CALIFORNIA (July 1) – After posting its most successful season in school history, the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer program announced on Thursday that it has signed 13 players for the upcoming season.

The incoming class for 2010 includes Sara Di Benedetto (Midfield/Defense – Maple Ontario), Jordan Egge (Defense – Macungie, Pa.), Tonya Fabian (Forward – Jefferson Hills, Pa.), Kylee Heck (Midfield/Forward – Belle Vernon, Pa.), Kamilla Lillefjaere (Forward/Midfield – Oslo, Norway), Ashley Magruda (Goalkeeper – Belle Vernon, Pa.), Melissa McKellar (Forward/Midfield – Pittsburgh, Pa.), Chelsea Norbuts (Midfield/Forward – Woodstown, N.J.), Ashley Smyda (Goalkeeper – Irwin, Pa.), Bethany Smyda (Forward – Irwin, Pa.), Christy Smyda (Defense – Irwin, Pa.), Stephanie Thompson (Midfield – Queensville, Ontario) and Sarah Turnley (Defense – Beaver, Pa.).

The Vulcans made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season and advanced to the quarterfinal round. Cal U, who lost only one starter from the record-setting team, opens the 2010 season on Thursday, Sept. 2 with a road game against Seton Hill before hosting three-straight home games.

Below are quotes from fourth-year head coach Al Alvine regarding each of the incoming players.

Sara DiBenedtto (5-5, Midfield/Defense, Maple, Ontario/St. Elizabeth/Texas-Brownsville, Oshawa Kicks) – “Sara is coming to us after a very successful stint at the University of Texas-Brownsville. Her versatility will be a tremendous asset as she is comfortable playing anywhere in midfield or as an outside back. She's athletic, technically sound and a tireless worker. She's also developed a knack for scoring goals so we are excited about getting a complete midfield player.”
- Two-time all-conference at Texas-Brownsville (2008-09) ... member of conference championship team at Texas-Brownsville (2009) ... member of Ontario Cup championship team (2008) ... member of two OYSL championship teams (2008-09)

Jordan Egge (5-8, Defense, Macungie, Pa/Emmaus, Vincent United) – “Jordan is a strong, athletic and physical player. While most comfortable playing as a central defender, Jordan has the ability to play outside back or as a holding midfielder. She's great in the air, reads the game exceptionally well and is a tenacious one-one-one defender. Jordan is also very comfortable on the ball, good in possession and is always looking to play constructively out of the back.”
- All-Conference ... all-division ... all-area ... member of four-straight conference championship teams (2007-10) ... member of two-time district champion teams (2007, 2009)

Tonya Fabian (5-3, Forward, Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson, Century United) – “Tonya is a quick, creative player that has an excellent record of scoring goals. She loves to take players on one-one-one and is adept at creating chances for herself and for her teammates. Tonya also does a tremendous job of defending from the front and pressing defenders in making mistakes. She'll be a welcome addition to a solid group of attacking players on our roster.”
- All-WPIAL ... all-section

Kylee Heck (5-4, Midfield/Forward, Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon, Century United) – “Kylee is a physical and aggressive player that I believe can play anywhere on the field. A strong and tenacious player, she also has an excellent record of scoring and creating goals at the high school and club level. Her versatility and ability to play several positions will make her someone that can contribute right away.”
- All-Section ... all-county

Kamilla Lillefjaere (5-4 Forward/Midfield, Oslo, Norway/WANG Elite Sports Academy, Kolbotn) – “Kamilla's speed, quickness and ability to run at defenders make her a constant threat to get in behind any defense. She's a tactically sophisticated player that works just as hard as a defender as she does as an attacker. Her experience playing at the highest level in Norway will serve her well as she makes the transition to playing at the collegiate level.”
- Three-time all-county (2006-08) ... voted "Young Player of the Year" (2009) ... plays for Kolbotn in the Norwegian Toppserien (First Division)

Ashley Magruda (5-6, Goalkeeper, Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon/West Virginia, Beadling) – “Ashley is one of the top goalkeepers to come out of this area for quite some time so we are excited about bringing her into our squad. A great shot-stopper and organizer, she is also an excellent distributer of the ball. Her background and experience playing at the regional and national level will be a real asset to our program.”
- All-WPIAL ... all-state ... all-section ... member of Region 1 ODP team

Melissa McKellar (5-8, Forward/Midfield, Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills, Northern Steel) – “Melissa is a very hard working player that has the ability to play up top as a forward or as a central midfield player. She has excellent size and strength that will be very useful in our very physical and demanding conference. “
- Team captain

Chelsea Norbuts (5-1, Midfield/Forward, Woodstown, N.J./Woodstown, Mt. Laurel Comets) – “Chelsea is a player comfortable playing as a forward or attacking midfielder. She has speed, quickness and an ability to finish with both feet from long and short range. Chelsea is also comfortable in filling a more creative playmaker role as well. Her vision, technical ability and range of passing make her someone that will be very useful to our program immediately.”
- All-Conference ... all-county ... Courier Post All-Star

Ashley Smyda (5-7, Goalkeeper, Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford, Century United) – “Ashley is someone coming into our program after an outstanding high school and club career. She has all the physical tools to be a top goalkeeper in the conference. Ashley has excellent size, is a great communicator and has a great understanding of the game. Her experience in big games, at both the high school and club level, has made her a very composed and calming influence on every team she's played for.”
- Member of PIAA state finalist team (2007) ... member of two section championship teams (2007, 2009)

Bethany Smyda (5-4, Forward, Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford, Century United) – “Bethany's speed, explosiveness and work rate make her a very difficult player to defend. She's a natural goal-scorer who is comfortable playing down the center or as a wide front-runner. We are looking for her to be an impact player for us from the start and her ability and athleticism make her someone that will compete for significant playing time immediately.”
- Post-Gazette East and Tribune-Review Player of the Year (2009) ... all-state ... all-section ... All-WPIAL ... member of PIAA state finalist team (2007) ... member of two section championship teams (2007, 2009)

Christy Smyda (5-5, Defense, Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford, Century United) – “Christy is a versatile and accomplished defender comfortable playing anywhere along the backline. She reads the game exceptionally well, is aggressive and strong in the tackle and is very good going forward. We are looking forward to watching her develop in our program.”
- All-WPIAL ... all-section ... member of PIAA state finalist team (2007) ... member of two section championship teams (2007, 2009)

Stephanie Thompson (5-8, Midfield, Queensville, Ontario/Huron Heights Secondary School, UMSC) – “Stephanie is a powerful, athletic central midfield player that can create and score goals. An outstanding ball-winner and playmaker, her size, strength and work-ethic make her someone that will be an immediate contributor in our midfield this fall.”
- Three-time High School MVP (2007-09) ... four-time High School Female Athlete of the Year (2007-10) ... member of Ontario Cup finalist team (2009)

Sarah Turnley (5-6, Defense, Beaver, Pa./Beaver, Stars United) – “Sarah's biggest positive, like many of the players in this recruiting class, is her versatility. She is primarily an outside back but has the ability to play centrally as well. Sarah is also fit and athletic enough to play as a wide midfielder. Every program needs players that can fill several roles at any given time and Sarah certainly falls into that category.”
- All-Section