May 12, 2008

QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head women's soccer coach Ian Stone has announced that six players will be joining the Red Storm class of 2008-09. Jen Leaverton, Kelly Wargo, Kristin Russell, Megan Klement, Lindsay Hall and Brittany Cocozza will start their college careers with the Red Storm in the fall of 2008.

"This incoming class is fortunate to be joining a team with a number of excellent role models in the classes above them," Stone said. "The personalities that make up the 2008 recruiting class will complement our current roster. They are a group of intense, passionate athletes who have a fantastic attitude towards improving."

Jen Leaverton • F
A forward out of Bishop Feehan High in Attleboro, Mass., Leaverton is the school's all-time leading scorer with 137 points in three years. She is a 2007 all-state first team honoree, in addition to being named the Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC) Player of the Year for the past two seasons. She has led the conference in scoring for three years and garnered first team honors each of those seasons. She finished her senior campaign with a team-high 30 goals. She plays club ball for the FC Greater Boston Bolts and helped lead the team to the state championship in 2007. Leaverton has been affiliated with the Massachusetts State Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2002-07. Also excelling in the classroom, she was named to the Boston Globe all-scholastic team in 2007.

"Jen has the type of attacking personality that will help our program," Stone commented. "She has all the attributes to become a complete forward at the BIG EAST level. Our coaching staff also loves Jen's competitiveness and the attitude she shows towards winning."

Kelly Wargo • MF
A central midfielder, Wargo comes to St. John's from Bradshaw Mountain High in Prescott, Ariz. She played club soccer for national powerhouse Sereno Golden Eagles 90 White and helped lead it to five state championships and to the Surf Cup title in 2006. In addition, the team was a Region IV finalist in 2004 and a semifinalist in 2005. She has been a member of the Arizona ODP team for three years. "Kelly is technically very sound and she has a great tactical awareness of the game," said Stone. "She comes from the very strong Sereno Soccer Club out of Arizona which has produced many excellent college women's soccer players. We look forward to welcoming Kelly to the St. John's soccer family."

Kristin Russell • GK
A goalkeeper out of St. Pete Catholic High in St. Petersburg, Fla., Russell was a District IIA first team selection in 2007. Prior to her junior campaign, she lived in Carlisle, Pa., and earned Commonwealth Conference Keeper of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006. A 2006 "Big 11" first team selection and All-Sentinel Girls' Soccer Player of the Year honoree, Russell posted a 91.4 save percentage in her sophomore campaign. Playing with the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP team, she helped lead it to a Region I title. In addition, she led her Florida club team--Strictly Soccer--to a U.S. Club Soccer Regional championship this past season.

"Kristin has a great deal of skill and experience It will be very interesting to watch her development under a full-time goalkeeper coach" commented Stone. "Her outgoing personality will fit in very well with our current team."

Megan Klement • D/MF
Out of Smithtown West High in Smithtown, N.Y., Klement was captain of her team in addition to earning all-league, all-conference and all-Suffolk honors during her senior campaign. An all-New York State honoree in 2007, she played with the East Meadow Shooting Stars Soccer Club from 2004-07 and led it to the Region I Premier League title in 2007 and to the Eastern New York State championship in 2005. A member of the Eastern New York ODP South team since 2003, Klement is a two-sport athlete at Smithtown West High, lettering in lacrosse all four years.

"Megan is a physically strong, hardworking, team player" added Stone. "She is aggressive in the tackle and is very effective in disrupting the opposition's offense. Megan's positional versatility makes her a valuable asset to our program."

Lindsey Hall • GK
A four-year starter at the keeper position, Hall comes to STJ from Westview High in San Diego, Calif. She helped lead the team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship in 2007 and 2008. Hall concluded her senior campaign strong, posting a 0.50 goals against average. She played her club ball for the La Jolla Nomads and captured the 2008 Nomads Coaches Showcase Tournament title. Also excelling in the classroom, she was a scholar athlete her junior and senior campaigns.

"Lindsey fits in well with the current group of student athletes in our program because she is outstanding not only as an athlete but as a student," Stone said. "Lindsey boosts great technique as a goalkeeper, and her handling is particularly impressive."

Brittany Cocozza • GK
Cocozza comes to St. John's out of East Greenwich High in Rhode Island where she was a four-year starter at goalie and was the team's captain her senior campaign. She played club ball for the Rhode Island Rays from 2003-07 and helped lead it to the state championships each of those seasons. In addition, she was captain of the Rays all five seasons and was named the team's most valuable player in 2006. She has played with the ODP from the U13 level to the U19 level.

"Brittany has a great deal of athletic potential as a goalkeeper," commented Stone. "Our coaching staff has been very impressed with her attitude and level of maturity. We are excited that Brittany has decided to come to St. John's."