Fresno State Athletics
Springthorpe Signs Seven For 2008
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 6, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State women's soccer coach Steve Springthorpe wanted to sign players who could play multiple positions on the field. With the signings of seven high schools players to National Letter of Intents on Wednesday, Springthorpe believes he has accomplished that goal.
Joining the Bulldogs next year are six players from the state of California and one from Colorado. The six California student-athletes are Nicole Zuniga a defender from Troy High School in Fullerton, Kendall VanDine a midfielder from Brea Olinda High School, Hannah Gilbert a forward from Prospect High School in San Jose, Megan Blankenburg a midfielder from Ventura High School in Ventura, Molly Nizzoli a defender from Galt and Rachel Pickett a forward from Napa High School in Napa. The Colorado signee is Danielle Solich, a defender from Arapahoe High School in Centennial.
"I am extremely happy with the level of players that we signed," Springthorpe said. "One of the things we tried to do is find players who could play multiple positions because we are losing players at every position on the field. We addressed some immediate needs and have some players that will be able to compete right away for a starting position after graduating eight players. We have been able to find student-athletes with experience at a high level of club competition. I feel good about the 2008 class. Adding them to a pretty large freshmen class from this past season the future looks pretty bright."
Blankenburg is a 5-7 midfielder from Ventura, Calif., who won a national championship for her club team the Eagles in 2004 and 2007.
"She is technically very sound and has good size," Springthorpe said. "She is someone who can settle a ball, switch fields and win balls in the air. She plays the game quickly because she makes passes with one and two touches."
Like Blankenburg, Solich's club team, Real Colorado, won a national championship in 2006 and the state cup championship in 2005. Solich earned First Team All-League honors as a midfielder at Arapahoe High School. Solich chose Fresno State over Florida, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Arizona and Arizona State.
"Danielle played for a very talented club team," Springthorpe said. "She is a solid player who has great experience who plays as defender and a defensive midfielder. She has great size and is really good in the air which is key as a center back. She is a hard-nosed tackling kid that plays with a lot of passion."
Van Dine is a four year letter winner in soccer who had 16 goals and 12 assists in 2005-06 and 16 goals and 11 assists as a junior. She played on the OJSC Barcelona club team and was a high school scholar athlete all four years.
"Kenny is probably our most versatile player," Springthorpe said. "Over the last year and a half I have seen her play pretty much every position but goalkeeper. She has done it all. She has the ability to score goals. Right now she is one of the conference leaders in goals in high school. For her club team they have been playing her mostly as a center and outside back. We have recruited her to play as an outside back because she likes to go forward with the ball. She is technically very good. She has great speed and is a very good athlete."
Zuniga was a four-year letter winner in soccer who earned Second Team All-League honors as a junior and was also named the team's Defensive MVP. She played as a midfielder and defender in high school.
"Nicole is really hard on the tackle and not afraid to win a ball," Springthorpe said. "She reads the game very well and is a good communicator. "Z" really anchors things in the back for her club team."
Gilbert is a well-decorated athlete in soccer and track. In her high school competition she was named the league Junior of the Year and earned First Team All-League honors as a sophomore and junior. She is also a three year team-captain. As a junior she had 19 goals and 12 assists and 12 games into her senior year she had six goals and eight assists.
"Hannah is an outside attacking player," Springthorpe said. "She can play as a forward or midfielder. She has good speed and athleticism who can serve a good ball. She is the type of player we'd like to have as an outside midfielder. She can get up and down, fit and likes to take people on. She is fast enough to get behind defenders."
Pickett played as a forward and defender in high school as well as with her club team Marin FC. In 2006-07 she was second on the team in scoring with 12 and assists with seven. She earned First Team All Monticello League in 2007 and earned All MEL in Water Polo.
"We recruited her as an outside back," Springthorpe said. "She is another hard tackling defender who is not afraid to win a ball. She has the ability to go forward. She has really good speed and she is physically strong. Rachel will fit in athletically really well."
Nizzoli lettered in high school as a midfielder. She earned First-Team All-League honors in high school and had 13 goals and five assists as a sophomore and nine goals and nine assists as a freshman.
