University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Women's Soccer Adds Seven For 2015
May 29, 2015 | Women's Soccer
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's soccer program has added seven incoming freshmen to its roster for 2015, Head Coach Ed Matz announced on Friday. The Minutewomen's Class of 2019 is comprised a geographically-diverse group with one player each from Arizona, Georgia, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania and two from Massachusetts.
"I am very pleased with the quality of our 2015 incoming class as they are very talented and athletic," said Matz. "After only losing one starter to graduation, we will have a tremendous amount of competition in practice that will help prepare our players and team as a whole for a very challenging schedule. This incoming class will vie for starting positions and add depth across our entire roster."
Arianna Comendul - GK - Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson
Coach Matz on Comendul: "Arianna comes from one of the best high school programs in Massachusetts and has played with exceptional players. She is very athletic and hard working."
Helped Whitman-Hanson reach the Division I state championship game in 2014 and a record of 19-2-3 ... Backstopped Whitman-Hanson to a 2014 Division 1 South sectional title.
Erin Doster - F/D - Okemos, Mich./Okemos/Michigan Hawks ECNL
Coach Matz on Doster: "Erin will challenge immediately for playing time at forward and in the midfield. She is goal scorer who can create or her own scoring chances as well as create opportunities of for her teammates."
Scored 41 goals through three seasons with the Okeomos Chieftains ... As a junior, helped the Chieftains to a 13-7-2 record and tie for first place in the Capital Area Activities Conference in 2014 with MHSAA District and Regional Championships and a trip to the Division I state semifinals ... Tabbed second team all-state in 2014 ... First team all-conference honoree ... 2014 Lansing State Journal Dream Team selection ... Named a Sports Scene First Team selection in 2013-14 ... Scored 10 goals as a freshman with Okemos ... Member of the Michigan Hawks of the ECNL ... Played with ODP Region II squad at 2014 Thanksgiving Interregionals.
Paige Kozlowski - D - Wayne, Pa./Conestoga/Penn Fusion
Coach Matz on Kozlowski: "Paige is very athletic defender who can play in a variety of defensive positions for us. She has the ability to be a very good 1v1 defender, can distribute the ball and will also make runs forward."
NSCAA Girls High School All-East Region honoree in 2014 ... Named A PSCA All-State and All-Main Line Team member in 2014 ... Registered 10 assists in 22 games as a senior ... Tapped as the 2014 Central League Most Valuable Player ... Selected to the 2013 All-Main Line First Team after registering six goals and eight assists for Conestoga High School ... Named team captain as a junior and also chosen as Team MVP ... Earned Conestoga's Unsung Hero Award as a sophomore in 2012 ... State ODP participant 2010-13 ... ODP regional pool player in 2010 and 2011 ... Also competed in track & field and was a state qualifier in indoor in 2012 and 2013 ... Was a district qualifier outdoors in 2012 and 2013 ... Competed in the 4x400 at New Balance Nationals indoors in 2013.
Peyton Ryan - GK - Marietta, Ga./Walton/NASA G15 Elite
Coach Matz on Ryan: "Peyton impressed our coaches in our one-day clinic. She is a good shot blocker, communicates well and is good with her feet."
Helped Walton reach the 2015 Class AAAAAA Quarterfinals ... Named Walton team captain as a junior ... Played club soccer for NASA G15 Elite.
Julia Shea - D - Carmel, N.Y./Mahopac/Nirvana N.Y. Xtreme '97
Coach Matz on Shea: "Julia communicates very well and will organize our defense. She is very competitive and good with her distribution out of the back."
Helped Mahopac reach the Section 1 Class AA final in 2014 ... Was named to the 2014 All-Hudson Valley Westchester Girls Soccer Team ... Tabbed a Journal News Westchester/Putnam first team all-star in 2014 ... Served as team captain ... Also competed in track & field at Mahopac ... Played club soccer for Nirvana N.Y. Xtreme 97.
Julia Taffuri - D - Scottsdale, Ariz./Notre Dame Prep/Sereno SC
Coach Matz on Taffuri: "Julia comes to us from one of the best club teams in the country, having won a national championship with Sereno SC. She, like Paige, is a very good 1v1 defender who tackles very hard and will make runs forward."
Part of Division II state championship squad at Notre Dame Prep that posted a 14-0-0 record in 2014-15 ... Helped Notre Dame Prep to a 15-2-2 record and an appearance in the state quarterfinals with 14 points in 19 games played on five goals and four assists in 2013-14 ... Served as team captain ... Named an East Valley Tribune All-Tribune girls soccer second team selection in 2012-13 ... Also competed in track & field at Notre Dame Prep ... Played club soccer for Sereno SC ... Won a U16 Girls ECNL National Championship with the squad in 2013.
Jenna Thomas - D/M - Westborough, Mass./Westborough/Boston Breakers Academy
Coach Matz on Thomas: Jenna is a very strong and athletic midfielder/defender. She is very good in the air and has good vision with the ball at her feet."
Member of the Westborough High School squad that reached the MIAA Girls Soccer Central Division 1 title in 2013 ... Missed senior season with an injury ... Played club soccer for Boston Breakers Academy.
