RIVERDALE, N.Y. -  Manhattan College third year women's soccer head coach Brendan Lawler officially announced the signing of nine incoming student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2012 campaign. The Jaspers welcome incoming freshmen Mary Hijazi (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun), Colleen Kavanagh (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy), Catherine Kinney (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), Tiffanie McIntosh (Groton, N.Y./Lansing), Hannah Pogulis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury), Taylor Salkowsky (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Kristen Skonieczny (LaGrangeville, N.Y./Arlington), Emily Ude (Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and Sam Washuk (Milford, Conn./Joseph A. Foran) to Riverdale this fall.

Hijazi is a 5'7" midfielder from Merrick, N.Y. who was a four year starter at Calhoun High School. She helped lead Calhoun to a 16-1-2 overall record as the Lady Colts advanced to the 2011 Class AA Nassau County championship game. Hijazi was named to the All-Conference Team as a senior, as well as All-Class AA as a sophomore. She played club soccer with East Meadow Express U18 of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). Hijazi was a three sport athlete at Calhoun also lettering in lacrosse and track. She is a technical central midfielder with the ability to orchestra tempo and direction of attacks.

"Mary will be a presence for us in the middle of the park with her ability to play accurate penetration passes, as well as short possession oriented passes, coupled with her physical strength," explained Lawler. "Her experience against top competition in the State Cup Finals and the ECNL will be beneficial in her transition to the collegiate game. Like the rest of the class, Mary will help continue the strong academic reputation of the women's soccer program at Manhattan."

Kavanagh comes to Manhattan from Sacred Heart Academy in Long Island where she was a three year varsity starter playing the midfield. As a senior captain , Kavanagh helped lead Sacred Heart to a 10-1-1 conference record and advance to the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Class AA semifinals. The 5'4" native of Rockville Centre, N.Y. finished second on the team with six goals, and she added two assists in her senior campaign. Kavanagh played club soccer for the Massapequa Storm.

"Colleen brings versatility to our program," said Lawler. "Her ability to play either in the middle of the field or out wide, along with the experience she brings playing in one of the toughest Catholic high school leagues in the country will go a long way in our quest to compete for a championship. Colleen is also a top level student who we expect will make the Manhattan community proud of both her success in the classroom and on the field."

Kinney was a four year letterwinner at Smithtown High School West where she earned All County honors as a senior and helped her team advance to the Suffolk Class AA Playoffs quarterfinals. She helped Smithtown West post a 10-3-3 overall record and 8-1-2 conference mark. Kinney was also named to the Suffolk County All-Academic Team. She was a member of the Eastern New York State Olympic Development team and played club soccer with the East Meadow Express of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL).

"Cat brings an eagerness to help build a winning tradition," explained Lawler. "She has challenged  herself over the past few years to gain experience against the top competition in the region by playing at the ODP level and in the ECNL. With this experience, her technical ability and quickness, it will be a boost to our program."

McIntosh is a four-year letterwinner from Lansing High School in Central New York who can bolster the Jaspers' line up as either a forward or attacking midfielder. She was a New York State Class C First Team selection as a senior helping Lansing to a No. 2 state ranking and 16-2 record. McIntosh was a four time Interscholastic Athletic Conference (IAC) honoree, while also earning IAC Most Valuable Player honors as a senior. McIntosh will play club soccer with Binghamton United FC, a high level national league featuring current and former collegiate players, this summer.

"Tiffanie is a hard nosed, physical forward who never stops working," said Lawler. "Her constant movement, ability to read the game well and finish on scoring opportunities makes her a dangerous scorer. Tiffanie brings versatility to the field and an eagerness to help the team in anyway possible."

Pogulis is a 5'7" defender from Monroe, N.Y. who started three years on the Monroe-Woodbury High School soccer team. Pogulis served as captain and received the team's Coach's Award for the Crusaders squad that advanced to the semifinals of the Section IX Class AA tournament in 2011. A multi-sport athlete, Pogulis also lettered four years on the indoor and outdoor track & field team at Monroe-Woodbury. She earned the school's varsity Scholar-Athlete Award each year from eighth grade to her senior year. Pogulis played club soccer with the Cornwall United Team Primo.

"Hannah will bring a tenacity and determination to our program that will help strengthen our back line and make the attack stronger in their training against her on a daily basis," said Lawler. "She is a hard worker who we expect will make a positive impact on the program and Manhattan College as a whole through her dedication to academic and athletic success."

Salkowsky comes to Manhattan from St. Anthony's High School where she helped her team win the 2011 New York State CHSAA Class AA championship. The 5'7" forward from Massapequa Park, N.Y. posted six points during the championship campaign that featured a 14-1-2 overall record. Salkowsky is a five year participant of the New York State Olympic Development program, as well as an inductee of the National Honor Society. She played club soccer for the East Meadow Express.

"Taylor offers our program a technical comfort on the ball, a tremendous fitness level and versatility that makes us deeper in several positions," said Lawler. "Like many of our incoming players, Taylor brings a high level of competitive experience from her time playing in the ECNL, the top club league in the country, as well as from St. Anthony's, one of the best high school soccer programs annually. Fitting with the theme of this recruiting class, Taylor is also a tremendous student who is dedicated to success in the classroom as much as her dedication to success on the field."

Skonieczny is a 5'7" goalkeeper who was a three year varsity starter at Arlington High School. The LaGrangeville, N.Y. native helped lead Arlington as a senior to a Section I Championship and the New York State Class AA championship game. A three-time All-League honoree, Skonieczny was earned Arlington's Most Valuable Player honors at the conclusion of her senior campaign when she helped limit opponents to only nine goals all season. Skonieczny was a member of the Middlepath FC club program.

"We fully expect Kristen to have a tremendous impact on our program over her career at Manhattan," stated Lawler. "She is a fearless competitor who will dominate in the air, make all the saves she is supposed to make and be able to come up with the big saves that will preserve wins. Kristen works tirelessly in the classroom and on the field. Her experience in championship games at the high school and club level will be vital to elevating our program."

Ude comes to Riverdale from North Babylon High School where she was a four year varsity letterwinner. The 5'2" forward from Long Island earned All-County honors in her final three years at North Babylon. She led North Babylon with 13 goals and 10 assists during her senior campaign helping the team to nine wins. As a junior, Ude earned First Team All New York State honors and was named the League VI Player of the Year after recording 13 goals and 13 assists. Ude was a four year starter who finished her career with the third most goals in program history with 37 and she is first all-time with 32 assists. She was a member of the Farmingdale Freedom club soccer program. Ude serves as the Senior Class President at North Babylon and she is the National Honor Society Vice President.

"Emily brings a quick and dynamic attacking game to our program," said Lawler. "A striker in the purest sense of the word, Emily loves to run at defender and she has the ability to finish against top defenders in many different ways. She has proved time and time again her ability to be dangerous in the attack against top competition. Emily is also a top student who adds to the quality of the student body at Manhattan College."

Washuk was a four year starter at the midfield and forward positions for Joseph A. Foran High School in Connecticut. The native of Milford, Conn. earned Hammonasset All Division Team honors of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) in each of her four years with the program. Washuk earned the SCC All Academic Award all four years and played club soccer for the Soccer Plus CT FC. The multi-sport high school athlete also lettered in tennis and basketball.

"Sam is coming to Manhattan from a terrific club program, established and coached by some of the top players and coaches this country has ever produced," explained Lawler. "Playing as a forward in the ECNL, Sam has shown a work level and tactical understanding against the best club soccer competition in the nation.  Sam understands how to link up the lines in the attack. Aside from the field, Sam rounds out a class of not only strong soccer players, but wonderful students."