LOWELL, Mass. –  With an emphasis on creating offense, the UMass Lowell women's soccer Head Coach Joel Bancroft has announced a 2015 recruiting class of eight freshmen and one transfer.
 
"We addressed some needs, expanded our (recruiting) footprint and brought in a good mix of kids who will advance the program to the next step," said Bancroft.  "It's a collaborative effort from the academic side, from athletics, the branding, the investment across the campus and as a result the word is getting out there."
 
The incoming class reflects that growing footprint featuring players from six states and both coasts. The group includes forward Lauren Aldrich (Southampton, Mass.), attacking midfielder Katelyn Vieira (Warwick, R.I.), attacking midfielder Isabelle Marquez (Seattle, Wash.), attacking midfielder transfer student Rachel Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.), holding midfielder Maddie Walsh (Acton, Mass.), outside back Sydney Dawson (Fort Campbell, Ky.), center back Samantha Lee (Salem, Conn.), center back Kristina Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) and he sister goalkeeper Julie Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) 
 
The greatest need indentified by the coaching staff was at the offensive end of the field; the ability to put the ball in net.  It was a need addressed with recruits in all three areas of the field.
 
"From a defensive perspective, we thought we were fairly well organized and could defend at a fairly high level, but could not score enough goals," said Bancroft.  "The common denominator between all these recruits, even those that play in the back, is that they've shown the ability to score goals or to help the team score goals at every level that they have played."
 
"I think a true goal scorer is very hard to find," said Bancroft.  "It's always easier to destroy than to create."
 
But, the coach feels he may have a true goal scorer in Katelyn Vieira, a striker who scored 49 goals in 18 games during her senior season at Pilgrim High school in Warwick, R.I.  She is the first High School All-America to commit to UMass Lowell.
 
"It's the ability when you are around the net to finish," said Bancroft.  "When you get a kid who is a true goal scorer it's pretty impressive."
 
Another focus was size and Bancroft believes that was addressed.  "You have to win the 50/50 balls and the knockdowns and you have to get yourself back up and get involved again and we've brought in people who do that."
 
The first day of pre season camp is August 11.
 
 
RIVER HAWK WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER PROFILES
 
 
Lauren Aldrich
Position: Forward
Height: 5-8
Hometown / High School: Southampton, Mass. / Hampshire Regional HS
Club Team: FC Stars of MA
Major: Biology
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Four year varsity starter at Hampshire Regional HS… Second Team All-Western Mass 2013… Senior Captain…Western Mass Semi-Finalist 13-14… HRHS Best Defensive Player 2014… MA All-State Selection 2014… All-Western Mass First Team DIII 2014… All-League 2014; Western Mass All-Star Team 2014…Western Mass Starting 11 2014… Hampshire Gazette Girls Soccer Player of the Year 2014… Hampshire Gazette First Team 2014… Bay State Games Gold Medalist (Team West) 2014… FC Stars of Mass West 2012-14… 2014 NEP Championship Finalist…FC Stars of Mass NPL 2014-15; NPL Showcase - U17G Champion 2015…
 
Personal:
Daughter of Tom Aldrich and Christine Sullivan, Lauren Elizabeth Aldrich was born August 30, 1997 in Boston, Ma…Plans to study biology…
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I can envision myself achieving great things at UMass Lowell, both in the classroom and on the field. 
 
Coach Bancroft on Aldrich:
"Lauren is someone who is a really, really great athlete and a hard worker.  She has great size and is willing to take physical risks.  I've seen her leave her feet in the air and not know if she will come back down in the same way.  She's that kid who scores six of seven goals, over the course of the season, just because of her will."
 
 
Sydney Dawson
Position: Outside Back
Height: 5-5
Hometown / High School:  Fort Campbell, Ky. / Pope John Paul II
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Major: Mechanical Engineering
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Member of El Paso Heat 9-10… New Mexico ODP 2010…  Member of Tennessee Soccer Club 10-11… CASL Tournament Champions 2011…  Member of St Louis Scott Gallagher Metro ECNL 12-15... National League Finals 12-13…  Varsity starter Brighton High School, NY 2011…Varsity starter Pope John Paul II, Hendersonville, TN 12-14… Knight Award 2013...  TN HS All County 2013…TN HS All Region 2013… Defense MVP 2013… team captain 2014...
 
Personal:
Daughter of Sam and Laura Dawson, Sydney O'Hara Dawson was born on June 7, 1997…plans to study mechanical engineering…
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I liked both the academic and athletic opportunities and environment it provided
 
Coach Bancroft on Dawson:
"She's a very hardnosed gritty kid, a big engine on the back line.  Sydney has a reaaly good soccer brain.  She's really prideful in her defense and her fitness.  She has really good overall vision on the field."
 
