Feb. 13, 2009
PITTSBURGH–The University of Pittsburgh Head Women’s Soccer Coach Sue-Moy Chin announced the signing of five players to a National-Letter-of-Intent for the 2009 season. Providing depth to its field positions, Pitt signed one forward, two midfielders and two defenders. In addition to its recruiting class, the Panthers added Ashley Cuba, a student-athlete who graduated high school early and enrolled in classes at Pitt.
“I’m extremely excited to announce our 2009 recruiting class,” Chin said. “This class is very balanced and will add great depth to our team. With only two graduating seniors, we return nine starters and a strong core of our team from last year. We are looking for the newcomers to provide depth in all of our positions as well as challenge for some playing time early.”
Ashley Cuba (Poland, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) graduated early from high school and is currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh to begin spring training. As a four-year varsity letterwinner and team captain, Cuba accumulated many honors and awards throughout her career including Ohio State Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She is a two-time NSCAA All-America player, a three-time Adidas U.S. All-Regional team member and a three-year First Team All Ohio player. Additionally she was named the 2008 Ohio Co-Player of the Year, a three-time district Player of the Year, First Team All-District, First Team All County and First Team All SVC player.
She was also named a 2008 ESPN Player of the Week and earned ESPN Third Team All-America honors as a senior. Cuba led her team to three district championships and three region finals. She concluded her four-year career with 87 career goals and 65 assists.
“I’m thrilled that Ashley decided to graduate early and attend Pitt this spring,” Chin said. “She has fit in well with the team and is working hard at training and in the weight room. I think this will be a very important step for Ashley’s development and with her transition into the college game.”
Contributing at forward will be Emily Peters (State College, Pa./State College Area). Peters led State College Area High School to two MAC Championships in both 2006 and 2007. As a senior in 2008, she guided her team to the District VI Championships and reached the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs. In her four-year varsity career, Peters scored 24 goals and added 29 assists. Peters also competed for the Soccer Training Network club team (STN). While on STN she led her team to several tournament titles. She was named a Power of the Paws award, Booster Club selection and a Coaches Award honoree. Peters was also a member of the indoor track team.
Danielle Benner (Meadowbrook, Pa./Upper Moreland) and Lyndsay Pierson (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) will play a factor for the team in the midfield. Benner was a four-year varsity letterwinner and the first girl to start on the boys soccer team at Upper Moreland. She played for the FC Bucks travel team for seven years and was an FC Delco top division finalist in 2006. A member of the 2005-06 East PA State Cup finalist team, she was a YMC Epic finalist in 2008. In 2009, she guided her team to the EPYSA NCS State Cup Championship as well as the USYSA Region 1 National Championship. Additionally, Benner was a member of the basketball and track and field teams and is a National Honor Society member.
Pierson led her team to the Suburban One League Championship her freshman year at Neshaminy, as well as placing fourth and third, respectively, in the district playoffs. As a freshman, she was named to the Courier Times Golden Team Honorable Mention and All-Suburban One League National Conference Second Team. Later, she was named to the Courier Times Golden Team and All-Suburban One League National Conference First Team as both a sophomore and junior. As a team captain her junior and senior years, she also garnered team MVP honors. Playing for the FC Bucks travel squad, she led thee team to the State Cup Championship in 2007 and 2008 and guided them to the Region 1 Championship in 2008.
Providing strength to the Panthers defense are Abbigail Baldys (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) and Megan Swiderski (Troy, Mich./Troy Athens). A two-year captain her junior and senior year, Baldys led her team to the Midpenn Conference Championships three consecutive years. She helped her team to two second place district finishes in both 2005 and 2007 as well as the 2006 District championship. She was a part of the 2006 AA State championship team and was named to First Team all-conference in 2006 and 2007, as well as earning Midpenn MVP and all-state team accolades in 2007. In addition to excelling in soccer, Baldys served as president of the National Honor Society and was named class valedictorian.
Swiderski served as a two-year team captain and earned Rookie of the Year honors. She was selected a four-time all-area and all-district team honoree and also was named to the all-league, all-region and all-state honoree two years in a row. Swiderski is a four-year all-district tea and led her team to win the District championship in 2006. Her junior year she helped lead her team to the league championship as well as a second place finish at states. She also played for the Michigan Hawks club team where she led her team to three state championships and one regional championship. As well as being a soccer standout, Swiderski competed for four years on the varsity basketball team where served as team captain during her junior and senior years. In basketball, she earned all-area, all-conference, all-league and all district honors, was a Rookie of the Year award winner and team MVP for three seasons in a row.
Pitt ended its season with a record of 7-12-1 overall and 4-6-1 in the Big East.
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