The University of Denver women’s soccer team has signed six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the Pioneers for the 2015 fall campaign.

Cristiana Behnken (Ogden, Utah), Hannah Bricker (Fort Collins, Colo.), Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wisc.), Courtney Coffey (Grand Junction, Colo.), Claire Schrier (Littleton, Colo.) and Leah Swander (Grand Junction, Colo.) have all been added to the roster for the upcoming campaign.

Bricker, who early enrolled to the University, has joined the program for the upcoming spring campaign. The Fort Collins, Colo., native spent four seasons with the Colorado Olympic Development Program, captaining the side in 2012. Bricker also played eight seasons for Real Colorado (ECNL), serving as captain for her last five campaigns with the club.

“Hannah is a very dynamic left-footed centerback,” head coach Jeff Hooker said. “She is a very good tackler, is very athletic, is good in the air and does a very good job challenging balls played into the forwards in-front of her. Hannah could have an immediate impact her freshman year.”

Coffey played her club soccer for the Colorado Storm (W-League), and was an all-conference selection for the Fruita Monument Wildcats in both her freshman and junior seasons. The first of two Grand Junction natives led her club in scoring in 2012 and 2014.

“Courtney is coming off an injury, where her rehab is going extremely well,” Hooker said. “She’s a very good player on the ball as a center midfielder, has great vision and is someone who can cover a lot of ground, getting 18 to 18 consistently during the game. We’re hoping that she is fit and ready to play in August.”

Swander, a fellow cityite, has been her side’s leading goal scorer at several stops along her youth career, playing eight years of club soccer, including Colorado West Select (ECNL) and the Utah Avalanche (ECNL), and three years of high school footy along the way.

“Leah’s an attacking player that likes to take people on, and run at people,” Hooker said. “She’s very strong with her back to the goal, and gives us a fantastic physical presence up top. Her speed and strength will hopefully allow her to have an impact right away for us.”

Schrier gives Hooker some flexibility in his team selection as a forward and outside back combo. The Cherry Creek High School product played 10 seasons of club soccer in her youth career, most recently for the Colorado Storm (ECNL).

“Claire has lately converted to a defender, and has been playing outside back,” Hooker said. “She’s got incredible speed and loves to get into the attack because she used to play forward. Claire’s willingness to get up and down and to learn the outside back position is really going to help her get on the field.”

Behnken and DeWalt both come to the University from out of state. A defender, Behnken played 12 seasons for La Roca Premier, winning the Utah State Cup each of her last four seasons with the side. Behnken’s high school side finished as the state runners up in 2011 and 2012.

“Cristiana is a tenacious defender who has the ability to get forward,” Hooker said. “She has the ability to not only play left back, but play in the midfield as well. Cristiana is a left sided player, who is very good on the ball.”

A four sport athlete in high school, DeWalt was a first team all-conference selection for Slinger High School, and most recently played her club soccer for FC Wisconsin Eclipse (ECNL).

“Mary is a very athletic, speedy attacking player,” Hooker said. “She can play very well with her back to the goal, in addition to her ability to face forward and attack defenders. Mary is able to cover tons of ground, and will give us a very athletic presence up top.”

The Pioneers return nine starters from a 2014 squad that finished 10-8-2, the program’s ninth-straight season with 10 or more wins. Of Denver’s nine returning starters, the Pioneers return their top four point getters from a year ago, including 2015 sophomore Jocelyn Loomis (Sandy, Utah) who led the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists. In all, Denver returns 16 letterwinners from a year ago.

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