PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's soccer program is adding six recruits as Olivia Dendinger (Hillsboro, Ore./Glencoe HS), Taryn Ries (Ridgefield, Wash./Ridgefield HS), Kendra Steele (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum HS), Ellie Walker (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River HS), Ellie Winkelmann (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS), and Madison Zamora (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS) have all signed a National Letter of Intent, announced head coach Garrett Smith. The group of six will join the Pilots as freshmen in the fall.
"The 2017 class comes to us at the perfect time," said Smith. "With some big holes to fill in our roster, especially in the back line as three of the four starters graduated from last year's team, these freshmen fill our needs immediately. With several defenders in the group, in addition to some attacking minded players, they will help secure our program's future and backline.
"Each player in this class brings a unique competitiveness about them fostered in their highly decorated youth careers on the field. We also expect them to continue our program's excellence in the classroom academically as they are all very accomplished students."
Olivia Dendinger
5-9, D
Hillsboro, Ore./Glencoe HS
Club: FC Portland ECNL
Olivia Dendinger will come to The Bluff from Hillsboro, Ore., where she earned four letters for the Glencoe Crimson Tide. A two-time First Team All-State Selection in 2015 and 2016, Dendinger was chosen as a Preseason All-American as a senior. She also landed on the all-league first team four times, and she was voted as the conference player of the year twice. Dendinger compiled 72 career goals and 21 career assists, and she helped lead the Crimson Tide to the state playoffs all four years.
Dendinger, who played for Oregon ODP in 2013-14, has been with FC Portland since 2007 and FC Portland ECNL since 2014, where she's teammates with fellow recruits Taryn Ries and Ellie Walker.
Quoting Coach Smith: "A converted forward in her youth career to a central defender, Olivia brings composure and an offensive component to our defensive line and to our program. Her time spent as an offensive-minded player has given her the skills to have extreme comfort on the ball in tight situations and has proven to be a reliable defender that naturally reads the game like she's played at the back her entire career."
Taryn Ries
5-8, F
Ridgefield, Wash./Ridgefield HS
Club: FC Portland ECNL
Taryn Ries is a forward who's landed on the All-State First Team all four years playing for the Ridgefield Spudders. Ries was named the Washington 2A State Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016, was selected as the Region's Player of the Year in 2015, and was a four-time pick to both the all-region team and the All-GSHL First Team. The Spudders won the GSHL title three years, while also claiming the district crown three times. Ridgefield reached the state playoffs all four years, and the Spudders finished second in state in 2015 for the school's best finish ever, topping the third place showing a year earlier. Ries claims impressive career numbers, registering 96 goals and 78 assists. She once scored six goals, while adding an assist, during a 7-0 win.
Ries took part in the U-15 U.S. National Team Camp in 2014 and the U-17 National Team Camp in 2015. She played with Oregon ODP for three years (2012-14) and has played with FC Portland since 2013, competing in the ECNL with fellow UP recruits Olivia Dendinger and Ellie Walker.
Quoting Coach Smith: "Taryn steps in as an attacking minded goal scorer who doesn't just rely on finesse to get the job done. Her athleticism and tenacity as a forward enables her to pound on the opposition's defenders. She could be considered the hardest working forward in the country when she steps onto field next season."
Kendra Steele
5-8, D/MF
Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum HS
Club: Crossfire ECNL
Kendra Steele, a defender/midfielder at Squalicum High School, landed on the 2016 Washington 3A All-State team, while also being named the Whatcom County Player of the Year and the Northwest Conference Offensive MVP. A three-time selection to the All-Whatcom County First Team, Steele landed on the All-State Second Team as a junior and was chosen to the Northwest Conference First Team in 2015 and 2016. She was Team MVP twice, was voted to the all-league second team in 2013 and she helped lead the Storm to a state title in 2015. Squalicum finished second in the state in 2013 and claimed a conference crown last season.
Steele played with Region IV ODP/EDP in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and she's played with Crossfire in the ECNL since 2014.
Quoting Coach Smith: "Kendra is a very tough-minded defender that brings power to the back line. She has captured everyone's attention despite growing up in a small soccer community. She was initially discovered by her club Crossfire Premier competing in the ECNL, which is one of the top clubs in the country."
Ellie Walker
5-11, D
Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River HS
Club: FC Portland ECNL
Ellie Walker is a four-year letter winner for Columbia River High School who was named the All-Region Player of the Year after leading the Chieftains to the 2016 Washington 2A State title. She was also named to the All-State Team for the second year in a row and garnered First Team All-GSHL recognition all four years. A First Team All-Region Selection as a junior as well, Walker helped the Chieftains reach the state playoffs four times, while claiming the league title in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Walker tallied 73 career goals and 26 career assists, and she helped Columbia River go 71-8-8 from 2013-2016.
Walker, who is also a stand-out on the track for the Chieftains, has played with FC Portland ECNL since 2014. Previously, she won the Washington State Cup with the Salmon Creek Nemesis and Washington Timbers. She also played with Oregon ODP in 2013 and 2014, and she's FC teammates with UP recruits Olivia Dendinger and Taryn Ries.
Quoting Coach Smith: "Ellie is a big personality and a presence on the field. Her athletic ability combined with her personality make her a force that opponents have to deal with as an attacking outside back, but she also possesses the size and strength to play as a center back."
Ellie Winkelmann
5-4, D/MF/F
San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS
Club: Slammers FC
Ellie Winkelmann has earned four letters for the San Clemente Tritons, earning first team all-league in 2015 and second team in 2014. A team captain, Winkelmann has been named both the defensive and offensive MVP, and she's earned a scholar athlete award all four years.
She's played club for the So Cal Blues, West Coast FC, and most recently Slammers FC. With the So Cal Blues, she won the ECNL Southwest Conference, and the club was ranked No. 1 overall in 2014. WCFC reached the ECNL Final Eight in 2015, and won the prestigious Surf Cup. Winkelmann and Slammers FC reached the 2016 Surf Cup Finals, and helped her U-17 squad advanced to the ECNL Quarterfinals.
Quoting Coach Smith: "A southern California product coming out of the Slammers FC, another top club program in the country, where she has proven to be a committed player looking for the most competitive environment to play in throughout her youth career. Ellie will bring a versatility and grit to our program."
Madison Zamora
5-7, GK
Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS
Club: SC Del Sol
Madison Zamora has earned three letters as a goalkeeper for the Mountain Ridge High School Mountain Lions. A two-time team MVP, Zamora was selected Second Team All-State. She was also named the Athlete of the Month for January.
Zamora plays club for SC Del Sol, after previously spending time with CCV Stars and Banat SC.
Quoting Coach Smith: "She's an athletic goalkeeper that will be pushing for playing time this year, and will be coming in ready to compete. Ever since stepping on campus during our ID camp she has proven to be a perfect fit for our program."
