NEWARK, NJ—Ally Nick, NJIT's new women's soccer coach, announced eight new incoming recruits for the upcoming 2016 season.

Nick, who took over leadership of NJIT women's soccer in March, said: "I am excited to welcome the Class of 2020 to the Highlander family and I am confident that the incoming players will bring a competitiveness to our program and all possess the ability to make an immediate impact on the field. All eight student-athletes are highly motivated and will help elevate our program to reach our goals academically and athletically."

Before accepting her post at NJIT, Nick was a player and assistant coach in the successful program at La Salle in Philadelphia. La Salle won 39 games and tied six during her four-year playing career. After she graduated in 2010, head coach Paul Royal chose her as an assistant and the Explorers were a combined 70-27-11 in six seasons.

The NJIT incoming group announced by Nick: Jessica Aseng (midfielder; North Dingmans Ferry HS/Bushkill, PA), Chinyere Chambers (forward; Northwood HS/Irvine, CA), Fiorella Doglio (midfielder; Wardlaw-Hartridge School (Edison, NJ)/Carteret, NJ), Briana Hackos (midfielder; Central York HS/York, PA), Emily Heckman (defender; Penn Manor HS/Millersville, PA), Taylor Sassaman (defender; Boyertown Area Senior HS/Boyertown, PA), Elizabeth Wolfe (forward; Leonardtown HS/California, MD) and Monica Wood (midfielder; Palmerton HS/Lehighton, PA).

Here is a closer look at the newcomers:
Pennsylvania native Jessica Aseng, a second-team all-area selection in 2015 (honorable mention, 2013) combined for 8 goals, 6 assists and 22 points as a senior at North Dingmans Ferry HS.  Aseng played club for the Keystone Athletics.

Off the field, Aseng, who ranked in the Top 30 of her senior class, is a member of the National and High Honor Roll and intends to major in biology at NJIT.

Chinyere Chambers becomes the fourth Highlander to join NJIT women's soccer from California.  Chambers, who hails from Irvine, CA, guided Northwood High School to the CIF-SS Division II finals for the first time in school history and to the best season record (16-7-2, 8-1-1 Pacific Coast League) since 2007-08.

The 5-foot-5 forward earned first-team PCL honors as a junior and senior (2015, 2016) and was second team as a sophomore (2014).  Chambers played club for the Strikers FC ECNL.

Chambers, a four-year member of the track and field team, holds the Northwood High 200-meter record.

She will enroll in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College as a biology major.

A New Jersey native, Fiorella Doglio from Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, NJ, will reunite with 2015 Wardlaw-Hartridge graduate and ex-teammate Neema Liverpool, who was a freshman at NJIT in 2015.  A Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division honoree, Doglio netted 13 goals and 11 assists, guiding eighth-ranked Wardlaw-Hartridge to a 17-5-1 overall mark, 11-2-1 in the Blue Division.  Doglio played club for the North Jersey Valkyries.

Doglio intends to major in business at NJIT.

Briana Hackos, a four-year starter Central York High School, the 2014 York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) champions. Hackos received YAIAA All-Star first-team honors as a senior.  Hackos played for the Penn Legacy soccer club '97 and was also a member of the track and field and tennis teams at Central York.

Hackos intends to major in biology/chemistry at NJIT in the Fall 2016.

Emily Heckman, a graduate of Penn Manor HS in Millersville, PA, guided her team to the State Cup finals in 2013 and 2014.  A two-year captain, Heckman earned Lancaster Lebanon first-team honors and plays for the Penn Legacy '97 club team with fellow incoming freshman Briana Hackos.

A member of the National Honor Society and National Society for High School Scholars, Heckman will enroll in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College with a major in chemical engineering.

A defender from Boyertown Area Senior HS, Taylor Sassaman helped the Bears capture the 2015 PAC-10 title, as they defeated two-time defending champion Spring-Ford, 1-0.

Sassaman was selected to the All-Pioneer Athletic Conference first-team (2015), second-team (2014) and Mercury All-Area second-team (2015, 2014).

The Bears were Liberty Division Champions in 2014 (11-2 in PAC-10, 14-5 overall), advanced to the PAC-10 final four semifinals and second round of District I-AAA playoffs.

Sassaman will play for the FC Revolution Falcons club team this summer.

In the Fall 2016, Sassaman intends to major in interior design at NJIT.

Elizabeth Wolfe, a forward from Maryland, was selected first-team All-Met (Washington, DC) and All-State for her play on the field as a senior at Leonardtown High School.  Wolfe earned All-State honorable mention as a junior and second-team all-conference. 

In the classroom, Wolfe received highest honor roll through her four years at Leonardtown.  She will enroll in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College and major in biochemistry.

Wolfe, also a member of the women's swimming team and track and field teams, played club for the Maryland United.

Monica Wood, the all-time scoring leader at Palmerton High, was selected 2015 Times News Soccer Player of the Year, Morning Call All-Area first-team and Lehigh Valley All-Area second-team.
A Colonial League All-Star first-team honoree, Wood will play for the Keystone Athletic Griffos club.

A member of the National Honor Society and President of the Art Club, Wood, was named to the Dean's List (2014-2016) and will major in business at NJIT.  Wood was the recipient of the Guiding Star Award for academic and leadership of excellence as a senior.