Seven recruits revamp BYU for 2013

PROVO, Utah - The BYU women's soccer team reloads for the 2013 season with another talented recruiting class as it prepares to follow up its most successful season in BYU history where the 2012 team made a run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The seven recruits hail from Utah, Texas, Arizona, California and New Jersey.

Watch head coach Jennifer Rockwood talk about each recruit by clicking here. 

2013 Recruits
Name: Avery Calton
Hometown: Ogden, Utah
Club Team: Avalanche

Name: Hannah Clark
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Club Team: Mustang Blast

Name: Brittain Dearden
Hometown: Mercer County, N. J.
Club Team: PDA Crush

Name: Kayci Griffin
Hometown: Cedar Park, Texas
Club Team: Lonestar Soccer Club

Name: Ashley Hatch
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.
Club Team: Legends FC

Name: Ella Johnson
Hometown: Centerville, Utah
Club Team: Forza Futbol Club

Name: Elena Medeiros
Hometown: Bountiful, Utah
Club Team: Sparta United

"We're really excited this year to add seven great incoming freshman to our team," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "It's a big day for our program and each of these girls.  We've known and watched them for a long time. All of these girls have been to camps over the years and we’ve watched them with their clubs over the last several years. We couldn't be more excited to add all of them to a great returning cast that we have.

"The thing we love most about all these girls is that they're amazing athletes, great competitors and have played at the highest levels. We're really looking forward to seeing them out on South Field."

All seven recruits combine for numerous state championships and each one has been recognized as one of the very top players in their states. A well-balanced mix of players will add to the cast of returning players who competed in one of BYU’s most successful soccer campaigns since its inception. The 2012 squad went 20-2-2 on the year, earned the school’s first West Coast Conference title and made a run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight after earning itself a No. 1 seed for the tournament.

The incoming freshmen will join the Cougars in early August as they chase a second WCC title and another NCAA Tournament run. The Cougars begin their 2013 campaign with three home games, starting Aug. 16 against the Haiti National Team in an exhibition matchup. 

Avery Calton
Defender
Ogden, Utah
Ogden High School
Avalanche (Jimmie Powell)

2012 Ms. Soccer from Deseret News … 2012 Salt Lake Tribune 3A MVP … 2-time First Team from Standard Examiner … 2011 First Team from Deseret News … 2011 Salt Lake Tribune First Team … 2011 State Champion with HS team … 2011 and 2012 HS team MVP … 4-year HS team varsity starter … 8-year club team captain

Coach Rockwood about Avery: “Avery has tremendous speed and is a great athlete - we see her being able to play up and down the field because of her speed. She's great at going forward, she's a great tackler, and we think she’ll be able to really help out our backline.”

Hannah Clark
Goalkeeper
Danville, California
Monte Vista High School
Mustang Blast (Mike Kelly)

2009 Best Defensive Player … 2012 Most Inspirational Player … 2011 Davis League Showcase Champions with club team … 4-year club team captain … 2012 North Coast Section Champions with HS team … 3-year varsity starter for three sports: soccer, tennis, track … president of the National Charity League for her HS

Coach Rockwood about Hannah: “Hannah will bring a lot of competitiveness and athleticism to our team. We’re really excited to have her join us – she has a great presence on the field and will be a perfect addition to our goalkeepers.”

Brittain Dearden
Defender
Mercer County, New Jersey
West Windsor Plainsboro High School South
PDA Crush (John Jenks)

Attended the U-17 National Team camp … 4-year player for the Region I ODP Team … USSF National Champions in 2008, 2009 and 2010 … 2011 ODP National Champions … 2012 CASL College Showcase Champions with club team … 2011 Atlanta Final 4 College Showcase Champions with club team … 2012 varsity team captain … 3-year NSCAA All-American … 2012 Princeton Packet HS Player of the Year … 4-year All-South Jersey recipient from Star Ledger … 2010 and 2012 HS MVP … 2012 Soccer All-Star from Trenton Times

Coach Rockwood about Brittain: “Brittain is a great player. She had the opportunity to go to pretty much any school she wanted.  We’re excited to have her at BYU. She’s worn the USA youth National Team jersey and played at a highest levels – she’ll be able to make an immediate impact for our team.”

Kayci Griffin
Midfielder
Cedar Park, Texas
Cedar Park High School
Lonestar Soccer Club (JD Cochran)

2012 Central Texas Player of the Year … 2012 All-State First Team … 2012 All-Region First Team … 2012 District 51-4A MVP … 2-year All-District First Team … Texas State Final Four in 2-12 … 2011-12 ECNL Texas Conference Champions … 2012 HS varsity team captain

Coach Rockwood about Kayci: “Kayci has a lot of experience behind her and will bring great composure to our Midfield group. She’s smart and feisty, and I think she will help us a lot with her distribution this upcoming year.”

Ashley Hatch
Forward
Gilbert, Arizona
Highland High School
Legends FC (Andy Plascencia)

2-time First Team All-State selection in Arizona … 2012 HS Division I Arizona State Champions … 2011 5A Central Region Offensive Player of the Year … State of Arizona Player of the Year runner up … 2-time First Team All-Region selection … 2012 Highland High School Offensive Player of the Year … 2012 All-District Player of the Year … 2-year captain of HS varsity team … broke HS record for all-time career goals … 2009 Highland HS Cross Country MVP

Coach Rockwood about Ashley: “Ashley is going to be a great goal scorer for us. She’s one of the few girls I’ve seen that isn’t afraid to take a shot from any range. She’s great at taking on girls one-on-one and has a real knack for scoring goals.”

Ella Johnson
Defender
Centerville, Utah
Viewmont High School
Forza Futbol Club (Ryan Robinson)

2-time All-State First Team recipient … 5A State Finalist 2010-12 … 2012 5A State Champion with HS … 2012 Region 2 MVP … 2012 HS Team MVP … 3-year varsity starter for HS team … HS freshman Female Athlete of the Year … 2-year varsity member of the track and field team … 2012 All-Region Academic Team

Coach Rockwood about Ella: “Ella has great size and is a force on the field. She plays a lot in the center and has great range with a strong foot. We’re excited to have her join our backline and has a good chance of helping us right away.” 

Elena Medeiros
Midfield
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful High School
Sparta United (Ab Rees and Dennis Burrows)

2012 All-State First Team from SL Tribune and Deseret News … 2011 All-State Second Team from SL Tribune and Deseret News … 2012 Region VI Midfield Player of the Year … 2012 Surf Cup Champions … 2012 PDT Champions … 2012 State Cup Champions with club team … 2011 State Cup Finalists … 4A HS Region VI Champions in 2011 and 2012 … 2012 4A HS State Finalists … 3-year varsity starter … 2012 HS varsity team captain … 2009 HS Rookie of the Year … played ODP for four years … 3-year member of National Honor Society

Coach Rockwood about Elena:  “Elena is a fantastic midfielder, she’s very crafty and has soft feet. She also has great vision and an ability to see the field – she sees where she needs to be and where to make a change. She plays the middle well but can also go forward and get a lot of goals."