May 22, 2008

PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh 2008 women's soccer recruiting class was ranked No. 95 nationally and No. 13 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Soccer Buzz Magazine. The ratings mark the first time in school history that a women's soccer recruiting class has garnered a national ranking.

"It's great for recruiting efforts to be recognized by Soccer Buzz on a national level," Pitt Head Coach Sue-Moy Chin said. "I am extremely excited for this very talented recruiting class to join our roster this fall. They will add a great deal of depth to a relatively young and talented group. I can't wait to get started."

The nine-member 2008 recruiting class consists of Klarissa Ames (Rio Rancho, N.M./Rio Rancho H.S.), Shannon Cody (Novi, Mich./Novi H.S.), Dorie Heald (West Chester, Pa./West Chester H.S.), Maura Lacey (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township H.S.), Kelsi Morris (Bowie, Md./Bowie H.S.), Molly McGeehin (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus H.S.), Brittany Pfaff (South Park, Pa./South Park H.S.), Kristina Rioux (Montreal, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's) and Katelyn Ruhe (Frederick, Md./Ijamsville H.S.). All nine student-athletes will enter Pitt as freshmen this fall.

Of the nine recruits, two players earned All-State honors, five players guided their teams to state titles and six players competed in their state's respective Olympic Development programs. Ruhe was ranked by Soccer Buzz as one of the top-200 recruits nationally (150-200), Cody received Most Valuable Player honor in the Michigan state tournament and Rioux helped guide her team to a berth in the 2007 United States Club championship game.

Chin begins her sixth season at Pitt in August. She has guided the Panthers to more postseason appearances than any other coach in school history including berths in two of the last three Big East Tournaments.

Pitt returns seven of its 11 starters and 15 letterwinners from the 2007 squad.

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