Michigan State University Athletics
Field Hockey Introduces 2009 Recruiting Class
2/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 6, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey program has received signed National Letters of Intent from six newcomers that will join the team for the 2009 season. The freshman class will join a group of talented players that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2008. MSU finished the 2008 season with a 17-6 record and returned to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
"Winning is a tradition," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Being the best you or a program can be is more than talking about it. It's making the commitment and being willing to make the sacrifices needed to be the best and have a real opportunity to compete for championships. The 2009 incoming freshman class has an understanding of doing what it takes to be a winner as part of a something bigger than themselves. The group of new Spartans will help our program from the get-go and will further develop and improve our tradition of being the best we can be, and with that compete for and win championships in years to come."
LAYNE AVERILL
Forward/Midfield
Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Academy
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
Suburban News Publications Player of the Year ... League Champions ... 2006 State Champion ... 2008 State runner-up... Honorable Mention All-America in lacrosse ... Daughter of Rory and Teri Averill.
"I chose Michigan State after seeing the team play Ohio University in an overtime game," said Averill. "I saw the camaraderie and intensity the team possessed. All of the players, whether on the field or on the sideline, were all in it together. They played until the very last second of the game, never giving up, and came out winning. That was very impressive to me. From seniors to freshmen, all of the players have the will to win and the same level of intensity. It is rare to see that on such a high level. The girls are all so welcoming and have a passion for the game that is inspiring. The coaches are also welcoming, but beyond that they have an eye for the game and I know they can make me into the best player I can be and won't give up. They will push me to make me better on and off the field."
"Layne is a player that shouldn't take long to contribute to future Spartan success," said Van de Kerkhof. "After seeing her highlight tape for about 30 seconds the entire coaching staff was convinced that Layne had something very special as a player and personality, and that she would be an ideal member to strengthen our program. I am excited to welcome Layne as she knows what it takes to become and remain a winner. She has proven that as an impact player for one of Ohio's powerhouse high school programs under head coach Anne Horton at Columbus Academy."
MOLLY CASSIDY
Goalkeeper
Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
A member of 2009 U-19 National Team ... Named to USA U-19 Field Hockey Chile Tour and Olympic Development Select and USA U-21 Junior National Camps ... Participated in the USA-Canada U-16 Field Hockey Challenge ... National Futures Tournament silver and bronze medalist ... A Junior Olympian ... Four-year varsity starter and two-year varsity captain for La Costa Canyon ... Three year CIF Division I Championship team member ... North County Times All-First Team ... CIF All-First Team selection ... Union Tribune All-First Team honoree and All-Academic First Team ... A member of the Union Tribune Hall of Fame team ... A scholar athlete ... Honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society ... Daughter of Shawn and Elena Cassidy.
"I have wanted to become a Spartan since seventh grade because this program has all the aspects of a great college experience from an academic perspective, to the team and coaching staff," noted Cassidy. "It's not California, but I couldn't see myself at home anywhere else than East Lansing."
"Although Molly comes to Michigan State all the way from Southern California, in recruiting her I never experienced a distance between Molly, her family and the Spartan program," said Van de Kerkhof. "I am going back in time as I have known Molly and the Cassidy's since her seventh grade year. Molly also comes from a high school that has brought many impact players, such as Jessica Miller and Kathryn Elenz-Martin to Michigan State University. I am very excited to welcome Molly Cassidy to my program as I am positive that she is all a coach is looking for in a student-athlete and young person. Molly's exposure and training opportunities with players from several national teams have given her a very strong base to start her college experience as a goalkeeper. "
LIZZIE HELFFRICH
Forward
Cleveland, Ohio/Shaker Heights
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
Named to the Northeast Ohio Second team ... Earned All-Ohio team honors and Academic All-Ohio accolades ... Northeast Ohio field hockey league first team ... Was on the academic honor roll all four years ... A team captain ... Daughter of Mike and Karen Helffrich.
"Throughout the recruiting process, Michigan State had the most to offer when it came to field hockey and academics," said Helffrich. "They have one of the top programs for my Pre-Vet major and a winning attitude on the field. I fell in love with the team and coaching staff when I visited and I knew it would be a perfect fit. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. Here, I can be part of a family"
"Lizzie is a player with a big heart and intense desire to compete," said Van de Kerkhof. "She has been enjoying the Spartan experience for several years now; coming to games, play days and camps - it seems she is already part of our program but now it is finally official. Lizzie will likely need some time to develop and contribute on the field, but with her desire to improve, that will just be a matter of time. With the positive outlook and the importance of team, Lizzie will further help our program to mature and become stronger as one."
