Peninsula College sources

Peninsula College’s women’s soccer squad, the 2011 NWAACC runner-up, keeps getting stronger.

Head coach Kanyon Anderson has landed a second wave of recruits in recent weeks, adding to a talented class of seven incoming freshmen who signed earlier this spring.

The newest soccer standouts committing to wear black and gold next year include Hailey Berg of Hawaii; Laura Morgan and Ashlyn Crossan of Washington; and Shelbi Vienna-Hallam and Miranda Sochaki of Australia.

Berg is a defender out of Kapolei, Hawaii. She was a three-time First Team All League selection and Second Team All State.  

“Hailey brings a very high level of speed and athleticism to the team,” Anderson said. “She plays hard and fast, and she can attack from the outside defender position as well as any player I have seen at the high school level. In her first round game of the Hawaiian State Championships she dominated the entire right sideline. She is so dangerous off the dribble that I suspect she could be effective in an attacking role.”

Key hands from Hockinson

Morgan is a goalkeeper out of Hockinson. She was named First Team All League in 2010 and 2011 and was Goal Keeper of the Year in 2010. She was also the keeper for the Vancouver United Timbers FC who claimed the national championship for her age group.

“Laura has as impressive a soccer resume as I have seen in my recruiting, and when I watch her play, it is clear that she is used to competing at a high level,” Anderson said. Her technique, communication and understanding of team defensive concepts allow her to make the players in front of her better.” 

Vienna-Hallam is a defender who played for the Australian Futsal Team. She was co-captain of a women’s premier league team that won a championship and also served as

captain of her High School Women’s A Grade team, also a title winner.

“Shelbi has played at the highest levels of youth and women’s soccer and has captained many of her teams,” Anderson said.

Also joining the roster from Down Under is Sochaki, a defender/midfielder from Queensland, Australia.

She was named All Region for her Women’s Premier League team and in high school was a track star, winning her age bracket in the 100, 200, long jump, triple jump, javelin, shot and discus. She holds a school record in the long jump.

“Miranda is noticeable for her high level of athleticism,” Anderson said. “Her height makes her a dominant force in the middle of the field and her exceptional speed makes her a player who can cover a lot of ground.

Filling out the latest list to commit to Peninsula is Crossan, an attacker from Montesano. She was a three-time First Team All League selection, the 2011 League MVP and was Montesano’s offensive MVP. She was named First Team All-State striker in 2012, finishing her high school career with more than 100 goals.

“Ashlyn has been an important part of this year’s recruiting class since the beginning,” Anderson said.

Ashlyn has that ability and she has the ability to finish the chances that she creates.

“With all these qualities it will not surprise me to see her at the top of the scoring table next year.”