AMES, Iowa - Iowa State head coach Rebecca Hornbacher will welcome seven student-athletes to the 2007 soccer team in the fall, her fifth recruiting class at ISU. The class of 2007 will include three players from Iowa, and players from California, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas. Iowa State will return 20 players in the upcoming season.
“I am very excited about the talent and experience this incoming class will bring to our program,” said head coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We have added quality and diversity in terms of playing characteristics. All of these players can play a variety of positions based upon how we play tactically as a team. We have signed three great players from Iowa and we look to continue to bring the best from our state to become Cyclones. We have our staff's first player from Wisconsin, and we continue to bring in quality players from Texas. The addition of two transfers will bring this class the experience of playing at a higher level. Overall, we are extremely happy about all seven of these young women because we know that beyond being talented athletes, they will represent our program and Iowa State University to the highest degree.”
Ashley Costanzo, a goalkeeper from West Des Moines, is a two-time all-state, elite all-state and 2006 first-team all-conference honoree. The four-time letterwinner led Valley High School to back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006, and three consecutive conference titles (2004-2006). In 2006, the Tigers' defense tied for ninth in the national for consecutive shutouts (17) and tied for fourth for the fewest goals allowed in a single season (4). Entering this 2007 high school season, the team is in the midst of a 39-game winning streak, with only one loss in the last three years. Costanzo was also a three-time varsity letterwinner in volleyball. She was a two-time first-team all-conference selection (2005-2006), as well as an Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State and all-district selection in 2006. Costanzo received an academic letter for her achievements in 2006. She will continue a Cyclone family tradition as both of her grandfathers (Harter Hull and Angelo Costanzo) and her cousin Beth Costanzo attended Iowa State. Costanzo plans to major in secondary physical education with a health performance emphasis.
“Ashley is a tremendously gifted athlete who has had great success in the state of Iowa,” said Hornbacher. “After competing on two state championship teams, she will bring tremendous talent and an outstanding work ethic to our goalkeeper position. She has been coached by Rob Chapman and anchored a strong defense that won two state titles.”
Betsy Henson, a defender from Bettendorf, Iowa, the four-time letterwinner helped Bettendorf High School qualify for two state tournaments berths in 2004 and 2006. In 2006, the team made it to the state quarterfinals and ended the season ranked No. 6 in the state of Iowa, with an 11-2 record. She plays for the Quad-City Strikers club team. In addition to her soccer accolades, Henson has earned three varsity letters in basketball and was an all-conference selection in 2006. She is a two-time volleyball letterwinner earning all-conference honors in 2006, leading the team to a state runner-up finish in 2005, and to the state quarterfinals in 2006. Henson is a member of the academic all-conference team and a member of the National Honor Society.
“Betsy is an overall tremendous athlete, having played volleyball, basketball, and soccer in high school,” said Hornbacher. “Her height and athleticism will be a great addition to our defense. She has the ability to be a force in the air.”
Meredith Manning, a defender from Johnston, Iowa, returned as captain for her senior year after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury kept her from play during her sophomore and junior years. As a freshman in 2004, she helped the team to the state championship and was selected to the all-conference second team. Manning is a four-year honor roll student, three-year academic letterwinner and academic all-conference honoree. In her years with the Johnston Soccer Club, she has been team captain and has also coached the nine-and-under and 11-and-under programs. Additionally, Manning spent three years with the Iowa '89 and three years with the Iowa '88 Olympic Development Programs. Manning's father and cousins also attended Iowa State. Manning plans to major in pre-med/biology.
“Meredith is one of the hardest working athletes I have encountered,” Hornbacher said. “After coming back from injury in her high school career, she has overcome adversity and has become the tremendous player that she is today. She possesses great speed and is a very smart and composed player. She has also had tremendous coaching by Matty Smith.”
