April 24, 2008

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - To say the 2008 St. Bonaventure women's soccer team will have a different look would be an understatement.

Just a few days removed from closing its spring season with a 3-0 win over Youngstown State at Aquinas High School in Rochester, head coach Manoj Khettry announced the signing of Massachusetts product Shannon Van Riper to a National Letter of Intent, giving the Bonnies 10 incoming freshmen next fall.

"With the addition of Shannon Van Riper to our class, we now will have 10 players representing six states. Like the other members of the class of 2012, Shannon has been a champion and played at an extremely competitive level," Khettry said. "She will fit in nicely in terms of her soccer experience and her ability; I am so excited about adding a player and a person of Shannon's quality to our program as she will no doubt help us in our quest to improve the St. Bonaventure Women's Soccer program."

The Brown and White announced their other nine signees on Feb. 7.

Shannon Van Riper
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Groton, Mass.
High School: Groton-Dunstable Regional
High School Coach: Glen Christifori
Club Team: Boston Bolts
Club Coach: Tracy Kerr
Height: 5'10"
Parents: Thurman and Carolyn Van Riper

Bio
Four-year starter at midfield for Groton-Dunstable Regional ... accumulated 92 points over her career on 27 goals and 38 assists ... helped guide the Crusaders to over 50 wins during her time ... named to the Central Massachusetts Division 1 All-League team and Lowell Sun All-Star team as a senior in 2007 ... played club for the Boston Bolts ... led the Bolts to their second consecutive Massachusetts State Cup championship in 2007, while being named the team's Most Valuable Player ... in 2006, she helped guide the Bolts to a USYS Region 1 title and a third place finish at the National Tournament.

Khettry's take on Van Riper
"Shannon is an extremely mobile and technical soccer player. She has great feet, is an excellent passer of the ball and has terrific vision and anticipation. While she is almost 5' 11", she is very smooth on the ball and one of the things that you notice about her is her ability to move with and without the ball. I think Shannon is going to help us primarily as an attacker, possibly in the midfield and or in defense, but most importantly, I think she is going to bring a physical presence to our set-pieces as she is a very good header of the ball. Like the other players in this class, Shannon is going to challenge for playing time immediately and I know she will help us become a more dangerous attacking team and make us more athletic right away."

Shannon Chose St. Bonaventure Over: Colgate, Lafayette and Stony Brook