 
Samantha Lee
Position:  Center Back
Height:  5-7
Hometown / High school: Salem, Conn. / East Lyme HS
Club Team:  Southeast Soccer Club
Major:  Nursing
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Played for Southeast Soccer Club since 2007… Captain of Club Team…  Four-year varsity starter at East Lyme High School… Captain junior and senior year… Rookie of the Year 2011… Class L ECC Champions 12-14… ALS Cup Champions 11-14…First Team All Conference 13-14… First Team All New London Day 13-14… First Team All Norwich Bulletin 2014…All State 2014… Senior Bowl 2014… Senior Bowl MVP…
 
Personal:
Samantha Michelle Lee, daughter of Peter and Dana Lee. Siblings are Nicole and Anthony Lee. Plans to study Nursing in the hopes of one day working in a Neonatal Unit.
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I chose UMass Lowell because of all the potential I see in the newly developing program and because of how well I connected with the coaching staff and girls on the team.
 
Coach Bancroft on Lee:
"Samantha is a real cerebral kid, she reads the game very well.  She could play in the back or in the middle.  She's a decorated kid who has shown the ability to fit a lot of needs for us."
 
 
Isabelle Marquez
Position:  Attacking Midfield
Height:  5-6
Hometown / High School:  Seattle, Wash. / Ballard HS
Club Team:  Crossfire Premier
Major:  Civil Engineering
 
Before UMass Lowell:                                
Played for Crossfire Premier ENCL 10-15…WA State Champion 2010-2011…  WA State Far West Regionals Semi-Finalist…US Club National Cup X Regional Finalist 11-12…ECNL National Championship 3rd place A Flight 2011-2012… ENCL National Championship Playoffs 2013-2014…WA ODP State Team 07-11… 4-year member of Ballard High School Varsity Soccer team…Team Captain 13-14… All KingCo 4A Honorable Mention 2012…All KingCo 4A 2nd Team All-League 2013…All KingCo 3A 1st Team All-League 2015…Metro League Playoffs Second Round 2015
 
Personal:
The daughter of Mellissa and Jorge Marquez, Isabelle Marquez was born September 18, 1996 in El Paso, Texas... plans to major in Civil Engineering
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
It is a growing university so I will be in an environment where everyone is leaning how to be independent and make their way in life…Highly revered engineering program…On the East Coast: easier to study abroad; I can travel around the area; I am in a new environment that is rich with the history of our nation…The soccer program as a whole made me feel very welcome and comfortable
 
Coach Bancroft on Marquez:
"Izzy has a real opportunity to make an impact.  She has a great ability to see the field and has strong technical abilities.  That will make it exciting to pair her with some of the players we already have.  I'm excited to see how it plays itself out."
 
 
Rachel Morrier
Position:  Attacking Midfield
Height:  5-5
Hometown / High School:  Plaistow, N.H. / Timberlane Regional High School
Club Team:  Seacoast United
Major:  Nursing
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Transfer from Providence College…  All Big East Rookie team 2014… Member of Seacoast United…NH State Champion 13-14…NPL Champion 2014…trained with US soccer Academy 13-14…Member of Stars of Mass until U16…Region I Semifinalist 2010… MA State Cup Champion 10-11…Region I Quarterfinalist 2011… ECNL Finalist 2012…  Member of Timberlane HS Varsity Soccer Team11-12… Division I first team All-State 11-12…Eagle Tribune All-Star 11-12…Golden Boot and Rookie of the Year award 2011
 
Personal:
Daughter of Daniel and Kimberly Morrier…has six siblings… born June 8, 1996 in Methuen Mass…majors in nursing
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
Offers the ability to play division 1 soccer at a growing program and study nursing at a top notch program.
 
Coach Bancroft on Morrier:
"On the field Rachel just works tirelessly, her technique is very good.  There's not a lot of weakness in her game.  Rachel can score goal from distance.  By definition an 'attacking midfielder' is in essence your point guard.  They run the show, and she should have an immediate impact."
 
 
Julia Schneider
Position:  Goalkeeper
Height:  5-5
Hometown / High school:  Bridgewater, Mass. / Cardinal Spellman HS
Club Team:  FC Stars of MA
Major:  Biochemical Engineering
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Member of FC Stars of Mass ECNL 11-15… ECNL Nationals 12-14…MA State Cup Champion 12-13…MA State Cup Finalist 2014…Northeast NPL Finalist 2014…  Member of the ODP Region I Team 2009-10… Member of the Cardinal Spellman HS soccer team…Catholic Central League Champion 12-13, Enterprise All Scholastic 12-14, Eastern Mass all-star 12-13… best goalkeeper in Catholic Central League… South Sectional Champion 2013… Eastern Mass All-star 1st team 2013… Catholic central league MVP 2014… Mass HS Division 3 MVP 2014… MA HS All State 2014
 
Personal:
Daughter of Steve and Carol Schneider, Julia Ann Schneider was born on Sept. 22, 1996…plans to study Biochem Engineering.
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I chose UMass Lowell because it is a perfect combination of soccer and school. UMass Lowell has competitive soccer and engineering programs. The campus, coaches, and players were awesome and heavily influenced my decision. Overall, I believe it is the best school to make me a successful young woman and athlete.
 
