Illinois
Tech head women's soccer coach Marc Colwell announced the signing of Lauren
Capuano to play soccer for the Scarlet Hawks this fall.
Capuano
joins the Scarlet Hawks after playing one season with Loyola University in
Chicago. Capuano played in 3 games as a first year center midfielder for the
Ramblers. She was a two-time all-conference player for Francis Howell Central
and played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher.
A native
of St. Charles, Missouri, Capuano plans on studying Architecture at IIT.
Sanjeet (Sanj) Jaspal, a midfielder from Coventry, England has committed to play soccer at Illinois Tech next season.
Jaspal capped an outstanding two-year career at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College playing for Head Coach Jimmy Ballenger. She started every game for the Fillies this season; recording 6 goals and dishing off 10 assists. For her efforts, Jaspal was selected 2nd Team All-Region.
ABAC completed the 2009 campaign with a 9-7-1 record, bowing out to Georgia Perimeter 2-1 in overtime during the GJCAA Playoffs. As a first year, Jaspal was instrumental in the midfield as ABAC finished 13-5.
Head Coach Marc Colwell commented, "Sanj is a very skillful and calm player on the ball. Her experience should help her step in and raise our rate of possession in the midfield. She has the ability to find the back of the net, but is more accomplished in setting up her teammates."
Jaspal attended Princethorpe College and played soccer for Coventry City Ladies Reserves and Aston Villa U16. She will study biology at IIT- with plans on attending dental school after graduation.
Kuitse who is a midfielder from South Bend, Indiana, attends Saint Joseph High School. She was a tri-captain and starting central midfielder for a team that advanced to the Indiana High School State Final Four. Kuitse was named 2nd Team All-Conference and 2nd Team IGCSA.
In the classroom, Kuitse was recognized as Academic All-State in 2008 and 2009. Her teammates voted her Most Dedicated and she was named the Kiwanis Citizenship/Sportsmanship award winner.
It's a family affair on the Saint Joseph high school team. Mariah's sister Lindsey is a sophomore defender on the team. The head coach is Johan Kuitse, Mariah and Lindsey's dad.
"Mariah is a technical and physical central midfielder that has the ability to step in and help us right away," said Colwell. "Her strength right now is more of a defensive and play making player because of her intelligence on and off the ball. She's been well coached in high school and club. Once she adapts her game to the speed of play and style of the college game, she has the potential to be a very good player for us."
Mariah was named to the National Honor Society in her junior and senior year. She has been an honors student all four years in high school and was one of the four finalists for the Mental Attitude Award for the state of Indiana.
Mariah plays club soccer for the Junior Irish Soccer Club and plans on studying Pre-Medicine at IIT.