KRISTEN HENN
Midfield
Prospect, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
First Team All- American ... West Region All-American ... Miss Kentucky Field Hockey ... Kentucky Select First Team and an all-state tournament first team honoree ... Three-year Kentucky State Champion, accumulating a record of 83-0 ... Three-year varsity letterwinner and co-captain ... A member of Futures Elite ... Participated in the National Futures Championship ... A Junior Olympian ... A member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society ... Kentucky Academic All State ... An honor roll student all four years ... High school teammate of incoming freshman Jess Lindner ... Daughter of Russ and Kathy Henn.
"Michigan State proved to be the best college for me both academically and athletically," said Henn. "MSU fit all of my academic needs, providing endless majors for me to choose from. Athletically, MSU offered the exact type of program I was looking for. Not only was the team welcoming, but the coaching staff created a team environment which I wanted to be a part of. "
"Probably the fasted turnaround time between indentifying as a potential Spartan and receiving a verbal commitment to become a Spartan is Kristen's recruiting story," said Van de Kerkhof. "Kristen has all the tools a future impact player for a top Division I program needs to have and the best thing about them is that she can utilize all her tools as a true team player. I am positive that her performance will allow others to improve at a faster rate as well. Kristen already has a pretty good developed drag-flick, a skill every college program could only hope for, and this skill with further improvements, will make her an additional scoring threat on our future opponents."
JESS LINDNER
Forward
Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
Two time Penn Monto/NFHCA High School All-American ... Named to the Penn Monto/NFHCA High School All-Region team twice ... A member of Kentucky State Championship All-Tournament Team ... A Kentucky First Team selection ... Named to the District II All-Tournament Team and Apple Field Hockey All-Tournament Team ... Kentucky Senior All-Star Team member ... Three-year Kentucky State Champion, accumulating a record of 83-0 ... Sacred Heart Academy junior class athlete of the year ... Academic All-State First Team ... A junior Olympian ... Participated in the National Futures Championship ... A member of the Futures Elite ... Attended the Futures Development Invitational Camp ... High school teammate of fellow incoming freshman Kristen Henn ... Daughter of Robert and Cheryl Lindner.
"The most important reason I chose Michigan State was that I felt that the coaching staff would be able to motivate me to be the best field hockey player possible," said Linder. "I also admired coach Van de Kerkhof's honesty and straight-forward manner. In addition, I thought the academics and the academic support was excellent. I was also very impressed with the players, their unspoken bond, and their sense of camaraderie. Watching them interact with one another convinced me that I wanted to be a Spartan."
"Jessica is another player that has been enjoying and experiencing Michigan State field hockey for several years," said Van de Kerkhof. "I think it is fair to say that she fell in love with our program and became more and more excited about her opportunities to experience life as a Spartan student-athlete as time went by. Jessica has made an early impact on the coaches as she is already known to be a `player with the magnet stick' as she finds ways to receive and keep control of the ball that others can and will not understand. Jessica should be able to create playing opportunities especially if she continues to develop as she has the past two years."
ADELLE LEVER
Midfield/Defender
Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA:
Second Team All-American ... First Team All Mid-Region ... Pennsylvania First Team All-State ... Suburban 1 All-League First Team ... Participated in the Olympic Development Select Chile Tour and the Futures Elite Netherland Tour ... An Olympic Development Select ... Competed in the Can-Am Challenge ... Participated in the Junior National Camp ... A Junior Olympian ... Member of the National Futures Championship ... Varsity captain her junior and senior years ... Named 2008 Player of the Year by SOL American Conference Suburban One Sports, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Times Herald, The Ambler Gazette and The Reporter ... Member of the honor roll all four years of high school ... Daughter of Scott and Carrie Lever.
"As a student-athlete, I chose Michigan State University as the place to enjoy my college experience because the location, academic majors, and athletic program are the perfect fit for me," said Lever. "With some of my family located in Michigan, anytime I need something, want a home-cooked meal or a place to get away, I have one more place I can call home. MSU allows me to explore the fields of dietetics, kinesiology, psychology and the ability to study abroad in either Ireland or Australia. MSU's athletic program will challenge me to grow to my full potential on and off the field. Rolf, the head coach, has a great outlook on life and I feel that I have a lot to learn from him. I also feel I have a lot to bring to the team. The group of girls are down to earth, driven, and individuals that I would enjoy spending the next four years with."
"Adelle will be a great addition to our program, especially in the backfield," said Van de Kerkhof. "With the graduation of Geraldine Raynor it is important for us to strengthen our backfield. Adelle has the skill, awareness and poise to become a go-to player for us. Adelle learned at Wissahickon how to fill big shoes left by the only US National Women's Team player coming out of high school and she did it in her own style and with her own identity. Adelle is level-headed and understands the importance of balance, and she will help our program to further improve in years to come."
