Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Women's Soccer Announces Addition of 10 New Bluejays for 2019
11/16/2018 1:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton women's soccer head coach Ross Paule announced the addition of ten new Bluejays for the 2019 season on Friday, Nov. 16. Joining the Bluejays will be Renee Berak, Karina Gilson, Gabrielle Grimaldi, Jenny Grissom, Skylar Heinrich, Sammi Matula, Emma Paule, Jordy Rothwell, Jordan Vanderloo and Emma Yackley.
"This class has players that will make and immediate impact on the field," said Ross Paule. "Others will need a bit of development and experience, but every one of them have the character and drive to make this program better over their career here."Â
Berak is a dynamic player that has experience at various positions from Bradenton, Florida. She currently plays for IMG Academy and also competes in the US Soccer Development Academy. Berek is one of two players that will join Creighton's team for the spring of 2019.
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A defensive midfielder from Hudson, Wisconsin, Gilson comes to Creighton from Hudson High School. A multi-sport athlete, Gilson also was a cross country runner for the Raiders and played club soccer from the White Bear team.
Grimaldi has seen time both as a defender and a midfielder with Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Missouri. A Co-Player of the Year in 2018 for Class 3, Region 4, Grimaldi played club soccer for Sporting Blue Valley and KC Athletics
A a creative forward/winger, Grissom took the year off from high school in 2018, but was selected to the Austin Area All-District Team in 2017. She plays club soccer for Lone Star SC San Antonio in the South Texas State League and Super Y League and was selected to the USL Experience for top players identified by USL in the Super Y League
Heinrich will graduate from Elkhorn High School in December of 2018 earning three letters on the pitch, highlighted by a State Championship during the spring of 2018. As a member of the Antlers Heinrich delivered 102 goals over three seasons. A member of the club soccer for EGA (Elite Girls Academy), Heinrich will join the Bluejays in the spring of 2019.
A defender from the Kansas City area, Matula attends the Barstown School. She has compete in the US Soccer DA since its inauguration and also plays for Sporting Blue Valley.
The daughter of head coach Ross Paule, Emma attends Marian High School and plays defensive midfielder for EGA Soccer.
Rothwell is a defender from Madison Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin. At the club level she has competed in the ECNL with FC Wisconsin Eclipls and was voted
All-Conference Badger South Team.
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Another daughter from the Creighton family, Jordan Vanderloo is the daughter of Creighton men's Director of Basketball Operations Jeff Vanderloo. Jordan is a forward from Gretna that played for Elkhorn South High School. Jordan scored 10 goals in her 40 appearances at the high school level and plays club soccer for Prima Green in the Gretna Soccer Club.
Yackley comes to Creighton from Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas. The midfielder plays for FCKC 2001 Academy who made it to the final game in the USYSA National Tournament in 2018. She was named to All-Sunflower League First Team in 2018 and selected to 6A All State Girls Team in 2018.
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"This talented class brings depth at every position," continued Paule. "It's a class that will balance and strengthen our defense, midfielders that connect very well and attacking players that will bring creativity and excitement. I'm excited to coach them and for them to join our Creighton family!"
"This class has players that will make and immediate impact on the field," said Ross Paule. "Others will need a bit of development and experience, but every one of them have the character and drive to make this program better over their career here."Â
Berak is a dynamic player that has experience at various positions from Bradenton, Florida. She currently plays for IMG Academy and also competes in the US Soccer Development Academy. Berek is one of two players that will join Creighton's team for the spring of 2019.
Â
A defensive midfielder from Hudson, Wisconsin, Gilson comes to Creighton from Hudson High School. A multi-sport athlete, Gilson also was a cross country runner for the Raiders and played club soccer from the White Bear team.
Grimaldi has seen time both as a defender and a midfielder with Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Missouri. A Co-Player of the Year in 2018 for Class 3, Region 4, Grimaldi played club soccer for Sporting Blue Valley and KC Athletics
A a creative forward/winger, Grissom took the year off from high school in 2018, but was selected to the Austin Area All-District Team in 2017. She plays club soccer for Lone Star SC San Antonio in the South Texas State League and Super Y League and was selected to the USL Experience for top players identified by USL in the Super Y League
Heinrich will graduate from Elkhorn High School in December of 2018 earning three letters on the pitch, highlighted by a State Championship during the spring of 2018. As a member of the Antlers Heinrich delivered 102 goals over three seasons. A member of the club soccer for EGA (Elite Girls Academy), Heinrich will join the Bluejays in the spring of 2019.
A defender from the Kansas City area, Matula attends the Barstown School. She has compete in the US Soccer DA since its inauguration and also plays for Sporting Blue Valley.
The daughter of head coach Ross Paule, Emma attends Marian High School and plays defensive midfielder for EGA Soccer.
Rothwell is a defender from Madison Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin. At the club level she has competed in the ECNL with FC Wisconsin Eclipls and was voted
All-Conference Badger South Team.
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Another daughter from the Creighton family, Jordan Vanderloo is the daughter of Creighton men's Director of Basketball Operations Jeff Vanderloo. Jordan is a forward from Gretna that played for Elkhorn South High School. Jordan scored 10 goals in her 40 appearances at the high school level and plays club soccer for Prima Green in the Gretna Soccer Club.
Yackley comes to Creighton from Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas. The midfielder plays for FCKC 2001 Academy who made it to the final game in the USYSA National Tournament in 2018. She was named to All-Sunflower League First Team in 2018 and selected to 6A All State Girls Team in 2018.
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"This talented class brings depth at every position," continued Paule. "It's a class that will balance and strengthen our defense, midfielders that connect very well and attacking players that will bring creativity and excitement. I'm excited to coach them and for them to join our Creighton family!"
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