The Virginia women’s soccer team announced on Thursday the addition of 10 players who join the program for the 2016 season.  According to several polls this class has consistently been ranked as one of the Top-5 recruiting classes in the nation.

“This class is roughly three years in the making so we are obviously excited to finally welcome them to Charlottesville, the University of Virginia and Virginia Women’s Soccer,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “As coaches, you never truly know how each of these players will impact the program over four years, but one thing we do know about this group is they have the potential to be an exceptional class. Ron (Associate Head Coach Ron Raab) has done the lion’s share of the work in helping put this class together and deserves an enormous amount of credit.”

The incoming class includes several high school and youth All-Americans and players with youth women’s national team experience. Alissa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.), Sarah Maurer (Roanoke, Va.), Phoebe McClendon (West Chester, Pa.), Meghan McCool (Glenside, Pa.), Kayla Morrison (Virginia Beach, Va.), Zoe Morse (East Lansing, Mich.), Samantha Rosette (Bronx, N.Y.), Elizabeth Sieracki (Acworth, Ga.), Anna Sumpter (Charlottesville, Va.) and Taylor Ziemer (Santa Rosa, Calif.) make up the crop of newcomers.  An early enrollee, Ziemer practiced with the team through the spring exhibition season.

“Within this class there is a tremendous mix of athleticism, skill and personality, but it really is what they have in common that sets them apart. Each of these student athletes that make up the Class of 2016 is highly motivated, committed to their development athletically and academically, competitive, coachable and team oriented. We are anxious to have them unite with our returning players and begin the process of building our team for the fall season.”

The 10 newcomers will join 23 veterans from the 2015 Cavalier team that went 19-1-3, claimed the ACC regular-season championship and was ranked No. 1 nationally for most of the year on the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championships.

VIRGINIA WOMEN’S SOCCER 2016 RECRUITING CLASS

Alissa Gorzak – Forward – Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS)
• Member U.S. U-18 and U-19 WNT
• NSCAA Youth All-American
• Eclipse Select Soccer Club

Sarah Maurer – Goalkeeper – Roanoke, Va. (North Cross HS)
• VISAA All-State selection
• Roanoke Stars

Phoebe McClernon – Defender – West Chester, Pa. (Academy of Notre Dame de Namur)
• Region I ODP Player
• Penn Fusion

Meghan McCool – Forward – Glenside, Pa. (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy)
• Member of the U.S. U-18, U-19 and U-20 WNT
• Region I ODP Player
• Penn Fusion

Kayla Morrison – Defender – Virginia Beach, Va. (Norfolk Christian HS)
• Top Drawer Soccer High School All-American 
• Two-time First Team All-State selection
• FC Virginia

Zoe Morse – Midfielder – East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing HS)
• Member of the U.S. U-17, U-18 and U-20 WNT
• NSCAA Youth All-American
• Michigan Hawks

Samantha Rosette – Forward – Bronx, N.Y. (Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy)
• National Premiere League National Champions
• Conference Player of the Year
• Region I ODP Player
• New Jersey Stallions

Elizabeth Sieracki – Defender – Acworth, Ga. (Harrison HS)
• High School State Champions
• Concorde Fire

Anna Sumpter – Midfielder – Charlottesville, Va. (Western Albemarle HS)
• Region I ODP Player
• SOCA

Taylor Ziemer – Forward – Santa Rosa, Calif. (Montgomery HS)
• CA Gatorade Player of the Year
• NSCAA Youth All-American
• Member of the U.S. U-18 WNT
• Santa Rosa United

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