PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland women’s soccer team has signed a talented group of five players to National Letters of Intent to comprise its 2011 recruiting class, head coach Garrett Smith announced on Monday. Four freshmen and the program’s first junior college transfer comprise this year’s recruiting class.
Kaila Cameli (Glendale, Ariz.), Rebekah Kurle (Renton, Wash.), Malloy Leahy (Snohomish, Wash.), Lorielle McCluskie (Scottsdale, Ariz.), and Emily Sippel (Beaverton, Ore.) will all join the Pilots squad this fall.
Kaila Cameli (Glendale, Ariz./Apollo HS/Phoenix College/SC Del Sol) – A 5-5 forward, Cameli joins the Pilots for her sophomore season after transferring from Phoenix College and becoming the first junior college transfer in the history of the Pilots’ women’s soccer program. Cameli is coming off a 2010 season where she was named ACCAC Region Player of the Year and a NJCAA All-American after breaking the Bears’ single-season goals and assists records with 22 and 11, respectively. She earned two varsity letters at Apollo High School and was named to the First Team All-Region in 2005 and 2006 after being named the Team MVP both seasons.
“Kaila is a dynamic and explosive attacking player,” Smith said. “She has proven that she can score in a variety of ways in mass amounts. Her recruiting process out of high school was disrupted by injuries, so she really slipped through the cracks and we are lucky to have her. Kaila does not come in as a freshman; she comes in with the maturity of a junior academically.”
Rebekah Kurle (Renton, Wash./Kennedy HS/Emerald City) – A 5-10 midfielder/forward, Kurle comes to The Bluff as the eighth-best recruit in the Pacific Northwest according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. She was a four-year varsity starter at Kennedy Catholic High School, leading the Lancers to four consecutive league titles and state quarterfinal finishes. Selected to All-League First Team three times, Kurle was also an All-State Team member twice, capturing State Player of the Year honors in 2009. A two-time ESPN All-American Second Team member, she finished her high school career with 104 career goals and 40 assists. Kurle helped her club team, Emerald City FC, win five consecutive state championships and a Far West Regional Championship. A 2010 invite to the National ODP Development Camp, Kurle was selected to the Washington State Team five straight years and participated in Region IV pool on two occasions.
“Rebekah comes from one of the top clubs in the state of Washington,” said Smith. “She is a proven goal-scorer historically and we expect her to do the same here. Anybody that can score 100-plus goals has that natural instinct that the great goal-scorers possess.”
Malloy Leahy (Snohomish, Wash./Glacier Peak HS/Emerald City) – Leahy, a 5-8 defender, ranks as one of the top 75 players in the 2011 recruiting class according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. She was a three-time First Team All-Wesco Conference member. Splitting time between striker and center back as a sophomore, she still posted the third highest scoring total in the conference. From 2006 to 2010, Leahy was a member of the Washington State Olympic Development Team and participated in the Region IV Camp from 2006 to 2009. She also led Emerald City to state championship titles in 2009 and 2010, advancing to the Regional Quarterfinals both years.
“Malloy was a teammate of Rebekah on Emerald City and was the defensive anchor of that team,” Smith said. “She brings the intangibles to the field that do not show up on the stat sheet. She is a calming presence defensively and is a powerful player as well.”
Lorielle McCluskie (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain HS/Sereno) – A 5-8 defender, McCluskie joins the Pilots and sister Kassi McCluskie after four years of experience with the Arizona Olympic Development Team, logging experience as the team captain in 2008. While anchoring the defense of Sereno, McCluskie helped her club win six straight State Championships from 2003 to 2009. Due to her commitment to Sereno and the Olympic Development Program, McCluskie did not play high school soccer.
“It will be exciting to see the McCluskie sister tandem on The Bluff next season,” Smith said. “Kassi is excited and we are excited to have her sister here with us as another strong personality and presence out on the field. Lorielle is another elite recruit from the state of Arizona and a renowned club team in Sereno. As a six time champion, she has proven to know what it takes to win.”
Emily Sippel (Beaverton, Ore./Westview HS/FC Portland) – A 5-5 midfielder/forward, Sippel arrives with a 4.0 grade-point average. From 2006 to 2008, she was a member of both the Oregon ODP team and the Region IV ODP pool. In 2008, she participated in the ODP U15 and U16 National Development Camp, playing in the ODP Costa Rica International Tournament and earning recognition as the Oregon ODP Female Player of the Year. Her Westview Wildcats were Metro League Co-Champions in 2010 after finishing as state runner-ups in 2008 and 2009. Sippel was named the Most Inspirational player for the Wildcats in 2009 and 2010, although missing both soccer seasons with knee injuries. She also ran track for the Wildcats in 2008, 2010, and 2011.
“Emily is a talented offensive-minded player that has been slowed by injury the last two years,” Smith noted. “Emily progressed through the FC Portland youth system and became one of the top attacking players in the country prior to her injuries. She has gone to great lengths to rehabilitate and has spent the past year getting physically ready for this upcoming season. I know that she will enter training camp this August ready to go and once she gets back into playing shape we expect she’ll return to form as an elite offensive player while here at the University of Portland.”
