May 24, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland women's soccer recruiting class for this fall was tabbed the 14th best in the nation according to Soccer Buzz. The mark is the second highest ranking for a Maryland recruiting class since Soccer Buzz began its polls in 1998 and highest for head coach Brian Pensky, who took over the program in 2005. It is also the Terps' second consecutive Top 20 ranking.
The Terps' ranking is also second in the Mid-Atlantic region, behind only Virginia. Last season, Maryland's class was third in the region, giving the Terps two top three regional classes.
Individually, this year's Terrapin class features nine players ranked among Soccer Buzz's top 500 players in the nation. That ties Maryland with Texas A&M for the second most top 500 players (Florida has 10).
Sade Ayinde is the highest-rated player to commit to Maryland, checking in at No. 34. Also among the top 150 players are Becky Kaplan, Skyy Anderson and Lydia Hastings.
"This makes two consecutive years of having a Top 20 recruiting class. We know we are building a foundation for success for years to come. And these classes are benefiting from the outstanding leadership and guidance of our upperclassmen." said Pensky, who enters his fourth season with the Terps this fall. "It's nice to see this recruiting class recognized as one of the Top 15 in the nation. We've known that it's an extremely talented and deep class, regardless of where the rankings might have fallen."
The class includes: forward/midfielder Skyy Anderson (Cambridge, Mass.), forward/defender Sade Ayinde (Bellmore, N.Y.), forward/midfielder Ashley Grove (Rochester, N.Y.), forward/midfielder Lydia Hastings (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), forward/midfielder Becky Kaplan (Oyster Bay, N.Y.), defender Carly Lenger (East Brunswick, N.J.), midfielder Kristen McAfee (Moorestown, N.J.), midfielder Amy O'Sullivan (Rochester, N.Y.), forward Danielle Schulmann (Saddle River, N.J.), forward Jasmyne Spencer (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and forward/midfielder Dominique Vellutato (Camarillo Springs, Calif.).
Here's a look at the Top 15:
1. Florida State
2. North Carolina
3. Boston College
4. California
5. UCLA
6. Stanford
7. Portland
8. Florida
9. Texas A&M
10. Notre Dame
11. Virginia
12. Santa Clara
13. Texas
14. Maryland
15. Georgia
