SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State women’s soccer head coach Randy Dedini has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2009-2010 school year. Megan Burg, Jessica Castaño, and Kelsey O’Donnell will join the Hornets for the 2009 season.
Burg, a native of Elk Grove, Calif., is a senior at Bradshaw Christian HS in Sacramento, where she is a three-time all-Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League selection. Burg, who has played both central midfield and sweeper for the Pride, earned first team all-SMAL honors following her sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior in 2008, Burg teamed with current Hornet Jessica Gregory to lead the Pride to a league title. At the club level, she competes for the San Juan Spirits, having played under Hornet assistant coach Maureen Whitney during her time with the club.
“Megan has the ability to play several positions for us,” Dedini said. “She has a good understanding of the game and will shine anywhere we put her.”
Castaño, a Fremont, Calif. native, is a senior striker at Washington HS, where she has twice earned all-Mission Valley Athletic League honors. She led the league in scoring as both a sophomore and a junior, earning first team all-league honors following the 2008 season. Castaño did not compete during her senior season following ACL surgery in August of ‘08, but should be ready to go for the team’s fall camp. At the club level, Castaño competes for the Mustang Mavericks, and is one of 13 players from the Mustang club system to earn a Division I scholarship this year.
“Jessica comes from a strong club program and has great vision from the midfield,” Dedini said. “She proved she could score at the highest level of club soccer, and has tremendous breakaway speed.”
O’Donnell is a senior at Oak Ridge HS in El Dorado Hills, Calif., although she did not compete in soccer for the Trojans. Instead, O’Donnell competes exclusively for the San Juan Spirits, where as a striker, she led the team in goals in 2007 (38) and 2008 (47). She led the team to four major tournament titles, the 2007 and 2008 California Cup and 2007 and 2008 Portland Cup championships. Twelve of her 15 club teammates have committed to play at the collegiate level.
“Kelsey is a complete athlete who mixes size, speed and endurance,” Dedini said. “She will be able to help us with her speed on defense, or as a front line striker.”
