Villanova's incoming class of six freshmen is rated one of the best in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

July 17, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The incoming class of freshmen for the Villanova women's soccer team is ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region and 30th in the nation by the Soccer Buzz Magazine website. The Wildcats welcome six first-year players to the squad this season, including one top-75 recruit and four top-200 signees.

Villanova's recruiting class includes three forwards, two midfielders and one defender. The trio up top includes Rachel Breton (Manalapan, N.J.), Kaitlin Ryan (Wayne, N.J.) and Megan Verdeur (Levittown, Pa.). Verdeur can also play in the midfield, along with Lauren McCoy (Spotsylvania, Va.) and Kathryn Nagy (Bellmore, N.Y.). Defender Erin Ryan (Doylestown, Pa.) rounds out another strong Wildcat class.

As it enters the 2008 season, Villanova returns 17 letterwinners but just four starters from a team that went 11-4-6 last season to finish with more than 10 wins and a winning record for the ninth straight year. Also joining the fold is sophomore midfielder Bridget O'Brien (Havertown, Pa.), who earned a walk-on roster spot to the team during its spring season. The Wildcats open the season on Sunday, August 24 with a 4 p.m. home game against UMBC.

Below are capsules of each of the six incoming freshmen.

Rachel Breton (Forward, Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Regional)

• Earned all-county, all-district, all-division and All-Shore honors during high school career
• 2006 New Jersey Star Ledger Most Unsung Player
• Member of New Jersey State ODP and Region 1 teams since 2002
• Selected to participate in numerous national and international showcase events over past three years
• Four-year letterwinner and starter who also lettered three years for the indoor track team

Lauren McCoy (Midfielder, Spotsylvania, Va./Courtland)

• Her high school's career record holder in goals (102), assists (56) and points (260)
• Set single-season school records as a senior with 33 goals and 83 points
• Four-time all-conference and all-region selection
• Two-time all-state pick
• Advanced to 2007 USYS national semifinals with club team McLean Freedom

Kathryn Nagy (Midfielder, Bellmore, N.Y./Saint Anthony's)

• Soccer Buzz Top 75 Recruit
• Chosen to the U.S. U-15 and U-16 national pools in 2005 and 2006
• Led high school team to 19-0 record and state championship as a senior
• Named championship game MVP and led team with seven goals and 22 assists that season
• First team all-league, All-Long Island and all-state honoree

Erin Ryan (Defender, Doylestown, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy)

• Four-time all-conference, three-time team MVP, two-time Philadelphia Inquirer first team honoree
• Selected to all-state team in 2006 and was league MVP in 2006 and 2007
• Chosen to All-Southeastern Pennsylvania team in 2006 and 2007
• 2008 Gwynedd Mercy Senior Athlete of the Year
• Holds all-time school records with 59 goals and 74 assists in her career

Kaitlin Ryan (Forward, Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley)

• Tallied 106 goals and 44 assists in high school; the goals are second all-time in Passaic County
• Named to Herald News first team All-Area squad all four years
• 2006 and 2007 NSCAA Regional All-American and the Herald News Player of the Year
• Two-time `Top 20' pick in the state and three-time all-state selection by the Star Ledger
• 2007 Star Ledger Player of the Year in Passaic County and a three-time first team All-County choice

Megan Verdeur (Forward/Midfielder, Levittown, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie)

• Totaled 84 goals and 28 assists during high school career, including 29 goals in senior season
• Selected by Philadelphia Inquirer and Bucks County Courier as 2007 Southeast PA Player of the Year
• Tallied 22 goals during freshman season to help lead team to 24-0 record and No. 3 national ranking
• Club team (Spirit United Gaels) finished second in 2006 USYS national championship
• Chosen for Eastern Pennsylvania ODP State Team and played in 2007 ODP national championship