Feb. 21, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield announced the signing of six student-athletes for the 2009 season. In addition, goalkeeper Steph Panozzo will join the 2009 class, having enrolled at Illinois this semester after spending the fall playing for the Canadian U-20 National Team in Chile.

The incoming class includes Nicole Denenberg of Chicago, Katrina Fehrenbacher of Dunlap, Ill., Katelyn Hoffman of Collinsville, Ill., Marissa Holden of Murphy, Texas, Shayla Mutz of Glen, Ill., and Niki Read of Lake Orion, Mich.

"Once again we have a foundation of in-state talent, combined with out-of-state talent that brings something special to the program," Rayfield said. "We have three forwards coming in but each with different attributes and the versatility to play many places and many roles on the field. The attacking personalities, overall speed, goal-scoring and goalkeeping are key elements you'll find in the collective talents of the 2009 class."

The Illinois soccer class of 2009:

Nicole Denenberg
Midfielder // 5-7 // Freshman
Chicago // St. Ignatius College Prep // Eclipse Select

High School/Club: Named the GCAC Player of the Year • Earned all-state and all-sectional honors • Currently second with 39 assists, third with 115 points and fifth with 38 goals in St. Ignatius' career record book • Led team in assists three straight seasons • Helped St. Igantius to Class AA state quarterfinals in 2008 • Ranks second in school history with 23 goals and 15 assists in a season.

Rayfield on Denenberg: "Another well rounded versatile player, Nicole has developed a strong technical foundation and has proven at the high school level her ability to impact games leading the attack for St. Ignatius High School. She is likely to leave the school with her name atop both the career goals and career assists records. As she transitions to the college level and joins this multi-dimensional and multi-talented class, her ability to link players together as shown by her career assists will be important. That ability could develop into a critical role of linking this class of attacking personalities together."

Katrina Fehrenbacher
Midfeidlder/Forward // 5-7 // Freshman
Dunalp, Ill. // Dunlap HS // Eclipse Select

High School/Club: Won three Illinois State Cup Championships in a row with Illinois Premier, Team Chicago and Eclipse Select • Led her 3 v 3 team to a national title in 2005 • Played on the Illinois ODP State team from 2003-08 • Back-to-back Region II finalists.

Rayfield on Fehrenbacher: "Katrina brings a versatility and adaptability as a solid player on both sides of the ball. She has a defensive presence, a great fitness level, and the ability to handle the ball and deliver passes. With that combined skill set she has the potential to play in any role she might be needed and that makes her a great compliment to this class of players with distinct strengths and an attacking mindset."

Katelyn Hoffman
Goalkeeper // 5-7 // Freshman
Collinsville, Ill. // Collinsville HS // St. Louis Scott Gallagher/Metro United

High School/Club: Led Metro United to Illinois State Cup finals in 2008 • Earned back-to-back all-sectional and all-conference honors • Named Collinsville team captain and MVP in 2008 • Attended ODP state camp and goalie academy in 2006 • Notched a miniscule 0.82 goals against average with St. Louis.

Rayfield on Hoffman: "It is exciting for us to have depth in the goalkeeping position heading into the 2009 season. Katelyn has all the tools necessary to develop into a tremendous college goalkeeper. She has the physical frame, the athletic ability, and will now put herself in one of the best goalkeeping training environments. Her development will be fast and the increased intensity in the training environment due to a deep and competitive goalkeeping unit will have an incredible impact on this team."

Marissa Holden
Forward // 5-6 // Freshman
Murphy, Texas // Plano East HS // Dallas Texans

High School/Club: Led Plano East to 2008 State Finals • Named 2008 NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American • Earned 2008 NSCAA/adidas High School All-Region honors • Three-time ODP national team camp • Won State Cup Championship with Dallas Texans in 2007-08 • Notched 24 goals as a junior at Plano East • Named Plano East team captain and offensive MVP in 2008 • Also named Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Rayfield on Holden: "Marissa plays the game with a sense of determination that makes her effective in any role she is asked to play. She will power through the box to score goals, work hard to win balls, put opponents with the ball under pressure, or run at them with or without the ball and put their entire team under pressure. Her pace, strength and power make her dangerous with and without the ball."

Shayla Mutz
Forward // 5-5 // Freshman
Glen, Ill. // Lockport Township HS // Chicago Magic

High School/Club: Earned IHSA All-Sectional honors • Led Chicago Magic to the USL U-16 National Title • Named to the U-16 All-Tournament Team • Member of the U.S. U-17 National Team.

Rayfield on Mutz: "Smooth, crafty, slippery, speedy - those are the words I would use to describe the small but exceptionally quick player joining this class. Shayla cuts through teams with grace and guile and, of course, a little speed and deception."

Niki Read
Forward // 5-6 // Freshman
Lake Orion, Mich. // Lake Orion HS // Vardar

High School/Club: Member of the Michigan State ODP team from 2004-09 and the Region II team from 2005-09 • Won five State Cup national titles • Attended '90 National Team Camp in 2008 • Named first team all-state as a junior • Led Lake Orion to back-to-back district finals.

Rayfield on Read: "Nicole has sophistication to her game beyond her current years of experience. She sees the game and has a sense of timing with respect to her shot and her passes as good as anyone in the country in her age group. She has the unique combination of attacking ability that not only enables her to be a threat individually, but also to make those around her dangerous as well. Her playmaking ability, her tactical awareness and her ability to score goals will make an immediate impact on our program."