UAlbany Women’s Soccer adds seven on National Signing Day for 2017 season
ALBANY, NY –- The UAlbany women’s soccer team has announced the addition of seven players for the 2017 season, making their commitment to the team on National Signing Day.
“We are extremely excited to welcome the 2017 class into the Great Dane family,” said UAlbany interim head coach Nick Bochette. “These young women will enhance the technical ability, tactical savviness, athleticism and character of the superb group of returning student-athletes currently in our program.”
UAlbany will add Miranda Badovinac, Sophia Chen, Katie Gowing, Andrea Leitner, Bryanna Murphy, Hannah Murphy and Hailey Summers to the team starting in 2017.
The Great Danes earned their second consecutive America East Tournament title in 2016 with the program’s first-ever regular season title, finishing 11-8-1 with a 6-1-1 record in league play.
“It’s an exciting time for UAlbany women’s soccer, and I have no doubt Sophia, Miranda, Katie, Andrea, Bryanna, Hannah and Hailey will have a positive impact on our program from day one,” said Bochette.
Miranda Badovinac – Midfielder – Freshman – Burlington, Ontario – Notre Dame (H.S.)
Badovinac and Summers are the first Canadian players for UAlbany since 2011. In 2016, her Notre Dame team was ranked #4 in all of Canada. The four-year midfielder and senior team captain led her squad to the finals of the 2016 Ontario Cup and the 2015 OFSAA title.
Sophia Chen – Goalkeeper – Freshman – Louisville, Colo. – Monarch
Chen is the second player in the last five years from the state of Colorado to suit up for the Great Danes. She earned Second Team All-State and First Team All-Region in 2016, leading Monarch High to a combined 32-7-3 record in three years at goalkeeper. In club play, Chen led Broomfield Soccer to the Colorado State Cup championships in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
Katie Gowing – Midfielder/Defender – Freshman – Houston, Texas – Clear Lake
Gowing is the first-ever player from Texas to join UAlbany in the Division I era. An Elite Clubs National League player with the Albion Hurricanes, Gowing was a three-time First Team All-District player in high school, tallying 32 goals in three years. She was the team MVP as a junior and led her ECNL team to titles in Seattle and San Diego.
Andrea Leitner – Goalkeeper – Freshman – Scotch Plains, N.J. – Scotch Plains Fanwood
From New Jersey comes Leitner, joining fellow Garden State native Shannon Bonner. A four-year starting goalkeeper at Scotch Plains Fanwood, she earned all-state, all-county and all-conference honors her final two years. In her career, she tallied 52 shutouts, had a goals allowed average of 0.36 and helped her team to a combined 75-4-8 record.
Bryanna Murphy – Midfielder – Freshman – Monson, Mass. – Monson
Murphy joins the America East family, being the sister of New Hampshire’s Brooke Murphy, the league’s two-time Striker of the Year. A four-time All-Massachusetts player, Murphy finished with 142 points as a midfielder off 62 goals and 80 assists. The senior team captain led Monson to 72 victories, including an undefeated 20-0-3 season in her junior campaign.
Hannah Murphy – Defender – Freshman – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Saratoga Springs
A local to the Capital District, Murphy lettered four years at Saratoga Springs. She is a two-time Suburban Council All-Star, and a 2014 Section II All-Star, helping Saratoga Springs to a combined 42-12-3 record in her time. She earned multiple assists as a defender every year played in high school.
Hailey Summers – Defender – Freshman – Hamilton, Ontario – St. Mary
From America’s northern neighbor of Canada comes Summers, a former teammate of UAlbany women’s basketball player Mackenzie Trpcic at St. Mary. She led her high school to the 2016 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association indoor soccer title and won titles in basketball and football as well, including four basketball provincial basketball titles in Ontario.
-Dave Vatz/UAlbany Athletics
