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Women's Soccer Inks Canadian U-20 Star Christabel Oduro
Feb. 12, 2010
Memphis, Tenn. – St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School attacking midfielder Christabel Oduro signed a National Letter of Intent to join the University of Memphis women’s soccer program as announced by head coach Brooks Monaghan on Thursday. She is the final signee of the Lady Tigers 2010-11 signing class. “We are ecstatic to have Christabel join our program here at the University of Memphis,” Monaghan said. “She has it all. She has all the ability you look for in a signee and she is extremely athletic. She has the right mentality and she is extremely passionate about the game of soccer. She will only improve in our environment and I think she will have an extremely bright future here.” On the club level, Oduro played for the Dixie Gladiators under the direction of Ali Douha. She is currently a member of the U-20 Canadian national team. “She is versatile in the fact that she suits our team in two different positions, outside forward and attacking center midfielder,” Monaghan said. “She has great speed and she is very good in 1v1 situations. She has great skill and vision and that is what makes her so versatile. We expect Christabel to come in here and make an immediate impact with the ability she has. Christabel also brings that international experience which is fantastic to add to your squad. She has dreams of playing professionally and representing her country in the future and we are extremely excited to have her join our program. I hope myself and the coaching staff can help her meet her lifetime goals.”
The Brampton, Ontario native is a multi-sport athlete at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. Oduro has played point guard for the basketball team, outside hitter for the volleyball team and has also run for the cross country team. She is a three-time Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROOPSSAA) champion in soccer as well as a one-time champion in basketball. The 2009 soccer squad was a provincial finalist. Oduro is the daughter of Daniel and Vida Oduro. Coach Monaghan and assistant coaches Jodi Grant and Jonny Walker assembled the 2010-11 signing class and Monaghan has high expectations for the group. “This is a special recruiting class this year,” Monaghan said. “It is very exciting to think about the future next year. Obviously this is another level for all of these kids to step into, but what they have done at their respective levels, whether it be club or national teams, they have all been over-achievers. We feel that this class is one of the best we have had over the years and it is exciting to think about since we didn’t lose many players from last year. Getting Laura Laufenberg and Melissa Smith back healthy makes for exciting times, but this group of girls are not only good soccer players, they have the character we look for when we sign kids to this program. There are high expectations for this group and we expect them to continue the championship success and take us to the next level. It is very exciting and we look forward to having this group join us in the fall.”
2010-11 Signing Class MF- Alena Strnadova, 5-6, Las Cruces, NM / Las Cruces HS MF- Kelley Gravlin, 5-5, St. Louis, MO / Incarnate Word Academy F- Rasheeda Ansari, 5-4, Lithonia, GA / Miller Grove HS F- Emmaleigh Davis, 5-5, Pascagoula, MS / Resurrection Catholic HS D- Avery Dellheim, 5-8, Tucson, AZ / Catalina Foothills D- Ashley Barksdale, 5-6, North Little Rock, AR / Mount St. Mary Academy MF- Christabel Oduro, 5-3, Brampton, Ontario / St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary
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Memphis Tigers
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