Coach Warren Lipka announced Tuesday the addition of six student-athletes to the University of Kentucky women’s soccer program who will join the team for the 2002 season. The group of newcomers includes five high school seniors and one freshman transfer who complement five previously signed prospects.
Kobe Johnson (Lexington, Ky./Tates Creek), Lindsay Kavanagh (Somerset, Ky./Somerset), Marisa Larkin (LaGrange, Ky./Oldham County), Courtney McCrudden (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional/Wake Forest), Kristin Moyer (Niwot, Colo./Niwot), and Anne Ogundele (Mississauga, Ontario/St. Francis Xavier) will attend UK and play soccer for the Wildcats this fall.
Johnson comes to UK as the third-leading scorer in Tates Creek High School history, totaling 59 goals and 25 assists for 143 career points. The Kentucky High School Coaches Association awarded her first-team All-State accolades at the forward position in 1999 and 2001, and was named All-City the same seasons by the Fayette County Coaches Association. Johnson also was an All-District and All-Region performer last season and was a recipient of the Kentucky Governor’s Academic Award. Johnson currently plays for LFC Premier and chose UK over Louisville, Howard and Tennessee.
“We are extremely excited about Kobe as she is one of the best players in Lexington and the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Lipka said. “She will look to compete for playing time on the attacking side of the ball and will add quality depth to our front line.”
Kavanagh was her district’s most valuable player as a freshman, junior and senior and will add depth at forward and the midfield positions for the Wildcats. Achieving first-team All-State in 2000 and second-team honors as a freshman in 1998 and a senior in 2001, Kavanagh also was voted Pulaski County’s Player of the Year and the Somerset High School Most Valuable Player last season. Getting it done in the classroom as well as the playing field, she currently posts a 4.365/4.000 GPA as a National Honor Society and first-team Academic All-State student-athlete. A teammate with Johnson on LFC Premier, Kavanagh selected UK over Purdue and Western Kentucky.
“Lindsay is a very good technical player and she distributes the ball very well,” Lipka said. “She will look to challenge for playing time and add depth to our midfield.”
Larkin remains in the Bluegrass to continue her education and athletic career after starring at Oldham County High School in Buckner, Ky. She led her Javanon Soccer Club to the Kentucky state championship in 1999 and 2000 and was an All-District player in 1998 and 1999. Larkin, who will play in the UK defense, also was named first-team All-State in 1999 and garnered second-team honors in 2000.”Marisa comes from the same high school and club team that produced (current Wildcats) Tara Weatherford and Jamie Hutchison,” Lipka said. “She is a very good athlete and a good individual defender and we’re pleased that she decided to stay in the commonwealth to continue her playing career.”
McCrudden was originally recruited by Kentucky out of Eastern Regional High School in Vorhees, N.J., and will now make her home in the Bluegrass after one season at Wake Forest. A National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American in her prep career, McCrudden saw action in 14 games and assisted on two goals for the Demon Deacons as a freshman. She was a two-time All-State selection and led her team in scoring three times, setting records for career goals and goals in a season. The South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year in 2000, McCrudden also was voted Eastern Regional’s Most Valuable Player three times in soccer and was a state champion in track in the 800 meter-run. She decided on Kentucky over Tennessee.
“We initially recruited Courtney out of high school and we are thrilled that she has decided to come to the University of Kentucky after a year at Wake Forest,” Lipka said. “Her experience playing in the always challenging Atlantic Coast Conference will help our team achieve its goals.”
Moyer is a four-year letterwinner in soccer, basketball and softball at Niwot High School. She was selected first-team All-Tri-Valley League in soccer in 1999, 2000 and 2001 as well as being tabbed the league’s most valuable player as a senior in 2001. Selected to the All-Area team in 2000 and 2001 by the Longmont Times Call, Moyer also was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the publication as a senior. As the team’s captain, she led Niwot to a 17-1 record as a senior and lost in the state semifinal game in double overtime. Academically, Moyer is a member of the National Honor Society and was selected the Twin Peaks Rotary Club Student Athlete of the Month for April 2002. She chose UK over Colorado, Kansas and Washington State.
“Kristin is a multi-sport athlete who has the potential to develop into a very good soccer player at the University of Kentucky,” Lipka said. “She brings athleticism and versatility to our central defense.”
Ogundele won a gold medal as a goalkeeper for Team Ontario at the 2001 Canada Games and brings extensive experience in international competition to the Wildcats. She participated with the 2000 Ontario Provincial Team that competed against the Mexican Regional Champion U18 Team in Cancun, Mexico, and also was a member of the U19 Women’s National Team that faced Finland in international play last summer. Ogundele was an integral member on the U17 Provincial Team winning a gold medal in the All-Star National Championships and posted a shutout in the tournament. The native of Mississauga, Ontario considered Florida, Florida International and Purdue before deciding on UK.
“Anne is a product of the Canadian National Team program and she will bring that valuable experience of playing at the international level to our program,” Lipka said. “She has the potential to make an immediate impact on our program in her first season.”
The six join an already impressive group of newcomers to the 2002 women’s soccer team: Kathryn Grandinetti (Centennial, Colo./Grandview), Ashley Janning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon), Kristen Jedlo (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way Central), Lauren Krasko (Grasonville, Md./Kent Island) and Jennifer Weakley (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) committed earlier in the signing period.
“We are very excited to add such quality soccer players and students at this late date in the signing period,” Lipka said. “The geography of this class covers the far west of the United States and extends into Canada. We have a wide range of players from different parts of the country – each with a unique style and athletic dimension. This group will definitely make us a deeper, more balanced and versatile team. This will rank as one of our top classes in depth and experience. This group has played in big matches and has won big games. In addition, they also are very dedicated to their academics. These are the type of student-athletes we want here at UK.”
Starting the season 7-0 and ranked as high as No. 10, UK earned a bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in 10 years, finishing the season at 12-8-1 overall and 5-4-0 in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats begin the 2002 schedule at the Missouri Nike Challenge in Columbia, Mo., facing Illinois on Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET and Indiana on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. ET.
2002 UK Women’s Soccer Newcomers
Pos.Cl.Ht.Hometown/High School
Kathryn GrandinettiF/MFr.5-2Centennial, Colo./GrandviewAshley JanningM/DFr.5-7Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger BaconKristen JedloDFr.5-4Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way Cent.Kobe JohnsonFFr.5-4Lexington, Ky./Tates CreekLindsay Kavanagh F Fr. 5-3 Somerset, Ky./SomersetLauren KraskoDFr.5-5Grasonville, Md./Kent IslandMarisa LarkinDFr.5-4LaGrange, Ky./Oldham CountyCourtney McCrudden F So. 5-5 Vorhees, N.J./Eastern RegionalKristin MoyerDFr.5-9Niwot, Colo./NiwotAnne OgundeleGKFr.5-8Mississauga, Ontario/St. Francis XavierJennifer Weakley M Fr. 5-7 Columbus, Ohio/DeSales
– UK –
