Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's soccer program unveiled its 2019 signing class in a different way. Rather than announcing all of them and their accomplishments in one release, the Hokies highlighted each new signee individually and included a brief "Get to Know" Q&A with the newest member of the program. And with this release, all seven have now been announced (at the end of the release are links to all the other signees).
Our final 2019 addition to the program is Caroline O'Connor, a 5-foot-9 center back from Rumson, New Jersey. She currently attends Red Bank Catholic High School and is contemplating on majoring in fashion merchandising and design when she gets to Tech.
For the Caseys, O'Connor was a four-year starting midfielder and earned varsity letters all four seasons. She helped Red Bank to the 2016 New Jersey Non-Public state championship and during this past season, as team captain, the Caseys made the championship game of both the Shore Conference tournament and the state tournament.
After the 2018 run for Red Bank, O'Connor earned several postseason honors including a First Team All-Division A Central selection, a First Team All-Shore spot and a Second Team All-State Non Public honor. In 2018, she tied for the team-lead with eight assists to go along with eight goals, while in her career she tallied 23 assists.
For the past six years, O'Connor has been a member of the Match Fit Academy ECNL, playing for Dom Bucci and Jordan Raper. Highlighting her time with the program was the team's ECNL American Cup national championship won in 2016 and her time spent with at the US Women's National Team Soccer Training center in 2015.
"Caroline's a very smart, solid center back who can play center back or holding center mid," Tech head women's soccer coach Chugger Adair said. "She's got a good head on her shoulders – she's very technical and can really read the game well. We're looking forward to her coming in and competing right at the start and making an impact in that central area for us."
GET TO KNOW - Caroline
Name: Caroline O'Connor
Position: defender/center back
Height: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Rumson, New Jersey
High School: Red Bank Catholic High School
Other Schools considered: University of Miami, Boston University, University of Pennsylvania
Why did you choose Tech? I loved the soccer program. I was very comfortable with the team and the coaches. The campus is beautiful and I had an instant love for Virginia Tech.
What was your favorite thing about your visit? The facilities, the campus and the girls that I met on the team.
What do you like about the Tech soccer program? I like the competitive level of the program and of the conference (the ACC) and the hard-working, close-knit team.
What are your soccer strengths? I am hard-working, a strong defender and I have a high field IQ.
Who is your favorite pro player (why)? Romelu Lukaku (a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Manchester United and the Belgium national team) … he's a beast.
What is your most memorable soccer moment (why)? Winning the ECNL American Cup National Championship in 2016 as an underdog.
What do you think you will major in? I'm planning on majoring in fashion merchandising and design.
What's one thing you'd want Tech fans to know about you? "I'm a belieber" (big Justin Bieber fan).
Previous GET TO KNOWS
Calista Heister
Makenzie Graham
Sydney Ash
Cassidy Brown
Holly Rose Weber
Dare Burnett