Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany has signed seven student-athletes for the upcoming 2011-12 academic year, as announced by head coach Phil Sykes on Thursday, June 23. The class of 2015 includes two student-athletes from New York, three from Pennsylvania and two international players.
Defender Alyssa Brand hails from Johnstown, N.Y., and led the Sir Bills to the 2009 Foothills Council championship. She was an all-state honoree as a senior, and was named the team's most outstanding player last fall. Brand was a first-team Section II Foothills Council All-Star in 2009 and 2010 after earning honorable mention honors in 2008. A senior captain, Brand finished her career with 14 goals and 15 assists, and earned the Coaches' Award in 2009. She was also a member of Johnstown's lacrosse and ski teams, and was the Most Improved Nordic Skier in 2008, while earning the lacrosse team's most outstanding player award in 2010. Brand also plays for the Capital Region's ADK Field Hockey Club. A member of the National Honor Society, student council, Key Club and International Club, Brand intends to major in human biology.
Chantae Miller, a native of East Amherst, N.Y., joins the Great Danes after spending two years as a member of the Michigan State field hockey program. Miller is the only player in U.S. high school field hockey history to score 100 goals and record 100 assists. She finished with 126 goals and 117 assists in her four-year career at Williamsville North High School. A four-year captain for the Spartans, Miller earned NFHCA Regional All-America and All-ECIC Division I honors four times. She was also a four-time All-New York State First Team honoree, and earned All-Western New York first-team honors four consecutive seasons. Miller, who was an All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as a sophomore at Michigan State, appeared in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd in 2008. She led Williamsville North to the 2007 New York State Class A Championship, before helping guide Michigan State to a Big Ten title in 2009 and back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances. A psychology major, Miller was named to the Big Ten All-Academic Team as a freshman and sophomore, and was an NFHCA National Academic Team member last season.
Echo Bretz and Jordyn Homyak become the fifth and sixth student-athletes to join the UAlbany program from Lehighton High School in Pennsylvania, joining former teammates Kristi Troch and Corrine McConville on the 2011 squad. Bretz, a forward/midfielder was a four-year letterwinner, helping the Indians to a 26-0 record as a junior, en-route to the 2009 Pennsylvania state championship. A two-time captain, Bretz finished her career with 56 goals and 41 assists, earning First Team All-State, All-Area and All-League honors as a senior. She was the team's offensive MVP in 2010, totaling 21 goals and 15 assists in her final season, as an All-America honoree and the Times News Player of the Year. Bretz, who intends to major in business administration, was a member of the National Honor Society, the Captain's Club, SADD, FBLA and the Red Cross Club. A class treasurer, she graduated in the top 10 percent of her high school class.
A forward, Homyak was a four-year letterwinner for the Indians. She was a member of the all-state first team and was named the Mountain Valley Conference MVP as a senior, after earning second-team honors in 2009. Homyak helped lead Lehighton to the Mountain Valley and District XI championships, while the team was the Pennsylvania State Runner-Up last season. The Indians were ranked No. 1 nationally with their undefeated record. Homyak, who intends to major in criminal justice, was also a member of the National Honor Society, student council and the Red Cross Club, and graduated in the top 10 percent of her high school class.
A senior captain and defender, Chloe Pachuilo hails from Reinholds, Pa. She finished her four-year career at Conrad Weiser High School with 33 goals and 22 assists, including 20 goals in her senior season. She was a four-time All-State and All-Berks County honoree, garnering first-team accolades from both in her final year. Pachuilo was an second team all-state member as a sophomore and junior and earned honorable mention laurels as a freshman. She was named the team's most outstanding midfielder in 2007 and 2008, while earning the team's best all-around player award as a junior and senior. Pachuilo led the Scouts to the 2010 District III championship and the Berks County Division II championship twice. Pachuilo was also a member of the High Styx Field Hockey Club that won three National Indoor Tournament crowns and was the National Field Hockey Festival champion in 2007. Pachuilo, who intends to major in criminal justice, was a member of the Junior Classical League, Algorithmics and the Renaissance Club.
Karlijn van Dijsseldonk comes to UAlbany from Veldhoven, The Netherlands. A forward, van Dijsseldonk comes to UAlbany from Sondervick College Veldhoven, where she was a senior captain. Van Dijsseldonk has played at Holland's top club level in both indoor and outdoor seasons. She was a team captain for HC Eindhoven of the National League which finished fourth in Southern Holland during the 2009-10 indoor season. During the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons with HC Eindhoven, van Dijsseldonk helped lead the squad to back-to-back second-place finishes at an international tournament, taking on top teams from Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Zimbabwe and Belgium. Van Dijsseldonk has been coached by top international players from both Holland and Australia, playing against high-level international competition since 2005-06.
A midfielder, Amy Nicklin hails from Cheshire, England. She finished her scholastic career with 18 goals and 27 assists and was a three-time captain at the Werneth School. In 2006-07, Nicklin earned the Manchester League Under-16 Player of the Year Award, before garnering Most Improved Player honors in 2008. She was named the 2009 team MVP and Sports Personality of the Year. Nicklin also earned all-league honors as a member of the North of England U18 and U21 teams in 2010 and 2011. She intends to major in criminal justice, and has participated in theatre productions and was a member of the track and field, soccer, basketball, tennis and badminton squads.
"We are very excited about our incoming class," said Sykes, who led the Great Danes to their second America East Conference championship last season. "They will bring a great deal of speed and goal-scoring ability to our attack, as well as a grit and toughness to our defense. Our coaching staff feels optimistic looking at our upcoming season."
