March 28, 2018
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's soccer head coach Mike Friesen announced the signing of 10 standouts to National Letters of Intent/Offers of Aid. The group will be on campus this summer and in time for the 2018 season when the Aztecs will look to defend their Mountain West title.
"I am very excited about the addition of all of these players," Friesen said. "We have added a lot of talent, to an already talented team, as well as depth, in this class. We are also very excited about the quality of people that will be joining our team. This past season we finished with some great results, winning another MW title, and we are excited to see the next steps for our team."
Devan Burnam pledges to SDSU out of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. While competing as a defender for the Mustangs, Burnam earned CCCSCA first-team all-region honors as a freshman and was a first-team all-Big 8 Conference and United Soccer Coaches all-region performer in 2017. Burnam, who graduated from Saint Mary's High and played club with Cal Cougars '98, was awarded the Torch of Excellence at San Joaquin Delta College's annual banquet in the spring of 2017.
Burnam on SDSU: "I chose SDSU because I really connected with the coaching staff and it felt like the perfect fit when I visited. The opportunity to play at the top level for such a strong program was a major factor for me."
Lauren Dicus currently attends San Ramon Valley High in Northern California and played for Mustang ECNL '00. She will come to San Diego State with PDP experience and has been a participant at national training camps throughout her youth career.
Dicus on signing her NLI with the Aztecs: "I chose SDSU because there is no other place more perfect to play soccer and go to school than San Diego State. I knew right away when I first went to SDSU's soccer camp that it was the school that was right for me. SDSU had always been a dream of mine because of the amazing soccer/academics and you cannot beat the location."
Laura Fuentes joins the program out of Newark Memorial High School in the Bay Area. The Palo Alto Soccer Club product has trained with the U18 US Women's National Team and has competed at the ODP/PDP level for several years. While at Newark Memorial High, Fuentes earned MVP and all-league first-team honors as a junior and senior midfielder.
Fuentes on what made her choose SDSU over other schools: "San Diego State is a beautiful school with a great soccer program and great coaching staff, and is a place where I can see myself grow as a player. I think I will fit nicely with the style of play and winning mentality with all their success in past years."
Taylor Moorehead is scheduled to head down to San Diego State from Hart High in Santa Clarita. She was named a 2016-17 first-team all-Santa Clarita Valley performer by The Signal after she had 12 goals and eight assists as a junior. She was ultimately named her team's offensive player of the year.
Moorehead on her decision to sign with the Aztecs: "I chose SDSU to be a part of the soccer program and to strive in its academics."
Lovisa Norrby hails from Bromma Gymnasium in Stockholm, Sweden, where she gained youth national team experience. A seven-time national team camp participant, Norrby saw action in eight games for Sweden and helped the team to a second-place finish in the 2014 Nordic Women's Tournament. Norrby, who has a plethora of ODP experience, was named her club team's (IF Brommapojkarna) Newcomer of the Year in 2015.
Norrby on why she chose SDSU: "I have high ambitions with my soccer and my goal is to play professional soccer. I chose SDSU because I feel like the school will provide me with an amazing opportunity to play soccer at a high level and to combine it with a good education. I also chose SDSU because I was impressed with what the team has achieved this past year and its plans for the future. The school is located in a great place that provides me with both the city and the beach. I have also heard a lot of good stuff about SDSU and I look forward to attending in the fall."
Poonam Ranu will enroll at SDSU following her graduation ceremonies at Washington High in Fremont. The four-year goalkeeper and two-time team captain has also competed for Palo Alto on the club circuit since 2016. While at Washington, Ranu was an all-league goalkeeper on multiple occasions, including a first-team appointment in 2017.
Ranu on her decision to sign with the Aztecs: "For me to go to college in San Diego has always been an aspiration for me, so when I got the offer to play for SDSU it was literally a dream come true. Not only was the location perfect, but the education given at SDSU is top-notch. It was the first school to offer me a spot on their future roster, and I'd be out of my mind to decline an offer from such a prestigious team."
Abbie Rieder will transition from Valencia to Montezuma Mesa once her career at Valencia High is complete. An excellent student who carries a 4.0 GPA and will graduate in the top 10 percent of her class, Rieder will carry ODP (2014-15 Oregon ODP) and U.S. Development Academy credentials with her when she arrives on campus.
Rieder, who is also Valencia's track and field team captain, on why she chose to come to San Diego State: "I chose San Diego State for its reputable academics and its competitive women's soccer program with committed and supportive coaches."
Dominique Tucker inks with the Aztecs out of Moorpark High and her club team, Eagles DA. Tucker helped Moorpark win a CIF championship and along the way, picked up first-team all-league accolades. An excellent student, Tucker has earned her way onto the school's Honor Roll.
Tucker on her decision to come to San Diego State: "I chose SDSU because it has every major I want to study and a phenomenal coaching staff and soccer team."
McKenna Wallace will head south to Montezuma Mesa from San Ramon Valley High in Danville where she played for Mustang Soccer. A CIF North Coast Section Scholar-Athlete, Wallace, who is a classmate of Dicus at SRVHS, boasts experience playing at the USSF National Training Center and has spent time in the PDP girls '99 state pool team and with ECNL PDP.
Wallace on the reason she signed with San Diego State: "SDSU has always been my number one choice. When I visited the school, I really enjoyed the coaching staff and team. I felt super comfortable and at home when on campus."
Similar to Burnam, Malia Kaleiohi brings college experience to SDSU as she returns home to San Diego after spending her freshman season at West Virginia, where she played on a team that advanced to the third round of the 2017 NCAA tournament. Prior to her stint in Morgantown, the midfielder played for Albion Soccer Club where she helped the squad to the semifinals of the 2015 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship and earned a spot on the Best XI team. She also boasts a selection to the 2015 Puma V Elite team, experience with Cal South ODP and being picked for the 2011-12 U.S. National Team Training Camp pool. The 5-2 midfielder played for two seasons at Horizon Christian Academy and was named team captain as a sophomore. While at HCA, she was an all-Coastal team choice on two occasions before moving on to Connections Academy where she graduated early.
The aforementioned players, along with Canadian National Team player Florence Laroche, who was announced in January, will join San Diego State in its quest to defend its 2017 Mountain West championship, which was the program's fourth in the last six years. Since the 2012 campaign, the Aztecs have won eight conference titles and appeared in four NCAA tournaments, including last season's invite to the field of 64.