Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Soccer Adds Four for 2014 Season
2/13/2014 1:43:00 PM | Soccer
Four newcomers set to join the defending MAC regular season champions
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan University Head Soccer Coach Scott Hall announced Thursday, Feb. 13, that four future Eagles will join the current squad for the 2014 season. Accompanying the defending Mid-American Conference regular season champions this fall will be Irena Dedivani (Farmington, Mich.-Waza FC), Olivia Kitz (Livonia, Mich.-Novi Jaguars), Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Oshawa Kicks) and Chanel Vani (Brampton, Ontario-Erin Mills Eagles).
"This has been a great class to recruit because we have really used our time well to get to know each of them and their families," commented Coach Hall. "They have big shoes to fill with the graduation of Stephanie Clarke, Cara Cutaia, Allison Kaim, Emily Kowalzyk and Megan Pedro, but both Assistant Coach Joe Malachino and I feel they fit all of our immediate needs to contend for another MAC Championship!"
A Farmington, Mich. native and player for Waza FC, Dedivani impressed the EMU coaches with her versatility. "Irena was a player who kept growing on us the more we watched her play," mentioned Coach Hall. "Whether it is in the back, at midfield, or up front, she can play anywhere on the field. She received some valuable experience last summer with the Montenegro national team, and we see her growing a lot in the EMU environment."
A member of the Novi Jaguars and from nearby Livonia, Mich., Kitz will look to bolster the defense when she arrives this fall. "We like the potential Olivia has; she is a very good one-on-one defender and can play anywhere across the back line or as a defensive midfielder. She is solid with the ball and a great organizer," added Coach Hall.
The EMU coaching staff continues to expand its search for the best prospective student-athletes to fit the program, heading across the border and into Canada to bring in two Ontario natives in Nason and Vani. "Kristin comes from a great club just outside of Toronto called the Oshawa Kicks. She played for Ron Clarke who is a good friend of both Joe and I, and he used to coach in the United States," remarked Coach Hall. "She brings an attacking mentality to EMU, and we can play her as a forward or an attacking midfielder. She has an incredibly quick first step, is very comfortable with the ball, and can can strike it extremely well."
Also taking her talents to American soil is Vani, a Brampton, Onario native who played for both the Erin Mills Eagles. "Chanel is a great athlete. She has unbelievable quickness and great defensive presence," voiced Hall. "We cannot wait to see her somewhere in our back four either as a center back or outside back running from one 18-yard box to the other."
Coming off the program's first conference championship since 2003, Coach Hall understands the importance of keeping Eastern Michigan at the top of the MAC. "We have an obligation to continue to improve and grow this program into something all Eagles fans can be proud of," said Hall. "We believe this group of players will accept that challenge and continue the great soccer tradition at EMU."
"This has been a great class to recruit because we have really used our time well to get to know each of them and their families," commented Coach Hall. "They have big shoes to fill with the graduation of Stephanie Clarke, Cara Cutaia, Allison Kaim, Emily Kowalzyk and Megan Pedro, but both Assistant Coach Joe Malachino and I feel they fit all of our immediate needs to contend for another MAC Championship!"
A Farmington, Mich. native and player for Waza FC, Dedivani impressed the EMU coaches with her versatility. "Irena was a player who kept growing on us the more we watched her play," mentioned Coach Hall. "Whether it is in the back, at midfield, or up front, she can play anywhere on the field. She received some valuable experience last summer with the Montenegro national team, and we see her growing a lot in the EMU environment."
A member of the Novi Jaguars and from nearby Livonia, Mich., Kitz will look to bolster the defense when she arrives this fall. "We like the potential Olivia has; she is a very good one-on-one defender and can play anywhere across the back line or as a defensive midfielder. She is solid with the ball and a great organizer," added Coach Hall.
The EMU coaching staff continues to expand its search for the best prospective student-athletes to fit the program, heading across the border and into Canada to bring in two Ontario natives in Nason and Vani. "Kristin comes from a great club just outside of Toronto called the Oshawa Kicks. She played for Ron Clarke who is a good friend of both Joe and I, and he used to coach in the United States," remarked Coach Hall. "She brings an attacking mentality to EMU, and we can play her as a forward or an attacking midfielder. She has an incredibly quick first step, is very comfortable with the ball, and can can strike it extremely well."
Also taking her talents to American soil is Vani, a Brampton, Onario native who played for both the Erin Mills Eagles. "Chanel is a great athlete. She has unbelievable quickness and great defensive presence," voiced Hall. "We cannot wait to see her somewhere in our back four either as a center back or outside back running from one 18-yard box to the other."
Coming off the program's first conference championship since 2003, Coach Hall understands the importance of keeping Eastern Michigan at the top of the MAC. "We have an obligation to continue to improve and grow this program into something all Eagles fans can be proud of," said Hall. "We believe this group of players will accept that challenge and continue the great soccer tradition at EMU."
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