Coming off the greatest season in the history of DePaul women’s soccer, the Blue Demons are reloading for another successful run with the signing of four talented recruits.

The class of 2015 features explosive forward Franny Cerny from Berkeley (Calif.) High School, goalkeeper Vanessa Nigg from Okemos (Mich). High School and midfielders Elizabeth Parrilli from St. Charles North and Madie Frick from North High School (St. Paul, Minn.).

“This year’s recruiting class is a little on the smaller side but is exceptional in quality,” said DePaul coach Erin Chastain who has guided the Blue Demons to a 29-7-6 record, BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles and NCAA tournament appearances over the last two years.

“What I like most about this class is each young woman has a lot of passion for soccer and works extremely hard. We welcome these four incoming freshmen to our program and know they will add a tremendous amount of value to our team and to DePaul.

“They all have made their marks on the soccer world and in the classroom, and we look forward to their arrival in August.”

Currently competing in her senior season, Cerny leads the West Alameda County-Foothill League in scoring with 19 goals, eight assists and 46 points in the first 11 matches. The conference MVP as a sophomore and junior, Cerny appears headed for a three-peat of that honor.

She competed on the U-19 Czech Republic National Team that finished third in the elite round of the 2013-14 Women’s European U-19 Championships last April. Cerny recorded an assist during that season. In September of 2014, she had two goals and an assist in the first round of the 2014-15 Women’s European Championships.

“Franny is a wonderful attacking player,” Chastain said. “She is tenacious, feisty, mobile and fit. She has played at an extremely high level internationally and finds a way to score goals. Franny comes from a wonderful family, and we couldn’t be more excited to add her to our program.”

Cerny will be another dangerous threat to a high-powered attack that saw junior Elise Wyatt, sophomore Abby Reed and freshman Alexa Ben combine for 32 goals and 22 assists last season.

Nigg is an athletic keeper who also played basketball at Okemos. She led the Chiefs’ soccer team to the 2012 Division 1 state title and to the 2014 state semifinals in Michigan’s highest division. She was honorable mention All-State in 2014 and named to the All-Area, All-District and All-Regional teams. Nigg was a three-time selection to both the CAAC Academic All-Conference soccer and basketball teams.

“Vanessa is extremely athletic, quick and has an impressive vertical leap,” Chastain said. “She has a great presence in goal and is able to communicate and organize. She is very comfortable with the ball at her feet and will be a great addition to our group of goalkeepers.”

Parrilli was a standout for the Rockford Raptors club team and played with St. Charles North as a sophomore. She helped the Raptors capture the 2012 Regional League Midwest Conference title, the MRL titles in 2010 and 2011 and advance to the national finals of the 2011 USYSA tournament.

“Lizzie is a very versatile central midfielder and has the ability to play in an attacking and holding midfield role,” Chastain said. “She’s very technical, good in the air, and very calm and composed on the ball. We are very excited to add Lizzie to our group of attacking players.”

Frick is a Class AA second-team All-State performer for North High School and a four-time, all-conference selection. She was named to the 2014 All-Pioneer Press Team after finishing her senior season with 14 goals and nine assists.

“Madie continues our history of pulling great players from the state of Minnesota,” Chastain said. “Madie is extremely technical and has a great soccer IQ. She has the ability to score goals and get assists and will be a nice addition to our group of attacking players.”

Frick follows in the footsteps of BIG EAST Tournament Offensive MVP and senior Amber Paul (Otsego, Minn.) and BIG EAST All-Freshman Team defender Elizabeth Endy (Deephaven, Minn.) who was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior. Senior goalkeeper Megan Pyrz is from Plymouth, Minn.

The Blue Demons enjoyed a record-breaking season in 2014 going 16-1-4 and taking off on a 20-game unbeaten streak. After capturing their first BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles, they lost 2-0 at Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament opener.

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