April 14, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond field hockey coach Gina Lucido announced the signing of five student-athletes who will join the Spiders this fall.

Sierra Asplundh (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.), Betsy Herr (Lancaster, Pa.), Grace Krafte (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Katelin Peterson (Escondido, Calif.) and Emily Straniero (New Egypt, N.J.) make up Lucido's second recruiting class at Richmond.

"I believe the right mix of character and skill is a recipe for success at the highest level," Lucido said. "The 2008 Spiders are select ingredients added to a great recipe blending in Richmond. These young women possess the foundation within to impact their teammates and the community from the day they set foot on campus."

Asplundh was a four-year starter and letterwinner for coach Sarah Cooper Waelchli at The Academy of the New Church in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. The 5-foot-6 forward/midfielder was an All-Friends School League selection as a junior and senior year after earning honorable mention as a sophomore. Asplundh was a two-time team MVP and the captain her senior year. She was named her school's female athlete of the year in 2007 and helped The Academy to The Friends School Championship in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005.

Sierra Asplundh

"Sierra Asplundh possesses the dedication that you look for in a younger player," Lucido said. " Her desire to sacrifice for the team above personal ambition is a vital quality that will add to our program."

Herr was a four-year starter and letterwinner for coach Ron Stief at Lancaster Christian School in Lancaster, Pa. She will be one of six players on the 2008 Spider roster from Lancaster, joining seniors Becca Weaver and Sarah Schrott, and sophomores Sara Reese, Natalie Simons and Michellle Weaver. Of the six Lancaster natives, Herr and Schrott are the two who played at Lancaster Christian. Herr, a 5-foot-5 midfielder/back, was a three-time first-team Commonwealth Christian Athletic Conference All-Star selection as she helped Lancaster Christian to back-to-back CCAC titles in 2006 and 2007.

"Betsy Herr possesses great athleticism and a solid skill base to be a force in the midfield," Lucido said. "She will maximize her potential through her work rate and outstanding character."

Betsy Herr

Krafte was a three-year starter and letterwinner at midfield for coach Deigo Caballero at Chapel Hill High, leading her team to state championships and Pac-6 Conference titles in 2005 and 2007. Krafte, a 5-foot-5 midfielder/forward, was a three-time Pac-6 Conference first-team selection and was her team's leading scorer as a junior with 14 goals and four assists.

"Grace Krafte is loaded with potential," Lucido said. "Her character and discipline will foster the development of her natural athleticism into lethal performances."

Grace Krafte

Peterson was a four-year starter and letterwinner for coach Paula Conway at San Pasqual High in Escondido, Calif., helping her team to three league titles. The 5-foot-10 forward led the team in scoring her last three years with 71 career goals, including 27 in her senior year. She led San Pasqual to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2007. Peterson was a three-time CIF Hall of Champions First-Team selection and was the team MVP and captain as a senior. She was the San Diego Union Tribune Student Athlete of the Year as a senior.

"Katelin Peterson will immediately impact our program through her relentless, competitive mentality," Lucido said. "She has a hunger to score goals that every coach yearns for in their attackers and has valuable playmaking ability. Katelin's addition to our squad will be noticeable on the scoreboard."

Emily Straniero

Straniero was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for coach Patti Nicholson at New Egypt High in New Egypt, N.J. helping her team to three Freedom Division titles, a Group 1 state title in 2005 and three state playoff appearances. The 5-foot-3 back was a first-team All-Freedom Division selection as a senior, also earning second-team All-South Jersey and first-team all-area. She was team captain as a senior.

"Emily Straniero has passion that will fuel any team into postseason play," Lucido said. "She has the heart and drive to make the impossible happen."

Richmond will be going for its sixth Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008, returning all but two players from a team that finished third in the Atlantic 10.