University of Albany Women's Soccer Signs 11 High School Standouts to National Letters of Intent - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head women’s soccer coach Mary-Frances Monroe announced on Wednesday that 11 student-athletes, who all hail from the state of New York, have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2009-10 academic year. The class features two forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and one goalkeeper.

“We are extremely excited about our incoming class,” said Monroe on her largest collection of signees which includes eight players who compete in their local Olympic Development Program (ODP) and four 2008 NSCAA/adidas regional All-America selections. “This is a very unique and highly talented group of student-athletes who are going to leave an everlasting impression on this program.”

Jessica Baccaglini (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) is a 5-foot-5 defender who led her high school team to three straight New York State Class A championships from 2005-07. As a senior captain, she led the Cyclones to the state finals. A two-time All-Nassau County selection, Baccaglini was also a member of her school’s National Honor Society and helped her club team, the Rockville Centre Tornados, advance to the Eastern New York State Cup championship game twice.

Danielle DelNero (Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott) is a 5-foot-4 midfielder who was named all-division three times and all-conference once. The five-year letterwinner helped her squad win three consecutive New York State Class AA Section IV championships and advance as far as the state’s title game. The National Honor Society member recorded 26 goals and 14 assists in her career and captained her team for two seasons while also leading the Syracuse Football Club to a pair of New York West State Cup championships.

Chelsea DeVerna (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) and Maggie DeVerna (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) are twin sisters and team captains who led their program to two straight league titles. Chelsea, a 5-foot-2 forward, was named the Suffolk County Player of the Year and an all-state first-team selection, while Lisa, a 5-foot-2 midfielder, was a member of the NYSSWA Class AA all-state fourth team. The sisters played club soccer with Baccaglini on the Rockville Centre Tornados. They are Region II All-Americans and participate in the Eastern New York State Olympic Development Program (ENYSODP).

Olivia Guy (Ontario, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) finished her four-year high school career with 76 goals and 41 assists. A 5-foot-11 forward, she led her team to the 2006 NYS Class AA Championship when she was named the game’s most outstanding player. She also helped the Rochester Junior Rhinos win the U.S. Soccer Club National Championship in 2007 and the New York State Cup twice. Guy was a two-time Region II All-American and is in the player pool for the Western New York State Olympic Development Program (WNYSODP). A team captain who was a fourth-team all-state selection as a senior, Guy also holds the state record in the long jump at 18-feet, 0.5-inches and currently ranks first in Section V in the long jump and triple jump.

Julianne Hayes (Northport, N.Y./Northport) led her high school team to four league championships and a combined record of 47-8-8 in that span. The 5-foot-4 defender and team captain was a four-time Scholar-Athlete Award winner and garnered all-league and all-conference honors as a senior after recording three goals and five assists from the backfield. She totaled 10 goals and 15 assists during her career and also played at the club level for Cold Spring Harbor ISA.

Lily Honor (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Beacon School) is a 5-foot-4 midfielder who earned three letters at The Beacon School and played at the club level for the Mamaroneck Junior Soccer Panthers. She is also a member of the ENYSODP. Off the field, she worked with the New York 2 New Orleans Coalition (NY2NO), a youth-led organization which works with people who have been affected by social, racial and economic inequities in both cities.

Breanna Maggio (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) was a five-year letterwinner and the first eighth grader to ever play at Wayne Central. She was also a four-time all-league selection and was named to the NYSSWA Class A all-state third team as a senior. The 5-foot-5 goalkeeper, who played in 100 matches, finished her career holding school records for shutouts (49) and goals against average (0.49). A volunteer for the Special Olympics, Maggio played her club ball for the Rochester Junior Rhinos, winning a national championship and two state titles. A WNYSODP member, she surrendered one goal in three games in the 2007 national tournament.

Casey Marks (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) is a 5-foot-9 defender who has the ability to play every position on the field. She led Cortland High School to a pair of NYS Class A Section III championships and played for the Syracuse Football Club. In addition, she was a Region II All-American and is in the WNYSODP player pool.



Regina Nowicki (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) was a four-time all-league selection and helped her high school win the 2008 Section V championship with a 19-3-1 ledger. A second-team all-state pick and member of the WNYSODP, the 5-foot-8 defender played on the Rochester Junior Rhinos’ back line which surrendered one goal in three games to claim the 2007 U.S. Club Soccer National Championship.


Despina Psomopoulos (Bayside, N.Y./Bayside) is a 5-foot-5 midfielder who led Bayside to a combined record of 66-4-2 over a four-year span. She was a two-time league MVP who has amassed 63 goals and 38 assists in her career and led the conference in goals and points as a freshman. A member of the ENYSODP and National Honor Society, Psomopoulos also helped the Albertson Soccer Club advance to the championship game of the New York State Cup and win the Northeast Region I championship.

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2009 University at Albany Women’s Soccer Signings

Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (High School/Club)

Jessica Baccaglini, Defender, 5-5, Rockville Centre, N.Y. (South Side / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Danielle DelNero, Midfielder, 5-4, Endicott, N.Y. (Union Endicott / Syracuse Football Club)

Chelsea DeVerna, Forward, 5-2, Setauket, N.Y. (Ward Melville / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Maggie DeVerna, Midfielder, 5-2, Setauket, N.Y. (Ward Melville / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Olivia Guy, Forward, 5-11, Ontario, N.Y. (Aquinas Institute / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Julianne Hayes, Defender, 5-4, Northport, N.Y. (Northport / Club Spring Harbor ISA)

Lily Honor, Midfielder, 5-4, Brooklyn, N.Y. (The Beacon School / Mamaroneck Junior Soccer Panthers)

Breanna Maggio, Goalkeeper, 5-5, Ontario, N.Y. (Wayne Central / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Casey Marks, Defender, 5-9, Cortland, N.Y. (Cortland / Syracuse Football Club)

Regina Nowicki, Defender, 5-8, Fairport, N.Y. (Fairport / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Despina Psomopoulos, Midfielder, 5-5, Bayside, N.Y. (Bayside / Albertson Soccer Club)