Soccer Adds 11 to 2018 Roster

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team has picked up 11 new players for the 2018 season, as the program looks to continue its run of championships.

Coach Craig Roberts' Cardinals added a national team forward from Trinidad and Tobago, an all-freshman transfer from Green Bay and nine high school standouts coming from the states of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

Here is a complete look at the newcomers who will join a Ball State program that has won two Mid-American Conference regular season championships and three MAC West Division titles over the past three seasons …

• Grace Alsop, Defender (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville HS)
• Claudia Como, Midfielder (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy)
• Sammi Corcoran, Midfielder/Defender (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS)
• Alex DeRuvo, Goalkeeper (Canton, Mich./Salem HS)
• Jenna Dombrowski, Midfielder/Defender (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett HS)
• Logan Gary, Midfielder (Lafayette, Ind./Harrison HS)
• Kerrigan Johnson, Defender/Midfielder (Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley HS)
• Tatiana Mason, Midfielder/Forward (Ann Arbor, Mich./Skyline HS)
• Kennedy Metzger, Defender (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley HS)
• Chelcy Ralph, Midfielder (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/Providence Girls Catholic)
• Emily Simmons, Defender (New Hamburg, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic Secondary/Green Bay)

Grace Alsop, Defender
Marysville, Ohio/Marysville HS

High School/Club: A four-year letterwinner at Marysville for coach Nate Andrews … a holding and attacking mid her first two years … a center back her final two years … a four-time Scholar Athlete selection … two-time All-Ohio Capital Conference … two-time Marysville Defender of the Year … played 10 years of club soccer for Ohio Premier … an outside and center back … coached by William Gage … team was ranked among the top 32 in the country her freshman and sophomore years.

Personal: Full name is Grace Mackenzie Alsop … born Sept. 14, 1999 in Marysville, Ohio … daughter of Brad and Jill Alsop … has one sister, Karly … owns a 4.039 GPA … winner of the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Academic Excellence Award and the Presidential Award … plans on studying to be a physician assistant.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Grace is a great competitor who can provide us with either defensive duties in the middle or back on defense. She is hard-nosed but at the same time has the skill to control the game."

Claudia Como, Midfielder/Defender
Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy

High School/Club: A three-year letterwinner at St. Ursula for coach Dave Ruehl … a two-time All-Girls Greater Catholic League selection … All-Southwest Ohio as a senior … three-time All-Southwest Ohio Academic … All-Ohio Academic as a senior … team captain … recorded 17 goals and six assists in her career … managed 12 goals as a senior … helped her team to a record of 51-12-8 in her career along with two league championships and one district title … played five years of club soccer with Kings Hammer Academy and Cincinnati Development Academy … coached by Tiffany Roberts and David Robertson … helped her team to state cup championships in 2014 and 2017 … team was Region II semifinalist in 2017 and twice won the Disney Showcase (2014 and 2015) … an ODP regional pool player and ODP state team member from 2011-15

Personal: Full name is Claudia Marie Como … born Dec. 27, 1999 in Cincinnati, Ohio … daughter of Perry and Linda Como … has one brother, Elliot, and one sister, Mallory … owns a 4.1 GPA … member of the National Honor Society … intends to major in speech pathology.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Claudia is a talented midfielder who is tenacious. She has good vision on the field and the ability to maintain possession. She is a great competitor and will provide us with the depth needed in order to compete for another MAC championship."

Sammi Corcoran, Midfielder
Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS

High School/Club: Entering her senior season this spring … coached by Scott Forrester at Dexter … an all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference selection in both years she has played high school soccer … only played club soccer as a freshman …helped Dexter to a record of 39-4-3 over the past two years …. team won two Southeastern Conference championships and two district titles, reached the state semifinals her sophomore year and the regional finals her junior year … played seven years of club soccer for Michigan Alliance (Legends MAFC) … a center midfielder for coaches Kevin Oakley and Droo Callahan … two-time State Cup semifinalist … member of the Michigan Olympic Development Program … also a four-year letterwinner in basketball at Dexter … a first-team all-conference point guard and two-time conference champion.

