Huskies Announce 2017 Signing Class
February 02, 2017 | Women's Soccer
SEATTLE β The Washington women's soccer program announced its 2017 signing class today, with seven student-athletes signing their National Letter of Intent to join the Huskies next season.
"This is a talented group of student-athletes who we know will come in and understand the expectations of excelling in the classroom, on the field and in the community," said head coach Lesle Gallimore. "Positionally, this group of signees and additions to our roster offer balance, and we are clearly looking for all of these players to come in and have an immediate impact."
Four members of this year's class join the Huskies from the state of Washington, while the remaining three will all head north from California.
"We always want to be a minimum of two deep in every position and this group should help us meet that goal," said Gallimore. "Whether they start or earn significant minutes will be a sign of their preparedness for this level, and we are anxious to see who rises to the challenge."
Jessika Cowart comes to Seattle from Redwood City, Calif. where she attended Woodside High School and played for the Palo Alto Soccer Club 99G Blue and PSV Union FC.
"Jess is an extremely hardworking player who has the ability to play multiple positions," said Gallimore. "We feel she'll slide into a holding midfield role nicely, but could also play on the back line or in attacking midfield roles."
Cowart was awarded three stars by Top Drawer Soccer, and was named to the IMG Academy Top 150. A member of the US Women's Futsal National Team, she was a participant on the ODP Region IV team and has attended ODP National Camps and the id2 Program.
"She is physically strong and is good with both feet, and has good passing range playing out," said Gallimore. "She has a strong defensive presence and is good in the air."
While at Washington she intends to study Biology, and enjoys playing futsal, hiking and listening to music.
The first of four local student-athletes joining the Husky program, Mireya Grey moved to Seattle when she was four years old from Montego Bay, Jamaica, where her father played soccer professionally. She attended Seattle Academy, where she was named rookie of the year, a three-time all-league 1st team selection, league MVP and named to the All-State Washington team.
"Mireya is a unique talent," said Gallimore. "She is fast, skillful and willing to take risks in the final third."
A member of the Crossfire Premier Soccer Club, she was her club's leading goal scorer in her first and last seasons with the team. She was selected as one of the top players in the ECNL for the Pacific Northwest Region and was invited to a national league event, where she was named to the "Best XI" and was flown to New York to meet members of FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid C.F. Grey isΒ currentlyΒ a member of the U.S. U18 Women's National Team andΒ scoredΒ twice in one week this pastΒ October against England and Northern Ireland.
"She plays with flair and creativity and is capable of having an impact as a forward or as an attacking midfielder," said Gallimore. "Her strength makes her tough to beat defensively and she has a competitiveness that gives her a winner's edge."
Grey intends to study either sports medicine or psychology at UW, and loves to break dance, play the piano and flute, and go to church.
Ameera Hussen is the second member of the 2017 class from the state of Washington, joining the program from just south on I-5 in Federal Way, Wash. The center midfielder attended Todd Beamer High School, where she started and was named 1st team All-Area all four years. This past season, she was named 1st team All-State by the WSSCA and the MVP of the NSPL Olympic League.
"She is a skillful and strong attacking player who has a nose for the goal," said Gallimore. "She helps create for others and has the physical ability to hold her own defensively at this level, and could really provide a presence for us centrally."
The second member of Crossfire Premier in the class, she was selected for the PDP ECNL Showcase in both 2015 and 2016, and was a member of the EPD Washington State team twice. Her brother, Hassani Dotson, is currently a member of the men's soccer team at Oregon State.
"Ameera was a late pick up for us in this class," said Gallimore. "We're extremely excited that she'll be joining us on Montlake."
Hussen enjoys reading, hanging out with her family, hiking, solving puzzles and traveling, and intends to study biology here at Washington.
Joining the Dawgs from Bellevue, Wash., Kaylene Pang attended Issaquah High School, where she was a two-time King County Defensive MVP and a four-time All-King County team selection. The two-time WIAA All-State 1st Team member was selected to play in the East versus West High School All-American Game this past December.
"Kaylene is a speedy and tough defender," said Gallimore. "She can play central or wide and rarely do you see her get beat one-on-one."
