May 3, 2012
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's soccer head coach Mike Friesen announced his 2012 signing class on Thursday. The five-member group of Victoria Barba, Tiffany Geer, Ashley Hauke, Kirsten O'Neil and Kelsey Schwartz will be on campus in time for the 2012 campaign.
Barba, out of Sandia High and Albuquerque, N.M., is set to arrive at SDSU as one of the best players to ever compete in the state of New Mexico. The midfield/forward was the New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year, district player of the year and state player of the year in 2008 and 2010, while being named a 2010 NSCAA All-American. At Sandia, Barba played four varsity seasons and helped lead her squad to the 2008 state championship. During her high school career, Barba was a first-team all-state pick from 2008-11 and an all-league selection three times, including two first-team appointments (2010-11). At the club level, Barba guided her team to the New Mexico State Cup title twice (2008, 2010), participated on the New Mexico State ODP team (2007-11) and was a part of the Region IV ODP Pool (2007-11).
"Victoria is a very creative and effective attacking player," Friesen said. "I think Victoria is a versatile player, but anticipate she will play as an attacking midfielder for our team. Victoria has a high soccer IQ and has an ability to keep the ball for us, but has a good balance of being able to be dangerous at the same time. She comes for a very good club, New Mexico Rush, and also gains invaluable experience playing for the Colorado Rush in the ECNL. I am excited to have Victoria in our program and bring her love of the game to our team."
Geer signed her National Letter of Intent with San Diego State as a four-time all-league defender and a three-time all-Central Coast Section performer in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Live Oak High in Morgan Hill, Calif. While playing for Mustang Soccer League, Geer helped her squad to the 2010 ECNL national championship, the 2010 Surf Cup title and the 2010-11 NorCal State championships. The defender also was a part of teams that won the 2009 Cal South National Cup title, while earning a spot on the 2010-11 ECNL all-event teams and the 2011 all-ECNL squad. Geer also has spent time with Cal South ODP from 2006-09.
"Tiffany is a solid defensive-minded player," Friesen said. "She has an ability to play as a center back, and as a holding midfielder. She is a leader, who is willing to vocally organize her team. Tiffany reads the game well and consistently puts herself in a position to be successful. I believe her impact will go beyond the field, and that is something that can be invaluable. Tiffany comes from the Mustang Club that does a great job preparing their players for college and is she is the next from a long list of Aztecs from the club, which includes Aubree Southwick, Michaela DeJesus, Heather Vandevanter, Carli Johnson and Kelsey Booth."
Hauke is a local product out of San Diego, Rancho Bernardo High and San Diego Soccer Club. While at Rancho Bernardo, Hauke was a first-team all-league selection her sophomore and senior seasons and closed out her prep career as a first-team all-CIF performer. She was voted Rancho Bernardo's most valuable player her sophomore season and was tabbed the defensive player of the year her first three seasons. An outstanding student, Hauke was also a three-year letterwinner for the Rancho Bernardo track and cross country squads.
"Ashley is versatile player, but we expect her to play primarily as a wide striker," Friesen said. "She has an ability to cover a lot of ground, is a hard working player and very coachable. Ashley played for former assistant coach Joe Tedesco in the San Diego Soccer Club for the past year and has shown a tremendous ability to improve."
O'Neill is a highly touted two-sport star from Hampton, N.H., who competed at Winnacunnet High and Seacoast United Soccer Club. As a soccer player, O'Neill was a first-team all-state pick her final two seasons at Winnacunnet and was the fall athlete of the year as well as an all-New England honoree in 2011. While playing for Seacoast United, O'Neill led her squad to six straight New Hampshire State Cup titles (2006-11) and has extensive ODP experience (U-14 ODP National Pool and National ID Camp, U-14 ODP regional pool in 2008, Super Y National Pool in 2009). When not on the pitch, O'Neill was busy on the hardwood, picking up 2011-12 Gatorade Basketball Player-of-the-Year accolades and being named to the all-state basketball team on two different occasions (first-team senior season, second-team junior year).
"Kirsten is a great athlete, and a very versatile player," Friesen said. "I expect to use Kirsten in multiple roles on our team and expect that she will be successful with anything that we give her. Kirsten is a tough, competitive person and I anticipate that will serve her well in our program. We are excited that she chose to come across the country from her club team, Seacoast United. We have seen the training that she has received in her club and anticipate her doing well as a result of that training."
Schwartz will arrive on Montezuma Mesa after her graduation from Westview High. The San Diego Surf product is a two-time all-league selection and helped lead Westview to a CIF championship as a freshman and junior. At the club level, Schwartz was a part of a San Diego Surf team that captured the U-16 National Cup championship.
"Kelsey is a player that will be used in multiple roles," Friesen said. "I anticipate Kelsey will see time in the midfield as well as at outside back. Kelsey is a smart player and a hard worker. She is good at maintaining possession and changing the point of attack from a midfield position. We feel like she will transition to an outside back well because of her ability to be a playmaker. Kelsey has blossomed in the Surf Soccer Club here in San Diego, who has produced countless great college players."