SEATTLE – Four exceptional high school seniors signed letters of intent to attend Seattle Pacific University and play for the perennial national championship-contending women's soccer team, Coach Chuck Sekyra announced Wednesday (Feb. 3).

The outstanding recruiting class includes midfielder Jessica Oakes from Boise (Idaho) High School. She is the sister of former Falcons' All-American Shannon Oakes, who played on the 2008 NCAA Division II national championship team.

Two of the signees are Washington natives, midfielder Annie Thomas (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) and high-scoring forward Kellie Zakrzewski (Cheney, Wash./Cheney HS).

The class also features versatile Mackenzie Laird, a capable defender from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif.

All four prep standouts are veterans of the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

That quartet was joined Friday (Feb. 5) by Natalie Harold (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage HS), who committed to play goalkeeper for the Falcons.

“This a very talented class that has great character and is going to have a huge impact on our team,” exclaimed Coach Chuck Sekyra, who directed SPU into the playoffs in each of his seven seasons.

“They are skilled, competitive, battle-tested and are in the end going to be a class that makes a huge difference for our women's soccer program. Just as important is the fact that they are all great students who are fantastic young women.”

Laird hails from the prominent Mustang Spirit club team that won four Cal-North State Cup championships since 2003. She boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average at San Ramon Valley, where her prep team won three straight North Coast Section Class 3A titles from 2007-09.

”Mackenzie is a very skilled and intelligent soccer player who is going to fit right in to our possession style of soccer. She sees the game really, really well,” Sekyra said. “She is very tactical and is going to make us a better team.

“Mackenzie comes from an extremely competitive club environment where they did not lose many games and we feel that fits in very well with who we are as well. Mackenzie played for Mike Desconbaz on her Mustang club, and they are flat our one of the most talented and competitive teams in California.”

Thomas compiled a 3.91 grade point average at Lake Stevens High School. She is a two-time All-WesCo first-team selection, in 2008 and 2009. Thomas helped lead the Northwest Nationals to the 2008 state club championship.

“Annie Thomas is a very talented soccer player who has a level of competiveness and drive that is difference-making. We had the pleasure of coaching Annie in ODP and she may have been our most consistent player,” described Sekyra. “Annie flat out hates to lose and has the skill and determination to make a difference in every game that she plays. She is great in the air, has a very good touch, and has an excellent feel for the game.

“We see Annie being a leader for us in the future. Annie Played for Scott Newman who is a very talented coach and does a tremendous job of preparing his players to succeed in college.”

Zakrzewski amassed more than 130 goals during her brilliant four-year career at Cheney High School. She led the Blackhawks to the 2009 state Class 2A championship game and was twice honored as the Great Northern League's Offensive MVP.

“Kellie is as dangerous a forward as they come. She has great speed and balance, is incredibly skilled, can beat defenders one-v-one and is a tremendous finisher from anywhere on the field,” said Sekyra. “We feel like we can play Kellie both wide, or in the middle of the field up top, and she is going to get to goal.

“She is just a flat-out tremendous goal scorer and you can never have enough of those. Kellie's club coach was Kevin Moon and we have had great success in the past with players coached by Kevin.”

Oakes led her Boise High School team to the Idaho state Class 5A championship in 2009. She had a goal and assist in the 4-2 title game victory over Rocky Mountain. Her Le Bois squad won state club championships in 2008 and 2009.

“Jessica obviously comes from a great soccer family. She is a very talented midfielder who can beat a player off the dribble, can really spray the ball around the field skill-wise and has a tireless motor where she is always active,” Sekyra said. “I cannot tell you how excited we are to have another Oakes. Jessica is her own player who is gifted in numerous ways and is going to have an impact on our program.

“Jessica played for Michael Mollay on her club team and the players that have came to our program from Les Bois have all been difference-makers for us.”

Harold started in goal all four years for Heritage (Wash.) High School in Vancouver. She was twice honored as the Greater St. Helen's League Defensive Player of the Year, in 2008 and 2009. Harold capped her career by being named the second-team Class 4A all-state goalkeeper.

“Natalie is a very athletic, determined and competitive goalkeeper who we feel is a great match for our soccer program,” Sekyra projected. “Her tenacity and pride in the net is fun to watch. I am really excited to have (assistant coach) Lindsey Jorgensen work with Natalie as I think she is going to make great strides very quickly as I feel that she has a fantastic upside.”

The five recruits begin their collegiate careers in August of 2010, joining a Seattle Pacific team that won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title with a 9-2-1 record. The Falcons, who were ranked No. 1 for six weeks, registered a 16-3-2 record in 2009 and participated in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season.

The incoming players have big shoes to fill as the four-player departing senior class participated in four NCAA Tournaments, competed in two Final Fours and won the 2008 national championship.

“This is a well-balanced class positionally, with a goalkeeper, a defender, two midfielders and a forward,” Sekyra concluded. “We are going to have a very talented team this fall that is going to have tremendous depth and be able to run a lot of players at our opponents without skipping a beat on the field as far as level of play goes. I am really, really excited about this group!”


