Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini soccer program and head coach Janet Rayfield will welcome 10 new players to the roster for the 2017 season as announced on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The 2017 signing class includes Hope Breslin (Massapequa, New York), Elizabeth Cablk (Naperville, Illinois), Gabbi Chapa (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Jayna Fittipaldo (McDonald, Pennsylvania), Maggie Hillman (Naperville, Illinois), Sabryn Kapp (LaGrange, Kentucky), Katie Le (Centreville, Virginia), Sami Sample (South Elgin, Illinois), Haley Singer (Naperville, Illinois) and Madi Wolfbauer (Canton, Michigan).

"The 2017 Fighting Illini Soccer signing class makes us better in every area of the game: goalkeeping, goal scoring, playmaking and defending with pride and tenacity," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "This class of hard-working, disciplined and committed young women will also sustain and enhance our culture of integrity and excellence both on and off the field.   I have high expectations for them to contribute to the future success of this program on the field but also to contribute to the university, the Champaign-Urbana community and to make a difference in the world around them.  We are proud to welcome these 10 new members to the Illinois family."

HOPE BRESLIN // MIDFIELD // MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK

MASSAPEQUA HIGH SCHOOL // ECNL EAST MEADOW STARS

Player Notes

-2016 Conference Player of the Year

-2016 USA Today Preseason All-American Watch List

-2016 News 12 All-Metro Tri-State Player of the Year

-2016 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year nominee

-2015 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year

-Two-time NSCAA All-East Regional All-American

-Helped Massapequa High School to three state championship titles

-Attended the 2016 ECNL National Training Camp

-Played on the 2014 National Futsal Team

-Attended the 2013 ODP National Training Camp

-Holds the Massapequa High School record with 82 career goals and for her 35 goals scored during her senior year

-National Honor Society member

Rayfield's Take: "Hope has had an unparalleled high school career, leading her team to four state title games and three state championships.  Her skill on the ball complements a natural goal scoring ability, and the combination makes her an extremely effective player in the final third.  Hope's ability on the ball can solve pressure, create chances and make other around her better with accurate service and deceptive passing.  Hope has the ability to impact our attack immediately because she can create chances and finish opportunities." 

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ELIZABETH CABLK // GOALKEEPER // NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS

NAPERVILLE NORTH // NSA PREMIER

Player Notes

-2016 IHSSCA All-State selection

-Two-time DVC Academic All-Conference honoree

-Two-time DVC All-Conference selection

-2016 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team

-Won the 2016 Disney Showcase with NSA Premier

-Helped NSA Premier to a second place finish at the 2015 ODP National Championships

-Won two Illinois State Cup Championships with NSA Premier

-4.0 GPA Award recipient

-2016 Illinois State Scholar

Rayfield's Take: "Elizabeth has been a critical piece of the successes of both her club and high school teams.  She is a solid shot-stopper, a good communicator, and will grow tremendously in the college environment.  Our goalkeeping culture of competitive camaraderie means everyone in the group pushes each other to be their best.  Elizabeth will make significant contributions to that group and to our overall level of goalkeeping."

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GABBI CHAPA // DEFENSE // COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

DOHERTY HIGH SCHOOL // PRIDE SOCCER CLUB

Player Notes

-Played soccer and ran track at Doherty High School

-Took Doherty High School to two 5A State playoffs

-5A All-Conference honoree

-2016 ODP Regional team member

-Four-time State Cup Champion

-Named State Cup Most Valuable Player

-Helped Pride Soccer Club to a 2014 U15 National League Championship

-Member of the 2016 All-Star team

-Helped Pride Soccer Club to a third place finish at the 2015 National Championship

-Two-time academic letterwinner

Rayfield's Take: "Gabbi is one of those players that gets better and better each time I see her compete.  Her tenacity and defensive pride magnifies the impact of her speed and quickness.  As a flank player who can both attack and defend, Gabbi will impact the Illini on both our goal scoring and shutout efforts.  She has the combination of speed and endurance that it takes to play outside back with the ever-increasing pace of the college game and the competitive mentality to utilize those tools."

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JAYNA FITTIPALDO // MIDFIELD // MCDONALD, PENNSYLVANIA

SOUTH FAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL // PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS

Player Notes

-Two-time All-Section Midfielder

-2016 All-WPIAL Midfielder

-Two-time US Soccer Training Center invitee

-Four-year captain of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds

-Helped the Riverhounds to two US Club Soccer National Championships

-Member of the National Honor Society and Highest Honor Roll

-Member of her high school student government

Rayfield's Take: "Already an experienced leader, Jayna has developed a great sense of responsibility, discipline and dedication that is critical to the midfield role she will play both on and off the field.  She is a student of the game and her vision and level of understanding of the game is already very high.  As that knowledge grows, and her decision speed increases, Jayna has the ability to connect things through the midfield, make players around her great and help lead this team both on and off the field."

