@CanesFutbol Adds Five During Signing Period
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head soccer coach Mary-Frances Monroe announced Tuesday the signing of five high school standouts.
The Hurricanes have officially added Morgan Asmussen, Tia Dupont, Michelle Giamportone, Rachel Sorkenn and Natalie White. The class includes a pair of defenders and a trio of forwards.
A 5-foot-4-inch defender from Lake Bluff, Ill., Asmussen hails from the same high school, Lake Forest, and club team, ECNL Eclipse Select, as Hurricane freshman defender Hannah Marwede. A four-time state cup champion across two different states, Asmussen helped her team to a top-10 ECNL ranking each of the past three years.
“Morgan is defender who will add depth to our back line,” Monroe said. “She comes from a very established club team, ECNL Eclipse Select, out of Chicago. Coming from a competitive environment, Morgan has a great attitude and knows what it takes to compete at this level.”
One of two Garden State natives in the class, Dupont hails from Sicklerville, N.J., and attends Our Lady of Mercy Academy. The 5-foot-7-inch forward is a three-time first team all-league pick and was named The Daily Journal Player of the Year as a senior after recording 31 goals and 28 assists.
“We are excited about the addition of Tia to our team. She will bring depth to our attacking personalities,” Monroe said. “Tia has a great work ethic and has a strong passion for the game that you can see every time she steps on the field.”
Giamportone, a 5-foot-10-inch forward, comes to Miami from Hyde Park, N.Y., and Rhinebeck High School. A 2016 NSCAA High School All-American, Giamportone has experience competing with the best players in the country, having been invited to the USA U14 National Training Camp.
“We are excited about the addition of Michelle to our team. She has an eye for the goal and is great in the air,” Monroe said. “She has nice height and competes at all costs. Michelle comes from one of the top ECNL teams in the country, playing for PDA.”
An Oradell, N.J., native and River Dell Regional High School standout, Sorkenn is a 5-foot-6-inch forward. During her high school career, Sorkenn tallied 79 goals and 37 assists, earning all-state recognition each season and being named a first team all-county pick by NJ.com as a senior.
“Rachel has many special qualities that are going to help us in the attacking side of the game. She loves to score goals and is fun to watch,” Monroe said. “I am excited to see her compete at the highest level. She was a top goal scorer for her ECNL World Class team.”
The second defender in Miami’s 2017 class is 5-foot-6-inch Natalie White, an in-state recruit from St. Augustine, Fla., who attends Allen D. Nease High School. A two-time USYS club national champion, White was named a second team all-county pick as a sophomore, her final year of prep soccer, by The St. Augustine Record.
“Natalie will bring depth to our back line. She loves to attack out of the back and get forward,” Monroe said. “She has nice pace and will be hard to beat. Natalie also plays for a top club team in the country in Jacksonville Armada FC.”
These five high schoolers join West Virginia transfer Dalanda Ouendeno, a defender who is already on campus at Miami, as Hurricane newcomers.
Miami is coming off a 10-8-1 (5-5-0 ACC) season in 2016 during which it reached the ACC Championship and set a program record for conference victories.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
