March 13, 2008

NEWARK, NJ - NJIT women's soccer has signed four high school seniors-- Jennifer Kalczewski (West Deptford, NJ/Gloucester Catholic HS); Chrissy LaBellarte (Rahway, NJ/Rahway HS); Cielianna Pasiciel-Chalmers (Hemet, CA/San Jacinto HS); and, Caitlyn Ragni (Mechanicsburg, PA/Trinity HS) to National Letters of Intent, head coach Alyssa Radu announced.

The four, who will begin their academic and athletic careers at NJIT this fall, follow a strong freshman class that entered in 2007 and helped the Highlanders improve substantially in one season from 2006, the program's first season of Division I competition, to the 2007 season.

With six freshmen starting at least 10 games apiece in the field and freshman Sadie Mele playing every minute in goal, the 2007 Highlanders finished 4-14-1, including a 4-1-1 record in the last six games. Opening the season, the young team had five 1-0 losses and a 2-1 overtime loss in the first six matches. A year earlier, in 2006, NJIT was 1-13-1 in the first season of the Division I era.

"All of the (incoming) freshmen have the ability to come in and start," said Radu, who completed her fourth season as head coach in 2007. "The entire class makes our team better."

Here is a look at the four new Highlanders (listed alphabetically):

Jennifer Kalczewski --known to her family and friends as "JK", she was a center midfielder for Gloucester Catholic which finished her senior season with a 26-1 record and won the 2007 New Jersey state championship by defeating Immaculate Heart Academy, which came in ranked as the top girls high school team in the country by the NSCAA, 3-0 in the state non-public A title game. Gloucester Catholic ranked #13 in the final national poll.

As a freshman, she starred at West Deptford HS and then transferred to Gloucester Catholic, which traditionally ranks among the state's best teams (NJ non-public B champions in 2005). She was also a four-year captain of the TBAA/YSA Comets, who were Region One champions and she played on the U-17 New Jersey ODP team that was a Region One semifinalist.

"JK can play in the midfield and up top," said Radu. "She is a tenacious workhorse who comes from winning programs in school and in clubs, where she was a captain and won state championships."

Jennifer is the daughter of Rick and Veronica Kalczewski and she intends to major in biology at NJIT.

Chrissy LaBellarte --an all-Union County (NJ) back for Rahway High in 2005, 2006 and 2007, LaBellarte scored a goal 30 seconds into her final high school game after having missed the previous month's games due to injury.

"Chrissy will be a solid outside back for us," said Radu. "She is a tenacious 1-v-1 defender and she looks to connect to the midfield on offense, which fits our style."

Chrissy is the daughter of John and Judy LaBellarte. Her intended major is physical therapy.

Cielianna Pasiciel-Chalmers --An exceptional student, Pasiciel-Chalmers graduated from San Jacinto (CA) High in 2007 at the age of 16. Out of school soccer, she has been training the last year with her club team (Wolfpack SC) and with the Canadian U-18 National Team (she was born in British Columbia, but was raised in the United States).

At San Jacinto, she was a two-year team captain and Most Valuable Player while earning all-league honors in both soccer and tennis.

"She is a good-sized (5-foot-8) center back who is tactically aware out of the back," said Radu. "She is also a composed defender."

Cielianna is the daughter of Garry Chalmers and Rita Pasiciel-Chalmers. Her intended major is biomedical engineering.

Caitlyn Ragni --the tall (5-foot-10) freshman will join rising sophomore Sadie Mele as a goalkeeper on the 2008 NJIT roster. An all-around athlete, Ragni also excels in volleyball (team captain as a sophomore), basketball and softball (team captain as a senior). Her club soccer team is Redland Elite.

"I'm very happy to add Caitlyn to our team," Radu said. "She's got a great personality and will fit great with the rest of the players. She and Sadie (Mele) should have great competition."

Caitlyn is the daughter of Bill and Shelly Ragni of Mechanicsburg, PA. She plans to major in business management at NJIT.

The new recruits will join the anticipated return of 14 players from the 2007 team, including 10 players who started at least 10 games apiece.