Jordan Bishop, a midfielder from Carrollton, Texas, is a four-year starter and three-time all-district performer at Hebron High School. This year, she is a captain for senior year on her high school team. They were regional finalists in 2004 and 2006. As a three-year team captain of the D'Feeters club team, she led the team to three championships, including the 2005 North Texas State Soccer Association State Cup trophy. Bishop also lettered four times in cross-country and was voted most athletic in the senior class by her peers. She is a seven-year member of the NTSSA Olympic Development Program squad and three-year member of the United StatesYouth Soccer Association ODP Regional Pool team. She is an ?A' honor roll student and has held numerous positions in the Student Council. Bishop was honored as the senior class homecoming queen and the main character of a student-produced mini-movie warning peers about the dangers of drunk driving. Bishop plans to major in journalism.
“Jordan is a very dynamic player that will bring speed, quickness, and playmaking to our midfield and our attack,” said Hornbacher. “She has a tremendous shot and is extremely technical, which will enable her to make an immediate impact in a number of ways. Jordan has also been a part of a strong soccer club, the D'Feeters, and has had the great opportunity to be coached by Hugh Bradford and Tamura Crawley.”
Julie Chen, a midfielder from Appleton, Wis., is a three-year varsity letterwinner and a three-time all-conference selection. In the spring of 2006, she led Appleton North to the Wisconsin Sectional Championship title on its way to the state semi-finals. The senior will serve as captain in the upcoming 2007 season. Chen's high school team has won the Wisconsin Fox Valley Association title three years in a row (2004-2006). Her father helped coach her Appleton Soccer Club team to 18 tournament titles from 2003-2006. In 2004, the team traveled internationally, training in England at Greenwich College, and finishing third in the Donosti Cup Tournament in San Sebastian, Spain. Chen participated in the 2001 Olympic Development Program Regional Pool and the 2002 Wisconsin State ODP Pool. She also competed as a gymnast and placed fourth at the 2004 Level 8 State Championship. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honor Society, a four-year honor roll student and an AP Scholar in five subjects. She is an active member in her church youth group acting as group leader for three years and participating in a mission trip to Mexico in 2006. Chen's older brother, Peter, graduated from Iowa State in 2004. Chen plans to major in microbiology.
“Julie is a very technically and fundamentally sound player and is very composed on the ball,” Hornbacher said. “Her work ethic and ability to play-make will be instrumental in our teams' dynamic approach to our attack. We see her fit into a variety of positions, depending on how we play tactically.”
Erin Curry, a midfielder/defender from Windsor, Calif., is a junior transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College. She played one season at Eastern Washington University during the 2005-2006 school year and then transferred to Santa Rosa. During her sophomore year at as a defender at Santa Rosa, she scored two goals and had two assists playing every minute of every match. As the team captain, she led the team to a 16th-place ranking in the state, eighth in Northern California and second place in the conference. Curry was a first-team all-conference pick and boasted the highest grade-point average on the team with a 3.76. She was honored with the Frank P. Doyle Scholarship for her scholastic achievements. Curry attended Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., and was a four-year letter winner. In her senior year (2004), the team was ranked seventh in the region by National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was a North Coast Section playoff finalist. During her four years, the team advanced to the sectional playoff every year and recorded a 57-13-8 record. She was also a three-year member of the Northern California Olympic Development Program squad. Curry plans to major in international business.
“Erin is one of our most versatile and experienced players coming into our program,” said Hornbacher. “She can play as an outside midfielder or as an outside back. She is attack-minded and will help us initiate our attack out of the back. She is composed on the ball and equally adept with both feet. She has been coached and played at a high level for Karen Stanley at Santa Rosa Junior College.”
Lauren Stuart, a defender from Granite City, Ill., is a sophomore who attended Southwestern Illinois College last season. The four-year letterwinner from Granite City High School was selected as captain her senior year and helped the team qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 1997. The following year, she once again led the team to a state tournament appearance, owning a 24-2-1 record. The 2006 team allowed only 10 goals and earned 15 shutouts. Individually, Stuart played sweeper and had four goals, including two game winners and eight assists. En route to being named first-team all-sectional and all-conference, she was also named to the Bi-State Shootout All-Tournament Team. That year the team won the Bi-State Shootout and was regional and sectional champions. Stuart played for Team Olympians soccer club. Stuart plans to major in business.
“Lauren is the most physical player we have in this class, and also brings experience to our defense,” Hornbacher said. “She is strong, athletic, and a tremendous ball winner. Lauren will provide us with another option on restarts as she is an outstanding striker of the ball.”
