FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State head soccer coach Pete Cuadrado on Wednesday announced the additions of 10 new commitments on national signing day to continue their education and play soccer at NDSU this fall.
"We had a lot to replace after last season, but we're extremely excited about this incoming class," said Cuadrado. "Each year we try to raise the bar a little bit more, and I think this class is definitely a big step. They've got some big shoes to fill, but I think they will be a huge addition to our program."
North Dakota State is coming off its inaugural season competing in The Summit League, where it posted an 11-7-1 overall record and a 3-4-1 conference mark. It is the third straight season the Bison have finished with 10 or more victories and the fourth time in Cuadrado's five-year tenure. In addition, NDSU set a new Ellig Sports Complex record with eight home wins in 2007.
Below are some notes on each of the new North Dakota State soccer players:
Danielle Boldenow
5-7 - Midfielder - Forest Lake, Minn.
Five-year starter and letterwinner for Forest Lake High School...Was named to the all-conference team twice while receiving honorable mention twice...Named team MVP and earned the Golden Boot award for leading the team in scoring...Also played for Bangu Tsunami for three years, helping lead the team to two state cup championships...Was twice named tournament MVP...Also competed in basketball and track for Forest Lake...Three time letterwinner in basketball in helping lead the team to a second-place sectional finish her junior season...Ran 100m hurdles in track and finished seventh at sectionals...Received the Outstanding Academic Achievement award for four straight years...Daughter of Dennis and Dana Boldenow...Has one younger brother, D.J...Considered playing soccer for North Dakota, South Dakota State, and South Dakota...Undecided major.
Aubrey Bot
5-5 - Midfielder/Defender - Spokane, Wash.
Two-year letterwinner for Gonzaga Preparatory High School...Helped lead Gonzaga Prep to a third-place state finish in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2007...Named most inspirational player as a junior and senior...Also played two seasons at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane...Played five seasons for the Spokane Shadow club soccer team, helping the team capture the State Cup championship in 2006 and 2007...Also placed first at the State League championship and captured Super-Y League championship both years as well...Daughter of David and Melanie Bot...Has three brothers, Tony, Jonathan and Andrew, as well as four sisters, Melissa, Aimee, Sarah and Adrienne...Father played football at Jamestown College while her sister Sarah played soccer for Gonzaga University...Chose North Dakota State over West Point, Carroll College, Whitworth and Creighton...Plans on majoring in pre-medicine.
Emily Brostrom
5-10 - Forward - Dayton, Minn.
Five-year letter winner and four-year starter at Champlin Park High School... Helped lead the Rebels to a conference championship in 2006 and 2007...Earned all-conference honors as a senior as well as serving as team captain...High school teammate of current Bison Abbey Stratton and Marissa Wolfgram...Member of the 2006-07 Bangu Tsunami, which captured the Minnesota State Cup championship as well as the 2006 Minnesota U16 Premier League championship...Also lettered in track and field as a sophomore...Daughter of Ronald and Brenda Brostrom...Has two older sisters, Trishia and Heather...Also considered South Dakota State and Iowa...Undecided major.
Holly Christian
5-11 - Defender - Apple Valley, Minn.
Four-year starter and letterwinner at Apple Valley High School for coach Keith Randa...Was named to the all-state team as a senior and was voted the team's MVP...Also earned all-conference and all-midwest team honors as a senior...Three-time all-conference selection as well as a two-time team MVP...Earned rookie of the year honors and was named to the all-conference honorable mention team as a freshman...Also was a two-time letter winner in basketball and track...Named to the all-conference academic team twice...Daughter of Paul and Karen Christian...Has one older sister, Michelle, and a younger brother, Grant...Father played football for St. John's while her sister was a member of Northern Illinois' soccer team from 2003-07...Undecided major.