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MAGGIE HILLMAN // MIDFIELD // NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL // TEAM CHICAGO

Player Notes

-Helped Team Chicago to three Illinois State Championship titles

-Won the 2013 Region 2 Championship with Team Chicago

-Three-time MRL Premier Champion

-ODP Illinois State National Finalist

-ECNL National Tournament participant

-Three-time National League Participant

-Four-time Region 2 Participant

-2013 National Championship Participant

-Illinois State Scholar

-Spanish National Honor Society member

Rayfield's Take: "A versatile player and great athlete, Maggie's role may not be as predictable as her impact.  She can play almost anywhere on the field because she is technically well-rounded, tactically sound, and willing to do whatever she is asked to help her team succeed.  Whatever role she plays in, most likely in the midfield or in the back, her level of play, her consistency and her dependability will be an asset to the Illini program."

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SABRYN KAPP // MIDFIELD // LAGRANGE, KENTUCKY

OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL // DERBY CITY ROVERS

Player Notes

-Has joined the Illini for the 2017 spring semester

-Kentucky Female Soccer Player of the Year

-ODP International Trip Captain

-ODP Region II pool player

-Member of the National Honor Society

-2016 AP Scholar

-Principal's List member

Rayfield's Take: "Sabryn is a determined and dedicated athlete that has joined us in our spring season in order to prepare herself for the college game in every aspect: physically, technically, tactically and psychologically.   She is powerful and strong on the ball and strikes the ball extremely well.  She has traits that would enable her to play as a target forward or as an attacking midfielder, and as her game speed increases so will her ability to impact our attack."

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KATIE LE // FORWARD // CENTREVILLE, VIRGINIA

CENTREVILLE HIGH SCHOOL // FC VIRGINIA

Player Notes

-2016 Gatorade Player of the Year nominee

-2016 Second-team District Forward

-Helped South Fayette to the 2014 State Finals and the 2016 District Finals

-Attended US National Training Camp

-Three-time National Training Camp assists leader

-Took FC Virginia to two ECNL National Championship playoffs

-Member of the National Honor Society

-Daughter of the Revolution

-Presidential Academic Award recipient

Rayfield's Take: "An attacking-minded player, Katie will add to the group of Illini players that we depend on to break down defenses both solo and collectively.  She has the ability to beat players 1-v-1, but also, as is evident in her assist statistics, she can combine with others, see opportunities for teammates, and accurately serve the box."

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SAMI SAMPLE // GOALKEEPER // SOUTH ELGIN, ILLINOIS

ST. CHARLES NORTH // TEAM CHICAGO

Player Notes

-2013 St. Charles North Team MVP

-2015 Honorable Mention All-Conference

-Four-time Academic All-Conference honoree

-Helped Team Chicago to a National League Championship

-Played basketball for four years in addition to soccer

-Member of the National Honor Society

-Member of the Spanish National Honor Society

Rayfield's Take: "Sami will also strengthen our goalkeeping contingent that with the addition of this class may be one of our strongest assets in 2017.  Her height and athleticism will immediately challenge the group and make us better in the aerial elements of goalkeeping.  Her calm demeanor and presence in the goal will also contribute to the communication and integration of the goalkeepers with the rest of the defensive unit."

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HALEY SINGER // MIDFIELD // NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS

NEUQUA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL // TEAM CHICAGO

Player Notes

-All-Sectional honoree

-All-Conference honoree

-Received Chicago Tribune All-City honors

-Helped her High School to a 2016 Regional Championship title

-Helped Team Chicago to the 2016 National League Championship

-2016 US Youth Soccer National Championship participant

-Helped Team Chicago to the 2017 U-17 Illinois State Cup Championship

-Academic All-Conference honoree

Rayfield's Take: "Haley is a hard-working forward that will maintain the standard that our defense starts with our front line.  Her work ethic and tenacity in the box make her difficult to defend and shut down in the attack.  She creates chances off second effort and tenacity but also has the ability to break down defenses with well-timed runs and accurate passes."

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MADI WOLFBAUER // MIDFIELD // CANTON, MICHIGAN

CANTON HIGH SCHOOL // MICHIGAN HAWKS

Player Notes

-2016 ECNL National Champion

-Ranked among the Top 100 Players to Watch by Top Drawer Soccer

-Ranked the No. 32 midfielder in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer

-2013 US Soccer National Finalist team member

-ODP State Team member

-ECNL PDP Midwest Participant

-All-Conference varsity basketball honoree

-Four-time Academic Honor Roll

Rayfield's Take: "A product of a great club, Madi has played in many positions throughout her career.  She has shown a consistent ability to score goals using her strength on the ball, her ability to see chances and her accurate shot.  She also has a great long passing range and aerial ball-winning capabilities that could see her contribute in a midfield role during her time at Illinois.  Another experienced leader on and off the field, Madi will also bring a vocal presence and competitive mentality to the program."