Feb. 8, 2005
Duquesne University head women's soccer coach James Walker announced today his 2005 recruiting class. Joining the Dukes this coming season are Michelle Esposito (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), Jenna Farneti (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus), Danielle Pieri (Langhorne, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie), Chelsea Behling (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) and Alyssa Dickess (Troy, Ohio/Troy).
Esposito will help secure the forward spot for the Dukes next year after leading her Chartiers Valley squad to a 16-4-0 overall record in 2004, which included an 11-3 showing in sectional action. She was named a Region II All-American this past season and is a two-time All-State honoree. Esposito was named the 2004 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player of the Year and to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Elite 12 team. A three-time All-WPIAL pick and four-time All-Section 5 selection, she finished her prep career racking up a school-record 75 goals and 51 assists. Esposito had 21 goals and 13 assists her senior season. A three-year All-Star team pick, she was also the starting forward on the Beadling Centennials Soccer Club which won six state titles and twice reigned as regional semi-finalists. "Michelle is a very tenacious forward with a lot of speed. She comes from an excellent club and high school career and has the ability to make an impact right out of the gate." Adds Coach Walker. Esposito was a member of the National Honor Society and was named to Who's Who in Sports. She plans to major in education.
Farneti, a forward, was a five-year varsity starter who helped her Marcellus squad rack up an overall record of 91-17-6 over her career. She led her team to the 2003 and 2004 state, regional and sectional titles and recorded 100 career goals and 70 assists. Farneti was tabbed an Eastern Regional adidas All-America and named the 2004 New York State and CNY Player of the Year. She earned MVP laurels at the 2003 and 2004 State tournament and is a two-time first team All-State honoree. Farneti earned first team All-CNY and all-league honors form 2002-2004 and also lettered in basketball and lacrosse. A four-year Scholar-Athlete, she was a member of the National Honor Society and Who's Who in American High School Sports. She won the USAA National Soccer Award and led her Syracuse Blitz club team to five stats titles and two Empire State silver medals. Coach Walker adds, "Jenna is an extremely talented attacking player who should act as a target player for us. She comes from an excellent club and high school career and has the ability to come in and do really well as a freshman." Farneti intends to major in biology.
Pieri will secure a defensive/midfield spot with the Dukes after guiding her Villa Joseph Marie team to a perfect 24-0-0 mark and #3 ranking by the NSCAA in 2004. Her Langhorne squad captured the PIAA Class "AA" crowns in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and reigned as district champions those year as well. Pieri competed for the Bux-Mont United Club team which advanced to the state finals in 2003 and 2004 and the indoor state cup finals in 2004 and 2005. She competed on the ODP squad from 1999 to 2003 and was a member of the Region I team in 2001. Walker adds, "She is a solid defensive-minded player who had a great high school career. Danielle had an injury set-back last year but is back to full strength and keeps improving all the time. We are looking for great things from her." A member of the National Honor Society, Pieri was named in Who's Who Among American High School Students and is active in volunteer work. She will be studying liberal arts.
Behling, a defender, helped guide her Upper St. Clair squad to a 17-3-0 record this past season, which included a 13-1-0 mark in sectional play. They captured the 2001 and 2002 WPIAL crowns and reigned as Section 5 champions in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Upper St. Clair advanced to the State playoffs each of those years as well. An All-Section pick, Behling was the team's leading scorer in 2002 and named an All-WPIAL pick in 2003. She was also lauded to the 2003 Elite 11 Almanac Team and to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette South All-Star squad. "Chelsea is a talented defender with good technical ability. She comes from an excellent high school and club background and should be at full strength and ready to go in August", adds Walker. Behling was on the High Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society and plans to study physical therapy.
Dickess will also help secure the Dukes' defense after helping her Troy High squad to a 13-3-1 mark last season en route to the school's first-ever Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) title. She was named a Western first team All-GWOC pick in 2004 and earned All-Area and All-Miami Valley honors. A 2003 third team All-Ohio selection, Dickess led her prep squad to an overall mark of 44-24-4. She also competed for the Dayton Soccer Academy club team. "Alyssa is a very talented defensive player who went under the radar this year due to playing basketball. She has the ability to make an impact as a freshman and is a good hard-working player", adds Walker. An honor student, Dickess plans to be an athletic training major.
"I'm really pleased with these five student-athletes. They all come from excellent club, ODP and high school backgrounds and will add a lot of talent and depth to the squad in 2005." Coach Walker took over the Duquesne in January of 2003 and will be entering his third season at the Dukes' helm.
