ITHACA, N.Y. — Women's Soccer head coach Patrick Farmer has announced that seven freshmen will join the squad for the 2015 season. The incoming class features a mix of players with technical and physical prowess, and they are collectively expected to compete for starting roles at various positions on the field for the Big Red program which continues to trend upward entering its fourth season under Farmer's direction.
 
The Big Red notched more wins in 2014 (eight) and in the Ivy League (two) than it had since 2002. Cornell started strong, with wins in five of its first six games — including a 3-2 come-from-behind win against Buffalo, which then went on a 14-game unbeaten streak and claimed the MAC championship. Junior Elizabeth Crowell returns after leading the team with six goals and 14 points, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention along with senior forward Caroline Growney and senior defender Charlotte Tate. Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Tierney had four shutouts in her first season as the primary starter and has already moved into the program's Top 10 all-time lists in wins (10), shutouts (six) and goals-against average (1.50).

The seven newcomers arrive from a variety of regions, spanning from the Mid-Altlantic to the Midwest and all the way to the Pacific Coast. The Big Red's 2015 schedule is expected to be released later this month.
 
Incoming Player Biographies
Meredith Criner
Defense/Midfield — 5-foot-8 — Wilmington, N.C.  (New Hanover HS / Cape Fear SC)
Criner played on both the 95 and 96 teams with Cape Fear SC, helping the 95 white team to a No. 1 ranking in North Carolina en route to a second-place finish after the state cup. At New Hanover HS, she was on the all-area team and Wilmington StarNews all-area team after her senior season, when she served as captain. She was also a three-time all-conference and all-region selection.
 
"Meredith is a strong defending presence in the middle of the field as a central defender and/or defensive midfielder," Farmer said. "She brings excellent pace, ball-winning mentality, and a strong shot from distance."
 
Rowan Glass
Midfield — 5-foot-6 — Gaithersburg, Md. (Richard Montgomery HS / Bethesda SC)
Glass was the most valuable player of her high school team as a sophomore, then led the squad in goals the next two seasons. She received an International Baccalaureate diploma and was a member of the National Honor Society.
 
"Rowan is a technically talented midfielder who provides very good possession and change in the point of attack," Farmer said. "She has excellent vision and ability to supply penetrating passes for frontrunners as well as being able to score herself."
 
Grace Keller
Defense — 5-foot-6 — Los Angeles, Calif. (Crescenta Valley HS / Golden State FC)
Keller was a four-year captain of her club team, FC Golden State, and she earned four letters in both soccer and track at La Crescenta HS. She was a first-team all-state selection as a senior, and was a two-time all-area first team and all-league first team pick. A three-year captain, Keller also helped the team to a league title in 2012.
 
"Grace is a fast, strong, intense defender who will provide a strong defending presence on the left side of the team," Farmer said. "She also plays up front and can score goals both as a forward and an attacking flank defender."
 
Meghan Kennedy
Goalkeeper — 5-foot-10 — Santa Clarita, Calif.  (Canyon HS / CZ Elite FC)
Kennedy was a three-time all-league first team selection and a two-time all-area second team pick for Canyon HS. She served as the team's captain for three years and was twice named the most valuable player. Additionally, she was named to the all-league second team once and was also tabbed the squad's most dedicated player. She played her club soccer with CZ Elite FC.
 
"Meghan is a goalkeeper who brings good size and strong presence dealing with crosses and high shots, and she has very good shot-stopping ability," Farmer said. "She is also very capable playing with her feet out of the back."
 
Zoe McCormick
Defense — 5-foot-7 — Hudson, Ohio (Western Reserve Academy / Internationals SC)
McCormick was named to the all-state team in 2014 after serving as a Western Reserve Acaemy captain for a second consecutive season. She was then selected to the prestigious National Soccer Coaches' Association of America's Scholar All-America Team in 2015. She played her club soccer with Internationals SC.
 
"Zoe is a central defender who plays with poise, knowledge and an excellent soccer brain," Farmer said. "She is a very good organizer of the defense and strong passer to start the attack from the back.  Zoe's dad, Martin, played soccer here at Cornell."
 
Jessica Ritchie
Midfield — 5-foot-4 — Glencoe, Ill.  (New Trier HS / Eclipse Select)
Ritchie played her club soccer with Eclipse Select in the Elite Clubs National League, and she also returned to her New Trier HS team for her senior season and helped the squad win the Illinois 3A state championship.
 
"Jessica is a good attacking player in the midfield who can play both centrally and on the flank," Farmer said. "She has very good ball skills, is a good passer, and has a lively and creative soccer mind. JR plays for one of the strongest club programs in the country and brings great experiences at the highest level of youth soccer in the U.S."
 
Carolyn Ruoff
Forward — 5-foot-4 — Portland, Ore. (Oregon Episcopal School / FC Portland)
Ruoff was the Oregon 3A Player of the Year in both 2013 and 2014, helping lead Oregon Episcopal School to state titles in 2011, 2013 and 2014. She was also named the league's player of the year and served as captain during her junior and senior seasons. Ruoff played her club soccer with FC Portland in the Elite Clubs National League, helping the squad to the U.S. Club Soccer national finals in 2012, to the National Premier League Championships semifinal in 2013 and the state championship in 2014. She also played lacrosse and basketball for four years at OES.
 
"Carolyn is an Oregon All-State player and Player of the Year for 2014, whose high school won the state title in three of her four years," Farmer said. "She is a technical and savvy attacker who can possess and distribute, and also score goals. Carolyn's uncle, Steve, played soccer at Cornell and still lives in the area. Both sets of grandparents still live in the Ithaca area and two grandparents taught at Cornell University."