Feb. 8, 2011

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's soccer head coach Janet Rayfield announced the addition of a talented and diverse group of incoming players on Tuesday. Rayfield brought in five student-athletes from four different states, all with extensive experience at a high level of competition.

The 2011 newcomers are Megan Green (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley), Cat Meyer (Bedford, Texas/Faith Christian School), Katie Reed (Coatesville, Ind./Covenant Christian), Lizzie Sanscrainte (Vernon Hills, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) and Aliina Weycamp (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven).

Each of the incoming athletes has experience with a combination of regional, national and international Olympic Development Programs. Green, Reed and Weycamp all participated in international ODP training while Sanscrainte spent time competing with the ODP Goalkeeping Academy and Meyer was a member of her regional team and a national pool player.

Meet the Newest Illini

Megan Green
Defense/Midfield/Forward // 5'7"
Naperville, Ill. // Waubonsie Valley // Chicago Fire Juniors, America's Soccer Club (former)

Notes: Two-time All-Conference Honorable Mention (2008-09) ... 2010 All-Conference and All-Sectional ... 2010 Daily Herald All-Area Team ... 2009-10 All-Academic ... Two-time IHSA State Champion at Waubonsie Valley (2008-10) ... Illinois Olympic Development Program (ODP) team member from 2005-08 ... Attended U-15 National I.D. Camp and 2008 Region II Germany tour and inter-regional camp.

Rayfield on Green: "Megan is one of those players who can make others look better with her non-flashy ability to combine and find people in dangerous situations to create chances for her team. However, as she continues to develop, Megan also has the ability to be dangerous herself and make an individual impact on the game as well. The 2011 Illini team will be quick and skillful with great movement off the ball. We will utilize Megan's ability to combine and see the game to enhance that personality and increase the effectiveness of the players around her."

Cat Meyer
Midfield/Forward // 5'3"
Bedford, Texas // Faith Christian School // Dallas Texans Red 93

Notes: Led Faith Christian School to the Texas Semi-Finals in 2008 and the Dallas Texans Red 93 National (2008) and League (2008-09) and State (2009-10) Cup Championships ... Was a member of the 2007 National ODP pool and 2007-08 regional team.

Rayfield on Meyer: "A natural left sided player with great service and finishing ability, Cat immediately brings a new dimension to the team and balances our attack. She continues in the vein of versatile players on our current roster that make this team unpredictable, dynamic and resourceful. Cat can play anywhere on the field but with her strengths, you will see us utilize her on the flank and look to involve her in our attacking end. Cat has been a significant contributor to a very successful team as a youth player and I expect that trend to continue as she enters the college game as an Illini."

Katherine Reed
Midfield // 5'5"
Coatesville, Ind. // Covenant Christian High School // Carmel United Soccer Club

Notes: Covenant Christian 2010 team captain her senior season after playing three years at Shattuck-St. Mary's College Preparatory School where she earned 2008 Player of the Year and was the Shattuck-St. Mary's team captain during the 2008-09 seasons ... Also captained club team, Shattuck-St. Mary's Soccer Academy in 2008-09 and earned State Cup Championships in 2005-08, 2010 ... Has played for Indiana ODP since 2006 and the Region II team in 2007-08 and 2010 ... Attended the National Development Camp in 2008-09, ODP Thanksgiving Inter-regional in 2008 and 2010 and the ODP International Tour, Costa Rica in 2008.

Rayfield on Reed: "For those that understand the game, read the game and can handle the ball, size doesn't matter in the game of soccer. That is certainly the case for Katie. Her abilities will fit extremely well with the personality of this team and she will help us break down defenses with possession, skill and smart decisions. Her varied experiences throughout high school will help her adapt quickly to the college environment and with the focus, effort and determination she has shown so far she will adapt to the college game quickly as well."

Lizzi Sanscrainte
Goalkeeper // 5'7"
Vernon Hills, Ill. // Adlai E. Stevenson High School // ELA Elite

Notes: Earned three letters with the varsity squad at Adlai E. Stevenson ... Earned Palatine Tournament championship and finished runners-up in the Champions Division (IWSL) with ELA Elite ... Has two years of experience with the ODP goalkeeper academy ... Four-year gold honor roll and math and science scholar awards at Stevenson.

Rayfield on Sanscrainte: "Our goalkeeping unit continues to get deeper with the addition of Lizzie Sanscrainte and that depth creates an incredible training environment. That training environment is the critical component for the keepers' improvement and for their success on game day. Lizzie brings an incredible work ethic to the program and a training intensity that will challenge our returning keepers."

Aliina Weykamp
Midfield/Defense // 5'7"
Grand Haven, Mich. // Grand Haven High School // Michigan Hawks

Notes: Has spent three seasons on the varsity squad at Grand Haven with her senior season still to play ... All-District Division-I and All-Area First Team in each of her first three seasons ... Third Team All-Michigan as a junior ... Earned State Cup (2008) and Regional Championships (2010) with her club team, the Michigan Hawks ... Also led the Hawks to the CASL Showcase Championship (2008-09), the Disney Showcase Finals and Regional qualifications from 2008-10 ... Member of the ODP state (2006-10), regional (2009-10) and International Region II teams (2009).

Rayfield on Weykamp: "With her composure and ability to connect passes, you will see her step into the central roles that we lost to graduation in 2010. Aliina reads the game well, moves intelligently with and without the ball and is not afraid to defend with commitment. With the loss of [Danielle] Kot, [Kristen] Miller and [Laura] Knutson, there is certainly an opportunity for those attributes to find their way on the field very quickly."