"Molly is pretty versatile in where she can play on the field," Springthorpe said. "She has played on the wing and up top. She can defend well, pick up balls and get up and down the field quickly. She is a very good technical player. "
Nizzoli's club team, the San Juan Spirits, is the same club that current Bulldog players Nicole Gutierrez, Krissy Looney, Kelli Cale and Nicole Duff played for.
Nicole Zuniga
5-7, Defender
Fullerton, CA (Troy High School)
Troy High School: Lettered three years in soccer ... named Second Team All-League in 2006-07 ... was the 2006-07 Defensive MVP ... played on the OJSC Barcelona club team.
Personal: Born July 10, 1990 in Saugus, CA. ... parents are Chris and Lori Zuniga ... has a 14-year old sister Lauren ... favorite athlete is Brett Farve because "he is a great competitor and team leader" ... biggest athletic thrill is winning regional's in club soccer ... admires her parents because "of how hard they have worked for everything we have" ... attending Fresno State because of its competitive soccer program and it is somewhere I saw myself living comfortably" ... was involved with youth ministry and a member of the Senior Girls Club in high school ... plans to major in Psychology ... was recruited by Gonzaga, Rice, Regis, Hawai'i, Cal-State Northridge and USF.
Kendall VanDine
5-4 Midfielder
Fullerton, CA (Brea Olinda High School)
Brea Olinda: Lettered four years in soccer ... named Rookie of the Year as a freshman ... named Team Captain, First Team All-League and All-CIF Division II as a sophomore ... was the team MVP as a sophomore ... named Team Captain, first Team All-League and team MVP as a junior ... named a Scholar Athlete all four years of high school ... had 16 goals and 12 assists in 2005-06 ... had 16 goals and 11 assists as a junior ... in club competition was the U19 and U17 Gold Division Surf Cup champions ... US club soccer national finalists in 2005 ... plays on the OJSC Barcelona team.
Personal:
Born January 23, 1990 in Fullerton, CA ... parents are Robert and Karen VanDine ... has an older brother Robert and a younger sister Madison ... hobbies include shopping, snowboarding, going to the beach, dancing, singing and attending church ... is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for four years ... favorite athlete is Scott Niedermyer from the Anaheim Ducks because of his presence on the rink and his consistency ... most admires her Aunt Susie because of her strength and ability to overcome breast cancer and her unwavering faith in God ... attending Fresno State because of the location, coaching and support from the community and fans ... was recruited by New Mexico, Iowa and Azuza Pacific.
Hannah Gilbert
5-4 Forward San Jose, CA (Prospect High School)
Prospect: Lettered four years in soccer, three years in track and one year in field hockey ... in soccer was the league Junior of the Year in 2007 ... earned First Team All League in 2006 and 2007 ... was Honorable Mention All-League as a freshman in 2005 ... three-year team captain ... named the team MVP in 2006 and 2007 ... had 19 goals and 12 assists as a junior, nine goals and 11 assists as a sophomore and a goal and five assists as a freshman ... in track was the Central Coast Section Semi-finalists in 2006 and 2007 ... league champions in 2006 and 2007 and the was the team Sprinter of the Year in 2006 ... top 400m time was 59.79 seconds ... top 800m time was 2:23.85 ... had a time of 4:01.84 in the 4x400m relay and 51.41 seconds in the 4x100m relay ... earned Honorable Mention All-League honors in Field Hockey in 2006 ... played for the Ruckus Youth Soccer Organization and the U18 team ... team placed second in the Upper Division of the Abronzino League in 2007 ... club team was named league champions in 2006 and co-champions in 2005 ... attended the Super Y League, Olympic Development Program National Camp in January of 2008.
Personal: Born February 12, 1990 in San Jose, CA ... plans to be a Graphic Design major ... parents are Richard Gilbert and Janet Kulig ... has a 14 year old sister Rebecca Gilbert ... enjoys running and photography ... was on the National Honor Society ... was on the Yearbook staff and the Editor-in-Chief for one year ... Senior Class Representative ... Dance Commission Vice President and named to the Principals Honor Roll ... biggest athletic thrill was attending the Gothia Cup in Sweden and the SYL ODP National Camp ... attending Fresno State because of the soccer program, academics and it is close to home.
