University of Delaware Athletics
Scott Grzenda Announces Signing of Nine High School Standouts (June 8, 2012)
6/8/2012 2:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Declaring their intention to attend the University of Delaware and compete for the Blue Hens this fall are midfielder Gina DiTaranto, midfielder/defender Mary-Margaret Edwards, defender Alexandra Johnson, midfielder/defender Elise Krause, forward/midfielder/defender Emily Market, goalkeeper Kelsey O'Donnell, defender Madeline Parker, midfielder/defender Alison Slark, and defender Kelly Stumper.
A 2011 NSCAA Regional High School All-American, DiTaranto (Wallingford, Pa.) comes to Delaware with a wealth of experience at the highest levels of youth soccer. A talented midfielder, DiTaranto was honored with several awards during her senior year including Central League MVP, Delaware County Player of the Year, All-Southeastern PA first team honors, as well as being named to the All-State Team. She led her high school squad to two consecutive Central League Titles and was a first team Central League selection all four of her years at Strath Haven High School. She was also an integral part of her FC PA Strikers Club Team's success at both the state and regional levels. DiTaranto was recently named to the Delaware County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame for her athletic and scholastic achievements.
“Gina is a terrific player who will make an immediate impact on our team,” said Grzenda. “She is a great athlete who excels on both sides of the field. Her knowledge of the game and her experience at the club level will be an enormous factor to our program's success.”
“I chose to be a Blue Hen for a number of reasons, and the academics at the University of Delaware will definitely prepare me for what I will pursue after my college experience,” DiTaranto said. “I felt the soccer program was the perfect fit for me, between the excellent coaching staff and the high level of competition in the CAA that I was looking for. To make my decision even easier, the location couldn't be any better; living so close to campus makes it easy for me to visit home and for my parents to come watch me play.”
An All-Area and all MAPL selection, Edwards (Pottstown, Pa.) led her Hill School team to two consecutive MAPL League Championships and its first ever PIASSA State Championship during her career. She is a versatile player who will provide depth at almost every position on the field for the Blue Hens.
“Mary has many qualities to become an outstanding player,” Grzenda stated. “She is an extremely hard worker who will put her heart and soul into developing into a true talent. Mary is a great athlete who has the ability to contribute and be very successful on the field.”
“The reason I chose Delaware is simple: the moment I stepped foot on campus I felt like I was at home,” Edwards commented. “The campus is beautiful and the UD soccer family was so welcoming, that I felt this was the best choice for me.”
Johnson (Mount Laurel, N.J.) was a Parochial B New Jersey State Champion and comes to Delaware with an impressive club resume. She earned the MVP Award at Bishop Eustace High School in 2011, and was the 2012 Coaches Award recipient. Additionally her club team has had tremendous success throughout her tenure, with numerous New Jersey state titles and tournament wins.
“Alex is an extremely technical player who knows how to take care of the ball,” Grzenda noted. “She is a highly motivated student-athlete who has a solid soccer mind, and will be a great addition to our team.”
“I chose the University of Delaware because it is a great learning environment,” Johnson said. “The campus is big, yet small enough to feel comfortable and at home. It is in a great area, and I know I will be successful here because everyone is very welcoming and supportive. The soccer program is very competitive and I felt a connection to the team immediately. My parents are both former Blue Hens who had such a great experience on campus, and I am looking forward to doing the same.”
Krause (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), led powerhouse Cumberland Valley High school to the 2011 state championship and the 2010 state finals, as the Eagles won the district title during both years. A two-time Mid Penn Conference All-Star, Krause was also named first team Carlisle Sentinel and was a 2012 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year nominee.
“Elise has superb athletic ability and can play a variety of positions in the midfield and defense,” Grzenda stated. “We expect her to create offensive chances from the outside and give our team a different look on offense. She has the ability to become a great asset to our program.”
“I chose the University of Delaware for its proximity to my house and its amazing academic and athletic reputation,” Krause commented.
