Feb. 7, 2010

2010 Signee Photo Gallery

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Following a fourth-straight season with at least nine victories, East Carolina soccer head coach Rob Donnenwirth announced Sunday he will add seven student-athletes to his 2010 roster. Emily Frederick, Ashley James, Alexis Miller, Skylar Poole, Danielle Romano, Anne Workman and Jessyca Young have all declared their commitment to join the Pirates.

Emily Frederick, D/MF, 5-7, Fr., Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton/91 CASL Spartan Elite)
Frederick is a four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Izzy Hernandez at Broughton High School. A three-year starter at center defender, she helped her team to the North Carolina 4A regional finals as a sophomore. The following year, she was an all-conference selection. In her three years with the Capitals, they have been a Cap-7 Conference finalist each season. She also maintains a 3.8 grade-point average and is a member of the Broughton High Honors Honor Roll.

At the club level, Frederick has been a part of the 91 Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) Spartan Elite. She is a squad captain and was named a midfielder/defender Top Drawer Soccer Player-to-Watch in 2009. During her time with the club, Frederick has helped the team become North Carolina Youth Soccer Association State Cup champion in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009, a Red Bull National League Team from 2007-09, United Soccer League (USL) Super Y-League South Atlantic champion in 2006 and 2007, Raleigh CASL Showcase champion in 2005 and 2009, U.S. Club Soccer Regional champion in 2005 and USL North American Championship finalist in 2006. Head coach Rusty Scarborough also led the program to an undefeated Premier League Region III championship in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2009.

Frederick gained additional experience as a member of the North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2005-09 and took part in the US Youth Soccer Region III ODP camp from 2006-09.

Frederick on Choosing East Carolina: "After meeting the coaches and players on my visits, I just had a great feeling about ECU. The soccer program is definitely on the rise and I want to be a part of that. Since I want to pursue a healthcare-related career, I knew ECU would be a perfect match because it has such a fantastic reputation in that area of study. I have many relatives and friends who have gone to ECU and every one of them had great experiences."

Donnenwirth on Frederick: "Emmy has been a mainstay with her team at CASL. She can play in the back or as a defensive center-mid. She is a physical presence and a good distributer of the ball."

Ashley James, F, 5-2, Jr., Baldwin, N.Y. (University of Kentucky/Rockville Centre Royals)
Officially enrolled at ECU in January of 2010 after transferring from the University of Kentucky, enabling James to join the Pirates for spring practice. At Kentucky: James played two years at Kentucky, recording playing time in 14 games. As a sophomore, she took part in nine contests, including seven Southeastern Conference matches. During her two seasons, she totaled two shots with one on goal. Her shot on goal occurred her freshman year against Oakland with her other attempt coming in that same campaign against Alabama.

Prior to Kentucky: A four-year letterwinner for St. Dominic High School, James was voted the team's most valuable player as a junior and senior. During her final season, she netted 28 goals in 14 games with three hat tricks. She received the High School Outstanding Player Award her first two years with the Bayhawks.

James helped lead her club team, the Rockville Centre Royals, to the 2007 Region I Premier League North Eastern championship. While with the Royals, she was coached by Peter Bralower. She also spent time with the Long Island Roughriders club, guiding that squad to the 2006 Super Y-League championship. Additionally, James was named to the Super Y-League Nationals All-Tournament team in 2006 as the Roughriders were Northeast Region Premier divisional champions and Northeast Regional Premier finalists. In 2005, James was a member of the Super Y-League National Olympic Development Program pool.

Donnenwirth on James: "We feel Ashley will be a dangerous forward or outside midfielder for us. She has hair-raising speed, which will be a handful for defenders. It is also great that she is with us this spring so she can start to gel with the team."

Alexis Miller, D, 5-6, Fr., Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton/91 CASL Spartan Elite)
Miller is a four-year varsity starter at the striker position for coach Izzy Hernandez at Broughton High School. She led her team to the North Carolina 4A regional finals as a sophomore. In her three years with the Capitals, they have been a Cap-7 Conference finalist each season. Following Miller's junior campaign, she received the Betsy Draper Memorial Soccer Award and was a Cap-7 All-Conference Team member. At Broughton, the four-year Honor Roll student is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society as well as being actively involved in student government.

Miller has gained club-level experience for the No. 5 nationally ranked 91 Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) Spartan Elite. During her time with coach Rusty Scarborough's club, the team has been North Carolina Youth Soccer Association State Cup champion in 2006 and 2009, United Soccer League Super Y-League South Atlantic champion in 2006 and 2007, Raleigh CASL Showcase champion in 2005 and 2009, Greensboro Score champion in 2008 and U.S. Club Soccer Regional champion in 2005. Miller also helped the program to a Region III League championship in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2009. Additionally, she was named a 2010 Top Drawer Soccer Player-to-Watch.

The North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) is also something Miller has taken part in, as she qualified for the ODP state pool from 2006-07.

Miller on Choosing East Carolina: "I chose East Carolina not only for the great quality of academics, but also because of the excellent women's soccer program. The coaches and current players have been very positive and welcoming to me, which made my decision that much easier. ECU is the perfect fit academically for my Pre Med major as well as my style of play on the soccer field. It doesn't hurt that the school is close to home, either. I really look forward to contributing as a proud member of the women's ECU soccer team and being a Pirate."

Donnenwirth on Miller: "Alexis is a versatile player with outstanding athleticism. She has great speed, strength and toughness. She can play at all wide positions, either as a back or a forward, and loves to attack."