Personal: Full name is Samantha Larkin Corcoran … born Sept. 27, 2000 in Traverse City, Michigan … daughter of Brian and Kim Eddings Corcoran … has one sister, Molly, and one brother, Jay … father competed in football and hockey at UMass and later played in the American Hockey League … mother was a gymnast at Bowling Green … owns a 3.5 GPA … member of the National Honor Society and winner of the Scholar-Athlete Award … intends to major in nursing.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Sammi has excellent technical skills and great vision. As a central midfielder, she uses these attributes to control the game. In addition, she has a great shot from distance. I believe she will compete for an impactful role immediately."

Alex DeRuvo, Goalkeeper
Canton, Mich./Salem HS

High School/Club: Only played club soccer … competed for the Michigan Hawks for six years … coached by Derek Williford, Adil Salmoni, Doug Landefeld and Joe Zawacki … maintained a goals against averaged below 1.0 from U14-U17 … helped her team win ECNL national championships in 2014 and 2017 … reached the national finals in 2015 and won the Midwest Conference championship in 2016 … competed one year in track and field at Salem as a sprinter.

Personal: Full name is Alexandra Yong DeRuvo … born May 21, 2000 in Royal Oak, Michigan … daughter of Anthony and Mikyung DeRuvo … has one brother, Anthony … father played collegiate baseball at Oakland University … an honor roll member in every semester but one … intends to major in public relations.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Alex is an outstanding goalkeeper. She will carry on the strong tradition of high level goalkeeping at Ball State. She is agile with great hands."

Jenna Dombrowski, Midfielder/Defender
Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett HS

High School/Club: Entering her senior season this spring … an attacking center mid for coach Vince DiNuzzo at Bartlett … owns 22 goals and 21 assists for her career … a three-time All-Upstate 8 Conference selection … twice Academic All-Conference … recorded 10 goals and nine assists as a junior … has helped her team to a three-year record of 42-22-5, the first conference championship in program history (2017) and the second regional title in school annals (2016) … played eight years of club soccer with Campton United … a center and outside back for coach Scotty Keena … team captain … helped her team to state championships in 2016 and 2017 and multiple MRL titles … member of the Illinois Olympic Development state team … won the 2015 Region 2 championship … invited to the U.S. Girls' Training Center program in 2015 and the id2 Training Camp in Massachusetts in 2014.

Personal: Full name is Jenna Nicole Dombrowski … born July 6, 2000 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois … daughter of Keith and Tara Dombrowski … has one sister, Josie … sister plays soccer at Concordia University Wisconsin … owns a 4.2 GPA … an Illinois State Scholar and member of the High Honor Roll … received the Seal of Biliteracy … intends to study journalism.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Jenna is a very strong-minded attacking player. Her fast pace and ability to finish will provide us with a force that teams will have to pay attention to."

Logan Gary, Midfielder
Lafayette, Ind./Harrison HS

High School/Club: A three-year letterwinner at Harrison for coach Katie Bittner … a center back … All-North Central Conference First Team as a senior … two-time NCC All-Academic Team … helped her team win two conference championships … played club soccer for five years with FC Indiana … coached by Chris Castro … also a three-year letterwinner in basketball at Harrison … an all-conference guard.

Personal: Full name is Logan Grace Gary … born Nov. 12, 1999 in New Orleans, Louisiana … daughter of Greg and Claudia Gary … has three sisters, Gabrielle, Alexandra and Brooklyn, and one brother, Nash … father (basketball) and mother (tennis) were college athletes at Tulane … father is an assistant men's basketball coach at Purdue … owns a 3.92 GPA … earned Academic Honors all four years of high school … intends to major in biology.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Logan has a strong work ethic and mindset. She will compete and add depth to our backline. Her strong mentality to compete will be a much-needed ingredient for us to continue our success."

Kerrigan Johnson, Defender/Midfielder
Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley HS

High School/Club: Entering her senior season this spring … coached by Gerard Haggarty at Chippewa Valley … twice named all-county, all-district and all-academic … scored 13 goals as a junior and eight as a sophomore from her midfield position … played club soccer for Vardar ECNL and coach Demir Muftari … member of the Olympic Development state pool in 2013 and 2014.

