ISU Soccer Signs Four

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State head coach Wendy Dillinger has signed four student-athletes in preparation for the upcoming soccer season. Emily Hejlik, Krista Long, Amanda Cacciatore and Rachel Brcic will join the Cyclones for the 2008 season. Iowa State returns 19 players from a team that finished 8-6-5 in 2007.

“The class will bring athleticism and speed,” Dillinger said. “They are a very competitive group with a sense of the game and they should make an impact with the team immediately.”

Emily Hejlik lettered four times for West Des Moines Valley, earning elite all-state honors in 2007. She was named the captain of the 2007 2A all-tournament team, the first defender ever to gain that honor. She was an all-conference performer during all four of her years with the Tigers, leading the team to three consecutive state titles (2005-07). She also lettered in basketball and track. Hejlik was a member of the 2007 Johnston/Urbandale Soccer Club team that won a state championship. She also earned state titles as a member of the under-18 West Des Moines Fuerza Club and the West Des Moines Quest Club. Hejlik's uncle, Tom Busch, was an All-American performer for the Iowa State football team and played professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals. Hejlik plans to major in communications while at Iowa State.

Krista Long earned four varsity letters while playing for Ankeny. She was a CIML Honorable Mention selection in 2006. She played for the Ankeny U18 club team and was a member of the Olympic Development Team in 2006. Long twice went to Florida for 3-on-3 nationals, placing sixth in 2001 and fourth in 2002. She plans to study interior design.

Amanda Cacciatore comes to Iowa State from Oak Park, Ill. Cacciatore was an all-conference selection in 2007 while playing for Glenbrook South High School. The two previous years she played for the Chicago Sockers club team, competing in their top talent program. She was on the Illinois Olympic Development Program state team and was an alternate on the Olympic Development Program Super Y League national team. She was a four-year member of the honor roll and earned three academic achievement awards in science. She plans to major in business.

Rachel Brcic, who hails from St. Louis, Mo., led her Cor Jesu High School to a district title in 2006 and was a district finalist in 2007. She was named honorable mention all-district in 2006. Her club team won the Missouri State Cup Championship in 2003 and 2007 and was a finalist in 2002, 2004 and 2006. It was Region II champions in 2003 and Region II a finalists in 2007. She also played for the Missouri State Olympic Development team from 2002 to 2006. Brcic's father, Mark, played soccer for the University of Virginia while her uncle, David, was a member of both the U.S. Olympic and World Cup teams. Brcic is undecided on her major.

Players Mentioned

Rachel Brcic

Amanda Cacciatore

Emily Hejlik

Krista Long

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics