Kansas Soccer Adds All-American Cassie Dickerson

April 12, 2012

Fall Signing Day 2011
Soccer Signees
Name Pos. Hometown
Courtney Dickerson F Peculiar, Mo.
Kaley Smith D Albuquerque, N.M.
Ashley Williams F Albuquerque, N.M.
Monica Castro M Cottage Grove, Minn.
Hanna Kallmaier M Emmerting, Germany
Cassie Dickerson D Kalamazoo, Mich.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Head coach Mark Francis has added more depth to the Kansas soccer defensive line with the addition of former Ohio State All-American Cassie Dickerson. Francis announced Thursday that Dickerson will join the Jayhawks for the 2012 season.

Dickerson lettered three years at Ohio State and graduated in 2010. She is currently in her first year of law school at KU and will have one year of eligibility with the Jayhawks.

While with the Buckeyes, the 5-foot-6 defender was named an NSCAA All-American as a senior in 2010 after guiding her team to a Big Ten championship and the NCAA Final Four. She was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in her final season at OSU and earned first team all-conference honors for a second time. Additionally, Dickerson participated in the U.S. U-23 National Team Camp in 2010.

A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Dickerson was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection. She was also awarded with the 2010-11 Big Ten Medal of Honor, given annually to a senior student-athlete who demonstrates proficiency in scholarship and athletics.

“When you add a player who has been a first team all-American, so she’s been voted as one of the top 11 players in college soccer in 2010, you’re adding a kid who obviously is a very high talent in terms of a soccer player,” said Francis. “Cassie is athletic, quick and comfortable on the ball; she is very aggressive and good in the air- she does all of the things you’re supposed to do as a center back. But I think the other intangible thing with Cassie is that she was a captain at Ohio State for three years so she has that leadership. On and off the field I can see her being someone who can help lead the players and get us going in the right direction of where we want to go in the fall.

“She’s bringing in a lot of experience, experiences that no one on our team has had. We don’t have anyone who has been a first team all-American, we don’t have anyone who has played in a Final Four and we don’t have anyone who has been a captain for three years. I think all of those things are the things she will add to the team outside of the fact that she is obviously a very good player. I think all of those things will really add to the leadership ability that she has and I think that will rub off on a lot of the other players.”

The addition of Dickerson brings Francis’ 2012 signing class up to six. Dickerson will join Monica Castro, Courtney Dickerson, Hanna Kallmaier, Kaley Smith and Ashley Williams on next season’s Jayhawks squad.