U of M Soccer Announce 7 Signings on National Letter of Intent Day

MINNEAPOLIS –(Feb. 2, 2011)

The Minnesota women’s soccer team has announced its 2011 signing class with seven new additions to the Gophers program including a trio of All-Americans, the 2010 Star Tribune Player of the Year, the 2010 Pioneer Press Player of the Year and the 2010 Minnesota Ms. Soccer. Joining Minnesota next fall as freshmen are  Brianne Price, Sheridan Reiners, Becca Roberts, Kathleen Thyken, Taylor Uhl, Taylor Wodnick and Karalyn Leetz.

“We are thrilled about the 2011 class. We know it’s one of the best classes we have ever recruited here at Minnesota soccer, and we’re very excited about their potential,” Minnesota head coach Mikki Denney Wright said. “It is important to find the right fit for our culture and for our program at Minnesota soccer, and we know these seven players are the right fit. They’re not only incredible players, but great people and outstanding students, and I believe they are going to make a major impact with this program and in the Big Ten Conference.”

Price is a three-time all-state honoree out of Apple Valley, Minn. A midfielder for Eastview High School, Price helped her team to two state tournament appearances and the 2008 South Suburban Conference Championship. She was a member of four Minnesota State Cup championship teams with the Minnesota Thunder Academy and was a member of Minnesota’s Olympic Development Program. Price’s sister, Marissa, is currently a defender for the Gophers soccer team.

Reiners, a forward out of Bloomington, Minn., was an three-time all-conference selection for Kennedy High School. Also a member of the BYSC Bloomington Thunder club team, Reiners helped the team to multiple championships including the NSC Cup, the Walmart Cup, the EP Cup,  the MYAS U16C1 South League Championship, the Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup Premier Championship, and the U17 Premier League Championship.

A two-time all-state honoree, Roberts led Centennial High School to three Northwest Suburban Conference titles and a state tournament appearance in 2009. The two-time team captain was named the  NWSC Player of the Year and the Pioneer Press Female Player of the Year in 2010 while also picking up her third all-conference award. Projected as a midfielder and/or defender, Roberts was also a member of four Minnesota State Cup champion teams with the Minnesota Thunder Academy and participated in Minnesota’s Olympic Development Program.

Thyken, one of two Minnesota signees to earn ESPN Rise All-America honors in 2010, helped Eden Prairie High School to an unbeaten season as a senior, winning the state tournament and earning the nation’s No. 1 ranking by the NSCAA. A two-time all-state and three-time all-conference honoree, Thyken also won the 2010 Minnesota State Cup with EPSC United and was a member of the Minnesota Olympic Development Program.

Taylor Uhl – Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net

Uhl also earned ESPN Rise All-America honors and was the 2010 Minnesota Ms. Soccer. Teammates with Thyken at Eden Prairie and EPSC United, Uhl was a member of the 2010 state title team that finished the year ranked No. 1 by the NSCAA. A three-time all-state honoree, Uhl will end her prep career with 14 total letters. A forward, Uhl was a member of the 2010 Minnesota State Cup championship team and was also a member of the Minnesota Olympic Development Program.

Wodnick earned NSCAA All-America honors and was a 2010 Gatorade Player of the Year nominee out of Wayzata High School. A Plymouth, Minn. native, Wodnick helped Wayzata to three state tournament appearances including the 2009 state title. Wodnick was a member of the EPSC United team that won the 2010 Minnesota State Cup as well as the Minnesota Olympic Development Program.

Leetz is a 2010 all-state honoree and a three-time all-conference award winning goalkeeper from St. Paul Park, Minn. A member of the girls’ program at Park High School, Leetz was a team captain and most valuable player as a junior and senior. She also was a member of two Minnesota State Cup championship teams as a goalkeeper for the Minnesota Thunder Academy.