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Erica Dambach, Nittany Lions land the No. 1 recruiting class in nation

The scene during a Penn State University Women’s Soccer game at University Park. The Lady Nittany Lions landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2018. (Photo courtesy of Penn State Women's Soccer)

UNIVERSITY PARK — Head coach Erica Dambach has announced the 2019 Penn State women’s soccer recruiting class, which is comprised of nine student-athletes. The 2019 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer, features student-athletes across the United States from Massachusetts to California.

Angela Aguero (Brooklyn, New York), Jordan Canniff (California, Maryland), Shelby Craft (Frisco, Texas), Julia Dohle (Scarsdale, New York), Cori Dyke (Littleton, Colorado), Payton Linnehan (Douglas, Massachusetts), Devon Olive (Brooklyn, New York), Leah Scarpelli (Brick, New Jersey) and Kate Wiesner (Monrovia, California) make up the 2019 Penn State women’s soccer recruiting class. The nine Nittany Lions will join transfer Sam Coffey (Sleepy Hollow, New York) as newcomers to the program in 2019.

“We are very excited to welcome the 2019 recruiting class to the Penn State women’s soccer family,” Dambach said. “We know that this class will have an enormously positive impact on our program and feel like the future is very bright!”

The 2019 Penn State women’s soccer roster will feature 18 returners from the 2018 campaign. Penn State is slated to return its top three goal scorers, two starters from its backline that helped record 14 shutouts in 25 matches, and two-year starting goalkeeper Amanda Dennis in 2019.

Angela Aguero

U.S. NATIONAL

TEAM EXPERIENCE

A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U-15 level…Attended a U.S. U-15 WNT training camp (May-June 2016)…Has been called into training camps in 2017 and 2018, but was unable to attend.

BEFORE PENN STATE

Played club soccer for NYCFC…NYCFC made the 2018 Development Academy playoffs…Top goal scorer for NYCFC in the 2017/2018…Played two years of soccer at Berkeley Carroll and led the team in goals in freshman and sophomore year…Broke the single-season goals record at Berkeley Carroll with 26.

PERSONAL

Angela Aguero was born on Feb. 5 2001 in Manhattan, New York…Parents are Miguel Aguero and Vivian Van de Perre…Has a brother, Jake…Wants to major in kinesiology and become an athletic trainer…Last name is pronounced Uh-gueir-oh.

WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE

“The moment I first visited Penn State it felt like home. The environment the team and coaches create perfectly balance hard work and family. It’s the best possible environment for playing soccer at a high level and getting a great education.”

COACH DAMBACH

ON ANGELA

“A creative, hard-working attacking player, Angela has been so fun to watch in the recruiting process. She sees the game a little differently that most and has a creative, flare that we just love.”

Jordan Canniff

U.S. NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE

A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U-17 and U-19 levels…Has competed at the 2016 and 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup…Joined the U.S. U-17 WNT for the 2016 U-17 CONCACAF qualifiers…Has taken part in international tournaments and training camps with the U.S. WNT program with Nittany Lions Julia Dohle, Cori Dyke, Payton Linnehan, Leah Scarpelli and Kate Wiesner.

BEFORE PENN STATE

Ranked No. 6 overall, and the No. 3 midfielder, in the 2019 class by TopDrawerSoccer…Played club soccer for Washington Spirit Maryland…Made the U-15 and U-16 playoffs with Richmond United…Attends Great Mills High School.

PERSONAL

Jordan Elizabeth Canniff was born on July 27, 2001, in Jacksonville, Florida…Parents are Chris and Tracy Canniff…Has two sisters, Ashley and Courtney…Undecided on a major…Last name is pronounced Cann-if.

WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because of the training environment the coaches created. I believe that Penn State is going to challenge me to be a better person and soccer player. I chose Penn State because I feel at home when I’m there. I also love the fact that I will be able to get a great education while also fighting to win a national championship with my best friends.”

COACH DAMBACH

ON JORDAN

“Jordan can play absolutely anywhere in the front six and will score and create goals wherever she is. She has a great mind for the game and despite her age will bring with her a wealth of experience.”

