Ball State University Athletics
Five to Join Women's Soccer Squad in 2006
February 01, 2006 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State women's soccer coach Ron Rainey announced today the addition of five players to the 2006-07 squad. Gillian Belfort, Annie Brockhaus, Amy O'Hara, Caitlin O'Hara and Megan Ridley will join the Cardinals this fall.
"This is a group which will blend in nicely with our current team," said Ball State head coach Ron Rainey. "The student-athletes coming in are from solid high school, club, and ODP programs and have been well coached over the years. They will add to what the Ball State program is doing on the field and in the classroom."
Gillian Belfort (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East H.S.)
A second-team all-conference honoree, Belfort comes to Ball State after a successful career at Lakota East, where she was coached by Tara Murray. Belfort also competed for the CUP-U17 club team and was a member of the Olympic Development Program from 2000-2004. Her U-15 team won the state cup championship, the regional championship and finished third at nationals. The 5-4 forward was a member of the all-academic team at Lakota East and plans to major in business at Ball State.
"Gilly is a very technical player who can play in the midfield and up top," said Rainey. "She also thinks and reacts well on the field. She is a natural leader and her work ethic is something that attracted us to her."
Annie Brockhaus (Darien, Ill./Benet Academy)
Brockhaus will join the Cardinals following a successful high school and club career. While at Benet Academy, Brockhaus was honored as an ISCCA All-Conference and All-Sectional player. In 2005, she was named the Downers Grove Reporter Player of the Year and earned distinction to the Daily Herald and Naperville Sun All-Area Team. Additionally, her high school squad won the regional and sectional championship and competed in the Elite Eight of the Illinois State Soccer Tournament. Her Windy City Pride club team was the semi-finalist in the 2005 U-17 Illinois State Cup Tournament. A member of the Olympic Development Program from 2002-2005, Brockhaus will major in sports management at BSU.
"Annie is another player who has a tremendous work ethic," said Rainey. "She can play up top, in the midfield, or in the back. We have seen her be effective in all of those positions."
Amy O'Hara (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay Village H.S.)
O'Hara joins the squad after helping Bay Village to the 2002, 2003 and 2005 conference championships and the Division II Ohio State Championship. She earned First Team All-Greater Cleveland, first team all-conference, First Team All-Sun, First Team All-Ohio and was the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior. For her career, O'Hara recorded 311 saves and 24 shutouts, while allowing only 35 goals. She has been a member of the successful Ohio Premier Club team since 1997, where she was coached by Marco Rizi. The team was a five-time State Cup Finalist. O'Hara was a member of the Ohio North State Team of the Olympic Development Program from 2002-2004.
"Amy will give us three goalkeepers and will compete well with our current keepers, Ali Becker and Rachael Murphy," Rainey said. "She has a knack of making some spectacular saves but is also very consistent."
Caitlin O'Hara (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay Village H.S.)
O'Hara joins twin sister, Amy, and comes to Ball State with a number of accolades under her belt. The 5-4 forward was named first team all-conference, Second Team All-Greater Cleveland and was a team captain her senior campaign. She posted six goals and added 10 assists as a senior. O'Hara was a member of the Ohio North State Team of the Olympic Development Program from 2002-2004. She has also been an integral part of the Ohio Premier Soccer Club since 1997. Her club team was ranked No. 24 in the nation and No. 7 in the Midwest in 2004 and was the Cleveland Cup Champions (2002, 2004) and Blast Tournament Champions (2003). O'Hara, who was also a successful track and field star, plans to major in physical therapy at Ball State.
"Caity is athletic and works hard out on the field," Rainey said. "I think she can play multiple positions. Her ability to track down players defensively is a positive trait and we will also want her to run at people with the ball to get in behind players on the flanks."
Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central H.S.)
Ridley enjoyed a successful high school career at Lawrence Central. The Indiana native was named all-county, all-conference, all-district and all-state plus tallied 17 goals her senior year. Additionally, she was a team captain her junior and senior seasons and recorded a school-record 67 career goals over four years at Lawrence Central. Ridley was a member of the Dynamo ‘88 club team for six years, where she was coached by Eldon Chuck. Ridley plans to major in elementary education upon her arrival to Ball State.
"Megan has played both in the midfield and up top in club and high school," said Rainey. "We see her as a goal scorer. She tries things up top with little touches of the ball and subtle movements off the ball that will make her effective in our program."
