SEMINOLE SOCCER INKS TWO OF AMERICA’S TOP HIGH SCHOOLERS

After College Cup appearance, Coach Krikorian strengthens an already strong squad.



Tallahassee, FL (February 3, 2006) – Florida State women’s soccer coach Mark Krikorian announced the signing of two of America’s top high school players to national letters of intent. US National Team pool player Alexondrea “Onnie” Trusty and US U-17 National Team member Becky Edwards will join the Seminoles in the fall of 2006. Both are ranked among the top 50 recruits in the nation and will join a team that was a national semi-finalist in 2005 and is expected to return 10 of its 11 starters from last season.



“Both players have youth national team experience and come from good club programs,” said Krikorian. “We expect both Becky and Onnie to come in and provide a boost for our team.”



Edwards, a Downingtown, PA product, is ranked as one of the top 25 US recruits this season by Soccer Buzz. A 2006 NSCAA Youth All-American, Edwards chose Florida State over College Cup participant Penn State, ACC rival Duke and perennial power UConn.



“I am excited to finally become a part of the Seminole family,” said Edwards. “I look forward to joining the talented athletes, the dedicated students and the friendly people. The great weather couldn’t hurt either. I can’t wait to play with the skillful players and under the experienced coaching staff. Hopefully, we can make many more runs at a National Championship.”



The Pennsylvania midfielder was a full member of the 2005 US U-17 National Team that captured the adidas Cup Championship. She has been invited to every national team camp since 2002. Edwards has also been with the Region I ODP team since 2001 and with the EPYSA ODP side since 1998 serving as team captain since 2002. Her EPYSA team has captured the Region I Tournament Championship on two occasions (2002 and 2005).



As a member of the West Chester Predators club team, Edwards has had an equally stellar career. In 2005 her club side was a USYSA regional semi-finalist and repeated as EPYSA State Champions. In 2004 the Predators also reeled off an undefeated season in capturing the Region I Premiere League Championship. Edwards was also a member of club teams that captured EPYSA state championships in 2001 and 2002, a WAGS Championship in 2001 and the Jefferson Cup Championship in 2002.



At Downingtown West High School, Edwards is a two-time MVP and was a co-captain in 2005. In 2004 she led her team to the 3A State Championship scoring the game-winning goal less than 20 seconds into the match. The championship came a year after her high school squad was a state finalist in 2003. Downingtown West captured the district championship in 2003 and 2004 with Edwards on the squad and they were also Ches-mont League Champions in 2004. Edwards was named a Southeastern PA Coaches All-Star selection in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She was named all-area first team in 2003 and 2004 and she is a three-time Ches-mont League first team selection.



As a high school basketball player, Edwards was an Academy Park Holiday All-Tournament selection and a member of the 2003 3A state finalists and Ches-mont League Championship team. She has been a National Honor Society Member since 2004, a recipient of the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and on the Honor Roll since 2000.



“Becky is a very technical player,” said Krikorian. “Her vision and distribution are very good. She strikes the ball well. She is also quite versatile and capable of playing at a lot of different spots for us.”



Trusty, a Media, PA native and a Soccer Buzz Top 50 recruit, has had plenty of US National Team experience as well. The defender was a member of the U-16/U-17 US National Team pool in 2004 and 2005 and played for the U-17 team that captured the adidas Cup Championship in 2005. She has attended national camps at Carson CA 2004-2005, Bradenton FL 2004, Seattle 2004, ESP in Austin TX 2003 and U-14 Camp in 2002. Trusty was part of the adidas All-Star European Tour in 2005, Boca Interregional in 2002, 2003 and 2004 as well as traveling to Barcelona, Spain in 2003. Trusty is a five-year member of the Region I ODP team and she captured the Region I ODP Eastern Pennsylvania Championship in 2005. She has been a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP team since 2001 and will be competing in ODP National Championships in March.



As a member of the FC Pennsylvania Strikers club team, Trusty helped her side capture the Eastern PA State Championship in 2004 and 2005. Her squad was also Region I Finalists in 2004, WAGS Cup Semi-Finalist in 2004 and Las Vegas Showcase Finalist in 2004 as well. She led the Strikers to undefeated seasons in the PAGS League in 2004 and 2005 while participating in the CASL Raleigh Showcase 2004 and Phoenix President's Day 2005.



As a member of FC Delco Tar Heels, Trusty helped capture the Eastern PA State Championship in 2001 and was a semi-finalist in 2003. The Tar Heels were also Phoenix President's Day Semi-Finalist in 2003, WAGS Cup Semi-Finalist in 2001 and Region I Semi-Finalist that year as well.



With Penn Crest High School, Trusty was named All-Delco First Team in 2003 and 2004. She received 2nd team honors in 2002 and was named All-Central 2nd Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Trusty was also a member of the varsity basketball team in ninth, tenth and eleventh grade and a track team member in her first year of high school.



“Onnie is a physical presence,” said Krikorian. “She is fantastic in the air and is able to be a threat in any attacking set pieces as well as a very strong player when we defend set pieces.”



A member of the Academic Honor Roll, Who's Who Among American High School Students, National Honor Roll and Renaissance for Academic Excellence, Trusty received interest from a list of schools including College Cup participants Penn State and UCLA along with defending National Champion Portland. Santa Clara, Duke, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Stanford and Boston College were among just a few of the other schools recruiting the defender. She ended up choosing Florida State over Penn State.



"I chose to attend Florida State because I believe FSU soccer has the ability to win a National Championship,” said Trusty. “I absolutely love the girls and the coaching staff as well. Both to me are a winning combination that can help me to pursue my goals. Being in the ACC is a plus and was also a deciding factor.



"What becoming a "Seminole" means to me is that I now can be a part of that athletic tradition they are known for as well as getting a great education. Now it's time to bring home that National Championship."