Shelby Craft

BEFORE PENN STATE

Played club soccer for FC Dallas…Three-time team captain…A member of the 2017 U-16 ECNL national championship team…2017 ECNL Texas conference champions…2018 DA frontier division champions…Quarterfinalist at the U17 development academy national championship tournament in 2018…Attends Lone Star High School…2016 district newcomer of the year…2016 Lone Star High School Newcomer of the Year…2017 district defensive player of the year…2017 Lone Star High School Defensive MVP…2017 second team all-state honoree.

PERSONAL

Shelby Lynn Craft was born on June 21, 2001, in Abingdon, Virginia…Parents are Chad and Jackie Craft…Has two older brothers, Coy and Bailey…Coy has seen time with FC Dallas…Plans to major in biobehavioral health.

WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE

“There are three main reasons I chose Penn State. The humility that not only the soccer program displays, but the entire school. At Penn State, it is more about earning success opposed to showing off success, and that is a quality that I found super intriguing. The second is the connection I felt when visiting State College for the first time. Almost instantly, I fell in love with the campus, the coaching staff, and the program itself. The final reason is that I could envision myself playing with the girls on Jeffrey every week, being taught by the best coaching staff in the nation, and being a part of a program that is not only going to improve my ability as a soccer player, but also my build my character as a person.”

COACH DAMBACH

ON SHELBY

“Shelby has been incredibly fun to get to know as a player…especially because she comes off so differently off the field! Don’t let her southern charm fool you, she will be one of the hardest hitting, toughest tackling, biggest ball-winning defenders we have had here!”

Julia Dohle

U.S. NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE

A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U-15 and U-17 levels…On the U.S. U-17 WNT that took part in qualifying for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Nicaragua and competed at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.

BEFORE PENN STATE

Ranked No. 18 overall, and the No. 2 goalkeeper, in the 2019 class by TopDrawerSoccer…Played club soccer for NYCFC…Named to the U-16/17 Development Academy (DA) Best XI for the 2017-18 season…Attends German International School New York High School.

PERSONAL

Julia Dohle was born on February 6, 2001, in G˘tersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany…Parents are Markus and Karin Dohle…Has an older brother, Niklas…Undecided on a major…Last name is pronounced dowl (bowl with a d).

WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because I believe that it offers one of the best college soccer environments in the entire country, while also providing a great academic education for its athletes. The fact that the coaches and the entire staff treat their players like family enables the players to become the best soccer players and people that they can be. As soon as I stepped on Penn State’s campus, I knew that this was the place where I wanted to spend my next four years to continue my soccer and academic careers.”

COACH DAMBACH

ON JULIA

“A total pro in her approach to training and to her development already, the future is incredibly bright for Julia. She is a really athletic goalkeeper with a great presence on the field and an awesome mentality.”

Cori Dyke

U.S. NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE

A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U-14, U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels…Joined the U.S. U-20 WNT for the Nike Friendlies (December 2018)…Joined the U.S. U-16 WNT for trips to Italy and the Netherlands…Took part in trips to Australia, England and Spain with the U.S. U-18 WNT…Helped the U.S. U-19 WNT to a first-place finish in a four-team tournament in China.

BEFORE PENN STATE

Played club soccer for Colorado Rapids U19 ECNL…Team captain of Colorado Rapids U19 ECNL… United Soccer Coaches All-American in 2017 (Colorado Rush)…Team captain of the Colorado Rush U16/U17s…Attends Valor Christian High School…2015 first team all-state and first team all-conference…2016 second team all-state and first team all-conference…Two-time Gatorade Player of the Year nominee (’15 and ’16)…Named to the 2014 ODP Inter-regional Best 11 All-Tournament Team.

PERSONAL

Coriana Dyke was born on September 20, 2000, in Los Gatos, California…Parents are Annette and Peter Dyke…Has an older sister, Camryn…Camyrn plays soccer at Notre Dame…Undecided on a major.

WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because it was the total package. It has an excellent soccer program with amazing coaches and players that create a safe yet challenging environment for everyone. I could tell how much the coaches care about their players, not just about the soccer, but in every aspect of their lives. There is a huge emphasis on team culture, and it really feels like a family environment, which I love. I also wanted to go somewhere where we could win a national championship, and I know with the talent, coaching, and hard-working mentality that PSU has that this is definitely a possibility.”

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