Women's Soccer | May 28, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After adding Naya Vialva and Mary Kate Vinkler for the spring 2019 semester, the La Salle women's soccer team will see another seven new faces once training camp opens for the fall season, head coach Paul Royal announced Tuesday.
 
Newcomers Emily Banashefski, Erica Feese, Kaitlyn Hoefling, Leah Giles, Kayla Miller-People, Danielle Rooney, and Jordynn Stallard all signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) earlier this spring.
 
Banashefski comes to Philadelphia after spending the last four years playing at Stroudsburg High School. A Stroudsburg native, Banashefski was named First Team Eastern PA Conference All-Star in each of her final three seasons. She collected 87 career goals and 37 assists over her career and was named captain and team MVP for her junior and senior seasons. Banashefski was also an All-State PA Selection in 2018, as well as the Pocono Record Player of the Year and named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Eastern Region.
 
"We are fully expecting Emily to have an immediate impact on the field and within the Atlantic 10 Conference," Royal said. "Her endurance base, technical ability, and vision in the final pass will set her up to get a lot of opportunities to shine for the Blue & Gold."
 
Off the pitch, Banashefski also ran track at Stroudsburg where she was a District 11 Champion in 2017 for the 4x800 relay. Her cohort holds the school record in that event.
 
Banashefski plays club for FC Pocono Elite and Keystone Athletic FC. In 2015 she was a part of the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP U15 Team. Last season, her club was a semifinalist in the state tournament.
 
Feese will be a midfielder/defender for the Explorers after graduating from State College Area High School this spring. The Port Matilda, Pa. native was a Mid Penn First Team All-Star during her senior season after collecting 24 goals and five assists. Feese was also a track and field competitor and placed third at the Penn Relays in the 4x200 relay. Up until middle school, she was also a competitive gymnast and was a vault state champion.
 
"Erica came into the mix late after seeing her play at our clinic," Royal said. "Her overall athleticism and desire to excel in anything she does, will give her the opportunity to contribute to the future success of our program."
 
Outside of high school, Feese plays for Penn FC United. Her squad was a National Cup Finalist.
 
From just over the bridge in Deptford, N.J., Giles was a four-year All-Conference selection at Deptford Township High School. A one-time All-State pick, she accumulated 32 goals and 75 assists during her high school career.
 
"We expect Leah to have an immediate impact on our program from day one," Royal said. "Along with being an amazing talent on the field, we feel Leah has the intangibles to further lead our program to a higher level.  Due to Leah's versatility, we'll have the opportunity to have her involved in multiple aspects of our play."
 
Giles plays club for SJEB Rush 00/01 Academy. Her team won the CASL and Disney Championships in 2017 and the NJ State Cup Championships in 2017 and 2018.
 
Living the furthest away of the team's newcomers, Hoefling hails from Fairfax, Va. Her high school career at Fairfax culminated with back-to-back First Team All-Conference selections in 2017 and 2018. Hoefling also picked up Second Team All-Region honors during her senior season. Another dual sport athlete, she was a state finalist for the indoor 4x200 relay and holds her schools record in that event.
 
"A special thanks to former coach, Jamie Scott, and assistant coach Courtney Niemiec for finding such an outstanding player in Kaitlyn," Royal said. "Her sophisticated style of play and ability to create off the dribble will immediately help influence our attack. She reminds us a lot of one of our all-time greats, Renee Washington."
 
Hoefling plays club for Vienna YSC and appeared in the State Cup Championship in 2016 and 2017. She also played in the Disney Showcase Championship in 2016 and the NPL National Tournament in 2017.
 
Miller-People spent her last four years at Union High School where she was voted the top girls soccer high school senior by NJ.com. Reigning from Vauxhall, N.J., she recorded 30 goals and 21 assists over her final two seasons on her way to a NJ All-State Second Team selection as a senior.
 
"Kayla has the potential to be one of the most dynamic attackers in the A-10," Royal said. "Her ability and explosiveness off the dribble will immediately pose a dangerous threat for our attack. Her strong desire to improve will make her transition a smooth one in our highly competitive environment."
 
Miller-People plays club soccer for NJ Elite Watchung Hills 2001. This past season, the club was dubbed regional and state champions on its way to a NPL National Championship Title in Colorado.
 
Rooney comes to North Philadelphia from Merchantville, N.J. She spent her high school career at Camden Catholic where she was tabbed First Team All-Conference during her senior campaign. Rooney accumulated 30 goals and 24 assists.
 
"We're extremely excited to have Danielle join our family here at La Salle from Camden Catholic," Royal said. "Coming from one of the best club coaches in the region, John Jenks, we feel Danielle will be incredibly prepared for the next step. Her competitive fire and determination will immediately be felt on the field for our program."
 
Rooney plays for PDA South Academy 00 on the club circuit. Her squad was NPL Northeast Regional Girls Champions in 2016 and 2018.
 
Rounding out the 2019 class, Stallard is another local recruit, hailing from Sewell, N.J. She played her high school soccer at Washington Township. A two-time All-State and All South Jersey selection, she won the 2017 Washington Township High School Defender of the Year award as she helped the team to a Group IV South Jersey Championship Title. Stallard ended her career with All-State honors her senior season. She accumulated 479 career saves over her tenure.
 
"We're excited about adding another top-flight goalkeeper with Jordynn," Royal said. "Jordynn possesses some outstanding qualities we look for in a keeper: her range off her line, kicking game, and ability to make such clutch saves in big moments will give her the opportunity to grow into a long history of top-level keepers."
 
Stallard also played for SJEB Rush 00/01 Academy and New Jersey ODP U12-U16. Her team claimed an NJ State Cup Championship Title in 2017 and 2018 and CASL and Disney Championships in 2017.