April 10, 2012

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University head women's soccer coach Kevin Boyd today announced that Whitney Kanavel has signed a national letter of intent to study and play soccer at Arizona State.

Kanavel comes to ASU from Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, Calif., where she was named her team's Most Valuable Player three years in a row. Aside from being a four-year starter, Kanavel was a three-time BVAL All-League first-team selection. She was named Mercury News All-Central Coast Section first team and BVAL All-League MVP her senior season. Kanavel plays club soccer for the Central Valley Flames.

"Whitney came to our ID camp and she did very well," Boyd said. "She is a midfield-type player who is versatile so she can play in the back, wide back, or what we would call the No. 2 spot in the midfield. That player is able to both come back and defend, can connect and can get all the way up the field and get into the attack as well. She is more of an 18-to-18 type of player who has very good defensive instincts and is also good on the ball."

The signing of Kanavel gives the Sun Devils 10 signees in the 2012 class. She will join McKenzie Berryhill, Nina Brueggemann, Alina Cheatham, Cali Farquharson, Tommi Goodman, Lucero Lara, Rachel Ometer, Christina Schedel and Sara Tosti, who signed letters of intent earlier this year.