The Colorado College women's soccer program continued to strengthen its roster with the addition of five highly-skilled players who chose to pursue academic and athletic excellence as Tigers, head coach
Geoff Bennett announced today.
Forward Lily Byrne (Davis, Calif.), midfielder Caylin Lyubenko (Aurora, Colo.), forward Ann Louise Naito (Portland, Ore.), midfielder Alexandria Sandoval (Thornton, Colo.), and midfielder Alexis Wessler (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) will officially join the roster when the team begins pre-season training in August.
"We are obviously thrilled with the talent and depth of this class," Bennett Said. "We truly believe they will come in and help us get to that next level we are striving for as a program.
"
Robin Grossman also deserves a nod for all the hard work he put into this class. Robin is great at what he does, and this class exemplifies his talent in recruiting."
Byrne, who trained with the U.S. Club Soccer Player Development Program from 2014 through 2018, was elected for the team that competed in Sweden's Gothia Cup in 2018. She also played for Davis Legacy of the Elite Clubs National League and helped her side advance to the ECNL Finals and win three Surf Cup championships.
An all-around athlete, Byrne competed in was a four-sports at Davis Senior High School. She led the women's soccer team to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Section championship and a berth in the NorCal Region Championship in both 2017 and 2018. Byrne also qualified for the California-Nevada Interscholastic Ski and Snowboard Federation (CNISSF) championships in 2018 and 2019.
"Lily is an explosive attacking player who loves to run at people 1v1 and has a great work rate in doing so," Bennett said. "We are excited to another dynamic attacking player to our team and we feel that Lily will make us much more dangerous going forward."
Lyubenko, who joins sister, Coley, on the CC roster, played club soccer for Real Colorado and has trained at U.S. Soccer Training Centers on 10 occasions during 2014-15.
She earned four varsity letters at Grandview High School and helped the Wolves win back-to-back Colorado 5A state championships in 2018 and 2019. Lyubenko was a first-team all-Centennial League selection as a senior when Grandview won the second of back-to-back league titles.
"I really like Caylin's composure on the ball, Bennett said. "Her demeanor on the field brings a great sense of calmness, yet, she is very dangerous and smart going forward. I think Caylin can really add to our midfield block with her unbalancing ability and knack for scoring goals."
Naito, who played club for FC Portland of the ECNL, joins CC after a highly successful prep career. She helped lead Catlin Gabel School to three consecutive appearances in the finals of the state tournament during her first three seasons.
A first-team all-state selection as a junior after being named to the second team the year before, Naito was a three-time first-team all-Lewis & Clark League selection and led the conference in scoring as a sophomore.
"Ann Louise is a crafty, wide player who will use her quickness to get forward and provide great service from out wide," Bennett said. "She is another player who isn't afraid of 1v1 situations, and we look forward to her joining our attack next fall."
Sandoval, who elected to forego the final three seasons of her high school career to concentrate on training with her club and at the U.S. Soccer Training Centers, adds a high level of experience to the Tigers. She played for the Real Colorado Development Academy since 2017, and trained at U.S. Soccer Training Centers from 2012 through 2016.
During her freshman season at Mountain Range High School, she was named a first-team all-Front Range League selection as well as the Mustangs' Offensive MVP.
"Alex is a very dynamic, technical player who will immediately make us a craftier team in the final third," Bennett said. "Alex can beat you on the dribble or with a final pass and we are really excited to watch her make us more dangerous up top."
Last but certainly not least, the Tigers added a championship pedigree in Alexis Wessler, who won a U16/U17 national title while playing for the Real Colorado Development Academy.
The two-sport athlete also helped ThunderRidge High School win the Continental League championship in 2017
"Alexis is a great 6 who we expect will fit in perfectly with our midfield block," Bennett said. "She is tough, has great feet and can help us get forward on both the pass and dribble. Defensively, she is good in the air and very tough in 1v1 situations."
The five recruits will join an experienced Colorado College side that returns 17 veterans, 85 percent of its goal production, and its five-player back-line rotation from the team that posted a 10-7 record during the 2019 season.
