Feb. 8, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield announced Friday the signing of seven student-athletes for the 2008 season. The group of newcomers, featuring talented players from across the nation and Canada, adds depth at every position for the Illini.

The all-freshmen class includes Jenna Carosio of Novi, Mich., Caitlin Dombart of West Chester, Ohio, Julie Ewing of Batavia, Ill., Jackie Guerra of Plano, Texas, Lauren Levitt of Naperville, Ill., Marissa Mykines of Spokane, Wash., and Steph Panozzo of Maple Ridge, B.C.

"The objective of recruiting is multifaceted - to bring in outstanding and talented individuals as well as put together a synergistic group of complementary talents that meets the needs of the program," Rayfield said. "The goal is to bring in a class that supports and enhances the talent already in the program and that has the ability to lead on and off the field when their time comes. This class accomplishes all of those objectives and we are excited about what they mean for the future of this program."

Illinois' 2008 recruiting class:

Jenna Carosio
Midfielder // 5-6 // Freshman
Novi, Mich. // Novi HS // Michigan Hawks

High School/Club: Captured high school state championship with Novi in 2006...Former State Cup MVP for Michigan Hawks `90...Led Hawks to Midwest Regional Championship in 2003 and 2007...Member of the Region II Olympic Development Team 2007.

Rayfield on Carosio: Jenna can play almost any position on the field. She plays the game with a sophistication, understanding, and sense of determination that makes her effective in any role she is asked to play. She can set play from the midfield, score goals in the attack, or lead a defense at center back with her ability to read the game and set play from the back. Her development will be quick and immediate because of that determination and willingness to make a difference. Wherever she ends up on the field, expect this young lady to make an immediate impact on this program.

Caitlin Dombart
Defender // 5-9 // Freshman
West Chester, Ohio // Lakota West HS // Classics Hammer

High School/Club: Greater Miami Conference Player of the Year as a senior at Lakota West...As team captain, also earned first-team all-state and first-team all-district honors...Two-time Cincinnati Enquirer first team honoree...Four-time GMC All-Academic Award...Also played four years of varsity basketball.

Rayfield on Dombart: Caitlin joins the Illini having played both attack and defense and that experience will help her to follow in the mold of players like Christen Karniski and Mary Therese McDonnell. She, like those two, has great athletic qualities, has a 1v1 defensive mentality of pride and competitiveness, and has the ability to attack out of the back. Her size and athleticism give her a presence in the box that can be an important defensive element as well as a dangerous attacking weapon.

Julie Ewing
Defender // 5-3 // Freshman
Batavia, Ill. // Batavia HS // Eclipse Select

High School/Club: Named an NSCAA/Adidas All-American in 2005...Led Eclipse Select U-18 team to state championship...Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region II team member from 2005-06...Participated in the Brazilian tour with Region II team...2007 Illinois State Scholar and Literary Festival winner.

Rayfield on Ewing: A feisty, passionate, competitor, Julie will add to this program with her abilities on the field and her personality and passion off the field. She plays with a fire and determination that takes her natural talents and maximizes the impact she can have on a game. As she learns to control that fire and compete with composure, you will see a fierce defender with the ability to get forward and make a difference.

Jackie Guerra
Midfielder // 5-2 // Freshman
Plano, Texas // Plano HS // Dallas Texans

High School/Club: Led Texans to national finals in 2007 and southern regional finals in 2006...Participated in ODP Region III camp from 2002-04...Played six years for the ODP NTSSA state team...Named Who's Who Among American High School Students...Brother plays soccer for the University of Chicago.

Rayfield on Guerra: There is something about being a champion that never leaves you. Like the Jackie (Santacaterina) that she will join in the midfield, she brings the experience of training for and competing in the USYSA national championships and tournament championships throughout her youth career with the Dallas Texans. Her determination and work ethic will maintain the culture of excellence that has become a part of this program and a key element of our success in the past and our success in the future. Jackie brings a mentality and a discipline to her training and coming from a successful program like the Texans - an expectation to win.

Lauren Levitt
Defender/Midfielder // 5-8 // Freshman
Naperville, Ill. // Naperville Central HS // Eclipse Select

High School/Club: Led Eclipse Select to Illinois State Cup Championship, along with future teammate Julie Ewing...Has made the State Cup Finals five times as a member of Eclipse Select...Played one year for Naperville before electing to play club year-round...Sister, Jessica, is currently a junior forward on the Illinois soccer team.

Rayfield on Levitt: The next set of siblings will don Illinois uniforms this fall as Lauren and Jessica become teammates. Although different in ability and stature, they share a competitive nature on the field that has helped them get to this level of the sport. Lauren brings a physical presence, a defensive work rate and ability on the ball that make her a good player on both sides of the ball.

Marissa Mykines
Forward/Midfielder // 5-3 // Freshman
Spokane, Wash. // Mead HS // Spokane Shadow

High School/Club: U.S. National Team pool selection from 2006-07...Member of the Super Y ODP National Select team in 2004 and Regional Select team in 2005...Played on ODP state team from 2005-06... Led Shadow to Washington State Cup Championship in 2006 and 2007...Shadow made the state finals in the two previous seasons...Led Mead to back-to-back district championships, in addition to the state finals in 2006...Two-time Greater Spokane League first team honoree...GSL Offensive MVP as a senior...Received all-state first team honors.

Rayfield on Mykines: Marissa has the great combination of being a dangerous attacking 1v1 player as well as being a player maker. Her quickness with and without the ball and her mentality in the attacking third adds another dangerous but completely unique personality that maintains the attacking mindset of this team.

Steph Panozzo
Goalkeeper // 5-6 // Freshman
Maple Ridge, B.C. // Maple Ridge Secondary School // North Shore Storm

High School/Club: U20 Canadian National Team pool...Led Storm to provincial championship three times...Also two-time Surf Cup semifinalist...Played one year with the Vancouver Whitecaps, finishing as Surf Cup semifinalists...With the B.C. Provincial All-Stars, won U-14 National Championship and finished second with U-16 team.

Rayfield on Panozzo: Steph has battled her way into the youth national team program in Canada and continues to compete for a position with the U20 national team. Her exceptional quickness and tenacity allow her to play even larger than her current frame. She has played and competed against some of the top players in Canada and will enter as a freshman with a level of experience that will allow her to compete for a starting position right away.