Tulsa Women's Soccer Team Adds Eight To 2013 Class

Tulsa head women's soccer coach Kyle Cussen announced the signing of eight players for the 2013 freshman class. Those players are Katelyn Admire, Lana Bermel, Darienne Chapman, Marleigh Essler, Sierra Krenik, Claire Maris, Annette Sohmer and Olivia Viergutz.

"We lost four out of the five defensive players to graduation from a year ago, so this year's class was geared towards replacing our back line," Cussen said. "We brought in players who are used to competing and winning at a very high level, including four players who have played for a national championship, and players who have a very strong work ethic. This is a solid class that will help us build for the future."

A 5-6 defender from Tulsa, Okla., Chapman is a three-year letter winner at Bishop Kelley High School, leading her team to three Oklahoma 5A State Championships, while Maris is a 5-7 defender, from Tulsa's Union High School. The duo play club soccer for the TSC Hurricane, winning six state championships, and finished as the 2011 ECNL National Runner-Up, won the 2011 Regional Championship and qualified for nationals in 2012.

A 5-7 defender from Huntington Beach, Calif., Krenik was a four-year letter winner at Edison High School where she was a first-team all-league honoree three times, was named as the Defensive MVP of the Sunset League once and was a second-team all-county selection once. She also played club soccer for the Slammers FC U17, winning the 2012 ECNL National Championship, the 2011 Surf Cup and was a finalist for the 2011 Slammer Club and 2010 Nike Cup.

Bermel, a 5-3 midfielder also from Huntington Beach, Calif., was a four-year letter winner at Huntington Beach High School and was a first-team all-league performer. She was also a member of the Slammers FC U18, which won the 2012 Slammers Cup and 2011 Summers Surf Cup, and finished as finalists in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 Surf College Cup, and 2009 Slammers Cup.

A 5-6 goalkeeper from McKinney, Texas, Essler is a three-year letter winner at McKinney Boyd High School. She helped her team claim a State Championship as a sophomore, finish as the state finalists as a freshman, and as regional semifinalists as a junior.

Essler played club soccer for Sting Soccer Club, and helped her team finish as the 2010 and 2011 USYSA National Champions, 2010 ECNL National Champions, 2009 Region III Champions, 2009 Disney Showcase Champions, 2008 Celtic Cup Champions, 2008 Surf Cup Champions and 2007-10 State Cup Champions.

"Claire and Darienne have started in the back for TSC Hurricane and have had many accomplishments, but then you add in Sierra, who has won the National Cup, Bermel who finished second in the nation a year ago and Essler who is a two-time national champion, and you can see how much experience we have coming in to help us defensively," Cussen said. "These five have played at a very high level and are used to winning at that level. They are not flashy, but they are very good in their roles."

A 5-10 forward from Chesapeake, Va., Admire was a three-year letter winner at India River High School. She has helped her team post 24 wins, claim a District Championship as a freshman and advance to the District Quarterfinals as a sophomore.

Admire has netted 20 goals and 26 assists, but missed most of her junior campaign due to an injury. She has been tabbed to the all-district team once, and was named as her team's MVP and Team Captain.

Admire also played club soccer for the Chesapeake United Soccer Club, claiming the 2012 Virginia Soccer League, Inc., Co-Championship, the NC Labor Day Shootout Championship, Virginia Columbus Day Tournament Championship, Virginia Atlantic Cup Tournament Championship and the Virginia Legacy Showcase Tournament Championship with the U17/U18 United.

With the U17/U18 United, she scored 13 goals and had seven assists, and was named as the Team MVP.

"Katelyn is an all-around athlete," Cussen said. "She is strong up front, good on the ball and can score goals, and I am looking forward to watching her potential grow in her time at Tulsa."

Sohmer, a 5-3 forward from Houston, Texas, is a three-year letter winner at St. Agnes Academy. She has helped her team post 50 wins, finish as the TAPPS 5A State Runner-Up as a junior, as the District Champions as a freshman, and as the Bi-District Champions as a sophomore. Sohmer has netted 15 goals and 19 assists for 49 points, was a two-time all-district performer and earned all-state accolades once. She also played club soccer for Space City Futbol Club, which won the 2012 South Texas State Cup Championship and Premier League West Championship.

"Annette is an attacking player," Cussen said. "She is good on the ball, is good one-vs-one, likes to run at people and has a lot of potential."

A 5-9 midfielder from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Viergutz played club soccer for the Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club. She also played for the Canadian Soccer Association National Training Center from 2009-12 and the Alberta Soccer Association Provincial Select Team as a member of the U17, U16 and U15 teams. Viergutz was a silver medalist in the 2012 ASA U18 Tier 1.

"Olivia has a lot of international and club experience as part of the Canadian National Training Center," Cussen said. "She is really good on the ball and good in possession."

2013 Tulsa Women's Soccer Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (Previous School)

Katelyn Admire F/MF 5-10 Chesapeake, Va. (Indian River)

Lana Bermel MF 5-3 Huntington Beach, Calif. (Huntington Beach)

Darienne Chapman D 5-6 Tulsa, Okla. (Bishop Kelley)

Marleigh Essler GK 5-6 McKinney, Texas (McKinney Boyd)

Sierra Krenik D 5-7 Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison)

Claire Maris D/MF 5-7 Tulsa, Okla. (Union)

Annette Sohmer F 5-3 Houston, Texas (St. Agnes Academy)

Olivia Viergutz MF 5-9 Alberta, Canada (Lethbridge Collegiate Institute)