Jan. 28, 2010
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist water polo head coach Ashleigh Jacobs announced on Thursday that Ali Solaro and Katie Farley have signed National Letters of Intent to play at Marist beginning in the 2011 season. These two players bring club and high school success to Poughkeepsie.
Ali Solaro - 5-9 Goalie - Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. - Palos Verdes High School - Los Angeles Water Polo Club
Solaro has earned a silver medal, two bronze medals, and a seventh-place finish for Los Angeles Water Polo Club at the highly competitive Junior Olympic National Tournament. In 2008, Solaro was named the Most Valuable Player of the United States National Club Championships where her team won first place. She has been a member of the USA Olympic Development Program team since 2004. Solaro was also named the defensive MVP of her high school team.
Jacobs on Solaro: "We're very excited about Ali joining our program. We look for her to pick up and carry on a very strong goalie presence in the cage for the Red Foxes. She has great skill and has been coached by very respectable individuals; we look forward to working with her and progressing her through the collegiate game."
Katie Farley - 5-6 2M - Wilton, Conn. - Wilton High School - New York Athletic Club and Greenwich Aquatics Water Polo
Farley is a four-year varsity swim team member at Wilton High School and has been a competitive year-round swimmer for eight years. She has played water polo competitively for New York Athletic Club, as well as Greenwich Athletics Water Polo, since 2006. Farley has competed at the Junior Olympics every year from 2006 to 2009. With Greenwich, she won a first-place medal in the gold bracket of the Junior Olympic Tournament in 2008. Farley was selected to the 2008 Junior Olympics All-Tournament First Team, and in the same year was selected to train with the Junior National Training team. Outside the pool, she is very active in working with mentally-challenged students and is the Vice President of Best Buddies.
Jacobs on Farley: "We were thrilled to find Katie. In speaking with Katie, her coaches, and watching her compete over the summer, it's evident that she has a strong drive to compete and succeed at the Division-I level. She is a mentally sound competitor and I look forward to working with her in the 2-meter position."
Marist became the first team to win back-to-back MAAC Water Polo League titles in 2009, finishing the season 19-15. The Red Foxes also won their first NCAA Tournament game last season, defeating Cal Lutheran 16-11. Marist opens the 2010 season at #6 San Diego State on Feb. 5.
