Soccer Signs Five to NLI
BOULDER - University of Colorado women's soccer coach Bill Hempen has signed Kelly Butler (Naperville, Ill.), Kassidy Fitzpatrick (Pleasanton, Calif.), Hannah Marsala (Alamo, Calif.), Kelci Newlin (Aurora, Colo.), and Kate Russell (Longmont, Colo.) to a National Letter of Intent, Hempen announced Thursday.
Kelly Butler - 5-7 - Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley High School/Chicago Magic)
HIGH SCHOOL - Butler is a three-year letterwinner for the Neuqua Valley High School girl's soccer team. Prior to her senior campaign, Butler was named as one of the top-three best Illinois soccer players for the graduating class of 2008 by the Chicago Sun Times. As a junior she was named First Team Upstate Eight All-Conference, First Team All-Area, and First Team All-State by Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times. She was a member of the All-District Tournament Team, All-Region Tournament Team, First Team All-City and Second Team All-State as a freshman. As a sophomore, Butler took a year off from high school soccer to focus on her club team, the Chicago Magic, year-round. As a captain, Butler led the Magic to seven State Championships and Regional Qualifiers from 2008-08. They were regional semifinalists in 2003 and 2007 and regional finalists in 2004. Butler and the Magic were Disney Showcase champions in 2004 and semifinalists in 2005. The 2005 and 2006 SYL National Champion was named Most Valuable Player of SYL Nationals in 2005 and was named to the SYL North American Finals Team. A current member of the 88/89 Regional ODP team, Butler was on the Illinois State team in 2003, the Kentucky State team in 2005, and back on the Illinois State team from 2005-08. As a four-year member of the Region II team and pool from 2004-08, she traveled to Seattle, Boca Interregional Event and the European Tour from 2004-05.
PERSONAL - Kelly Butler was born on November 22, 1989 and is the daughter of Brian and Laura Butler of Naperville, Ill. She has four siblings, Courtney (21), Jenny (16), John (14) and Jamie (13). Her sister, Courtney is a gymnast at the University of Denver. Butler enjoys playing soccer, listening to music and shopping. She chose Colorado because she loved everything about it and it was her favorite of all the schools that she visited.
HEMPEN ON BUTLER - "Kelly is a very strong and very fast left-sided baller. She has a blue collar, Midwest mentality that is right down my alley."
Kassidy Fitzpatrick - 5-7 - Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley High School/Marin FC)
HIGH SCHOOL - Fitzpatrick lettered four years in soccer for the Amador Valley High School Dons under head coach Bill Coupe. A three-year team captain, Fitzpatrick was a First Team All-League selection as sophomore and junior and was Honorable Mention in her freshman campaign. Fitzpatrick played club ball for Marin FC and led her team to a 2007 State Championship. She also participated in the ODP program for three years and was a member of the State team for two years and the Regional team once.
PERSONAL - Kassidy Fitzpatrick was born on April 23, 1990 and is the daughter of Timothy and Elaine Fitzpatrick of Pleasanton, Calif. She has two sisters, Katrina (20) and Kaitlyn (15). Katrina is an accomplished singer and Kaitlyn, a sophomore in high school, is a National Team soccer player. Her father played collegiate soccer at USF and was a member of a semi-pro team. Fitzpatrick chose Colorado because it's a beautiful place and she likes what the academic program has to offer as a student athlete.
HEMPEN ON FITZPATRICK - "Kassidy is a dynamic midfielder out of northern California. She brings skill and tactical awareness into the central midfield."
Hannah Marsala - 5-6 - Alamo, Calif. (Monte Vista High School/Mustang)
HIGH SCHOOL - Marsala lettered four years at Monte Vista and helped lead them to four-straight EBAL League Championships, including a North Coast Section Championship her freshman year. Marsala earned First Team All-League honors as a junior. Marsala was a member of the Mustang Blast and Mustang Fury club teams, claiming a State Championship with both of them, the most recent with the Blast in 2007. Marsala was an ODP State team member from 2003-06 and made the regional pool in 2005.
PERSONAL - Hannah Joanne Marsala was born on February 7, 1990. She is the daughter of John and Diane Marsala of Alamo, Calif. and has one sister, Jenna (22). She plans to major in Business at Colorado.
HEMPEN ON MARSALA - "Hannah is a little defender out of northern California that will bring a very competitive edge to our program."
Kelci Newlin - 5-6 - Aurora, Colo. (Ponderosa High School/Colorado Rush)
HIGH SCHOOL - A two-year team captain, Newlin lettered all four years at Ponderosa High School under head coach Jim Engles. Newlin was a Second Team All-League selection as a junior and was an honorable mention pick as a sophomore. As a member of the Colorado Rush club team, she helped lead her team to a 9-0-1 record in 2007, the same year they were crowned State Champions. Newlin and the Rush were also Disney Showcase Champions in 2008. She was a member of the Colorado ODP team from 2005-07 and made it to Regional camp in 2006 and 2007.
PERSONAL - Kelci Brianne Newlin was born on July 21, 1990 and is the daughter of Russ and Tina Newlin. She has one sister, Brenna (15), who is a freshman in high school and plays tennis. Newlin chose Colorado because she feels that the coaching and the team is amazing and she is confident that they can push her toward success.
HEMPEN ON NEWLIN - "Kelci is another local product from the Rush soccer club that will compete for a spot as a starter on defense."
Kate Russell - 5-7 - Longmont, Colo. (Silver Creek High School/Colorado Rush)
HIGH SCHOOL - Russell was a four-year letterwinner at Silver Creek High School under coach Sara Friend. As a team captain in her senior campaign, she was named First Team All-Conference all four years and is a three-time First Team All-State selection. Russell played club ball for the Colorado Rush and helped lead her team to seven state championships from 2001-08 and she was named Colorado State Cup MVP in 2002. She was also a member of the Rush team that won the Disney Showcase in 2008. Russell was a member of the Colorado State ODP team from 2003-06 and made the Region IV pool in 2006. A multi-sport athlete, Russell also lettered two years in basketball and one year in track.
PERSONAL - Kathryn Elizabeth Russell was born on October 17, 1989 and is the daughter of Gordon and Lynne Russell. She has two older brothers, Dave (28) and Matt (25). Her grandmother, Helen Forstner, was an All-American hockey player, an All-Eastern Lacrosse Player and is in the NYU Hall of Fame. Russell chose Colorado because the coaches are wonderful, the players are nice and hardworking and she likes how the program continues to grow.
HEMPEN ON RUSSELL - "Kate is a local girl out of Longmont. She has played and been highly successful with the Colorado Rush soccer club. With her drive to go and find a way to push the ball forward, she will provide a strong presence in the midfield."