Women's Soccer Inks Five High School Seniors for '07
Thomas announces first recruiting class

March 29, 2007

		(L-R): Chelsea Skinner, Ellen O'Rear, Paul Thomas, Katie Kozlowski and Sarah Rokuski

LIVONIA, Mich. -- Madonna head women’s soccer coach Paul Thomas announced the signing of five Michigan high school seniors on Thursday to join the Crusaders squad for the 2007 season.

The high school recruits from the Class of 2007 who have decided to continue their already stellar soccer careers at Madonna are in-state prospects Ellen O’Rear (Madison Heights, Mich.), Chelsea Skinner (Dearborn Heights, Mich.), Katie Kozlowski (Dearborn Heights, Mich.), Sarah Rokuski (Algonac, Mich.) and Jamie Chandler (Livonia, Mich.).

“The goal for this class was to tweak our solid nucleus of returning players with a few high-level recruits,” Thomas said. “Bringing in talented players is a prerequisite to winning WHAC championships, and we’ve put ourselves in a position to achieve great things in the very near future.”

O’Rear comes to Madonna from Bishop Foley High School where she has earned first-team all-district and all-Catholic league honors. O’Rear is a three-year letterwinner at Bishop Foley High School.

“Ellen is a dominating center midfield player,” Thomas said. “We are thrilled to have a player with the outstanding technical ability that she possesses.”

Skinner and Kozlowski both will join the Crusaders program after prepping at Dearborn Heights Crestwood High School.

Skinner is a highly decorated player in the city of Dearborn, after earning all-city and all-district honors over the last three seasons.  Skinner, who was named team captain last year, earned all-state honorable mention honors and was named team MVP following her sophomore campaign.

“We feel that Chelsea is a natural in front of the net,” Thomas said. “She has a great knack for scoring goals and will add a lot to our offensive attack in the near future.”

Kozlowski was twice named all-district, all-city and all-conference as she prepares for her senior season.  She also helped her team to a district championship last season.

“Katie is a great defender with phenomenal pace,” Thomas said.  “She has a natural ability to read and react to the game and we are excited to have her join our club.”

Rokuski comes to MU from Algonac High School where she has been named the team’s Most Valuable Player over the last two seasons.  She has also been named a three-time all-conference and all-district selection during her first three years of high school soccer.  Rokuski set the school record for goals during her freshman season en route to earning Rookie of the Year honors.

“Sarah is a player that we can count on to create for us in the midfield,” Thomas said.  “She has the ability to play anywhere in the midfield due to her athleticism, vision and technique.”

(L-R): Jamie Chandler and Paul Thomas

Chandler is finishing up her senior year at Stevenson High School in Livonia.  She is entering her third year as a varsity player and has been named team captain for her senior season.  She has also been tabbed all-division following her junior campaign.

"Jamie is a very versatile and tenacious player," Thomas said.  "She can in multiple positions along the back row or in the midfield.  Her versatility will help to provide depth to our roster next fall."

Thomas said that he is excited about what is in store for the Crusaders in the 2007 season as a total of 17 players return with experience at the collegiate level, including such standouts as WHAC Defender of the Year and All-WHAC performer Andrea Johnson and goal keeper and Second Team All-WHAC selection Traci Anderson who helped MU to a 12-4-2 record in 2006.

“I am confident that we will rank among the very best classes in the WHAC and the region when all is said and done and our group of additional players is finalized,” Thomas said. “We have a lot of work to do between now and the fall, but we can’t wait to get our new additions together with the returning players and get started.”

Contact:
Tony Baldwin, Sports Information Director
(734) 432-5834
tbaldwin@madonna.edu