Ferris State Women's Soccer Lands Sara Sikorski and Stephanie Garland
The Ferris State University women's soccer program hopes to bolster its offensive production for the upcoming 2011 season and the signing of two talented prep student-athletes in Sara Sikorski (Rochester Hills/Rochester) and Stephanie Garland (Macomb/L'Anse Creuse North) should help in the scoring department according to FSU women' soccer head coach Matt Kellogg.
"I'm excited about these two players who can step in right away and help add depth to our attack," said Kellogg, who begins his second season at Ferris State this fall after directing the Bulldogs to a 7-9-3 overall record and a 7-6-2 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) North Division. "Our conference is a very tough defensive league, but I'm confident both Sara and Stephanie will be up to the challenge."
Sikorski enters her senior year this spring at Rochester High School in Rochester Hills, Mich., and will serve as the Falcons' team captain for the 2011 season. As a junior in 2010, the 5-6 forward recorded 11 points on two goals with seven assists for head coach Todd Heugh's squad and was a teammate of current FSU women's soccer student-athlete Hillary Braun. Sikorski accumulated 11 points with three goals and five assists as a sophomore in 2009 while helping the Falcons post a 10-6-4 overall record.
A two-year varsity letterwinner in soccer, Sikorski has also earned three (2008-10) varsity letters in volleyball while being a member of the junior varsity teams in soccer (2008) and volleyball (2007). In volleyball, Sikorski served as varsity team captain for the 2010 campaign while garnering all-county and all-region accolades. She also achieved All-Oakland Activities Association (OAA) recognition for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Sikorski, who has attained OAA Scholar-Athlete laurels all four years (2008-11), is active in the school's freshman mentor program from 2009-11.
In club soccer, Sikorski has competed for the Rochester (Mich.) Soccer Club from 2003-11.
The daughter of Gary and Julie Sikorski of Rochester Hills, Mich., Sara is slated to graduate this spring and will major in pre-pharmacy at Ferris State.
"Sara is a strong forward with pace to get in behind the opponent's defenses," said Kellogg. "This is one of the areas we lacked last season which will help give us another way to score goals. Opponents will now have to respect our ability to possess and our ability to play direct.
Sara also excels in the classroom and really is the type of person that embodies the student-athlete image," added Kellogg.
Garland, a midfielder-forward, claimed All-Macomb Area Conference (MAC) honors as a junior last season at L'Anse Creuse North High School in Macomb, Mich. She netted 15 goals and had eight assists for 38 points while achieving D1 all-district and all-county second-team plaudits as head coach Scott Boice's team went 10-5-2 overall for the second consecutive campaign. In her 2009 sophomore season, Garland accumulated 38 points on 13 goals and 12 assists en route to claiming first-team MAC White Division accolades. She also was named to the D1 all-district and second-team All-Macomb County squads in helping the Crusaders capture the 2009 MAC White Division Championship crown.
The 5-6 Garland totaled 37 points by scoring 14 goals with nine assists as a freshman in the 2008 season as L'Anse Creuse North earned a district championship title and finished the campaign at 14-7-1 overall. For her efforts, Garland was selected to the All-MAC White Division First Team along with being recognized as a D1 all-district and All-Macomb County Third-Team pick.
Garland has lettered in varsity soccer since her freshman year (2008) and is a three-year (2009-11) varsity basketball letterwinner. Academically, Garland has held membership in the National Honor Society (11th and 12th grades) along with being active in the school's leadership council and link crew programs. She has played club soccer for the Michigan Gators since the summer of 2008.
Stephanie, the daughter of Russel and Tina Garland of Macomb, Mich., will graduate this spring and plans to study psychology at FSU.
"Stephanie a highly-skilled player," Kellogg said. "She's technical on the ball and reads the game well whether she is in the midfield or up front. She has the ability to find the back of the net which we certainly will welcome this fall.
"Stephanie is the type of player who will find a way to make an impact on the game and I look for her to be a contributor in her first collegiate season as a result of playing at a highly-competitive level for a number of years," Kellogg added.