DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake women's soccer team, under the leadership of third-year head coach Lindsey Horner, has announced the addition of nine student-athletes joining the Bulldogs' squad for the 2010 campaign.

Donning the Drake uniform this fall will be Generve Charles (Wausau, Wis./Wausau East), Paige Dusek (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North), Megan Fisher (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny), Ann Hoover (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada), Kalena Litch (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), Sierra Riasati (Centennial, Colo./Grandview), Britany Schuling (Bondurant, Iowa/Bondurant-Farrar), Kiah Swanson (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins) and Gina Zurbey (New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony Village).

"Our 2010 recruiting class is very promising," Horner commented.  "As a whole, they are competitive and passionate about the game.  They're a great mix of special athletes and quality soccer players that have the potential to transition quickly to the demands of the college game."

Charles, a forward from Wausau East High School, was twice named an honorable mention All-State selection.  Two times selected as the Wisconsin Valley Conference and Wausau Daily Herald Player of the Year, Charles plays for FC Green Bay Soccer Club.

"Generve is a tremendous athlete with a creative attacking personality," said Horner.  "Her desire to win and take players on will allow her to develop into a dynamic forward."

Dusek, a midfielder from St. Charles North High School, is a two-time all-conference selection helping lead her team to regional titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  A four-year starter, she was a three times named an All-Area selection for the Kane County Chronicle, Daily Herald and St. Charles Republican. Dusek competes for the Strikers FV club team.

"Paige is a crafty player that possesses the ability to break teams down as a forward or an attacking midfielder," Horner stated.  "She can read the needs of the game and can adjust to play simple, or move the ball for us."

Fisher, a defender from Ankeny High School, led the Hawkettes to back-to-back conference titles en route to collecting second team All-State honors.  She was a member of two Iowa State Cup championship squads playing for the Iowa Rush Club team.

"Megan is a special athlete that can play numerous positions for us," said Horner.  "Physically she has the size and strength to play in the back, but she also has the pace and comfort level on the ball to do well up top."

Hoover, a defender from Nevada High School, is a three-time All-Conference first team honoree sparking her squad to a pair of state tournament appearances.  Collected honorable mention All-State laurels each of her first three campaigns and was a member of the 2009 state championship Iowa Rush Club team.

"Ann is an excellent athlete with a great work rate," Horner commented.  "Her desire to win and sacrifice for the team will not only help her grow, but push our team to improve."

Litch, a goalkeeper from Wayzata High School, is a four-year letterwinner, who led her team to a state title in Minnesota as a senior in 2009 after a pair of third-place finishes as a freshman and junior, respectively.  Plays club soccer for the Plymouth Soccer Association.

"Kalena is a fearless goalkeeper that comes to us with a great technical skill base and a presence in the box," said Horner.  "As she gains college experience with organizing the defense and making decisions, she will be a goalkeeper other teams will notice."

Riasati, a midfielder from Centennial High School, led her unit to a conference and state title in 2008 en route to a No. 9 national ranking.  Twice was named an honorable mention All-State selection and she plays club soccer for Colorado Rush, who were a Colorado State Cup semifinalist in 2009.

"Sierra is another versatile player that can play in the back or midfield for us," exclaimed Horner.  "Her athletic potential is high, and she can handle the speed of play on both sides of the ball at the college level."

Schuling, a midfielder from Bondurant-Farrar, earned first team All-Conference accolades while leading the Lady Jays to a No. 6 state ranking in 2007.  Competed for last seven years as member of Ankeny Attack Club squad as well as five years in the Iowa ODP program.

"Brittany has a great understanding of the game that will help both in organizing our midfield and possessing out of the back," said Horner.  "She is a simple but hardworking midfielder with excellent ideas on the ball."

Swanson, a defender from Fort Collins High School, was a four-year letterwinner who twice collected All-Conference honors.  Played club soccer for the Colorado Arsenal Gold team that was finalist for the Colorado State Cup in two of the last three years.

"Kiah has a great work ethic and comes from an excellent club environment," Horner commented.  "She's a tough-nosed defender that will help us win and keep the ball."

Zurbey, a forward from St. Anthony Village High School, was a four-time All-Conference and two-time honorable mention All-State honoree in helping her squad to a trio of league titles.  Competed for the St. Croix Spurs Soccer Club, which was a 2009 Minnesota State Cup finalist.

"Gina is a hardworking, athletic player with pace that will really thrive in the college environment," said Horner.  "She has only started to scratch the surface of the player she can become."

"This class has the unique opportunity to join a team that is losing seven starters to graduation; as freshmen they will have the chance to impact our team's success immediately," Horner explained.  "Equally as exciting is the fact that they are determined in the classroom.  They take pride in being accomplished student-athletes and I am eager to see them continue to achieve athletically and academically."