Feb. 8, 2002

The Notre Dame women’s soccer team has signed four players to national letters of intent, head coach Randy Waldrum announced today. The signees include six-foot goalkeeper Erika Bohn (Brookfield, Conn.), midfielder/defender Annie Schefter (Yakima, Wash.), defender Catherine Sigler (Windsor, Calif.) and forward/midfielder Katie Thorlakson (Langley, B.C.).

Schefter is a teammate of current Notre Dame freshman midfelder Mary Boland on the U.S. under-19 national team and has received All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Parade magazine. Thorlakson similarly has played for Canada’s under-19 national team program and could compete against her future Notre Dame classmate Schefter and Boland at next fall’s Under-19 World Cup (to be held in Canada during August of 2002).

Bohn – who also scored 13 goals during the past two seasons at Brookfield High School, as her team’s top option on free kicks and direct kicks – is a member of the Olympic Development Program Region I team that will compete in Italy and France during late March (she led Brookfield to a pair of state runner-up finishes and helped the Yankee United Rage club team win five straight state titles). Sigler has elected not to participate in ODP or national team programs but she is expected to be a key leader for the Notre Dame defense, according to Waldrum.

“All four of these players have the talent and competitiveness to step in and be important contributors for our team next season,” says Waldrum, whose 2002 squad is set to return seven starters and five of its top six scorers from the 2001 squad that went 17-3-1 and captured Notre Dame’s sixth consecutive BIG EAST Conference title.

“We lost most of our graduated players from the defensive third and that clearly was a primary goal in assembling this class, an area that we feel we addressed quite well. Erika is one of the best goalkeepers in the nation and Catherine could step into one of our open spots in the defense, as could Annie if we choose to use her versatility in that way. And Katie is an excellent distributor who could mesh well with our midfield system.”

Notre Dame will head into the 2002 season needing to replace several key defensive players, most notably All-America defender Monica Gonzalez and two-year starting goalkeeper Liz Wagner. The five players lost to graduation also include 2001 co-captains Mia Sarkesian (a three-year starting midfielder) and three-year starting defender Lindsey Jones, plus reserve forward Kelly Tulisiak.

Bohn is known for strong play on crosses and has the agility to be aggressive off her line. “We had Erika rated No. 1 among the top three goalkeepers in the country,” says Waldrum. “She is an incredible athlete, with great size and range, and we expect her to continue the great legacy of Notre Dame goalkeepers along the lines of Jen Renola, LaKeysia Beene and Liz Wagner.”

Schefter – who totaled 47 goals and 25 assists while helping West Valley High School post a 24-0 state championship season in 2001 – also is a four-year starting point guard in basketball and played alongside current Notre Dame freshman forward Theresa Borton on the West Valley squad that went 26-2 while winning the 2001 state basketball title.

“Annie’s point-guard skills are very comparable to her strengths on the soccer field. She has great vision and passing skills and really knows how to read the field and control the play,” says Waldrum of Schefter, who scored both goals in the 2-1 state-title win over Lakeside.

“Annie reminds me of Mary Boland in the sense that she continues to get better and better. She has developed into a player competing for a roster spot on the under-19 national team. Her versatility will be a great asset to our team and her experiences with the national team will only prepare her better for our 2002 season.”

Sigler is known as a vocal leader for Ursuline High School and has played in the defense throughout her competitive soccer career – while taking a similar path to college soccer as current ND forward Amy Warner.

“Catherine is a tremendous athlete and is similar to Amy Warner in the sense that she never got involved with the National Team program or Olympic Development,” says Waldrum. “But, like Amy, she is a great young player who will add a great deal to our defensive presence. She played multiple sports in high school and has a tremendous competitive side. She’s a leader and certainly one we expect good things from.”

Sigler already has received noteworthy feedback from her decision to attend Notre Dame, as she recently had a 30-minute conversation with former Irish quarterback Joe Montana about her decision (Montana’s daughters also attend Ursuline High School).

Thorlakson is considered a consummate playmaker who fills the role of the “libro” (or free) midfielder in the 3-5-2 system used by her Langley club team. A creative and driven playmaker, she recently was one of 22 players called in for training with Canada’s under-19 team. Current Notre Dame freshman defender Candace Chapman also is a member of that elite squad.

“Katie follows [sophomore forward] Melissa Tancredi and Candace Chapman as our third Canadian national program player. She’s tremendously talented and a very skillful player that has great vision,” says Waldrum “Her distribution may be one of her best attributes. Like most of the Canadian players, she is very tough and physical, yet she adds a skillful dimension to our team. She should have a big impact in our program immediately.”

