San Francisco Women’s Soccer Announces Five Signings for 2012 Season

Coach Millinder Welcomes Leticia Torres Mandiola, Madalyn Schiffel, Sydnie Telson, Kristen Vasquez and Rochelle Weerackoon For Inaugural Dons Class

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(San Francisco) – San Francisco Women's Soccer is pleased to announce the signings of 5-5 defender Leticia Torres Mandiola (Santiago, Chile), 5-9 goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel (Roseville, CA), 5-6 forward Sydnie Telson (Trabuco Canyon, CA), 5-3 midfielder Kristen Vasquez (Santa Monica, CA) and 5-3 forward Rochelle Weerackoon (Cypress, CA) to National Letters of Intent (NLIs) for the 2012 season as announced today by head coach Jim Millinder.

USF adds two key components to its back line, headlined by Schiffel, a highly touted goalkeeper and Mandiola, an internationally experienced defender and captain of the Chilean U-20 national team. The Dons have also bolstered their attack with the additions of Vasquez, an all-CIF midfielder and a pair of potent strikers with the additions of highly decorated prep and club stalwarts Telson and Weerackoon.

LETICIA TORRES MANDIOLA – 5-5, FR., DEFENDER (SANTIAGO, CHILE/NIDO DE AGUAS HS)

Mandiola enters with a high level of international playing experience as a member of the Chilean national team system. Mandiola served as captain for the U-17 and U-20 Chilean national team and competed in the U-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010. A team MVP for head coach Gonzalo Aguilera at Nido de Aguas High School, Mandiola also enjoyed a strong four-year club career for Universidad Catolica under the direction of Claudio Lopez. A versatile athlete, Mandiola also competed on the Eagles field hockey, water polo and volleyball squads.

MADALYN SCHIFFEL -  5-9, FR., GOALKEEPER (ROSEVILLE, CA/CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN HS)

Schiffel comes to the Hilltop as a highly decorated club player and spent eight seasons competing for Placer United under the direction of Gene DuChateau. In her last three seasons, Schiffel served as the last line of defense on a club that captured the 2010 Nor Cal Cup and Placer Cup Championships, a 2010 semifinal berth in the 2010 Surf Cup and 2011 runner-up showings in the Winter Nor Cal League and the Placer Cup. Since 2010, Schiffel helped Placer United to a 53-29-27 record while posting a 0.8 GAA with 48 shutouts.

SYDNIE TELSON -  5-6, FR., FORWARD (TRABUCO CANYON, CA/EL TORO HS)

Telson was a first team All-South Coast selection last season at El Toro High School under the tutelage of Jenny Hammond. A prolific prep scorer, Telson helped the Chargers to the 2010 South Coast title and the first round of the 2010 CIF playoffs, while averaging more than 10 goals and 10 assists per season. A versatile athlete, Telson also ran three seasons of track at El Toro. A club veteran with more than 11 years of experience, Telson, under the guidance of Neil Powell, lifted the Laguna Hills Eclipse to the State Cup Finals, a National Cup Sweet-16 showing and a top-eight national finish.

KRISTEN VASQUEZ -  5-3, FR., MIDFIELDER (SANTA MONICA, CA/SANTA MONICA HS)

Vasquez turned in a strong prep career as an attacking midfielder at Santa Monica High School and was an All-CIF and a two-time All-Ocean League selection for head coach Jimmy Chapman. A four-year varsity starter, Vasquez earned team MVP honors after leading the team in assists and ranked second in points. A two-time team captain, Vasquez scored 27 goals with 41 assists for 95 points during a standout career and lifted the Vikings to four straight league championships. Vasquez played six seasons at the club level and competed for South Bay Force last year under the direction of Dan Tobias and helped the team post a 20-5-7 overall record. Vasquez was a club teammate of fellow Don newcomer Rochelle Weerackoon.

ROCHELLE WEERACKOON -  5-3, FR., FORWARD (CYPRESS, CA/PACIFICA HS)

Weerackoon comes to the Hilltop after capturing four varsity letters at Pacifica High School under the guidance of Alex Carmago. A four-year scholar-athlete and a first team All-Empire League selection, Weerackoon led the Mariners to three consecutive Empire League titles and paced the squad in scoring as a senior and ranked in the top-three throughout her strong prep career. A three-year member of the South Bay Force, Weerackoon led the club in scoring three times for head coach Dan Tobias, helping the Force to the 2011 Players Showcase Championship. Weerackoon was a club teammate of fellow Don newcomer Kristen Vasquez.