George Washington University women’s soccer welcomes 5 new signings

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WASHINGTON – George Washington University women’s soccer head coach Michelle Demko announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Colonials’ roster for the 2020-21 season.

The quintet consists of Elizabeth Cruz (Long Island, N.Y.), Anika Haski (Lancaster, Pa.), Lauren Prentice (Tampa, Fla.), Margaret Rabbitt (Boylston, Mass.) and Brooklyn Wentz (Avon, Ohio).

They will join a roster of seasoned returners who took the Colonials to the Atlantic 10 Championship final for the first time since 1997 last season.

Elizabeth Cruz
FR
Midfield
Long Island, NY
Manhasset High School
Journalism

High School: Four-year starter at Manhasset High School … All-State for soccer in 2019 … also recognized on the 2019 All-County … All-Class in 2018 … also a varsity track and field athlete and received All-County honors from 2017-2020 … played for East Meadow Soccer Club … EMSC ECNL National Showcase Champions in 2018 … member of the Social Studies Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

Demko on Cruz: “Lizzy is a great addition to our strong and talented midfield line who features a high soccer IQ. Her technical ability, especially in tight spaces, will help us maintain possession and link the game from our back line to our front runners. She is comfortable with pressure or running up at players to make things happen in the final third.”

Anika Haski
FR
5-7
Forward
Lancaster, Pa.
Hempfield High School
Biomedical Engineering

High School: Played for Hempfield High School … as a freshman in 2016, helped lead her team in scoring and to the second round of the PIAA State Championship … selected to the Second Team LL League All-Star … US Soccer Development Academy participant (2017-18) … as a senior at Hempfield High School, helped her team to the semi-final round of the PIAA State Championship … selected to the First Team LL League All-Star … honor roll student … also played for the nationally ranked Penn Fusion ECNL club team in 2016 … selected to the US Training Center in 2017 … joined the US Soccer Development Academy in 2017 … played for Pennsylvania Classics Development Academy in 2018 … participated in the Washington Spirit Development Academy in 2019 … played for Baltimore Armour Development Academy under coaches Santino Quaranta and Danny Skelton in 2019.

Demko on Haski: “Anika has a great work rate in front of the box, making it difficult to defend her. She is relentless in her pursuit of goal-scoring opportunities, both as a central striker and a flank player. She adds another key piece to our already very talented and dangerous attacking arsenal.”

Lauren Prentice
FR
5-4
Forward
Tampa, Fla.
Steinbrenner High School
Journalism or Political Science

High School: Forward for Steinbrenner High School … received the 2020 all-star award … also played for her club team, Tampa Bay United ECNL … member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society.

Demko on Prentice: “Lauren has a huge engine with a great deal of speed and athleticism for her wide forward position. Her confidence comes with her ability to run at plays to get in behind, cut inside to strike on goal or serve the box to a teammate. She joins a very dynamic and athletic forward line for us.”

Margaret Rabbitt
FR
5-6
Defense
Boylston, Mass.
Concord-Carlisle Regional High School
Political Science or Psychology

High School: Represented NEFC on U.S. Soccer Development Academy circuit … also played with FC Stars (2009-16) … played in Spain with NEFC (2018) … played in England and France with NEFC (2019) … received the No. 1 seed in the country for Development Academy nationals in 2019 … graduated with high honors at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.

Demko on Rabbitt: “Margaret is a fierce and incredibly tough competitor who has experience playing both outside back and center back. As a center back, she organizes well, has high communication in the run of play and has a physical presence to her game. In the outside back position, she looks to get forward in the attack and is a very good 1v1 defender. She joins a very tough and talented back line for us.”

Brooklyn Wentz
FR
5-7
GK
Avon, OH
Avon High School
Mechanical Engineering

High School: Played for Avon High School … varsity letter freshman year … also played for Internationals Soccer Club … helped her club team to the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship in 2016 … Won ECNL North American Cup in 2018 … graduated with summa cum laude honors … member of the National Honor Society.

Demko on Wentz: “Brooklyn joins our talented GK unit as a good shot stopper. She has quick hands in tight spaces and is able to make point-blank saves. Her level of communication is very high with her defenders organizationally, and she commands her box very well.”