From Dominican University: "Goalkeeper Megan Herring and defender Kathryn Ripple of Santa Rosa, midfielder Carrie Freyer of Windsor, forward Brooke Apodaca of Rocklin and midfielder Michelle Bella of Glendora will join the Penguins next season in NCAA Division II action. The Penguins tied for fifth place in their inaugural season in the Pacific West Conference in 2009.
Herring was the North Bay League’s Most Valuable Player and first-team All-Empire goalie who led Montgomery High School to a 22-2-1 record and the North Coast Section Division I championship last season. She allowed only eight goals in 25 games.
On November 17, 2009, Herring was named ESPN Rise’s California Athlete of the Week.
“We are very excited to have Meg's commitment. She is a very athletic GK with great size and technique,” (Coach) Delano said. “She is coming to DU from a club that has produced many great GKs and we feel she has the potential to make an immediate impact on our program."
Fryer, center mid, was a four-year starter at Windsor High School where she made the All Sonoma County League and All-Empire teams every year. She also is a member of the Santa Rosa United Thunder, which is ranked among the top 50 in the country. Freyer’s age group club team was a State Cup finalist in 2008 and State Cup semifinalist in 2007 and 2009. Her team won the US Club National Championship in 2005.
“Carrie is a very good player that will help fill the void left by Eleanna Mendez (another Windsor High School product),” Delano said. “Carrie has tremendous work-rate, vision, and technical ability. Her commitment to academics and soccer makes her the ideal fit for Dominican University and the women's soccer program.”
Ripple, who is Freyer’s teammate with Santa Rosa United Thunder and was Herring’s teammate at Montgomery High, was named to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s All-Empire first team. She joined Freyer on Santa Rosa United’s state and national cup teams and starred at Montgomery, which has been in the NCS finals for the past nine years.
“We are extremely pleased to have received Kathryn’s commitment. We have followed the development of Kathryn through the years and have been impressed by her competitiveness, technical ability, and ability to play a variety of positions on the back line,” Delano said. “Every team she has ever been a part of has been successful and we know this will continue during her time at Dominican University.”
