Nine added to Vanguard University soccer squad

The Vanguard University women’s soccer team received confirmation

from nine players whom will join the squad this fall. Coach Kerry

Crooks has forged a strong recruiting class of primarily Californians

who are made up of one transfer and eight freshmen, including a pair

she coached on her own team at Edison High.

The Lions will gain the talents of Natalie Severson, Katie Dynice,

Megan Swann, Kacie Jewell, and Jennifer Zipprich. Stacia Hoover and

Heather Hutton, who both played for Crooks at Edison, as well as

Lauren Walker and Jennifer Natoniewski will also play for Vanguard

this fall.

Severson, a 2001 graduate of Yosemite High, is the only transfer

in the group and joins the Lions from Fresno State. She also played

at Fresno City College. Severson, a defender, played a year at each

institution and was an all-league selection at Fresno City. She will

continue her education in exercise sports science.

Dynice was a first-team All-Channel League midfielder as a senior

for Ventura High and maintained honor-roll status during her four

years. The scholar-athlete will major in business when she enters

college.

Swann comes to Vanguard from Clayton Valley High. Known primarily

for her defense, Swann helped lead Clayton Valley to the Bay Valley

Athletic League championship in 2001. She wants to pursue a degree in

athletic training while at Vanguard.

Jewell completed a two-sport high school career at Woodbridge

High. The 5-foot-9 goalkeeper also has extensive club experience with

the Irvine Strikers and the Region IV Olympic Development Program.

She is expected to make immediate contributions for the Lions.

Zipprich is the only non-Californian in the group. A 5-7 forward

from Sandy, Utah, Zipprich will be a freshman for the Lions and hopes

to make a quick transition to the collegiate level competition.

Hoover and Hutton will follow Crooks from Edison in hopes of

repeating some of the same success they achieved together in the

Sunset League and CIF, including two league titles and a CIF

championship in 2002.

Hoover played two sports in high school and was the soccer team’s

MVP, as well as a second-team All-CIF selection during her career.

Hutton also played tennis at Edison, but was an all-league soccer

player and named the Sunset League’s Offensive Player of the Year in

2002-03. Both players are from Huntington Beach and play multiple

positions.

Walker and Natoniewski are from Laguna Niguel High. Walker, a

defender, received the 2002-03 Coach’s Award and earned a 4.17 GPA in

the classroom.

Natoniewski played the midfield or defender positions for Laguna

Niguel and also ran track and cross country. The duo helped Laguna

Niguel claim the 2001 CIF Division I championship, as well as the

2001 and 2002 Sea View League titles. Both athletes plan to major in

exercise sports science at Vanguard.

Crooks believes her recruiting class can help the Lions improve on

their 8-7-3 overall record from 2002 and gain entrance into the NAIA

Region II tournament.