April 19, 2007
SAN DIEGO - Five talented recruits from California signed National Letters of Intent to join the San Diego State women's soccer team, first-year head coach Mike Friesen has announced.
Leading off the list of newcomers is Laura Bahno of Ursuline HS in Santa Rosa, Calif. In high school, Bahno was named to the North Bay League first team and all-Empire first team twice (2005 and 2006). Bahno led Ursuline in scoring with 15 goals and seven assists in 2006 after playing on the North Coast Section championship team in 2005.
A seven-year member of the Santa Rosa United Gold 89 (Hurricanes) club team, Bahno was a part of the 2005 CA-N State Championship squad and Far West Regional Semi-Finalists team.
"Laura is a versatile player who can give us time in the back as well as at the wide striker spot," Friesen said. "She is athletic, physical and she is a good ball striker."
San Diego native Britney Bennett joins the Aztecs after an illustrious career at Otay Ranch HS and with the FC Bratz club team. At Otay Ranch, Bennett led the South Bay League in scoring for three years and was a three-time all-SBL first-team selection earned all-CIF honors. Bennett was also an accomplished track star at Otay Ranch.
Bennett brings plenty of winning experience to the Aztecs. With FC Bratz, she won several championships, including the Presidio League Cup and San Francisco Cup in 2005, the State Open Cup and the Premier Cup in 2004, and the Nike Harvest Cup in 2003. All in all, Bennett's club team either made the finals or won a championship in 17 different tournaments.
"Brittney is a striker with great pace," Friesen said. "She will give us the option to stretch defenses and play in behind them. She will also add depth to an already talented front line."
Megan Konishi, a native of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., comes to Montezuma Mesa after one year at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, Calif. Konishi started at forward and appeared in all 27 games for the Hawks, who finished with a 25-1-1 record and won the Orange Empire Conference Championship en route to winning the CCA State Championship. Konishi contributed 25 goals and 12 assists in 2006, earning a first-team all-conference selection.
Prior to her stint at Santiago Canyo, Konishi was a three-year letterwinner at Trabuco Hills High in Mission Viejo, Calif. As a senior captain, Konishi led her team to the CIF semi finals and was named to the all-South Coast League second team. Konishi also played club soccer with West Coast FC, the 2005 State Cup Champions.
"Megan is going to give us some size, which we have been lacking for the past couple of seasons," Friesen said. "She will most likely see time as a striker and a defender. Megan scored 25 goals last year at the college level and that is an accomplishment no matter where you do it. Her versatility will help when we have to be on the road at altitude."
Another Southern California native, Lauren Marquez of Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Calif., is one more solid young player joining the Scarlet and Black. Marquez was named first-team all-league twice (junior and senior year), as well as second-team all-CIF during her junior season. In the 2005-06 season, Tesoro High won the Pacific Coast League and was a CIF co-champion.
"Lauren is going to give us another option in the midfield and has the ability to play up top as well," Friesen said. "Lauren is an effective player who can beat you on the dribble and with the pass."
Goalie Aubree Southwick of San Ramon Valley High in Danville, Calif., rounds out the recruiting class. In her senior season, Southwick was named the California high school state player of the year and was an NSCAA All-American in 2006. Southwick was a three-time ODP Region IV player and four-time ODP Cal North State Player, in addition to receiving the U.S. Soccer Golden Glove Award in 2004. A four-year varsity player at San Ramon Valley, her team won the North Coast Section championship twice and was ranked No. 1 in the country in 2005.
Southwick's impressive resume continues with the Mustang Blast club team, which won the 2004 U.S. Soccer National Championship as well as the State Cup five times and the Super Y National Championship in 2003. Southwick chose SDSU ahead of UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Harvard, UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount.
"Aubree has an ability to deal with crosses and high balls as well being a great shot stopper," Friesen said. "I am very excited to see how she will do at the collegiate level. She is able to play with her feet and does a good job extending her area by being off of the goal line."