Felician Athletics - 7/1/09 WOMEN'S SOCCER - Women's Soccer Signees Span Northern Half Of New Jersey

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Felician College women’s soccer coach Thomas Notte has completed his first recruiting class by signing six recent high-school graduates to national letters of intent. The half-dozen signees span the northern half of New Jersey.

“I’m very excited about this incoming group of freshmen,” said Notte, entering his second season. “They’re going to bring a lot of speed and soccer knowledge to our program. We were able to bring in players at every position to help round out the team.”

Alexandra Couzo (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was an all-state and third-team all-area goalkeeper in leading Sayreville War Memorial to a divisional championship. She also participated in basketball and track and field for the Bombers, and played her club soccer for Match Fit Chelsea FC. Cuozo intends to major in pre-physical therapy at Felician.

Emily Gleason (Parsippany, NJ/Morris Catholic) had 13 goals and 13 assists as a senior at Morris Catholic of Denville last fall, earning all-state and third-team all-conference honors. A black belt in karate, she also participated in swimming and lacrosse. Gleason played for Notte on the New Jersey Rangers Freedom.

Jenn Hesse (Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton) was the Most Valuable Player of the inaugural girls’ soccer team at Boonton High in 2008. A 5-foot-5 defender/midfielder, she won a U-16 championship with the Millburn Magic of the Youth Premier Soccer League, and played for the Mountain Lakes Pumas at the club level. Scholastically, she was a captain in basketball and track & field and also lettered in cross-country.

Cassie Indri (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) was among the top five in northern New Jersey with 26 goals last season for Lyndhurst High. She was named first-team all-league and third-team all-Bergen County. She was also a softball captain for the Golden Bears, and participated in the Lyndhurst travel soccer program. She expects to study mathematics education.

Jennifer Jimenez (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn), a 5-foot-6 midfielder/defender, was a team MVP and two-time all-league performer for Fair Lawn High. She played her club soccer for the Ramapo Wildcats. Her sister, Stephanie, is a current member of the Golden Falcons. Jimenez will major in accounting.

Sarah Mallatratt (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren) was a two-time all-state (Group 2) defender for North Warren Regional, and the Warren Reporter Player of the Year as a senior. She is a three-time all West Jersey honoree and a four-time all-conference selection. Her club team is the Howell United Eclipse. Mallatratt expects to major in elementary education at Felician.

Felician is a member of NCAA Division II and plays in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The Golden Falcons are coming off a won-lost record of 10-11 in 2008, including a CACC quarterfinal appearance and the program’s first ECAC Tournament berth.