TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head soccer coach Kevin Boyd today announced that Christina Edwards, Olivia Hernandez, Devyn Kelsey, Emma Malsy, and Hailey Zerbel have signed National Letters of Intent to study and play soccer at Arizona State.
“Once again we think we have put together a very good class, not only in the talent that they bring, but the character that they bring,” said Boyd, who will be entering his 10th season at ASU in 2016. “We are losing nine players to graduation, five of which are going on to professional careers so there is a lot of great talent that we have to replace. We feel like the players that make up this class have the potential to not just simply step in and fill a void, but to come in and have an immediate impact in our program.”
Forward/Midfield • Summit High School (Bend, Ore.) • Bend FC
Bio: Two-time 5A Girls State Player of the Year (2014, 2015), who helped lead her team to four 5A state championships… First Team All State 2012-2015… First Team All IMC 2012-2015 and was named IMC State Player of the Year in 2015… Has twice been a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee… Was named MVP of the state championship game as a freshman in 2012… Helped her club team to runner-up finishes at the Oregon State cup in 2014,2015… ODP regional Pool in 2011… President of Sparrow Club 2015-current and was vice president of student council in 2014-2015
ASU head coach Kevin Boyd on Christina Edwards: “Christina can play either forward or midfield, but we are looking at her as a forward in her first year. She has good size and is really good in the air, which is something we really need. She has the ability to come in and put a head on a ball in the opponent’s box. We feel lucky we were able to find her and think she’ll be a great addition to our team.”
Forward • West View High School (Avondale, Ariz.) • Sereno
Bio: 2015 ODP Region IV Team and 2015 ODP Interregional Tournament All Star Team… Four-member of Westview’s varsity squad… Has twice served as team captain… Awards include: 2012-2013 AIA Honorable Mention All State 5A D1; 2012-2013 AIA All Section First Team D1 S1; 2013-2014 AIA All Section Second Team D1 S1; 2014-2015 AIA All Division Second Team D1 S1; 2014-2015 AIA All Section Player of the Year D1 S1; 2014 Student-athlete for the month of December in Tolleson Union High School District (Soccer); 2015 Student-athlete for the month of August in Tolleson Union High School District (Cross Country), 2016 Record Holder with 141 Goals with Westview High School VarsitySoccer (Tentative)… Other ODP experience includes four years with the ODP state team (2012-15), 2012, ’13, ’15 ODP Region IV Camp, 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Region IV Championships Tournament 18 Team… Was with Banat Soccer Club for three years where she helped lead her team to a AYSA runner-up finish in 2012 and a AYSA championship in 2015 and the 2013 Far West Regional Championships… Has been with Sereno Soccer Club since 2013… 2015 Invite to Player Development Program, Mountain Region ECNL.
ASU head coach Kevin Boyd on Olivia Hernandez: “Olivia is a very good forward who most recently played with the regional team. She is fast, physical, strong and she works tremendously hard. I had her with the ODP a couple years ago and it was when I was working with her in that capacity that I realized how good she was. She is someone that we expect to vie for playing time right away. “
Defender/Midfield • Los Osos High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) • Slammers FC
Bio: Selected for U18 US and U19 US National Team Camps… Earned second-team All-League honors as a freshman and first-team recognition each of the following in 2014 and 2015…All-CIF Team in 2015… Team captain of 2015-16 team… Three-time team MVP… Selected for YOP at the age of 12 and selected for ODP at ages 13 and 14… Selected for Regional team at U14 (was part of championship team)… Named to Excalibur All-Tournament Team three times.
ASU head coach Kevin Boyd on Devyn Kelsey: “Devyn is an outstanding player, who has been in national team camp a couple times. I saw her first playing holding midfield and it took all of five minutes to find out how good she was. She’s strong, technical, smart, and very athletic. Her club later moved her to center-back and it seemed like she was even better there. We are looking at her in both positions and are really looking forward to what she will bring to our team.”
Goalkeeper • Ocean View High School (Huntington Beach, Calif.) • Southern California Blues
Bio: Four-year starting varsity goalkeeper… team captain… had helped lead team to CIF appearances all four years, including a berth in the quarterfinals in 2014-15… Golden West League Champions (2014-2015)… Best club finishes include: 2014 ECNL 2013-14 Finals (Richmond,Va.) – 5th place, 2014 ECNL 2013-14 Playoffs (Seattle, Wash.) – Team Champions, 2015 ECNL 2014-15 Finals (Richmond, Va.) – 4th Place, 2015 ECNL 2014-15 Playoffs (Seattle, Wash.) – Team Champions, 2014 Surf College Cup – Team Champions… OC Varsity Scholar-Athlete of the Week (January 4, 2016)… Outstanding student, who is ranked No. 5 in her class with a 4.7 cumulative GPA… Is a nominee for Golden Hawk Award for Academic Excellence in English and Mathematics (sophomore and junior year)… International Baccalaureate Diploma student.
ASU head coach Kevin Boyd on Emma Malsy: “We have watched Emma a number of times over the years and what we are most impressed by is she just keeps getting better. She is pushing 5’11” in height so she has great size to go with good feet. She also has very good hands, is not afraid to take a ball in a crowd and is a good shot blocker. We expect that she’ll be our goalkeeper at some point in her career.”
Defender/Forward • South Hills High School (West Covina, Calif.) • Slammers FC
Bio: Four-year starter on varsity team, who has led her team in scoring each of the last two years… Career statistics through 86 games (still active) include 60 goals and 23 assists for 143 points… Two-time offensive MVP (2014 and 2015)… Earned All-CIF honors in 2014 and first-team All-CIF recognition in 2015… Twice named first-team All League (2014 & 2015) in Sierra League… Helped lead team to 2016 Palomares League championship, Division 3… Other high school honors include: All League Academic Award (2014), All San Gabriel Valley Team (2014 & 2015) and San Gabriel Valley Goal of the Year (2014)… Three-year starter for Slammers FC Club Team.
ASU head coach Kevin Boyd on Hailey Zerbel: “Hailey is tremendous at both the forward and wide back positions. She has a lot of speed and she can play on either side of the field. She will bring a flip throw, which is not something we have had in the past. She has great character and I think she will immediately contest for playing time in our program.”