Skylar Poole, MF/F, 5-4, Fr., Clayton, N.C. (Clayton/91 TFC Navy)
As a junior captain and midfielder for William Williams' Comets, Poole was named the team's, as well as the Four Oaks Bank Cup's, Offensive Most Valuable Player. Her sophomore season, she led Clayton to a Greater Neuse River Conference (GNRC) championship and was named to the all-league squad. She repeated the GNRC honors her junior year. Poole has also been a two-time 4A all-region selection. At Clayton aside from soccer, she is the student body vice president, a National Honor Society member and a four-year Honor Roll designee.

Her club experience has been with the 91 Triangle Futbol Club (TFC) Navy. In 2009, she helped the program to the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association State Cup final, Region III semifinal and United Soccer League (USL) Super Y-League and National championship. A year earlier, TFC Navy was the state cup, premier league and USL Super Y-League champion. In 2007, Poole also helped coach Pete Sadin's club to a state cup semifinal appearance.

Poole's North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) experience came from 2007-09 when she was a member of the state pool. She also attended the USL Super Y-League ODP National camp in 2007.

Poole on Choosing East Carolina: "I first became interested in the ECU soccer program after I attended its summer camp. I really liked the coaches and players. On my official visit, I was impressed with the team chemistry and level of play. ECU has a great campus life and the majors that interest me. I am very excited to become a part of the Pirate family."

Donnenwirth on Poole: "We first noticed Skylar at our camp. She is a hard worker who reminds us a lot of former Pirate Jessica Swanson. Skylar has played at a high level with TFC and has a great tactical sense as an outside midfielder."

Danielle Romano, D, 5-8, Fr., Palatine, Ill. (Fremd/Ela Elite)
Romano was a four-year varsity letterwinner for Fremd, helping the Vikings to the state finals in 2007 and 2009. Under head coach Steve Keller, Romano was an all-area, all-conference and all-sectional player as a junior. Off the field, she is an Honor Roll student.

At the club level, Romano played for Ela Elite and coach Tom Chmela. The team was a state finalist in 2008 and 2009. The program also claimed a Region II championship in 2007 before being a region qualifier in 2009. Ela Elite picked up a National League qualification from 2007-08.

Romano on Choosing East Carolina: "I chose ECU because it had everything I was looking for in a school. It has a highly competitive soccer team and provides a great education program for the major I will be pursuing. The players and coaches made it really easy for me to make my decision."

Donnenwirth on Romano: "Danielle is an excellent center-back. She reads the game extremely well and is a good distributor of the ball. Her experience with Ela Elite will prepare her for the college level."

Anne Workman, D, 5-7, Fr., Burlington, N.C. (Walter M. Williams/Burlington Soccer)
Workman has been a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and helped them to three consecutive Mid-State 3A Conference championships and a combined 55-7-4 record. A three-time all-conference and two-time all-region selection, Workman has anchored a defense that has surrendered just 48 total goals in her three seasons. Head coach Dennis Deutschle's Walter M. Williams squad advanced to the eastern regional semifinals her freshman year and to the quarterfinals her sophomore and junior seasons. Last spring she was also an academic all-conference selection as she is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, English Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta with a 4.3 grade-point average.

Her club team experience has been with Burlington Soccer and coach Taylor Saxe. Workman has been a four-year captain for the program, leading it to back-to-back Adidas Cup championships in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the club also claimed the Region III North Carolina Presidents Cup championship as well as a semifinal berth in the Region III Championship in Tampa, Fla. A year later, the team won the Virginia Beach Columbus Day title before adding a finalist appearance in 2008. The program was the champion of the Georgia FC Silverbacks Invitational Cup in 2008 as well.

Workman on Choosing East Carolina: "ECU is close to home but far enough away to let me be on my own. The campus is beautiful, the Brody School of Medicine is North Carolina's largest and most productive academic medical center, the athletics are excellent and the students are active and involved."

Donnenwirth on Workman: "Anne is a leader who has had a very good high school and club career. She has a great attitude and work rate and will be a positive presence with our team."

Jessyca Young, GK, 5-5, Fr., Wake Forest, N.C. (Broughton/TFC Navy)
Young is the third member of the 2010 signing class to play for coach Izzy Hernandez at Broughton High School. She led her team to the North Carolina 4A regional finals in 2008. In her three years with the Capitals, they have been a Cap-7 Conference finalist each season. Following Young's sophomore campaign, she received the Betsy Draper Memorial Soccer Award and a season later received the Brittany Willis Memorial Award. In the classroom, she is an Honor Roll student.

Young has most recently gained club-level experience with Triangle Futbol Club (TFC) Navy and head coach Pete Sadin. She was a member of the 2006 State Cup championship team. Prior to joining TFC Navy, Young played for the 2002 and 2004 state cup-champion Capital Area Soccer League Elite.

With the Olympic Development Program (ODP), Young played for the North Carolina ODP team from 2005-07. In 2006, she was a Super Y-League ODP National Camp attendee as well as a U14 National All-Star Team selection.

Young on Choosing East Carolina: "It was always somewhere I wanted to go. After I visited the campus and met the team and the coaches, I knew I wanted to be a Pirate."

Donnenwirth on Young: "Jessy is an extremely hard worker. Her attitude and personality are infectious. She played on a highly-successful club team and after we saw her work rate at camp, we knew we wanted her to be a Pirate."