The Missouri State field hockey program will add five incoming freshmen to its 2007 team. Sarah Cusick, Liz Grasso, Kelly Irwin, Jennifer Portell and Megan Shamleffer, will suit up for the Bears in the fall.
Cusick, a San Diego, Calif. native, was a two-year letterwinner at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, Calif. In both her junior and senior seasons, Cusick helped her team repeat as Western League Champions. She was also a threeyear Olympic Futures participant.
"Sarah is a versatile player that has tremendous speed and vision on the field," head coach Dawn Porter said. "She also comes from a great field hockey program."
Grasso was a three-year letterwinner for the Hadden Township Hawks in her home town of Haddenfield, N.J. As team captain her senior season, Grasso led her team to two second place finishes; one in the Colonial Conference and the other in state post-season play. Grasso's older sister, Andrea Grasso, is an assistant coach for Villanova field hockey after playing for the University of Deleware.
"Liz is a skilled defender who does a great job of controlling the backfield," Porter said.
Irwin, a native of Bexley, Ohio, was a three-year letterwinner as a forward for the Bexley High Lions. In her junior and senior seasons, Irwin led the Lions in scoring, totaling 23 goals and was named to the All-Central Ohio first team. Irwin was also a member of the National Honors Society and was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic All- American in high school.
"Kelly is an aggressive forward with great game sense," Porter said. "She also has a nice touch around the cage."
Portell will come to the Bears after a four-year varsity career as both a midfielder and forward for the Edwardsville Senior High Tigers in her hometowm of Edwardsville, Ill.. Portell was a member of Aim Field Hockey, a club team from St. Louis, Mo., that qualified for Indoor Field Hockey Nationals. Her team was the first from St. Louis area to qualify for nationals.
"Jennifer is very athletic with solid basic skills," Porter said. "She has a knack for being in the right place at the right time."
Shamleffer comes off a two-year letterwinning career at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis, Mo., as a midfielder for the Ursuline Bears. In her senior season, Shamleffer was named team captain and scored three game-winning goals. She was named team Most Valuable Player by her teammates, Senior All-Star team and second team All-Metro.
"Megan is a poised midfielder that distributes the ball well," Porter said. "She also does an excellent job of controlling the midfield."
MSU finished the 2006 season at 1-9 in the Mid-American Conference and 5-13 overall. The Bears will lose eight players from last season's team, including five seniors and three starters.
