USF Women’s Soccer Announces 2006-07 Recruiting Class

TAMPA, Fla. (April 19, 2006) – University of South Florida women’s soccer coach T. Logan Fleck announced today that the Bulls are welcoming 11 new additions to the 2006 squad. The Bulls have received National Letters of Intent from nine high school players – seven coming from the state of Florida – and will have two college transfers joining the program in the 2006-07 academic year.

“Others looking at our recruiting class may refer to us as the University of Speed first, and all 11 players possess this attribute along with their soccer technical abilities with the ball,” said Fleck. “It’s either physical speed, speed of play or their speed of thought. If we learned anything from the BIG EAST it is that we are going after them with speed, and that was and is a high priority in our recruiting.”

Kym Newsome will start her collegiate career at USF as arguably one of the top high school players in the state of Florida. Coming from Apoka High, she was named to the All-Central Florida Team in 2004 and 2006, while earning first team all county and all metro honors from 2004-05. She led her team to the Apopka Winter Tournament Championship in 2005 and was rewarded for her efforts when she was named the top offensive player in the tournament. The Orlando, Fla., standout brings a wealth of experience to the program, as she was a member of the U23 National B Team from 2004-05 and was a member of the 87 Florida ODP team that competed in the National Championships in 2004. In addition, Newsome is currently a member of the U23 Florida State Team.

“Kym brings a combination of quickness and speed to the team,” said Fleck. “She allows us to do very creative things on the field. She will look to make an immediate impact in our second year in the BIG EAST.”

Laura Engel is expected to make an immediate impact to the Bulls’ squad in 2006. A highly-touted recruit, Engel was named the 2006 Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado for her efforts at Greeley West High. The incoming freshman led her team to the conference championship in 2003 and to the state championship in 2003 and 2004. A native of Greeley, Colo., Engel was named the Rocky Mountain News 4A Player of the Year in 2005, while earning the all-state first team status as well. Engel is a well-versed athlete, lettering in track (2003-05) and basketball (2004-05).

“Laura is a silky-smooth player with a very clean left foot,” commented Fleck. “She likes to take players on and will add more fuel to our attacking engine.”

Mallori Lofton-Malachi is a highly talented goalkeeper, coming from Philadelphia, Pa. The Central High product was an All-Public Second Team Honoree in 2004 and elevated her play the next year to earn first-team honors. Playing club ball for the West Chester United Predators, she helped lead her team to three-consecutive state championship titles from 2003-05 and to the Region I League Championship in 2004. A three-sport athlete – basketball, volleyball and soccer – she was a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania ODP State Team in 2003.

“Mallori is a very talented and athletic young lady,” said Fleck. “She is going to fight for game time with Casey Garret at the goalkeeper position right away. She is going to increase our depth in the net tremendously.”

Siobhan Alexander comes to USF from West Palm Beach, Fla. While at Suncoast Community High, she earned first team all-area honors for two-straight seasons (2004-05, 2005-06) and was awarded the Golden Boot Award while playing in the back line. Thought of as one of the top defenders in the state, she helped lead her team to post 25 consecutive shutouts in the 2003-04 season, falling one shy of tying the national record of 26.

“Siobhan is an exciting left-footed player that has the ability to hit free kicks, has an explosive attacking shot and has the mental toughness to mark the best player on the other team out of the game,” said Fleck.

Another in-state product, Shaena Bair will join the 2006 squad from Everglades High School in Miramar, Fla. From 2003-04, Bair was named her high school team’s Most Valuable Player. Working as hard off the field as on the field, she earned the Female Athlete and Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a 4.0 GPA while participating in athletics. Playing club ball for the Florida Renegades, the incoming freshman helped lead her team to five-straight Florida State Cup Championships (2001-05), a Region III Championship in 2005 and a National Final Four appearance in 2004. Bair is a highly-touted defender and will look to make an immediate contribution in 2006.

“Shaena has terrific athleticism and quickness,” said Fleck. “She shows great determination and tenacity when marking up the opponent’s best player in the big game. She has a reputation for being a very good defensive player.”

Rachel Jakubowski, another native of the Sunshine State, comes to USF from Trinity Prep High School in Orange County. A native of Orlando, Fla., she received first-team All-Central Florida honors from 2005-06 and was named the Orange All-County Team 2A District III Player of the Year in 2005. Looked upon to add versatility to the Bulls by her solid transition play, Jakubowski has been a member of the Olympic Development Program’s Florida State Team since 2001.

“Rachel is a technical midfielder who can really find her forwards in the attack,” said Fleck. “She will look to make an impact as a transition player in the midfield.”

Incoming freshman Kaneile Thomas comes to the Bulls’ soccer program from Suncoast Community High. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Thomas was an all-conference first team selection in 2006, while earning the all-area second team distinction in 2006 as well. A starter all four years in high school, she helped lead her team to the Class 2A championship game in 2003. Thomas was also the captain of her team in 2006 and earned all-area honorable mention in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

“Kaneile is a very explosive defender who has the ability to mark players one-on-one,” commented Fleck. “We are looking for her to be coming forward into the attach by utilizing her speed.”

Stephanie Stopka is goalkeeper out of Gainesville High in Gainesville, Fla. In 2005 she led her team to the district championships and garnered first team all-area honors for her play between the posts. Captain of her team in 2005 and 2006, she is a versatile athlete who lettered in volleyball while at Gainesville High and helped lead the team to the state championships in 2005

“Stephanie is a very hard-working player who is going to help our goal area,” Fleck said. “We are looking forward to her pushing herself and becoming a better player as the years go on.”

Anna Lea Crowe rounds out the incoming freshmen from the Sunshine State. Playing high school ball for Countryside High, she was the captain of the soccer team in 2005. A 2005 Who’s Who among high school students, she will be looked upon to provide solid playing time. Lettering in soccer and volleyball, her versatile play will be a key contribution to the Bulls’ 2006 team. A native of New Port Richey, Fla., Crowe played club ball for the Hillsborough County United.

“Anna Lea is a defensive midfield player who is a very good worker and is looking to get herself playing time by pushing herself throughout the whole season,” added Fleck.

Gillian Fortune is a transfer from Molloy College in Long Island, N.Y. In her one year at Molloy, she started 16-of-17 games, scoring 12 goals while adding four assists for 28 points. Possessing the ability to play either as a defender or forward, she earned Third Team All-New York Collegiate Athletic Conference honors in 2005.

“I can think of three words that describe Gillian: quick, very quick and even quicker,” said Fleck. “She has amazing speed and agility and will either play in the back as a defender or an attacking wide midfielder or as an explosive forward with a knack for scoring goals.”

Autumn Browning transferred to USF from Southern Methodist University. In her two years at SMU, Browning started in every game except one, registering 10 goals and six assists. For her solid play with the Mustangs, she was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Oct. 3, 2005, was an NSCAA/adidas All-Region III team honoree in 2004 and was named to the Soccer America All-Freshman Team in 2004. Having a solid high school career at Winter Park High, Browning was named 6A Florida State Player of the Year while earning three-straight all-state honors. An immensely talented athlete, she was a member of the Florida ODP Region III Team from 1999-2004.

“Autumn is the maestro of the midfield,” said Fleck. “She gives the ball to the right people at the right time. She is somebody who splits the defense, allowing people to receive the ball to score goals.”