With her club team, Eastside FC G98 Red, Pang helped guide her team to Washington State Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016 with the U15, U16 and U17 teams respectively. This past season her team was crowned the U17 Farwest Region IV Champions, and were the U15 USYS National League Champions in 2014. Pang was named to the "Best XI" at the 2013 and 2014 USYS National Championships, and spent two years on the Region IV ODP team.
"She has a great demeanor to play at the back in that she shows a great combination of composure and aggression," said Gallimore. "We think Kaylene has all the tools to succeed as a defender in our conference playing against some of the best attacking players in the country."
Intending to study biochemistry at Washington, she enjoys reading, cooking and baking, crafting, traveling and tutoring elementary schoolers.
The second Californian in this year's class, Caitlin Sanchez comes to Montlake from Upland, Calif where she attended Alta Loma High School. She was a CIF-Southern Section All Division Five 1st Team selection and helped lead her team to a 10-0-0 record, and were crowned the 2015-16 Mt. Baldy League Champions. Sanchez was selected to the Mt. Baldy All-League 1st team, and was named to the All-Area 1st team by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
"Caitlin is very technically sound," said Gallimore. "She is able to solve pressure not only with her skill, but her ability to read the game and think quickly."
Playing with the Southern California Blues Soccer Club, Sanchez helped lead the team to the ECNL North American League Playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. She was invited to USYS DOP National Camps in both 2014 and 2015, and spent two years with the ODP Region IV team.
"She is a feisty and aggressive defender that plays big despite being small in stature," said Gallimore. "Caitlin has the promise of being a versatile player that could fill several positional roles for us."
Sanchez intends to study business while here at Washington, and enjoys snowboarding and going to the beach.
The third member of the class from California, Sianna Siemonsma comes to Seattle from Newport Beach, Calif. She attended Newport Harbor High School where she was an active member in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Club.
"Sianna has the athletic tools and technical ability to be impactful in several attacking spots in our system," said Gallimore. "I foresee her earning time in the wide flank areas as she likes to take one, get to goal and provides good service in the box."
While playing with Slammers FC, Siemonsma helped lead the team to a top four finish at the ECNL U17 Nationals.
"Her biggest growth area will be learning to work more off the ball to shift defenses around and transition to defending with consistency," said Gallimore.
Intending to study social welfare, Siemonsma enjoys going to the beach, hanging out with friends and family and going to the park to play soccer with her brother.
The final member of the 2017 class, Olivia "Olo" Van der Jagt will make the short journey from Kent, Washington to join the Huskies, after attending Kentridge High School. A three-time 1st team All-League SPSL selection, Van der Jagt earned the league's MVP honor twice and was a four-time scholar athlete award winner. She was selected to the WSSCA All-State team twice, and was joined by fellow Husky commit Ameera Hussen on the 2016 squad.
"Olo shows real promise to have a quick impact on our team," said Gallimore. "She has the physical tools and the soccer savvy to be able to solve problems in the game at this level."
Playing her club soccer with Eastside FC Red, Van der Jagt helped lead the team to two Washington State titles, and were the 2016 regional champions. This past fall, she was honored by the NSCAA by being named to their 2016 Youth Girls All-America team.
"She should compete for time in any of the central midfield roles and depending on how quickly she adjusts to being able to defend at this level and play at this pace, I believe Olo will help our team win games," said Gallimore. "She is a competitor and is a consistent high performer."
In her free time, Van der Jagt enjoys beach volleyball, yoga and hiking.
"Signing Day is exciting for everyone and it's awesome to be able to see all of the accolades these players have garnered during their youth soccer careers," said Gallimore. "With that said, we like to temper things a little bit by talking about how they can be impactful from day one but also focus on the longer journey of their complete development over their entire time as Huskies."
"The physical, psychological, soccer and social demands are a big jump from what they experience in high school and club soccer," said Gallimore. "Our non-conference schedule, coupled with the brutal competition in the Pac-12 conference can be a shock to the system for some of these student-athletes. Our staff really works diligently to lessen that shock for them by educating them from the time they verbally commit until report day on what they need to be doing to prepare."
Today's signees will join the Huskies this coming summer and begin their college careers during the fall of 2017.
"We are thrilled about this group," said Gallimore. "They are diverse, confident, athletic and intelligent young women about to embark on a fun and exciting time as Huskies."