Coach Bancroft on Julia Schneider:
"Julia is the best goalkeeper in the state of Massachusetts.  She's got really good feet and is a good athlete.  She will have the opportunity to step in and try to fill the big hole created by the graduation of (goalkeepers) Jill (Carlson) and Jane (Hatzikonstantis).  She can be an impact player from Day-One."
 
 
Kristina Schneider
Position:  Center Back
Height:  5-7
Hometown / High School:  Bridgewater, Mass. / Cardinal Spellman HS
Club Team:  FC Stars of MA
Major:  Nursing
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Member of the FC Stars 96' NPL team since 2011… Team Captain 12-15…MPS Thanksgiving Showcase Champion 2012…Scorpion Bowl Champion 2012 … MA State Cup Champion 12-13… Region I Finalist 12-13…MA State Cup Finalist 2014…Northeast NPL Finalist 2014… Member of the Cardinal Spellman HS soccer team…South Sectional Champions 2013… Boston Herald All Scholastic 2013…Brockton enterprise All Scholastic 13-14…Catholic Central League MVP 2013… Catholic Central League All Star 13-14…EMass First Team All Star 13-14…
 
Personal:
Daughter of Steve and Carol Schneider, Kristina Elise Schneider was born Sept. 22, 1996 … Plans to Study Nursing
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I chose UMass Lowell because it offers me the perfect balance of soccer and education. I am excited to be part of the growing Women's Soccer Program at Lowell and also to be a part of the nursing program!
 
Coach Bancroft on Kristina Schneider:
"Kristina is a really tough hardnosed tackler, has the ability to win the ball and can also start our attack, get forward and understands where we want to go with our attack as we keep developing this program. 
 
 
Katelyn Vieira
Position;  Striker/Attacking-Midfielder
Height:  5-2
Hometown / High School:  Warwick, R.I. / Pilgrim HS
Club Team:  Bayside FC Bolts
Major:  Physical Therapy
 
Before UMass Lowell:
Played for Bayside FC Bolts…RI State Cup Champions 10-14…Region I Finalist 11-14…RI Premier Player of the Year 2012…4 year starter at Pilgrim High School…All City Team 2011…First Team All-Division 11-14…Pilgrim HS Athlete of the Year 13-14…Second team All-State 2013…First Team All-State 2014…All-Tournament team (MVP) 2014…All-New England 2014…All- American 2014… RI HS State Player of the Year 2014…RI HS Leading Scorer 2014…RI State Championship 2014
 
Personal:
The daughter of Paul and Stephanie Vieira, Katelyn Marie Vieira was born May 17, 1997 in Providence, RI…plans to study Physical Therapy
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
I chose UMass Lowell because they have a great Physical Therapy program, and a competitive soccer team. I also like the campus and I am excited to live there in the fall.
 
Coach Bancroft on Vieira:
"This is a kid who is, by all definitions, a true goal scorer at all levels.  She's an absolute soccer junkie, you never see her without a soccer ball, she's constantly playing.  You can't explain it with DNA, you can't explain it in performance, she just has the ability when she's in the 18 yard box to ultimately put the ball in the net."
 
 
Maddie Walsh
Position:  Holding Midfielder
Height:  5-9
Hometown / High School:  Acton, Mass. / Acton Boxborough Regional HS
Club Team:  FC Stars of MA
Major:  Nursing
 
Before UMass Lowell:
3-year varsity starter for Acton-Boxborough Regional High School…MA State Semi-Finals 2013…MA State Quarter-Finals 2014… Eastern Mass All Star 2014, Two-Time Dual County All Star… Boston Globe All Star 13-14 … Lowell Sun All Star 2014… Played club soccer for FC Stars of Mass 07-15…MA State Champion 12-13…Region I Finalist 2014.
 
Personal:
Daughter of Jim Walsh and Kris Laping, Madeline Elyse Walsh was born on April 2, 1997 in Concord, MA…plans to study Nursing…
 
Why I chose UMass Lowell:
It has a really great nursing program, I'm excited for the opportunity to continue to play soccer, and I really love the location.
 
Coach Bancroft on Walsh:
"Maddie is death from above.  She wins balls in the air.  She's a presence we need against a Binghamton or a Hartford.  Her physical presence on the field is a positive one.  She's a really good defender, really good in the air and she's the type of athlete we need to attract."