Chelsea Atiyeh

Jessica Boyle

VARDAR SOCCER PLAYERS COMMITTED FOR COLLEGE PLAY

Rochester, Mich. (Feb. 2, 2005) – Oakland University's women’s soccer head coach Nick O’Shea has announced commitments from five outstanding players, four of which have signed National Letters of Intent. Chelsea Atiyeh (Novi, Mich.), Jessica Boyle (Lake Orion, Mich.), Kristi Evans (Mason, Mich.) and Kristi Smith (Aurora, Ontario) have all signed to play for the Golden Grizzlies next fall. Also a part of OU’s 2005 class is Lauren Brodie (Livonia, Mich.).

Atiyeh, a 5-4 forward/midfielder, was a three-year starter at Novi High School who was named a team captain as a senior. In her junior year, Atiyeh was an all-state third team honoree as well as all-district and all-region. A member of the Olympic Development Program, she has been on the state team since the 1999 season. In 2002, she competed in the Interregional Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., as a member of the Region II Team. Between playing for the Hawks and Vardar club teams, her squads were State Cup finalists each of the past three seasons. Atiyeh additionally participated in volleyball and track and field at Novi and was a member of the school’s National Honor Society.

“Chelsea is a competitive person with an attacking mentality,” O’Shea said of Atiyeh. “She is comfortable on the left side both in the midfield and as a forward. She will help us create a more versatile attack because she can work in combinations as well as beat players off the dribble.”

Boyle, a 5-3 forward, has led her Lake Orion High School team in goals since her sophomore season when she joined the varsity squad. A 2005 team captain and three-year starter, Boyle has been recognized as an all-league, all-district, all-area, all-county and all-state honorable mention team member. She was also voted her team’s Best Offensive Player as a junior. Boyle has been a member of the ODP state team for four years and was additionally part of the State Cup Champion Vardar club team in 2000 and 2002-04. As a team captain for her club squad the past two years, her team finished as Region II finalists in 2004. In her spare time she works four days a week coaching a youth soccer team. Boyle has been an Academic All-State honoree and an Honor Roll member since the sixth grade.

“Jessica is a tremendous talent,” said O’Shea. “She has quick feet, great instincts, she’s fast and I admire her competitiveness. She is going to excel at OU both on the field and in the classroom.”