Danielle Solich
5-8 Defender
Centennial, Co. (Arapahoe High School)
Arapahoe: Lettered four years in soccer ... team was the high school runner ups as a freshman, state champion as a sophomore and semi-finalists as a junior ... earned First Team All-League honors in 2007 and was the Midfielder MVP ... named team captain in 2006 ... club team, Real Colorado, won the national championship in 2006 and the state cup championship in 2005.
Personal: May 31, 1990 in Colorado ... plans to major in Mass Communications ... was recruited by Florida, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Arizona and Arizona State ... parents are Mike and Cindy Solich ... has and older brother Nik Solich ... favorite athlete is LeBron James because of what he accomplished at such a young age ... biggest athletic thrill was winning a national championship with her club team ... attending Fresno State because "I was in interested in California schools and Fresno State seemed like a good fit. I also had a good connection with the coaching staff" ... most admires Neil Payne (club coach) because of his coaching technique and how he improved "my skills throughout the years."
Megan Blankenburg
5-7 Midfielder
Ventura, CA (Ventura High School)
Ventura: Lettered four years in soccer ... played center midfielder ... was the 2005 Ventura High School Defensive MVP ... earned the 2006 and 2007 Ventura High School Coaches Award ... 2005 All Channel League ... 2006 Second team and named 2007 First Team All-Channel League ... plays for the Eagles club team that won a national championship in 2004, state finalists in 2005 and 2006 and national champions in 2007 ... won the Premier League championship in 2005 ... 3-time Super Group Surf Cup champions ... 2003-05 Cal South Olympic Development Player ... 2005 Region 4 Olympic Development champion.
Personal: Born April 11, 1990 in Ventura, CA ... plans to major in Chemistry ... was recruited by Pepperdine, UC Irvine, San Diego State and UCLA ... parents are Mark and Dody Blankenburg ... has an older sister Breanne ... hobbies include going to the beach and spending time with family and friends ... was the Director of Environmental Affairs in high school ... favorite athletes are Lance Armstrong and Mia Hamm ... biggest thrill was winning two national championships ... most admires her parents because "they have always supported me and loved me unconditionally" ... attending Fresno State because of the athletic program and the community support.
Molly Nizzoli
5-3 Defender
Galt, CA (Galt High School)
Galt: Lettered in soccer ... earned First Team All-League honors in 2004-05 and was the named the team's Offensive MVP ... earned First Team All League honors in 2005-06 and was the Offensive MVP ... had nine goals and nine assists in 2004-05 and 13 goals and five assists in 2005-06 ... plays for the San Juan Spirits club team.
Personal: Born September 19, 1990 in Sacramento, CA ... parents are Mike and Lisa Nizzoli ... has an older brother Peter and a sister Courtney ... hobbies include snowboarding, boating, wakeboarding, raising Red Angus, shopping and playing all sports ... was the FFA Greenhand Vice President ... four years FFA member ... earned an FFA state degree ... favorite athlete is Ronaldo because he plays relaxed and is driven for success ... biggest athletic thrill is making the Cal North State ODP team for the first time when she was 13 ... most admires her parents because "they are always so supportive and loving and have created a wonderful future for my brother and sister" ... attending Fresno State because the coaching staff and girls were welcoming, adding that she loved the campus, athletic atmosphere and good records ... had a 4.0 GPA in high school.
Rachel Pickett
5-7 Forward
NAPA, CA (NAPA High School)
NAPA: Lettered four years in soccer and water polo ... was second in scoring with 12 goals and seven assists as a junior ... earned First Team All MEL in soccer in 2007 and 2006 ... also earned All-League honors in Water Polo ... was the scoring leader in water polo in 2005 and was named the Most Improved Water Polo player in 2006 ... plays for the Marin FC club team.
Personal: Born June 30, 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska ... parents are Alan and Anne Pickett ... has a younger brother Benjamin and younger sister Kendall ... hobbies include playing and watching sports, baking, reading, camping, going to the beach and being with family ... favorite athlete is Tom Brady and she most admires her grandfather because "he is the truest person I know. He's worked so hard to get to where he is today ... grandfather played football and track at Idaho State while her mother Anne ran track at Nebraska Wesleyan ... attending Fresno State because of the excellence in athletics and the high standard in academics along with the camaraderie among the players and coaches.
