CHICAGO - DePaul University women’s soccer coach Erin Chastain announced the signing of three student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent. Kelly Blumberg, Chelsea Grant and Claire Hanold join the Blue Demons next season.
“We are excited to welcome this wonderful group of student-athletes to our women’s soccer program,” said Chastain. “All three will make immediate impacts for us and help us achieve many of the high goals we have set for our program. Chelsea, Claire and Kelly are extremely competitive, confident young women and our staff looks forward to coaching them and helping them reach their potential.”
Claire Hanold
Position: Goalkeeper
High School: Waubonsie Valley
Club: Chicago Pizazz, Eclipse Select and America's Soccer Club
Hanold is a two-time All-State and three-time All-Sectional honoree at Waubonsie Valley high school. Entering her senior season, she has totaled 64 shutouts for the two-time defending state champions. She allowed just seven goals as a sophomore in 2007 to tie for eighth in the IHSA girls soccer record book. Hanold also picked up All-Conference honors in each of her three high school seasons and compiled a 74-2-6 overall record. On the club circuit, Hanold plays for Chicago Pizazz and Eclipse Select. With Eclipse Select, she won a state cup championship and finished second at nationals. The Chicago Pizazz claimed state cup titles in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Why she chose DePaul: “After visiting DePaul University, I could not see myself anywhere else.”
Coach Chastain on Hanold: “Claire is an outstanding goalkeeper. She has tremendous aggressiveness, great distribution, is a wonderful communicator and organizer, and is fearless. We are really excited Claire is joining our team.”
Kelly Blumberg
Position: Forward/Attacking Midfielder
High School: Naperville Central
Club: Naperville Soccer Association
Blumberg is a two-time DuPage Valley All-Conference honoree at Naperville Central and earned All-State recognition in 2007. She has played every season at Naperville Center on the varsity squad and also received All-Academic honors every year. Blumberg has played club soccer for the Naperville Soccer Association since 1998.
Why she chose DePaul: “I chose to attend DePaul University because of the location in the city, the variety of majors it has to offer, and to be able to be a part of the women’s soccer program.”
Coach Chastain on Blumberg: “Kelly is a feisty attacking player who will help our team in goal production. She brings a tremendous competitive spirit every day.”
Chelsea Grant
Position: Defender
High School: Mundelein
Club: Eclipse Select
Grant is a Region II pool player in the Illinois Olympic Development Program. With the Region II ODP team, she played in Europe in 2007 and has been a member of the state select team for the last three years. She has played club soccer for Eclipse Select since 2003 and has collected four state titles, a Region II championship, the USYSA National League championship and a USYSA National finalist appearance. At Mundelein High School, Grant was a state qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles and holds the school record in that event.
Why she chose DePaul: “I chose DePaul because of the coach and my new teammates, the opportunity to play in the BIG EAST against the best teams, and the academics and ties to the business community in an urban setting.”
Coach Chastain on Grant: “Chelsea is a tremendous athlete and is tough as nails. She will make an immediate impact on our team and backline.”
The trio of student-athletes joins the program in August as the Blue Demons open training camp for the 2009 season. DePaul enters its fifth season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference next year.