ADDITIONAL BOHN NOTES – Five-year member of ODP Region I team … called into U.S. national program camp in 1998 … slated to head for Italy and France in late March, where she will compete with the ODP Region 1 team as they look to defend their tournament title (March 22 – April 4) … also will be competing with Yankee United Rage club team at Texas Shootout in June … posted 45 shutouts during her high school career, including senior season that saw Brookfield lose just three games … three-year team MVP and two-year captain at Brookfield HS … helped lead Yankee United Rage to five straight state titles … her coach on the Rage is current Yale women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith, who previously coached Pruzinsky on the Westin Wild Things … a three-time all-state selection, twice earning all-New England honors … shows excellent skill with her feet, as evidenced by her six goals in 2000 and seven in ’01 (on penalty kicks and direct kicks), including a 2001 hat trick vs. Westin HS … made a PK save and scored as well in 2000 state semifinal shootout vs. Laurelton Hall (Brookfield advanced), before losing 1-0 to Masuk HS in the state title game … known for her yearround training regimen that includes extensive cross-country skiing … recently had the chance to visit with her future ND teammate Pruzinsky at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. (Pruzinsky was one of three current ND players called into a U.S. under-21 camp while Bohn was competing in a series of inter-region games) … accomplished student who graduated early, with a 4.2 GPA … made her verbal commitment to Notre Dame in mid-August … recently moved with her family to Rutland, Vt. … daughter of Erik and Sue Bohn

BOHN ON HER DECISION – “I really liked Randy as a coach and knew that Notre Dame was the place for me when I walked off the campus. It’s a tremendous school with great academics and a great soccer team. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m very excited for it to begin.”

ADDITIONAL SCHEFTER NOTES – Member of her ODP Regional team since 1998 … played on the U.S. under-16 and under-19 national teams in 2000 and ’01 … also plays for the Sun City Strikers club team … slated to play with U.S. under-19 squad in late-Feb. games in Amsterdam and Germany … named Gatorade player of the year for state of Washington, qualifying her for the national player-of-the-year award (TBA) … totaled 47 goals and 25 assists on 2001 state title team … two-time league MVP … also serves as captain of 2001-02 women’s basketball team at West Valley, with a team-best 17 points-per-game scoring average … four-year starting point guard, helping team claim 2001 state title (that squad’s 26-2 record included a pair of losses at a tournament in California) … carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA (on 4.0 scale) as possible class valedictorian … her father Rob Schefter is a 1973 Notre Dame graduate and former captain of the Irish men’s tennis team (her mother Grace is a ’73 graduate of Saint Mary’s College) … her sister Katie is a 2001 UW graduate while her three brothers all currently play soccer (each is a midfielder): senior Bob and junior Mike at Seattle-Pacific and freshman John at the University of Washington … made her verbal commitment to ND last August, before making her visit the weekend of the ND-Michigan State football game (in late Sept.).

SCHEFTER ON HER DECISION – “I couldn’t be more excited than to be going to Notre Dame. It always was on my mind as my top choice. We always used to joke with our dad that one of the five kids would end up going to Notre Dame. I knew for sure that it was where I wanted to go when I went to the campus. There was just a feeling I had from being there and the visit overall was awesome. The team wants to win and they train hard. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

ADDITIONAL SIGLER NOTES – Two-year captain and twice team MVP with both Ursuline High School and the Santa Rosa Thunder club team … known as “Cat” by her teammates and friends … has played defense throughout her soccer career … named All-Empire high school player of the year … competed in ESP national all-star tournament in North Carolina … also ran track at Ursuline … a school spirit leader, as part of American Student Body program … helped Ursuline win three North Coast Sectional titles, plus a third-place finish in 2001 … made her verbal commitment to Notre Dame last November … daughter of Chris and Leslie Sigler.

SIGLER ON HER DECISION – “When I visited Notre Dame, the campus was so beautiful and they have good facilities, great academics and so much tradition. The women’s soccer program also has such a great reputation. This is a great opportunity for me. The people I met there were so nice and you could tell that the coaches and players have a good relationship and are comfortable joking around with one another.”

ADDITIONAL THORLAKSON NOTES – Attends Walnut Grove HS in Langley, B.C., while playing with the Langley club team in under-17 elite league … member of Canadian national teams (under 16, 17 and 19) since 1999 … named MVP at the 2001 Coastal Cup Championship … club team MVP in 2000 and ’01 … tremendous all-around athlete who even has played in the goal when needed … played several sports before focusing on soccer in 2000 … named Langley’s athlete of the year as a junior … member of Langley program that won provincial title in 1998 and finished as the 2000 runner-up … helped team post 12-0 league record in 2001-02 season (running from Sept. – April), scoring eight goals in nine games played (she scored 13 of her team’s 44 goals in 2000-01 season) … helped Langley qualify for three straight Coastal Cups … daughter of Larry and Mary Thorlakson.

THORLAKSON ON HER DECISION – “I’m very excited for the chance to play college soccer in the U.S. and Notre Dame was the school for me, because of all the things it has to offer. I’m hoping to keep improving as a player and want to make an important impact on the team. I’m not the biggest player out there [5-3] but I try to be a tough player who can make a difference in every game.”