Kansas Soccer Signs Five to Letters of Intent
Feb. 7, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas women’s soccer coach Mark Francis announced Thursday that the Jayhawks have signed five student-athletes to letters of intent during the early signing period. Kelsey Clifton (Wichita, Kan.), Kortney Clifton (Wichita, Kan.), Kat Liebetrau (Centennial, Colo.), Sierra Miramontez (Lenexa, Kan.) and Jordyn Purdue (Pickerington, Ohio) will all suit up for the Crimson and Blue next season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
“We are extremely excited about this class,” Francis said. “This group will add a more dynamic element to our team and some very technical players. I look forward to adding them into the mix with a very young, talented, returning group of players in the fall.”
Kelsey Clifton, the twin sister of KU recruit Kortney Clifton, is a 5-foot-3 midfielder from Wichita, Kan. Kelsey is a three-time all-state selection heading into her senior season at AndoverHigh School. Kelsey has also played on the River City Lady Tigers club team the past eight seasons. She has also been a Kansas State Olympic Development Program (ODP) team member the last four years and participated on the Region II ODP team in 2006 and 2007.
“Kelsey is a quick, dynamic player that will give our midfield a different look because of her ability to penetrate on the dribble and make things happen in the attacking third,” Francis said. “I look forward to seeing her mix in with the other midfielders in August and expect her to challenge the returners for playing time.”
Kortney Clifton, Kelsey Clifton’s twin sister, is a 5-foot-3 forward also from Wichita, Kan. Kortney is a three-time first team all-state selection and is a three-time conference player of the year. She is the state’s all-time scoring leader with 176 career goals, including 77 during her sophomore year, which led the nation. Like her sister, Kortney has also played on the River City Lady Tigers club team as well as the Kansas State ODP and Region II ODP teams.
“Kortney is a very dynamic forward that can finish opportunities in front of goal,” Francis said.
“There have been some good forwards in Kansas high school history and Kortney has scored more goals than all of them. I look forward to coaching her and helping her dominate in college as she has in high school and club. Kortney will step in and challenge the other forwards for the opportunity to get on the field and play.”
Liebetrau, a 5-foot-8 goalkeeper from Centennial, Colo., has led her high school team to the state tournament in each of the last three seasons. During the 2006 season, Liebetrau led ArapahoeHigh School to a state championship and was named MVP of the tournament. She has played with Real Colorado National club team as well as the Colorado State ODP teams. In 2006, her club team captured the USYS National Championship in the U-16 division.
“Kat is a very good goalkeeper,” Francis said. “She comes to us with a lot of natural ability. With the help of goalkeeper coach Kelly Miller, Kat will be a dominant goalkeeper at the college level. I think she will challenge our returning goalkeepers in the fall which will only make our whole goalkeeping crew better.”
Miramontez, a 5-foot-8 defender from Lenexa, Kan., is a two-time all-state selection and has also been named All-Sunflower League and All-Sun Country during her high school career. Miramontez led her team to a Northeast Region championship in 2006 and a trip to the state tournament at the 6A level. She has played for the KC Comets Select club team as well as the ODP Region II team. Her club team has won the Kansas State Cup four years in a row. She has attended ODP National camps in Texas as well as California.
“Sierra is a very technical, composed, defender,” Francis said. “She has had a lot of experience at the ODP Regional team level which will definitely help her in the transition into the college game. Sierra will challenge our returning defenders for playing time and I look forward to working with her this fall.”
Purdue, a 5-foot-4 midfielder from Pickerington, Ohio, was an all-state and all-conference selection last fall as a senior. During her high school career, she played on the Ohio Premier club team for five years and the ODP Region II team three years. She was invited to ODP National camps in California and Texas and participated on the ODP International tours in Europe and Brazil.
“Jordan is an extremely technical, creative, central midfield player,” Francis said. “She has great vision and is very good on the ball under pressure. We will be looking for Jordan to help us improve our ability to keep the ball and be more creative in the middle and attacking thirds of the field. Her experience with the ODP regional team and national camps will help her in then transition to the college game.”