2010 Seattle Pacific Women's Soccer Recruiting Class
Natalie Harold, GK, 5-3, Fr., Vancouver, WA (Heritage HS/FC Vancouver)

Mackenzie Laird, D, 5-5, Fr., Danville, CA (San Ramon Valley HS/Mustang Spirit)

Jessica Oakes, MF, 5-6, Fr., Boise, ID (Boise HS/Le Bois)

Annie Thomas, MF, 5-6, Fr., Lake Stevens, WA (Lake Stevens HS/Northwest Nationals)

Kellie Zakrzewski, F, 5-4, Fr., Cheney, WA (Cheney HS/Spokane Shadow)



2010 SPU WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEE PROFILES

Natalie Harold
Goalkeeper, 5-3, Fr., Vancouver, WA (Heritage HS/FC Vancouver)
• Four-year starting goalkeeper at Heritage High School
• Served as team captain her final three years
• A second-team all-state selection in 2009 after earning 2008 honorable mention acclaim
• Two-time Greater St. Helen's League Defensive Player of the Year, in 2008 and 2009
• Second-team all-league goalkeeper in 2006 and 2007
• Helped FC Vancouver to the semifinals of the 2009 state club tournament
• National Honor Society member who received the 2009 AUW Excellence in Technology Award

Coach Sekyra on Harold
”Natalie is a very athletic, determined and competitive goalkeeper who we feel is a great match for our soccer program,” Sekyra projected. “Her tenacity and pride in the net is fun to watch. I am really excited to have (assistant coach) Lindsey Jorgensen work with Natalie as I think she is going to make great strides very quickly as I feel that she has a fantastic upside.“


Mackenzie Laird
Defender, 5-5, Danville, CA (San Ramon Valley HS/Mustang Spirit)
• Compiled a perfect 4.0 grade point average at San Ramon Valley High School
• Three-time NCS and Principal's Scholar-Athlete Award recipient (2007-2009)
• San Ramon Valley was North Coast Section 3A champions from 2007-2009
• Also lettered in cross country and track & field in 2007
• Mustang Spirit was the Cal-North State Cup champions from 2003-2005 and in 2007
• Guest player for U-19 San Juan Spirits, a 2008 Surf Cup finalist
• Participated in the Olympic Development Program in 2005 and 2006

Coach Sekyra on Laird
”Mackenzie is a very skilled and intelligent soccer player who is going to fit right in to our possession style of soccer. She sees the game really, really well. She is very tactical and is going to make us a better team. Mackenzie comes from an extremely competitive club environment where they did not lose many games and we feel that fits in very well with who we are as well. She is the kind of all-around quality player who can play a variety of positions and whom we are excited about in so many ways. Mackenzie played for Mike Desconbaz on her Mustang club, and they are flat our one of the most talented and competitive teams in California. “


Jessica Oakes
Midfielder, 5-6, Boise, ID (Boise HS/Le Bois)
• Captain of Boise High School's 2009 Idaho state Class 5A championship team
• Led prep squad to an 18-2 record in 2009
• Had a goal and assist in the Braves' 4-2 championship game victory over Rocky Mountain
• Les Bois won state club championships in 2008 and 2009
• Les Bois was U.S. club state and regional champion in 2008 as well as a national finalist
• Sister, Shannon Oakes, was an SPU standout from 2005-2008 and a 2008 All-American

Coach Sekyra on Oakes
“Jessica obviously comes from a great soccer family. She is a very talented midfielder who can beat a player off the dribble, can really spray the ball around the field skill wise and has a tireless motor where she is always active. I cannot tell you how excited we are to have another Oakes. Jessica is her own player who is gifted in numerous ways and is going to have an impact on our program. Jessica played for Michael Mollay on her club team and the players that have came to our program from Les Bois have all been difference makers for us.”



Annie Thomas
Midfielder, 5-6, Lake Stevens, WA (Lake Stevens HS/Northwest Nationals G91 Red)
• Compiled an outstanding 3.91 grade point average
• A two-time WesCo 4A all-league first-team honoree, 2008 and 2009
• Also lettered in softball (2006) and tennis (2009, 2010) at Lake Stevens
• Played with the Washington state Olympic Development Program team in 2008 and 2009
• Her Northwest Nationals squad won the 2008 Washington club championship
• Club team was a Surf Cup quarterfinalist in 2008

Coach Sekyra on Thomas
”Annie Thomas is a very talented soccer player who has a level of competiveness and drive that is difference-making. We had the pleasure of coaching Annie in ODP and she may have been our most consistent player. Annie flat out hates to lose and has the skill and determination to make a difference in every game that she plays. She is great in the air, has a very good touch, and has an excellent feel for the game. We see Annie being a leader for us in the future. Annie Played for Scott Newman who is a very talented coach and does a tremendous job of preparing his players to succeed in college.”


Kellie Zakrzewski
Forward, 5-4, Cheney, WA (Cheney HS/Spokane Shadow)
• Scored 130 goals during her four prep seasons
• Led Cheney High School to a state runner-up finish in 2009
• The Blackhawks placed third in Class 2A tournament were quarterfinalists in 2007 and 2008
• Named the Great Northern League Offensive MVP in 2008 and 2009
• A four-time All-GNL first-team selection
• Participated in the Olympic Development Program in 2008 and 2009
• Her Spokane Shadow team was the 2007 U.S. Club Region G premier champions

Coach Sekyra on Zakrzewski
“Kellie is as dangerous a forward as they come. She has great speed and balance, is incredibly skilled, can beat defenders one-v-one and is a tremendous finisher from anywhere on the field. We feel like we can play Kellie both wide, or in the middle of the field up top, and she is going to get to goal. She is just a flat-out tremendous goal scorer and you can never have enough of those. Kellie's club coach was Kevin Moon and we have had great success in the past with players coached by Kevin.”