Women's Soccer Announces 2009 Recruiting Class

June 9, 2009

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - St. Bonaventure women's soccer head coach Manoj Khettry announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Monday afternoon. The three-player class adds to the 2008 Atlantic 10 Tournament qualifying team that returns its entire roster of 20 players.

Coach Khettry on the 2009 Class:
"While this is a small class, it is a very good one. We didn't graduate a single player because we had no seniors on our team, but we addressed three key areas of need. One area that we addressed was finding another goalkeeper who could come in and compete for playing time and we found that in Katie Kerkman. We wanted to find an attacking player who could play in midfield, that had speed and could be dangerous dribbling or passing and we did that with Nicole Rosso. Lastly, we wanted to find a defender who felt comfortable going forward, could play either wide or in the center of defense and we did that with Maureen Madden. All of these young ladies fit the mold of a St. Bonaventure Women's Soccer player: they have great character, are hard working, ambitious and serious about their academic work. I have no doubt these young women will add significantly to our team culture; that they will make us better on and off the field, as well as, compete for playing time right away."

2009 St. Bonaventure Women's Soccer Signees (3)

Kathryn Kerkman
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Mequon, Wis.
High School: Homestead
High School Coach: Rich Dom
Club Team: Mequon Soccer Club
Club Coach: Sinisa Angelovski
Height: 5'5"
Parents: Jerome and Sarah Kerkman

Bio
Three-year letterwinner at Homestead High School, which won the Wisconsin Division I State Championship in 2007 and a Regional Championship in 2008 ... posted a 27-10-3 record ... named second team All-League in the North Shore Conference ... four-year member of the Mequon Soccer Club that finished as the state runner-up in 2007 & 2008.

Khettry's take on Kerkman
"Katie is a good shot stopper and a really committed goalkeeper. She drives 2-3 hours each way to train with her goalkeeper trainer and is always looking for a way to improve. She is excellent with her feet - she has good presence in the box and does a good job of organizing her defense. She will compete for playing time and push returning starter Nicole Markert to be her best. I'm excited to see Katie compete with Nicole and I know that both will bring out the best in one another."

Maureen Madden
Position: Defender
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.
High School: James H. Blake
High School Coach: Mary Moser
Club Team: Laurel Lightning
Club Coach: David Lapp
Height: 5'2"
Parents: Michael and Robin Madden

Bio
Four-year defender on a Laurel club team that was the Maryland State Cup Champion in 2009 ... helped Laurel capture first place in the WAGS Spring Division I League and postseason tournament ... also won the Jefferson Cup and Bethesda Tournament in 2008 ... guided Laurel to at least the semifinals of the state cup all four years ... four-year starter at James H. Blake ... former teammate of current St. Bonaventure freshman Hannah Lapp.

Khettry's take on Madden
"Mo is a good individual defender. She has a great sense of cover and knows when to go forward out of the back. She is equally adept at playing out wide or in the center of defense and has great speed. I really like how comfortable she is on the ball and her ability to deliver quality service out of the back. She is another player who will compete right away for playing time and I think she will add another attacking dimension from defense for us. She can and will also provide us with depth at center back."

Maureen Chose St. Bonaventure Over: Drexel University and Mt. St. Mary's

Nicole Rosso
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
High School: Greece Athena
High School Coach: Mike Butler
Club Team: Cobras FC
Club Coach: Rich Schepler
Height: 5'7"
Parents: Ronald and Traci Rosso

Bio
Three-year starter at Greece Athena ... two-time All-County and All-Greater Rochester selection ... finished her career with 77 points on 22 goals and 33 assists ... enjoyed a sensational senior season in which she was named the Monroe County Division II Player of the Year after leading Greece Athena to a 16-2 record and a Division 2 Championship ... led the county in scoring with 35 points on 10 goals and 15 assists ... also named to the All-State Class AA third team and All-Greater Rochester first team ... had 10 goals and nine assists in 2007 as a junior ... earned All-County status and was an honorable mention on the All-Greater Rochester team ... has played club with the Cobras FC for six seasons, capturing nine tournament titles and a league championship in 2007 and 2008 along the way.

Khettry's take on Rosso
"Nicole is one of the best players coming out of Rochester this year. She was Monroe County Player of the Year, All-Greater Rochester for the second year in a row and third team All-State. She is a dangerous attacker - individually and as a passer of the ball. I like her speed and athleticism and she will no doubt find time either as a wide midfielder or as a forward. Like her two classmates, Nicole is going to play and will challenge a number of our current players to be their best."

Nicole Chose St. Bonaventure Over: Niagara University