Drexel University Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces the Signing of Six Newcomers
3/27/2015 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA – Drexel women's soccer head coach Ray Goon announced the signing of six student-athletes for the fall 2015 season. Jenna Griggs, Emma Heckenberg, Vanessa Kara, Krista Ledins, Gianna Pizoli and Rachel Sharkey are the first members of a class that will help the Dragons as they try to achieve back to back CAA post-season appearances for the first time and challenge for the CAA title this fall.
"Our 2015 freshmen class is poised to help our team fill the void left by a hugely impactful senior class that led our program to new heights in 2012 and 2014. Overall, these five incoming freshmen are incredibly hard-working and talented young student-athletes with a balance of attacking threats and defensive prowess," said Goon. "The leadership and experience we lost will be offset by the tremendous ongoing development of our returning student-athletes infused with the heart and passion that our incoming group of newly signed Dragons will bring. Our sights are squarely set on the CAA Championship in 2015 and we feel we will have the ability to achieve that goal."
Griggs, from Limerick, Pa., is an aggressive, gritty goalkeeper who embraces the physical challenges of the position and will raise the overall level of our corps for the upcoming season. She has been a four-year starter for Spring-Ford High School and led her team to the PAC10 Championship in 2013 and 2014, as well as the PIAA State Finals in 2013 and Quarterfinals in 2014. As a captain her senior year, Griggs was recognized as the team MVP and named to the PAC10 All-Conference Team. Griggs plays club soccer for Upper Salford FC and plans to major in geology.
Heckenberg, from Kallista, Australia, will bring experience and versatility to the Dragons' program having played at the highest level in Victoria for several years. A naturally left-footed player, Heckenberg is both a dominant attacker and defender. Her Box Hill team won the Women's Premier League Championship in 2012 and she currently plays for Bundoora United. Heckenberg has been a member of the Victorian soccer team and captained the Victorian futsal team, having also won a championship with them in 2012. She plans to major in biology.
A native of Burlington, N.J., Kara is a dynamic attacker and natural leader that exemplifies hard work, passion and resiliency. As the captain of her PDA Fusion club team, she led them to the NPL U17 National Championship in 2014, scoring the only goal in the final game. Kara also captained her Moorestown Friends High School team to the NJSIAA Non-Public South Sectional Championship. She finished her senior year with 24 goals, 12 assists and was named team MVP and First Team All-Friends League, as well as both New Jersey and Pennsylvania All-State Teams. Kara plans to major in engineering.
Ledins, from Port Washington, N.Y., is a relentless defender whose versatility and tireless work ethic will also be an asset on the offensive side of the game. As a senior at Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School Ledins was named team MVP, All-County (Nassau), First Team All-Long Island and First Team All-State. She plays club soccer for Albertson Fury ECNL as well as Long Island WPSL. Ledins plans to major in biomedical engineering.
Gianna Pizoli, a native of Medford, N.J., is a strong, athletic, multi-purpose player who has the ability to be an impact in many areas of the field. Pizoli was an integral member of the PDA Force team that won the NPL U17 National Championship and has excelled in the New Jersey Olympic Development Program. She has been a starter on her Shawnee High School team since her freshman year and helped lead them to the Sectional Finals in 2014. Pizoli plans to major in health sciences or sport management.
Sharkey, from Bowie, Md., is a quick, creative technician whose ability to hold and distribute the ball under pressure will be a welcomed addition to the Dragons' attacking game. As a student-athlete at the American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina, she has been recognized as an All-Conference, All-Area, All-Region and All-State each of her four years of high school soccer and was also named Conference Player of the Year in 2013. Sharkey plays club soccer for NC Fusion ECNL as well as the North Carolina Olympic Development Program in which she was named to the Region III Pool in 2014.
"Our 2015 freshmen class is poised to help our team fill the void left by a hugely impactful senior class that led our program to new heights in 2012 and 2014. Overall, these five incoming freshmen are incredibly hard-working and talented young student-athletes with a balance of attacking threats and defensive prowess," said Goon. "The leadership and experience we lost will be offset by the tremendous ongoing development of our returning student-athletes infused with the heart and passion that our incoming group of newly signed Dragons will bring. Our sights are squarely set on the CAA Championship in 2015 and we feel we will have the ability to achieve that goal."
Griggs, from Limerick, Pa., is an aggressive, gritty goalkeeper who embraces the physical challenges of the position and will raise the overall level of our corps for the upcoming season. She has been a four-year starter for Spring-Ford High School and led her team to the PAC10 Championship in 2013 and 2014, as well as the PIAA State Finals in 2013 and Quarterfinals in 2014. As a captain her senior year, Griggs was recognized as the team MVP and named to the PAC10 All-Conference Team. Griggs plays club soccer for Upper Salford FC and plans to major in geology.
Heckenberg, from Kallista, Australia, will bring experience and versatility to the Dragons' program having played at the highest level in Victoria for several years. A naturally left-footed player, Heckenberg is both a dominant attacker and defender. Her Box Hill team won the Women's Premier League Championship in 2012 and she currently plays for Bundoora United. Heckenberg has been a member of the Victorian soccer team and captained the Victorian futsal team, having also won a championship with them in 2012. She plans to major in biology.
A native of Burlington, N.J., Kara is a dynamic attacker and natural leader that exemplifies hard work, passion and resiliency. As the captain of her PDA Fusion club team, she led them to the NPL U17 National Championship in 2014, scoring the only goal in the final game. Kara also captained her Moorestown Friends High School team to the NJSIAA Non-Public South Sectional Championship. She finished her senior year with 24 goals, 12 assists and was named team MVP and First Team All-Friends League, as well as both New Jersey and Pennsylvania All-State Teams. Kara plans to major in engineering.
Ledins, from Port Washington, N.Y., is a relentless defender whose versatility and tireless work ethic will also be an asset on the offensive side of the game. As a senior at Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School Ledins was named team MVP, All-County (Nassau), First Team All-Long Island and First Team All-State. She plays club soccer for Albertson Fury ECNL as well as Long Island WPSL. Ledins plans to major in biomedical engineering.
Gianna Pizoli, a native of Medford, N.J., is a strong, athletic, multi-purpose player who has the ability to be an impact in many areas of the field. Pizoli was an integral member of the PDA Force team that won the NPL U17 National Championship and has excelled in the New Jersey Olympic Development Program. She has been a starter on her Shawnee High School team since her freshman year and helped lead them to the Sectional Finals in 2014. Pizoli plans to major in health sciences or sport management.
Sharkey, from Bowie, Md., is a quick, creative technician whose ability to hold and distribute the ball under pressure will be a welcomed addition to the Dragons' attacking game. As a student-athlete at the American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina, she has been recognized as an All-Conference, All-Area, All-Region and All-State each of her four years of high school soccer and was also named Conference Player of the Year in 2013. Sharkey plays club soccer for NC Fusion ECNL as well as the North Carolina Olympic Development Program in which she was named to the Region III Pool in 2014.
Drexel's Autocomplete With Women's Soccer Coach Ray Goon
Tuesday, March 18
Drexel Women's Soccer Hype Video 2022
Thursday, September 01
Drexel Women's Soccer 2022 Season Outlook Video
Thursday, September 01
Senior Goalkeeper Libby Baeza Reflects on Career at Drexel
Thursday, October 24