Northwestern University Athletics
Erickson Inks Six Future Wildcats in Class of 2013
2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 5, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head coach Stephanie Erickson announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. This year's class has representatives from Illinois, Washington, Oklahoma and continues the Wildcat pipeline to Minnesota.
"This is a diverse and dynamic class for Northwestern Women's Soccer," Erickson said. All six of these young women will be incredible representatives of our program both on and off the field. We are proud to continue to attract student-athletes from all over the nation and also to keep some of the best in-state talent at home."
This year's class consists of Lee Battaglia (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central), Meredith Finsand (Edina, Minn./Edina), Catherine Parish (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks), Jessica Rubin (Naperville, Ill./Central), Kendall Thoreson (Seattle, Wash./King's) and Briana Westlund (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park).
"We congratulate these six women on Signing Day and we are very excited for this group to start contributing to our program when they arrive in August," Erickson said.
Complete bios and quotes from Coach Erickson appear below:
Lee Battaglia
5-4 • F
Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central
High School: Two-year letter winner … All-sectional in 2007 and two-time all-conference selection (2006, 2007) … Suburban Life All-Area (2006, 2007) … Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Third Team (2007) … Led team in scoring in both freshman and sophomore seasons with 14 and 15 goals respectively … Three-year member of Eclipse Select … Team was 2008 U.S. National finalist and regional champion … Had goal and assist in 2006 sectional championship game … Four-year honor roll student … All-Academic West Suburban Conference selection.
Personal: Born Lee M. Battaglia on 9/13/90 … Daugher of Ernie and Rosalie Battaglia … Brother Frank is member of Northwestern wrestling team … Grandfather was Big Ten champion heavyweight at Illinois … Played in same club as current Wildcats, Katie Doyle, Carolyn Edwards and Sarah Sroka … Major is undecided … Chose Northwestern over Pennsylvania, DePaul, Loyola (Chicago) and Illinois State.
Quoting Coach Erickson: "Lee is a local talent coming from the best coaching and training environment in the nation—the Eclipse Soccer Club. Lee will add speed, feistiness and the courage to attack 1v1 to our frontline. She contributes depth to a position that lost Jenny Dunn to graduation and we are confident Lee will be a dynamic frontrunner for us. She joins her brother as a fellow NU athlete and will be a great success academically as well."
Meredith Finsand
5-2 • M
Edina, Minn,/Edina
High School: Four-year letter winner … 2007 all-state, all-region, all-metro and team MVP … 2007 conference MVP and all-tournament team … 2008 team MVP … Four-year letter winner in alpine skiing … All-state and team MVP for skiing 2006, 07, 08 … Competed for MTA Stars … Honor roll student and Presidential Award recipient for cumulative academic excellence (2005-08) … Also competed in track & field, cross country and lacrosse.
Personal: Born Meredith Jane Finsand on 10/9/90…Daughter of Amy and Bert Finsand…Father played football for Iowa State and sister was alpine skier for Boston College … Played in the same club as fellow recruit Briana Westland … Major is undecided.
Quoting Coach Erickson: “Meredith is a feisty and technical player. She is special in her ability on the ball and has an excellent work ethic. Meredith is a proven athlete and excelled in a diverse range of sports during her high school years. She will add a lot of life and personality to our program and is going to be a great success in the classroom.”
Catherine Parish
5-5 • M/F
Tulsa, Okla./Jenks
High School: Three-year letter winner … NSCAA Oklahoma State Player of the Year (2008) … NSCAA All-American (2008) … Three-time all-district selection … Five-year member of Edmond Soccer Club … Team is four-time defending Oklahoma state champion and was 2005 national finalist … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Catherine Valentine Parish on 5/17/91…Daughter of Bill and Linda Parish … Attended same high school as football's Andrew Brewer … Chose Northwestern over Santa Clara and Cornell.
Quoting Coach Erickson: "Catherine comes to us from an extremely competitive club environment and was recently named Oklahoma Player of the Year. She has excellent experience and a versatile arsenal of skills and abilities. Catherine could show up on the field in many positions, but will immediately add depth to our outside back position due to the graduation of Laura Janowitsch. We are so pleased to welcome Catherine into our program."
Jessica Rubin
5-6 • D
Naperville, Ill./ Naperville Central
High School: Four-year letter winner … Three-year Academic All-conference selection … All-conference in 2008 and honorable mention All-conference in 2007 … All-area honorable mention in 2008 … Team won 2006 and 2008 regional championship and has been rated top-5 in Illinois … Eight-year member of Naperville Soccer Association … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Jessica Ashley Rubin on 9/3/90…Daughter of Jeff and Janile Rubin … Brother played baseball at Truman State and sister played volleyball at Hope College … Attended same high school as WNBA's Candice Parker and NFL's Owen Daniels … Plans to major in psychology … Chose Northwestern over Central Michigan and Northern Illinois.
Quoting Coach Erickson: "Jessica is a local talent who is a pure athlete. She is a diamond in the rough that we were lucky to discover at our College Prep Clinic last spring. Her athleticism, natural defensive instincts, and impressive work rate will allow her to develop quickly and have a limitless college soccer career. She will immediately compete for playing time in the back line and gives us much-needed depth at that position."
Kendall Thoreson
5-5 • M
Seattle, Wash./King's
High School: Three-year letter winner … Two-time first team all-state, all-district and all-conference (2007, 08) … Three-time team MVP (2006-08) … Led state in assists (25) as senior and was top-10 in points during junior and senior years … Team won league, district and tri-district championships during senior year … Played for Washington Premier (2007-09) … Team won 2008 state championship and was regional quarterfinalist … Five-year member of Northwest Nationals (2000-06) … Team was state finalist in 2006 and 2007 … Member of Washington state ODP team (2003-08) … Team was regional finalist in 2005 and state finalist in 2006 and 2007 … Four-year honor roll member.
Personal: Born Kendall Marrissa Thoreson on 10/30/90…Daughter of Brad and Julie Thoreson…Father played basketball at Seattle Pacific University…Major is undecided
Quoting Coach Erickson: "Kendall is a hard-working, efficient and play-making midfielder. She will compete to make an impact in a position that lost some leadership and depth in the graduation of Jeanette Lorme and Amanda Hoffman. Kendall is an exciting student-athlete for our program and we can't wait to watch her evolve throughout her career."
Briana Westlund
5-6 • D
Cottage Grove, Minn./Park
High School: Five-year letter winner … Three-time St. Paul Pioneer Press all-state selection (2006, 07, 08) … Two-time Minneapolis Star Tribune all-state selection (2007, 08) … St. Paul Pioneer Press Metro Player of the Year (2007) … NSCAA All-American (2007) … Four-time all-conference (2005-08) and three-time all-state (2006-08) … Competed in 2008 Senior Classic … Team earned second in conference in 2006-08 and second in section in 2007 and 2008 … In five years, team only had 33 goals against while on the field … Six-year member of Bangu Tsunami/MN Thunder Academy … Honor roll student … National Honor Society member … All-state academic selection … Also lettered in nordic skiing.
Personal: Born Briana Marie Westlund on 6/14/91…Daughter of David and Candace Westlund…Competed in same club as fellow recruit Meredith Finsand … Plans to major in biology.
Quoting Coach Erickson: "Bri is a true centerback. She is extremely gifted in how she reads the game and runs the show for her teams. Our program will benefit from having her organizational skills in our backline. Bri is also an excellent student and will add to the competitiveness of the Northwestern community. Bri is a consummate team player and a perfect fit for our program."
