RINDGE, N.H. (June 11, 2020) – Head coach Jonathan Garbar and the Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer program are proud to announce the team’s incoming nine-player recruiting class. The group features six international signings from four countries: Brazil, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Joining them are a trio players who will join the Ravens from high schools in the northeastern United States, hailing from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

Garbar noted the coaching staff set a goal in this recruiting season of connecting with student-athletes who were both passionate about competition and exhibit high-quality character both personally and professionally, and he was certainly happy with the result.

“To say that our program is excited about our nine-player recruiting class would be a significant understatement,” said Garbar. “Not simply for the fact that our program will be introducing even more cultural diversity to the team, or even the increased level of experience they bring. Frankly, it’s due to how confident we feel about the individuals they are… We are both proud and honored to welcome these nine young women to what is now their program, and the unique community that is Raven Nation.”

Name: Eduarda Chagas

Hometown: Eldorado do Sul, Brazil

Position: Midfielder

Previous School: Young Harris College

Coach Garbar on Chagas: “Eduarda is a young woman who also brings the level of competitive experience that our program has been searching for. Her time playing in the NCAA, within one of the top conferences nationally, has groomed her for the most grueling of conferences in the nation, the NE10. Eduarda’s ability to unlock space and time, with her combination of skill and decision-making, makes her a tremendously valuable addition to our midfield. Her fearless, unselfish, and ambitious nature will allow her to immediately integrate herself with our way of play, and her teammates. Eduarda’s love for the game, the people involved in her journey, and her excitement for the future make her someone that we are inspired to embrace.”

Name: Kasey Donnelly

Hometown: Milford, Conn.

Position: Goalkeeper

Previous School: Milford High School

Previous Club Team: Rush Soccer Club CT

Coach Garbar on Donnelly: “Kasey is a young lady whose competitive spirit is a unique one. An incredibly impressive combination of composure and intensity is something that all coaches look for, but find challenging to identify in young players, particularly goal keeps. Kasey’s got it. Soft spoken, thoughtful and inquisitive off the field, as well as fearless, proactive and capable on it. Her athletic abilities and instinct, mirror the high levels of communication and confidence that any elite goalkeeper must have. Kasey’s presence is one that will resonate within the group, as it will impact a variety of crucial developmental elements that all high achieving programs must prioritize.”

Name: Hailey Goodman

Hometown: Blackstone, Mass.

Position: Forward/midfielder

Previous School: Bishop Feehan High School

Previous Teams: GPS NPL 02, Bishop Feehan

Accomplishments: Goodman was an All-League and Sun Chronicle All-Star selection while playing for Bishop Feehan last fall. She served as team captain during her senior season.

Coach Garbar on Goodman: “Hailey is a young lady who, from the moment we saw her touch the ball, we connected with. It was obvious that she had the kind of competitive personality that would immediately relate to that of our program. Couple that with the first-class coaching she was experiencing, and the professionalism which she exuded, and we knew we had something special. A dynamic player on the ball who loves to get at defenders and breakdown opponents through skill and creativity. Hailey’s commitment to learning and the joy with which she competes makes it a pleasure to witness. A curious and mindful student-athlete whose presence is both large and progressive, she has certainly found her home at the University.” 

Name: Mikaela Jennings

Hometown: Mahopac, N.Y.

Position: Defender

Previous School: John F. Kennedy Catholic High School

Previous Teams: NYXFC, U20 Puerto Rico National Team

Accomplishments: Jennings represented Puerto Rico at the U20 World Cup qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

Coach Garbar on Jennings: “Mikaela is a student-athlete who also joins us a true freshman, but with a wealth of valuable experience and an abundance of grit. Having spent time training and competing internationally has only further emboldened her will to develop and compete at the highest level possible. Her combination of tenacity and skill, as well as pragmatism and instinct, is special to watch. What stands out the most about Mikaela is how naturally and consistently she competes with a professional standard of will and engagement. Whether it’s working within her unit to force the opposition into errors or winning her 1v1 battles, Mikaela is always the aggressor. Additionally, she is such a true student of the game, meaning her development is far from reaching its peak.”

