May 23, 2005

LIVONIA, MI. -  Madonna University head women's soccer coach Mark Zathey announced today (Monday, May 23) the addition of nine recruits for the upcoming 2005 season. Dina Allie (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), Caitlin Boyak (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), Brittany Cervi (Canton, Mich./Canton HS), Diana Fedrigo (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), Samantha Fugate (Laingsburg, Mich./Laingsburg-Bath HS), Katie Kramer (Highland, Mich./Milford HS - Stony Brook University), Andrea Muscat (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), and Lacie Slebodnik (Romulus, Mich./Woodhaven HS) have all committed to join the Crusaders this fall.

"Our goal was to increase the talent and depth of our team," said Zathey. "We have clearly done that and more. Every player in this class has a chance to come in and make an impact right away which will undoubtedly make us better and give us a chance to compete for another Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championship."

Allie, a forward, has posted seven goals and five assists thus far in her senior campaign at Stevenson.  A four-year letterwinner, Allie was a three-time All-Conference selection and has led her team to three consecutive Western Lakes Athletic Association (WLAA) conference titles.  In 2002 as a freshman, Allie helped her team reach the MHSAA State semi finals while earning honorable mention All-WLAA honors.

"A great all-around player who will be a threat up top," said Zathey.  "She is having a great senior season at Stevenson and she will help us immediately in the attack as a penetrating player which is something we were looking to add to our team."

Boyak, the second of four Livonia Stevenson signees, is a 5-9 midfielder who has posted a pair of goals and six assists this season as the captain of her squad.  As a junior, Boyak earned honorable mention All-Observerland honors helping Stevenson to the city, division and conference championship.  She is a three-time Scholar Athlete award winner and will graduate cum laude in June.

"Another immediate impact player," says Zathey.  "She can do a lot of different things.  She is a great ball winner, enjoys running wide and drives a great ball.  She is one of the top players in this class."

Cervi, a goalkeeper, is regarded as one of the top stoppers in the area.  The 5-3 Canton high product was named to five post-season teams after her junior season including All-Conference, All-Region, All-District, All-Oberserverland, and All-State.  She was also voted the teams Most Valuable Player.

"She is a great keeper that adds immediate depth to our position," said Zathey.  "Brittany is a great athlete and a even better person to be around."

Fedrigo, a midfielder/forward, is another part of the Stevenson quarter and comes from a talent-rich soccer family.  After sitting out her junior season due to injury, Diana has helped lead Stevenson to the city championship as a senior while posting a goal and three helpers.  Both of her sisters, Laura and Anne, were standout players from Central Michigan in the late 1990's. 

"A great kid and good all-around athlete," said Zathey.  "She has a great personality and is one of the type of players that we like to have around our team.  She is very fast and a good ball-winner.  Coming off injury, we expect that as she grows in the program she will help us more and more on the field."

Fugate, a midfielder, is the most heralded scorer in the 2005 class.  A four-year letterwinner for Laingsburg-Bath, she has tallied 47 career goals and is currently the Lansing area leader in scoring.  As a freshman, Fugate helped lead her team to a undefeated season and the district finals while posting six goals and 11 assists.  As a sophomore she increased her production to 12 goals and 12 assists, helping her team to a district championship.  As a junior, Fugate earned honorable mention All-State honors with 16 goals and 16 assists and was also named All-Region, All-District.  She was selected to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team after leading the area in assists.  Nearing the end of her senior season, she has posted 13 goals and five assists as the team captain.  She is a two-time TNT Dynamite Soccer Club captain for the Premier Soccer Club in Lansing.

"Samantha has the right mentality to succeed here," said Zathey.  "She knows coming in that she can become an even better player and she isn't afraid of that.  I like her mentality and her drive and her ability to compete.  She has a number of accolades heading into college, but she knows nothing will be handed to her and she thrives on that."

Kramer, a midfielder, transfers to Madonna from Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY scoring four career goals for the Sea Wolves. She was named to the 2003 Holiday Inn Express Invitational All-Tournament team and earned America East Rookie of the Week honors on September 22nd, 2003.  Kramer played club ball for the Michigan Hawks for 10 seasons and captured the state title in 2001.  She was a member of the Michigan State Team for six years and the Region II team for two seasons.  A four-year letterwinner in cross country and track at Milford high, she was named cross country captain in 2001 and 2002 and track and field captain in 2003.  She is still the school record holder in 5K, 3200m, 1600m, 4x800 relay.  Kramer also holds her own in the classroom, earning Academic All-State accolades in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

"Another immediate impact player that we hope can come in and change the way opponents have to play us," Zathey said.  "One of the top 18 players in the state as a club player, her pedigree of having played two years at a division one institution will bring and certain maturity to the team.  She is a great physical package who is strong, runs well and very charismatic.  She can play anywhere in the back and anywhere in the midline thus helping us in a number of different ways."

Muscat, a midfielder, is the fourth Stevenson product to join the Crusaders.  The 5'3" dynamo has scored a goal and added an assist so far in her senior campaign.  An All-District and All-Observerland selection as a junior, Muscat helped her team to the WLAA conference championship as a junior.

"She is a feisty kid who will compete for a starting job right away," says Zathey.  A left-back, left outside mid player, she has a great competitive desire and is all about winning soccer games on game day.  She is a fierce competitor that will be of great benefit to us."

Slebodnik, a defender, is the younger sister of Madonna sophomore Liz Slebodnik.  Lacie earned All-Conference and All-News Herald honors as a junior at Woodhaven high and is a four-year varsity letterwinner in soccer.  She also earned a varsity letter in cross country and basketball as a prep.  She is a four-year honor roll member and will graduate with honors in June.

"Lacie is a great athlete that runs well in open spaces," said Zathey.  "She will help us out right away with her speed.  She is very coachable with a good work ethic that adds value to the group."

The Crusaders, who finished the 2004 season with an 11-5-4 record, will look to repeat as WHAC regular season and tournament champions in 2005.

Name	Pos.	Hometown (High School)
Dina Allie	F	Livonia, Mich. (Stevenson)
Caitlin Boyak	MF	Livonia, Mich. (Stevenson)
Brittany Cervi	GK	Canton, Mich. (Canton)
Diana Fedrigo	F/MF	Livonia, Mich. (Stevenson)
Samantha Fugate	MF	Laingsburg, Mich. (Laingsburg-Bath)
Katie Kramer	MF	Highland, Mich. (Stony Brook University)
Andrea Muscat	MF	Livonia, Mich. (Stevenson)
Lacie Slebodnik	D	Romulus, Mich. (Woodhaven)