Wolverines Ink Eight Recruits to National Letters of Intent

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head women's soccer coach Debbie Rademacher announced today (Monday, Feb. 7) the addition of eight recruits for the upcoming 2005 season. Skylar Andrews (Dallas, Texas/Plano West Senior HS), Madison Gates (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Gates HS), Sheera Goren (Encino, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School), Erica Gordy (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Detroit Country Day), Christina Paras (Dublin, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls), Jade Sherman (Beverly Hills, Calif./Beverly Hills HS), Kristin Thomas (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) have all committed to join Wolverines this fall.

Andrews, a defender, captained her club team, the Dallas Texans, to the finals at the Disney Showcase Tournament and the national semifinals in 2004. She is a two-year member of the North Texas ODP State team and was a second-team All-District selection at Plano West Senior High School during her sophomore season.

"Skylar is a defender from a great club, so her tournament experience and training environment should help in the transition to college," said Rademacher. "Her speed and athleticism will certainly be a nice addition to our back line. I look for her to make an impact for us."

Gates, a goalkeeper, is a member of the U-17 National Pool the past two seasons and has been a member of the Region I '87 Regional Team since 1999. She plays for the Syracuse Blitz Quake club team.

"I am excited to be adding Madison to our keeper position," said Rademacher. "She is going to make us incredibly deep and strong in that area. Madison is an excellent athlete with Regional Team experience, and I expect her to compete for time in goal."

Underwood, a forward, was named the Gatorade Player of the Year at Forest Hills Northern High School and is a member of the Michigan Hawks club team. She is a two-year member of the ODP Region II Team (2004-05) and will travel on a European tour with the team next month.

"I am looking for Danelle to make an immediate impact for us in either the midfield or forward line," said Rademacher. "She is a versatile athlete who just keeps on getting better. Danelle is a member of the Region II ODP Team, and has some good playing experience at a high level."

Gordy, a midfielder/defender, led Detroit Country Day to the District Championship in 2003. She also helped her club team, Vardar III, to three State Cup Championships (2002-04) and to the Region II National League finals in 2004.

"Erica is a defender with excellent speed and athleticism," said Rademacher. "She is good in the air and has a strong left foot. Erica will be competing for time in a defense that is deep with talent, and she will be a great addition to the team."

Goren, a midfielder and high school teammate of U-M freshman Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School), plays for the Southern California Blues club team, which won the California Premier League Championship this season. Paras, a midfielder/defender, guided Ohio Premier to three State Cup Championships and was a three-year member of the Ohio ODP South Team (2002-04). Sherman, a goalkeeper, is a member of the West Valley Samba club team. Thomas, a defender, plays club soccer for the Colorado Girls Soccer Academy and the Rocky Mountain All-Stars Soccer Academy.

The Wolverines, who finished the 2004 season with an 11-9-2 record, reached the Big Ten Tournament semifinals before advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight time in the 11-year history of the program.

Name	Pos.	Hometown (High School)
Skylar Andrews	D	Dallas, Texas (Plano West Senior)
Madison Gates	GK	Baldwinsville, N.Y. (C.W. Baker)
Erica Gordy	M/D	Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)
Sheera Goren	M	Encino, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake School)
Christina Paras	M/D	Dublin, Ohio (Columbus School for Girls)
Jade Sherman	GK	Beverly Hills, Calif. (Beverly Hills)
Kristin Thomas	D	Centennial, Colo. (Cherry Creek)
Danelle Underwood	F	Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Northern)