Name: Frida Kokk

Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Previous School: Tibble Fristaende Gymnasium

Coach Garbar on Kokk: “Frida is a young woman who joins us as not only a true freshman, but a true baller. She is dynamic, relentless, intelligent and wildly creative. The kind of competitor that you love knowing shares the uniform, and fear if you’re wearing the other. Frida’s ability to terrorize opponents in all phases of play is truly unique. She’s a multi-layered player whose work rate matches her level of effectiveness. Couple her unique individuality within the structure of our system, and we’ve got something truly special. Frida’s wonderful energy and spirit off the field, is equally as motivating and impactful as it is on it. Our program and the entire campus community will absolutely benefit from her joining the family.”

Name: Laura Oerter

Hometown: Siegen, Germany

Position: Forward/midfielder

Previous School: University of Siegen

Previous Team: SV Fortuna Freudenberg

Coach Garbar on Oerter: “Laura is a young woman who embodies the definition of a complete competitor. Her professional and life experiences have clearly been a crucial component in her success as a student-athlete. Entering our graduate program, an impressive academic resume is one of many impressive qualities she brings to the University. Her skill on the ball, attack-minded spirit, tremendous cognitive ability, and consistent work rate will create all sorts of problems for the opposition. Laura’s composure in the middle and final third, regardless of pressure, allows her to play a step ahead of the competition. Furthermore, her leadership qualities, vast international travel experience, and genuine kindness towards others, will allow her to be a force in the locker room.”

Name: Izabela Oliveira

Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Position: Midfielder, forward

Previous School: Cloud County Community College

Coach Garbar on Oliveira: “Izabela is a student-athlete who also joins us with impressive NJCAA experience. It would be extremely challenging to find a player who enjoys the ball more than Iza, or is as passionate about competition. Her combination of mobility in small spaces and speed in the open field, make her extraordinarily dangerous going forward. Couple that with the instincts of a senior level player, and ambition that few young athletes have fully developed, and we’ve got an individual who is prepared to make an immediate impact in the Conference. Iza is someone who embraces challenges, seeks growth, and loves the lifestyle, all qualities that our staff can’t wait to connect with.”

Name: Blanca Osorio

Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Position: Defender/midfielder

Previous School: Iowa Western Community College

Accomplishments: During the 2018 season, Iowa Western made a run all the way to a third-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I national championship tournament. Along the way, the team captured regional and district titles.

Coach Garbar on Osorio: “Blanca is a student athlete with the level of competitive experience that our program has been searching for. From her ascension through some of the top developmental programs in Barcelona, to the manner in which she impacted one of the premier junior colleges in the nation, Blanca will undoubtedly bring a significant level of maturity and intelligence to the field. Her passion for competition and development, combined with an impressive level of skill and instinct, immediately drew us to her. Equally as impressive as her will to attack throughout all phases of play, is her infectious personality and humble attitude.”

Name: Luisa Velten

Hometown: Langenfeld, Germany

Position: Midfielder

Previous School: Erzbischöfliche Marienschule Opladen

Previous Team: Bayern 04 Leverkusen

Accomplishments: In 2017 and 2018, played at the highest level possible at her age in her native Germany, as she competed in the U17 Bundesliga. Has captured the Kurstadt Cup and the FVM Cup, as well as a third place finish in the Elite Group at the World Youth Cup. In both 2018 and 2019, won the Gütersloher Hallenmasters, which is Germany’s largest indoor tournament.

Coach Garbar on Velten: “Luisa is a student-athlete who we are tremendously excited to introduce to our midfield. Her level of composure, presence and skill makes it difficult to believe that she is a true freshman. Combine these qualities with elite work rate, tenacity and grit, and Luisa is truly a player capable of orchestrating our style of play. Furthermore, there are few true freshmen we’ve ever experienced who project even close to the level of pure joy and excitement, towards both sport and people, as Luisa. Her commitment to developing as futboler and teammate was evident from the moment we met. We can’t wait to share the field, and the journey, with her.”

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics’ official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce soccer apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics’ online store (https://shopfpuravens.com).