Feb. 8, 2006

Duquesne University head women's soccer coach James Walker announced today his 2006-07 recruiting class. Joining the Dukes this coming season are Carrie Anderson (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Stephanie Balzano (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield), Brittany Findley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), Shaina Geisler (Westfield, Ohio/Walsh-Jesuit), Brittney Getz (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch), Stephanie Hair (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield), Annie Reid (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), Kimberly Roncase (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), and Kelly Shank (Glen Mills, Pa./West Chester East).

Anderson will help secure the defensive/midfield spots for the Dukes next year after leading her Medina squad to a 12-3-2 overall record in 2005. Her team won the 2004 Pioneer Conference title and she was a four-year letterwinner. Anderson was an honor roll student, tutored other students and was a member of the Impact Youth Group. She is currently undecided in her choice of major.

Balzano, a midfielder/defender, led her Battlefield high squad to the 2002 and 2003 Western High School district titles and the 2005 Cedar Run district crown. She was also tabbed a first team all-region selection. A four-year letterwinner, she was a Cedar Run All-District pick and was named a Northwestern Region second team honoree. Balzano was named to the All-Area and All-Extra team by the Potomac News and was a Washington Post honorable mention. She recorded 17 goals and 10 assists as a senior and has not decided on a major. She volunteers with the Broward County Humane Society.

Findley will add to the depth of the Dukes' goalkeepers after leading her Upper St. Clair squad to an 18-2-1 mark as a prep. A four-year letterman, she helped guide her squad to the 2002 Western PA Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) title and to the 2002 and 2004 sectional crowns. Named a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Star, Findley was nominated for the Chatham College Women Athlete Award for excellence in academics and athletics. She lettered in basketball and track and is a member of the German Club, CPR Life Saving Team and the National Honor Society. Findley is looking to major in physical therapy.

A midfield/forward, Geisler was a four-year starter and helped lead her team to an overall record of 77-4-5 over her career, which included an undefeated home record. Her Walsh Jesuit squad won the state Division I title in 2004 and she was credited with the game-winning score. Her squad advanced to Ohio State Final Four three times and Walsh Jesuit was ranked #1 in the nation for seven weeks. Geisler stands third all-time in scoring at her school and is a two-time Plain Dealer Player of the Year and was twice named to its Best of the Best list. She was tabbed the 2004 Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Year and twice was named an Akron Touchdown Club All-Star. Active in volunteer work, she is a member of S.A.D.D, a student ambassador and volunteers for Birthcare and the MRDD/Special Olympics. She plans to major in physical therapy.

Getz will be considered a utility player for the Dukes as she is capable of excelling at any field position. She led her Austintown Fitch squad to the 2005 Federal League championship as well as the 2005 section and the 2003 district titles. She earned first team All-SVC laurels in 2002, was a 2003 first team D-I All-District and a 2004 and 2004 first team all-district, all-county and All-Federal League selection. Getz also earned third team All-Ohio honors as well as second team all-district, all-county and all-league honors. She is involved with Habitat for Humanity and is looking to major in secondary education.

A defender, Hair helped her Battlefield squad captured the 2002 and 2003 Western High School district titles as well as the Northwestern Regional and state crowns. She earned All-Cedar Run district and all-region honors three times and twice as named a first team all-area selection. A first team All-Virginia honoree, she was also a three-time All-Met honorable mention. Hair lettered four years in soccer and is looking to be a marketing major.

Reid, a midfielder and four-year letterwinner, led her Mother of Mercy team to the 2003 Girls Greater Cincinnati League (GGCL) title and the team was the sectional runner-up in 2005. She was named a first team All-GGCL selection as a senior and to the All-Southwest District team. Reid led her team in goals three of her four seasons and in assists twice. An honor roll student, she is a student-council representative and plans to major in communications.

Roncase will help secure the Dukes' defense after leading her Owen J. Roberts squad to four PAC-10 championships. They were District 1 state champions in 2005 and PIAA stats champs in 2003. Owen J. Roberts was the PIAA runner-up in 2005 and District 1 runners-up in both 2002 and 2004. Roncase was a three time PAC-10 first team selection and twice named a Southeastern PA All-Star. She was named a three-time Mercury and Daily Local News first-team pick and was the 2005 Mercury Player of the Year. Roncase is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to major in pharmacy.

Shank, a defender/midfielder, was a first team All-Chesmont pick leading her West Chester East team to a 61-25-7 record over her career. The team advanced to the state quarter finals in 2005 and was a district finalist in 2003. West Chester East captured the 2004 Chesmont League title in 2004. Shank also excelled in basketball and lacrosse earning nine varsity letters as well all first team All-Chesmont honors in basketball. An honor student, she played for the W.C. United Predators soccer club which won three state titles. She is looking to major in secondary education.

Coach Walker adds, "I'm really excited about this recruiting class as it brings in a lot of talent and experience on both the high school and club level. We've lost five seniors to graduation and I believe this talented group of young ladies will only add to our continued success both on the soccer field and in the classroom. We had an extremely successful year in 2005 and we are looking for things to only get better."

This past year, Duquesne hit the 10-win mark for the first time ever going 10-5-1 overall. The Dukes posted a 5-4-0 Atlantic 10 Conference record, which tied the most league wins matching the 1999 squad which finished 5-6-0 in A-10 play. Duquesne ended the year ranked fifth in the A-10 to earn it's first-ever berth into the six-team Conference championship. The sixth-seeded Dukes suffered a 1-2 loss in overtime to third seed Charlotte in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 championship.