Megan Dean
5-5 - Forward - Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Four-year starter and letterwinner for Rosemount (Minn.) High School...Earned all-conference honors each of her four seasons competing for the Irish and was the team's MVP her junior and senior seasons...Was named the most valuable offensive player as a freshman and sophomore and earned McDonald's Athlete of the Week as a junior...Also a four-year letterwinner in track where she was all-conference three times...Named the team's most valuable sprinter as a sophomore...Excelled in the classroom as well, being named a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior and was named to the 3AA All-Academic team and earned the Academic Silver Championship as a senior...Daughter of Mark and Beth Ann Dean...Has an older brother, Ryan, and a younger sister, Jennifer...Brother played soccer for the University of Minnesota club team in 2006 and 2007...Undecided major.
Danielle DeMent
5-8 - Midfielder - Sioux Falls, S.D.
Four-year starter and letterwinner for Harrisburg High School...Two-time team captain which helped lead the Tigers to three straight state runner-up titles...Named to the All-State first team four times...Earned academic all-state team honors in 2007...Five-year starter for Dakota Gold Alliance under coach Brandon Barkus, which captured the South Dakota state championship for five straight seasons...Also played basketball, volleyball, and ran track for Harrisburg H.S...Member of the 2005 state champion volleyball team which also placed third in 2007...Was named to the all-state tournament team in 2007 and all-region second team in 2005...As a member of the basketball team, earned Rookie of the Year honors as well as team MVP in 2007...Earned all-conference honorable mention honors for three years...Daughter of Steven and Jackie DeMent...Has an older brother, Tony, and an older sister Ashley, who will be a junior on the Bison soccer team...Considered Iowa, South Dakota State and South Dakota...Undecided major.
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Morgan DeMike
5-4 - Defender - Woodbury, Minn.
Three-year letterwinner for Woodbury High School...Helped lead the Royals to state championships in 2004 and 2006, a runner-up finish in 2005 and a third-place finish in 2007...Earned all-conference honorable mention honors in 2007...Also was a five-year letterwinner, three-year starter and two-time captain for the Woodbury hockey team...Also earned all-conference honorable mention for her work on the ice...Daughter of Ronald and Martina DeMike...Family includes an older sister, Rhonda, and older brother, Nick, as well as a younger sister, Brittany, and brother, Geno...Considered playing soccer at Minnesota and Iowa...Undecided major.
Michelle Gaffaney
5-9 - Forward - Bloomington, Minn.
Four-year letterwinner and two-year starter for Bloomington Jefferson High School under coach Sarah Connelly...Scored eight goals and two assists as a senior in leading the Jaguars to the sectional finals...Earned freshman of the year honors as well as all-conference honors as a senior...Member of Bangu Tsumani for six years, helping the club team win four state championships since 2003...Three-time letterwinner for academics, earned the Academic Gold Award as a senior...Daughter of Dale and Kathy Gaffaney...Has one younger brother, Paul...Considered playing soccer at Bucknell, Iowa and North Dakota...Undecided major.
Laura Wagner
5-5 - Midfielder - Plymouth, Minn.
Three-year starter and letterwinner for coach Tony Peznecker at Wayzata High School...Team captain which helped lead the Trojans to a sectional championship and third-place state finish in 2006...Named to the all-conference team in 2007 while earning honorable mention honors in 2006...Earned "Hardest Worker" award in both her junior and senior seasons...Played three years for Bangu Tsumani under coach Eric Singer...Helped lead the Tsunami to back-to-back state cup championships in 2006 and 2007...Daughter of Philip and Marie Wagner...Has two older sisters, Ashley and Kaitlin...Sister Kaitlin plays soccer for the University of Minnesota...Undecided major.
Kristen Whipple
5-7 - Midfielder/Defender - San Diego, Calif.
Three-year letterwinner at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego for coach Dawn Lee...Helped lead the Dons to both the Western League and California Interscholastic Federation championships as a sophomore and junior...Named Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman...Named to the All-Academic team as a junior...Five-year starter and three-year captain for Surf Soccer club under coach Joey Hoffman...Club was a three-time Surf Cup champion, two-time Cal South State Cup champion and a USYSA Region IV champion...Team also captured the Chivas Cup championship, earning a trip to the 2006 World Cup in Berlin, Germany...Daughter of Paul Salvatori and Connie Whipple...Has one older brother, Justin, who is an officer in the U.S. Navy...Undecided major.
