Melissa Henderson Class: Freshman Hometown: Garland, TX High School: Berkner Height: 5-8 Position: Forward Birthdate: 08/23/1989 Club Team: Dallas Sting

One of the top incoming players in the country due to her great speed and amazing athleticism ... skilled technical player who knows how to score goals ... also works hard defensively ... has a fierce competitiveness and great focus ... great at reading the game and being able to switch the point of attack on the dribble.

NATIONAL/ODP/CLUB: One of the rising stars in U.S. Soccer's national development program ... member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team player pool, along with current ND sophomore Lauren Fowlkes ... five-year member of various youth national teams ... has played soccer on four different continents: with the Under-16 National Team in Asia (Japan); with the U-17s in South America (Argentina) and North America (Canada); and with the U-20s in Europe (England), North America (Mexico) and South America (Chile) ... competed in Chile with the U-20s at 2008 Four Nations Tournament, starting vs. England (W, 1-0) and coming on in second half vs. Norway (W, 2-1) ... one of two high-school players named to the U.S. U-20 roster for the Pan Am Games (July '07, in Brazil; DNP due to injury) ... earlier had scored twice in U-20's win over the Leeds Ladies (in England; May '07) ... helped Dallas Texans reach 2007 USYS club nationals final, held in nearby Frisco,Texas ... scored three goals in 4- 0 win over the Michigan Hawks, during roundrobin stage at '07 nationals (she also scored both Texans goals in the 3-2 title-game loss to California power Eagles SC) ... also advanced with the Texans to nationals in 2005, after winning Region III title ... scored all the goals in 2007 state-cup win over the Sting (3-0) ... helped Texans win the Disney Showcase in '05- '06 and '06-'07 seasons (she had four goals in five games at the Showcase as a sophomore) ... switched to Sting Dallas '90 (along with former Texans teammates Courtney Barg and Jessica Schuveiller, and former Texans coach Kenny Medina) for 2007-08 season ('90s; U- 18) ... helped Sting Dallas '90 squad to 2008 Region III and state cup titles, andd finished as USYS national runner-up (at North Little Rock, Ark.) ... team also won 2007 Premier League and LHGCL titles.

PREP & PERSONAL: First junior women's soccer player ever named Gatorade National High School Player of the Year (2006- 07 season); only six other juniors (from any sport) had ever received the Gatorade national honor ... 2007 NSCAA/adidas Youth Player of the Year ... two-time NSCAA youth All- American (2006 and 2007) ... named a Parade All-American following her sophomore and junior seasons at Berkner High School (in Richardson, Texas) ... her dominant three seasons at Berkner HS included 66 goals and 45 assists (177 points) in 47 career games (DNP her senior season due to national-team commitments) ... her three-year prep scoring barrage included 4G-15A as a freshman, 38G- 18A as a sophomore and 24G-12A as a junior (despite helping fill in as a defensive sweeper and missing six games due to national-team duty) ... set school record for career goals (66) and ranks second in assists (45) in only three seasons ... a two-time all-district performer at BHS (also district MVP and all-area) ... attended the ESPN "ESPYs" event in 2007, after earning the Gatorade player-of-the-year award (current Irish senior forward Kerri Hanks also was at the '07 ESPYs, as one of five finalists for 2006-07 college female athlete of the year) ... began playing soccer as a fouryear- old ... developed a love for soccer from her brother Jason, who is five years older ... part-time member of the basketball and track teams at Berkner HS ... carried a 3.6 GPA in high school ... three-year member of the National Honor Society ... also involved in student council and served as student council senior class secretary ... helped coach younger soccer players and was a member of Young Life ... daughter of Kelly and Kathy Henderson ... full name is Melissa Henderson ... born Aug. 23, 1989, in Dallas,Texas ... currently enrolled in Notre Dame's unique First Year of Studies program.