CHICAGO – UIC head women's soccer coach Brian Rigby announced the Flames' 2017 recruiting class Tuesday, a group of six that features products out of Illinois, Ohio and New York.
 
Joining the Flames for the 2017 fall season will be: Keri Birkenhead (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK/Merrick Force), Janai Cedeno (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep/Eclipse Select ECNL), Jessica Christmas (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North/Team Chicago), Lexi Gomez (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls/Cleveland United), Meaghan Smith (St. Jacob, Ill./Triad/St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL) and Ashlin West (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville/St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL).
 
"Our coaching staff is very excited to add this group of players to our program," said Rigby. "They possess the skills, individually and collectively, to make our team successful and will work well with our group of returners as we continue to make the climb in the Horizon League."
 

	Keri Birkenhead Hometown: Plainview, N.Y. High School: Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK Club Team: Merrick Force Height: 5-8 Position: F   Three-year letterwinner at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (N.Y.) … earned All-Conference distinction as a sophomore and was named All-Class as a junior and senior … led her team in scoring every season … took POBJFK to its best finish in playoffs in 20 years … competed at the club level with Merrick Force and Interstars Academy, where she was the only girl on the boys' academy team … with the Force, led the team in goals every year since joining in 2012 … 2014-15 Disney Soccer Showcase Champions … 2014 Region 1 Northeast Premier League Champions … State ODP 2013 … Regional ODP Camp … placed on the Honor Roll every quarter … daughter of Donald and Cindy Birkenhead … has one brother, Eric … intended major is currently undecided.   "Keri and FC Merrick are very excited that she gets the opportunity to play at UIC. She is an explosive and skilled player and will have an immediate impact on the game. She worked very hard to get the opportunity to play at UIC and, with her kind personality on and off the field, she will have a great impact on all surrounding players and students. I can't wait to see what she will be able to do as a UIC Flame." – Manfred Kapper, FC Merrick Director of Coaching and Head Coach
	Janai Cedeno Hometown: Chicago, Ill. High School: Jones College Prep Club Team: Eclipse Select ECNL Height: 5-2 Position: D   Member of the softball and dance teams at Jones College Prep (Ill.) … captured the regional softball championship with the Eagles as a freshman and sophomore … played at the club level with Eclipse Select ECNL … went to the U14 ECNL Nationals … competed in the U15, U16 and U17 ECNL Playoffs … member of the Nation Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society … daughter of Miguel and Adriana Cedeno … intends to major in Pharmacy or Engineering.   "Janai was a consistent, reliable and resilient player on our 1998-99 team. She began with our club as a 13-year-old and it was a pleasure to watch her develop into an outstanding back over the last five years." – Mike Nesci, Eclipse Select SC, ECNL President and Director of Coaching
	Jessica Christmas Hometown: Plainfield, Ill. High School: Plainfield North Club Team: Team Chicago Height: 5-2 Position: MF/F   Three-year letterwinner in soccer at Plainfield North (Ill.) … won conference and sectional championships as a sophomore and junior … scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to win the regional title in 2015 … also in her sophomore season, led the Tigers in scoring and earned the title of MVP … worked her way through the club circuit by competing with Chicago Magic, Eclipse Select and Team Chicago … won the 2012 State Cup with the Magic and again in 2014 with Eclipse … was a starting midfielder on the 2013 ODP State team … finished as the runner up at the 2015 Pepsi Co Showdown … daughter of Ron and Carla Christmas … has three sisters, Julia, Jenna and Jorie … intended major is currently undecided.   "Jessica is a dynamic flank player who can provide a threat both going to the end-line and delivering a cross, or by cutting inside and driving to goal. I am confident she will have a great career under Coach Rigby's tutelage at UIC." – Phil Nielsen, Team Chicago Executive Director and Head Coach
	Lexi Gomez Hometown: Olmsted Falls, Ohio High School: Olmsted Falls Club Team: Cleveland United Height: 5-4 Position: MF   Lettered all four seasons at Olmsted Falls (Ohio) … captained OFHS as a senior and earned the distinctions of First Team All-Southwestern Conference, Second Team All-Greater Cleveland and MVP … additionally earned All-SWC honors as a freshman, when she was also recognized by her teammates as the top offensive player of the year … played at the club level for Cleveland United … competed at the highest level of the Midwest Regional League … member of the National Honors Society … daughter of James and Michelle Gomez … has three siblings, Ashley, Abby and Aidan … intended major is currently undecided.   "Lexi is a young lady with very high character and desire to be excellent in everything she does. UIC is getting a versatile player with a very talented left foor that should be ready to make an impact from the day she arrives." – Marko Raduka, Cleveland United Director and Head Coach
	Meaghan Smith Hometown: St. Jacob, Ill. High School: Triad Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Height: 5-6 Position: D/MF   Four-year letterwinner at Triad (Ill.) … heads into her senior season after leading the Knights in scoring during her first three seasons with 44 goals, including 11 game-winners … was at the top of the Mississippi Valley Conference in goals and scoring as a sophomore … also led the team in assists as a freshman and junior, and ranked second as a sophomore … three-time conference and regional champion … named Second Team All-Conference as a freshman and First Team as a sophomore and junior, when she was also named All-Sectional … two-time Triad Girls Soccer MVP … St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Area First Team (2016) and Second Team (2015), Soccer STL First Team (2016) and Second Team (2015), and Belleville News Democrat All-Metro team honors … recognized on the All-Tournament team at the Meg Herndon Memorial Tournament … competed at the club level with St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL … won the State Cup with SLSG in 2012 … runner up in the 2014 ECNL North American National Championship … member of the National Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society … Illinois Scholar … served on Student Council and acted as the student body Vice President … daughter of Troy and Pamela Smith … her father was a member of the tennis team at Eastern Illinois … has two siblings, Ryan and Caitlyn … intends to major in Chemistry/Pre-Med.   "Meaghan is a great kid and has been a driving force in our back line over the years. We are happy that she, too, found a home at UIC. She is a great teammate, an extremely coachable player, and has been an excellent role model for our younger players within the club through the years. We are excited to see what her college career brings, and are looking forward to reading about her this fall." - Laura Ridolfi, SLSG ECNL Elite Girls Program Director and Head Coach
	Ashlin West Hometown: Glen Carbon, Ill. High School: Edwardsville Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Height: 5-4 Position: MF   Four-year letterwinner at Edwardsville (Ill.) … went undefeated during her freshman and junior seasons to capture the conference championship and earn national rankings … won sectional and regional titles in her first season … led the Tigers as a freshman with nine assists … received All-Southwestern Conference Honorable Mention and Third Team All-Metro as a sophomore … earned All-Sectional, Second Team All-Conference and All-Academics as a junior … served as captain as a senior … played at the club level with St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL … runner up in the 2014 ECNL North American National Championship … served as captain her final season … member of the National Honors Society and Honors English Society … daughter of Mike and Angie West … has two brothers, Steffen and Garrison … intended major is currently undecided.   "We are excited that Ashlin found her home at UIC. She is a kid that has been a part of our program for over 10 years, and has been an incredible asset to not only her team, but the entire girls program, as a great example for our younger girls to look up to. She is an extremely hard worker and helped lock down the midfield for us. We are looking forward to following her through her collegiate career." – Laura Ridolfi, SLSG ECNL Elite Girls Program Director and Head Coach