Eastern Washington University announced six incoming players as its 2012 recruiting class, bringing into the squad three players from the greater Spokane area and a former Lake City High School (Coeur d’Alene, ID) standout to Cheney, Wash.
The two 2012 GSL graduates are defender Taylor Berdar and midfielder/forward Shayla Weiler, both from the Greater Spokane League’s University High School. The pair are joined by forward Amanda Bliesner of the Great Northern League’s East Valley High School and Lake City’s Nicole Medeiros, who is transferring to EWU from North Idaho College.
Berdar and Weiler are award-winning players in the GSL, both receiving All-League recognition in 2011. Weiler has been one of the league’s top players since her freshman season when finished second in the GSL in assists. She went on to be the league leader her following year.
Bliesner, who played for the Spokane Shadow along with Weiler, was also an offensive standout, earning the GNL Offensive MVP award and 2A All-State recognition in 2010, leading the league in scoring as a junior with 17 tallies and guiding the school to its first-ever state semifinal appearance. The school would return to the final four again in 2011.
A versatile player, Medeiros played at forward and defender in her two seasons with the NIC Cardinals, recording six goals and an assist. She helped lead the school to a 14-2-1 record last season, finishing eighth in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll. She was a multiple award-winning player for the Timberwolves in high school, earning Inland Empire League honors from 2007-09, including the 2009 IEL Defensive MVP award.
The other two players joining the squad are Ferndale, Wash. native Kristina Nelson, a 2010 All-Northwest Conference honorable mention selection, and Rachel Robertson, an award-winning outside back from Hawaii.
