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Feb. 6, 2013

SEATTLE -- Washington Head Coach Lesle Gallimore is pleased to announce the signing of six high school seniors to national letters of intent. These six will join the Huskies for the 2013 season where the Dawgs are expected to compete for the Pac-12 title.

Joining the Huskies are Havana McElvaine, Madi McNamara, Morgan Mullin, Becca Schoales, Paige Serworld and Sarah Shimer.

"We are thrilled to be adding these six outstanding student-athletes to our team," said Gallimore. "They represent everything we embody in our program: Passion for academics and for the game of soccer. We feel we filled our positional needs with this class and added technical quality and athleticism to the group. In addition to these six high school standouts we'll also enjoy the benefit of mid-year admit, freshman Amanda Perez, as well as redshirt junior Cal transfer, Kate Bennett, who sat out this year due to the Pac-12 Intra-Conference transfer rule but has two years of remaining eligibility. The incoming freshmen class joins a solid and experienced returning group that is ready to show them how to be Huskies!"

Havana McElvaine

McElvaine moves west from her native Denver where she was twice an all-state player in Colorado. McElvaine helped Kent Denver to a pair of eighth-place finishes in Colorado and three top-five finishes in the Metro League. Individually, she was twice first team All-Metro League the same seasons she was named all-state. McElvaine plays her club soccer with the Colorado Fusion and the Colorado Rush. She helped the Rush to the ECNL Nationals in New Jersey in 2012 where the team finished eighth. The team is also currently ranked first in the U.S. Rocky Mountain Division.

Galimore on McElvaine:
"Havana is an athletic outside back with pace that can attack well down the flanks. She is smooth on the ball so is a great possession player as well. She'll match up defensively nicely with the players in our conference and will have a veteran core of defenders to learn from on our team this fall."

Madi McNamara

McNamara comes to Washington to increase the depth at the goalkeeper position that lost starter Kari Davidson to graduation. She helped Jesuit (Portland) to four-straight Metro League titles and back-to-back state titles in 2009 and 2010. The 2009 Crusaders team was ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation by Sports Illustrated. Individually, McNamara was second-team All-Metro selection in 2011, while leading the team to a fifth-place finish at state. She is a two-time All-Metro Academic selection and won Jesuit's team leadership award as a senior. McNamara played her club soccer most recently with FC Portland Navy 94 and the Portland Rain development squad. She helped the Portland Navy win both the Oregon Premier League State Cup and the Northwest Champions League. Previously, McNamara played both with the FC Portland Navy 93 and WUSA Timbers development team.

Galimore on McNamara:
Madi is strong, courageous and has a great presence in the goal. She, along with Sarah Shimer, will benefit from Coach Griffin's tutelage, and will push Tori Burns and Megan Kufeld daily in training. Madi has the potential to be a great collegiate goalkeeper.

Morgan Mullin

Mullin comes to Washington from Southern California where she is in season for South Torrance High School, the same school that produced UW Head Coach Lesle Gallimore. The Spartans are currently undefeated and ranked No. 35 in the nation by MaxPreps.com. Recently, Mullin led South Torrance to a North Orange County Tournament title, beating two of the top teams in Southern California. She was a second team All-Pioneer League selection last season and honorable mention in each of her first two years. Mullin has also helped South Torrance to two Pioneer League titles, three CIF semifinals and one final. She plays her club soccer for the South Bay Force in Redondo Beach, Calif. She helped that squad to the Cal South National Cup semifinals and a second place at the Far West Regionals in 2012. In addition, the South Bay Force is currently ranked No. 40 in the nation by GotSoccer.com.

Gallimore on Mullin:
"We are thrilled that we were able to add Morgan to this group. She is tough and physical and will be able to compete well in our conference. She can tackle well and is good in the air making her a potential center back or defensive central midfielder for us. Morgan's work ethic will give her a great opportunity to compete for time on our squad."

Becca Schoales

Schoales is a local recruit from South Kitsap High School who is a three-time All-State selection. She was twice named to the All-Narrows League team, while leading South Kitsap to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. During her three seasons playing for South Kitsap, Schoales scored 41 goals and tallied 17 assists. She was injured for the 2012 season. For her club soccer, Schoales has most recently played for Crossfire 93s and 94. She scored the game-winning goal at the 2010 U.S. Club Finals in Virginia. Schoales also comes to Washington with significant U.S. National Team experience with the U-17's and for Region IV ODP. She helped the Region IV win the Thanksgiving Tournament in Florida in 2011.

Gallimore on Schoales:
"Despite the set-back of an injury to her knee last June, Becca will come to Washington as a player we know can have an immediate impact on our front line. She's a finisher, a fighter and is opportunistic in front of goal. She will be a great asset to our team."

Paige Serworld

Serworld is another in-state recruit who comes to the Huskies from the Olympic Peninsula. She was a first team All-Narrows League selection in 2011 and honorable mention in 2010. She is Central Kitsap's all-time leading scorer and was the league's top scorer in 2011. Serworld played for Washington Premier FC based in Puyallup where she was a teammate of Sarah Shimer. She helped the Premier to a fourth-place finish at the ECNL National Championships in Chicago. In addition, he she played at the ECNL National Showcases in San Diego, San Antonio and Sanford, Fla.

Gallimore on Serworld:
"Paige suffered a knee injury in the fall and so far is excelling in her rehabilitation. She should be fully recovered in time for the season. She has very good speed and athletic ability, as well as a physical presence and composed demeanor. Paige has very good tools to be an outside back for us and has seen time at forward for her club, so she has some versatility as well."

Sarah Shimer

Shimer is another addition to the goalkeeping corps after the graduation of 2012 starter Kari Davidson. Shimer is a three-time First Team South Puget Sound League selection for Federal Way. She was a three time defensive MVP for the Eagles and named team MVP as a senior. Shimer plays her club soccer for the Washington Premier FC out of Puyallup, Wash., and helped the team make the ECNL Nationals in Chicago in 2012. The team made the semifinals in part because of Shimer saving a penalty kick in the quarters. She also won a state cup with the Washington Premier FC in 2010 where she saved two PK's in the final.

Gallimore on Shimer:
"Sarah is a technically clean and competitive goalkeeper. She also has a great physical presence in goal and like Madi, possesses great leadership from the back of the field. Great goalkeeping is a hallmark of our program and we're happy to add Sarah to this corps."