A 2011 Catholic Academies League Player of the Year and Bucks County Courier Player of the Year from Villa Joseph Marie High School, Market (Holland, Pa.) comes to UD after an impressive high school career. She is a Regional All-American, and has earned All-Southeastern Pennsylvania first team and All Pennsylvania State Team honors. She is a PIAA (AA) state finalist as well.
“Emily had a tremendous high school career and has all of the characteristics to be extremely successful at the college level,” Grzenda noted. “We are looking forward to her continued development as a player. She has the ability to make an immediate impact and contribute to our team's success.”
“I chose Delaware because of the gorgeous campus, its location, and the outstanding academic reputation,” Market said.
A three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and volleyball at Tower Hill School, O'Donnell (Wilmington, Del.) helped lead her team to the 2010 soccer state championship. She was named first team All- Conference and second team All-State during her career in the net for Tower Hill, while she also won three state titles as a member of her Kirkwood club team.
“Kelsey is an athletic keeper who will compete and help to strengthen our goalkeeping position,” Grzenda explained. “She was the best keeper in the state this year, and we're happy she chose Delaware to continue her collegiate career.”
“I chose the University of Delaware because of the impressive academic reputation,” O'Donnell said. “I'm excited to utilize its Study Abroad Program, which I feel will help to open many doors in my future. I also loved the atmosphere of the campus as a whole.”
Parker (Eagleville, Pa.) is a standout defender from Methacton High School where she was a two sport athlete and was recently voted the “Most Athletic Female” of 2012 by her classmates. A fierce competitor with a nose for breaking down the opposition's attack, Parker has had incredible success at the club level as well. A teammate of DiTaranto's on the FC PA Strikers, the dwo has won the Pennsylvania state title since the inception of the team eight years ago. She has been a major contributor to her team on the state, regional and national levels.
“Maddy is a very strong defender who has a wealth of experience with a highly competitive club team,” Grzenda noted. “She is a great athlete with outstanding technical abilities who will immediately challenge our defenders, and we are looking forward to her contributions to our program.”
“I chose Delaware because I loved the school and the campus,” Parker said. “The University has the major I'm interested in and I feel like I can help the soccer program to continue to succeed.”
Slark (Kensington, Md.) is a talented, technical midfielder and defender who was a four-year WCAC All-Conference selection at St. John's College High School. A two-time SJC Defensive Player of the Year and a Washington Post All-Met selection as a senior, Slark helped lead the Cadets to a pair of WCAC Championships during her tenure. She is also a member of the highly respected Bethesda Freedom SC, has played on the Maryland State team for four years, and was a member of the ODP Regional team as well.
“Alison has excelled at the club level in both the midfield and the back positions,” Grzenda said. “She has so many of the qualities any coach would want in a student-athlete. Alison is a tremendous competitor who will make our team better the moment she steps onto campus.”
“I chose to come to the University of Delaware because it was truly the perfect fit,” Slark commented. “It has a combination of great academic and athletic tradition, as well as a beautiful campus. I felt welcomed by the coaches and the team as soon as I got onto campus. I just knew it was the place for me the moment I stepped foot on campus.”
Stumper (St. James, N.Y.) comes to Delaware after extremely successful careers at both the high school and youth club soccer levels. She is a member of an Albertson Fury Club squad that has won three state titles, a WPSL National Championship and a Region One title. Individually, she was a member of the New York State ODP team for four years, as well as the Region One team for three of those years. At Smithtown East High School Stumper was an All-Conference Suffolk County Player as a midfielder and defender, and will be a great leader and addition to Delaware's backline.
“Kelly comes from a tremendous Albertson club team which has helped her develop into a leader on the field and become a true defensive talent,” Grzenda stated. “Kelly's knowledge of the game and her technical and athletic abilities will enable her to thrive at Delaware.”
“I had a feeling Delaware was the right school for me as soon as I stepped onto the campus,” Stumper explained. “The athletic and academic culture gave me a sense that I could be challenged in the classroom and on the soccer field. There was an instant connection to the coaching staff and the players on the team as well, but most of all, I felt that this environment would provide me with the best chance to grow as a person.”
