Foley Adds Eight Signees For Incoming Class

The Boston College women's soccer team received eight commitments for the 2017 season, announced head coach Alison Foley. BC program is excited to welcome Samantha Coffey from Sleepy Hollow, New York; Julia Homan from Allendale, New Jersey; Jillian Jennings from Montclair, New Jersey; Mia Karras from Middleton, Mass.; Riley Lochhead from Southboro, Mass.; Gianna Mitchell from Springfield, Mass. and YaYa Van Ness from Saratoga Springs, New York. Also joining these seven incoming rookies is transfer student Elysa Virella, who played two seasons at Monroe College in New York.

"We are extremely excited for this recruiting class to join us in August. This group is proven at the national level both in national camps and national championships with club and high school teams,'' said BC Head Coach Alison Foley. "With these type of high level experiences under their belt, their desire to compete and be the best they can possibly be, there is no doubt they will have an immediate impact on our program in the fall.''

Samantha Coffey – Sleepy Hollow, New York – Match Fit Academy – Forward/Midfield
Attended U-19 National Team camp in January, 2017 … Attended six US Women's National Team Under-18 camps and played in two international tournaments on the team … Captain of the U-18 Women's National Team against Northern Ireland and won the Player of the Game … 2016 ENCL Playoffs Daily Best List for the tournament … In 2015 earned a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer best XI for her play with New York SC … Five-time Regional 1 Team honoree … All-American honoree … Played at the Masters School for head coach Hernando Santamaria … Four-time MVP and two-time team captain … Three-time League Player of the Year … Scored 100 goals in high school.

Julia Homan, Defender, Allendale, New Jersey – Match Fit Academy - Defense
Played defense for Jordan Raper of Match Fit from 2013-17 … Competed in the 2014, 2015 & 2016 ECNL National Qualifiers and 2015 ECNL Nationals … Played for Tara Madigan at Northern Highlands … Was a central defender and four-year starter … Helped Northern Highlands to three New Jersey State Championships, three county titles, four league titles and 70 shutouts … In her senior season the team did not give up one goal and in four seasons, Northern Highlands lost just three games… USA Today preseason All-American honoree & selected to play in the All-American Game in 2016 … NJ.com All-State first team … 2016 NJGSCA Top 20 All-State honoree … Four-time All-County and All-League honoree.

Jillian Jennings, Montclair, New Jersey – Match Fit Academy - Midfield
A four-year varsity midfielder at Montclair High School … Senior captain … Helped Montclair to the 2016 Essex Country finals … 2015 GIV Sectional & Essex Country Champions … 2014-16 All-American Watch List … 2016 Team MVP … 2013-15 All-Essex Country first team … 2014-16 All-SEC Conference first team selection … 2014 All-State MSG second team … 2013 All-SEC Conference second team … Finished her high school career with 44 goals and 42 assists … Played club soccer for Match Fit Academy and coach Jordan Raper from 2012-17 … In July of 2016 attended ECNL National ID Camp and in March 2016 competed at the ECNL PDP Northeast Metro … Is the younger sister of current BC midfielder Kayla Jennings.

Mia Karras, Middleton, Massachusetts – Stars of Massachusetts – Defense/Midfield
Played for Tom Phillips for FC Stars for the last four years … Finished fourth in the national in 2013 (Under-14) and second in 2015 (Under-16) … Coach Jason Dewhurst led the 2015 team to the Nationals in Richmond, Virginia … Played defense for FC Starts … Played one season at Austin Prep and three at The Brooks School in North Andover … While at Austin Prep was a defender on the team that advanced to the Division 4 State Final … Played defense, midfield and some forward for Brooks coach Jaime Gilbert … Three-time ISL Honorable Mention … Team captain as a senior.

Riley Lochhead – Southborough, Mass. – NEFC – Midfield/Defense
Played for Jack Abelson at both NEFC and Boston Breakers Academy … NEFC Mass Stats Champs in 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 … NPL National Champs in 2015 & 2016...Played both defense and midfield at both the club level and high school … Played at the varsity level for four years at St. Mark's … Was the team captain and MVP in 2014 & 2015 … All-ISL in 2014 & 2016 … ISL Honorable Mention as a freshman and junior … Won a program high 15 games in 2016 and advanced to the NEPSAC Class B finals … Played basketball as a freshman and sophomore and lacrosse as a freshman and junior.

Gianna Mitchell, Springfield, Mass. – Stars of Massachusetts – Defender
Plays for FC Stars of Massachusetts … Helped the Stars to a No. 4 ranking … ECNL 2016 Playoffs Best XI (Under-16) honoree in July … A four-time starter at Wilbraham and Monson Academy … Helped the team to the New England Class B tournament final in 2014 & 2016.

YaYa Van Ness, Saratoga Springs, New York – FC Stars of Mass. – Forward
Played one season with Match Fit Academy and move to FC Stars of Mass. where she has played since 2015 … Led Match Fit in scoring and was named the Player of the Year … Competed in the 2015-16 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships … US Soccer ODP National Training Camp in Jan. 2015 … 2014 US Soccer (ODP) National Training Camp in June 2014 … Played soccer at Saratoga Springs High School for Coach Adrienne Dannehy … Had 14 goals and four assists as a senior … Named the Saratogian's 2016 Girls Soccer Player of the Year …

Elysa Virella – Sickleville, N.J. – Monroe College – Defense
Played for two seasons at Monroe College in New York… Named a NJCAA, NCAA 2016 All-American second team selection and an All-Region honoree in 2016 … Helped the Mustangs advanced to the NJCAA Regional Final and post a 9-1-3 record … Led the team in goals (13), assists (9) and points (35) … Played at Gloucester Central High Scholl in New Jersey … Team Captain...Played club for Penn Fusion in 2014-16.

Foley Adds Eight Signees For Incoming Class

Players Mentioned

Kayla Jennings

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