Personal: Full name is Kerrigan Rose Johnson … born Aug. 4, 2000 in Macomb, Michigan … daughter of Brent Johnson and Karen Brender … has two sisters, Tiffany and Heather, and one brother, Matthew … owns a 3.4 GPA … winner of the Academic Excellence Award … intends to study exercise science (pre-physical therapy).

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Kerrigan is an intense left-footed defender with great athleticism. She makes great decisions on when to step and when to delay. Her intelligent positioning will allow her to fit right into the backline."

Tatiana Mason, Midfielder/Forward
Ann Arbor, Mich./Skyline HS

High School/Club: Entering her senior season at Skyline this spring for coach Chris Morgan … an all-state selection … scored 25 goals and recorded 10 assists as a junior … played club soccer for the Nationals Development Academy … coached by Matt Kellogg … named to U.S. Development Academy Team … previously played for Northville Rush, helping the team to the Disney Showcase championship in 2013 and Michigan state cup finals appearances in 2014 and 2015 … member of the 2014 Michigan ODP state team … won the regional championship that year and participated in the national championship … also played one year of basketball at Skyline.

Personal: Full name is Tatiana Marie Mason … born Oct. 23, 1999 in Ann Arbor, Michigan … daughter of James and Herdi Mason … has two sisters, Natasha and Alexandria, and one brother, Nicholas … father was an All-American wrestler at Michigan State … sister Natasha was a swimmer at Denison University … brother wrestled at Ashland University … owns a 4.0 GPA … member of the National Honor Society … undecided on college major.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Tatiana is a highly skilled 1v1 outside mid specialist with great speed. She has the ability to beat players and get into scoring situations. What makes her an even bigger threat is that she has the ability to finish. Tatiana will have an impact this year."

Kennedy Metzger, Defender
Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley HS

High School/Club: Entering her senior season at Waubonsie Valley this spring for coach Julie Bergstrom … two-time Academic All-Conference … honorable mention all-area as a junior … recorded 16 goals and five assists in her junior season … owns 22 goals for her career … has helped her team to a regional championship … started as a freshman at outside back … played five years of club soccer for Team Chicago … coached by Phil Nielsen and Dave Lovercheck … a forward and defender … helped her team to state championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and a third-place national finish … member of the Illinois ODP state team in 2015.

Personal: Full name is Kennedy Lauren Metzger … born Sept. 10, 1999 in Flint, Michigan … daughter of Robert and Kim Metzger … has one brother, Garrett … owns a 3.9 GPA … a member of the High Honor Roll … intends to major in biology.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Kennedy is a great finisher with great athleticism. Her ability to score in the air or on the ground makes her a big threat for any team. In addition, her high work rate will allow her to be a factor in the MAC immediately."

Chelcy Ralph, Midfielder
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/Providence Girls Catholic

High School/Club: A member of the Trinidad and Tobago Women's National Team program … currently playing for the U-20 team … played for Club Sando and coach Isa Mohammed … helped her team to first place in the Barbados Cup … led the team in scoring and was named Most Valuable Player.

Personal: Full name is Chelcy Brianna Ralph … born Dec. 15, 1998 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago … daughter of Terrance Ralph and Marva Charles-Ralph … has one brother, Christon, and one sister, Chrissie … intends to major in sport administration.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Chelcy brings an immense amount of experience and maturity after recently playing on the Trinidad and Tobago national team in the CONCACAF. She is a powerful player who will provide strength, speed and skill either on the outside or central. She has the ability to score from distance and is excellent in 1v1 situations."

Emily Simmons, Defender
New Hamburg, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic Secondary/Green Bay

Pre-Ball State: Played her freshman season at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay … named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team … started nine games on the back line and played 870 minutes … played club soccer for the Toronto Blizzard … a center back for coach Joe Parolini … also played basketball.

Personal: Full name is Emily Paige Simmons … born Aug. 24, 1999 in Guelph, Ontario … daughter of Lincoln and Lisa Simmons … has one sister, Kiana … owns a 3.6 GPA … an Ontario Scholar and member of the Academic Honor Roll … intends to major in criminal justice.

Quoting Coach Roberts: "Emily is an intense presence who will strengthen our back line. She is a great communicator and has the ability to read the game well. Emily is strong in the air but also decisive on the ground. She has a strong work ethic and understands the measures it will take to win another championship."

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