfielder, Kentridge High, Renton, WA, Katie O'Brien, Blanchet High, Seattle, WA, Amber Richart, midfielder, Central Catholic High, Vancouver, WA, and Hiedi Sadafago, forward, Holy Names, Seattle, WA.
Wilson was a starting midfielder for the Dons last season. Bellarmine captured the 1996 Washington State Class AAA Tournament after being runner-up and ranked as high as 12th in the nation in 1995. Her F.C. Royals club squad won the U-17 state title and finished third in the regionals in 1998. She was a two-time All-Narrows League first-team pick.
Blankenship was an All-Narrows League pick as a senior and was a teammate of Wilson's on the F.C. Royals.
Curtis was a first-team All-Skyline League and third-team All-State 3A pick as a senior, leading the conference in shutouts and goals against average each of her last two seasons. She carries a 3.95 high school grade point average.
Halton was an All-Metro League selection. She played on the 1998 and 1999 U-17 Snickers State Cup championship teams.
With Haury in goal, Sandia finished second in the New Mexico State Class AAAA Tournament last season, falling 1-0 to Eldorado in the title game as Haury stopped 11 of 12 shots. Sandia was 20-2-1. She was a first-team All-State, All-District 5, All-City and Albuquerque Journal pick. As a member of the Striker Fire for seven years, she helped win state titles from 1997-99 and advanced to regionals all three seasons.
Leffel is a member of the Washington State ODP team and was an All-Wesco and All-Area first team selection last fall. She was a team captain and was her voted Meadowdale's Most Valuable Offensive Player.
A South Puget Sound League first-team pick as a senior, Loseno was voted Kentridge's Best Offensive Player, MVP and team captain.
O'Brien joins the Bulldogs after being an All-Metro League forward. She has also participated in two AAU National basketball tournaments as a member of Seattle Magic Club Basketball.
A native of Vancouver, WA, Richart attended Central Catholic High in nearby Portland, OR, earning All-Mount Hood League accolades twice. She was forced to sit out the high school season as a sophomore due to scheduling conflicts with her F.C. Royals club team. As a member of F.C. Royals she was named the Commissioner's Championship Cup MVP in 1999.
Safadago helped lead Holy Names to the Washington State 3A title last fall. She was a first-team All-Metro League forward. This summer she will play for Team Seattle's U-19 club that will compete in the Paris Cup in France.
