May 30, 2008
KINGSTON, R.I. -- University of Rhode Island women's soccer head coach Zac Shaw has announced his 2008 class of newcomers for the upcoming season. A total of 11 student-athletes - including 10 freshmen - will be coming to Kingston in the Fall.
"This incoming class is an excellent combination of technique, finesse, and grit," said head coach Zac Shaw. "With the loss of several major players from our program from a season ago, these players are a building block for the future of our program. We feel that they will be able to come in and contribute to the continued success of the program, while allowing us to continue playing attractive, attacking soccer."
Agnes Arnadottir - 5-11 - Defender/Forward - Reykjavik, Iceland/Commercial College of IcelandPrior to URI: Was a member of the U17 and U19 Icelandic National Teams...Captained the U19 National Team during the 2008 European Championship in their game against Germany...Also plays for Klub Reykjavik, where she was chosen as the most promising player for her age group from 2000-2003...Also honored as the Women's First Team Most Promising Future Player in 2005...An outstanding all-around athlete, she is one of the top team handball players in Europe and was the leading scorer in the U17 Women's European Championship qualification tournament in 2005...Selected as best player of her age group for team handball from 1999-2004...Named Player of the Year for her age group in basketball from 1999-2001.
Ina Wam Bjorklid - 5-10 - Forward/Midfielder - Oslo, Norway/University of Alabama-Huntsville
Prior to URI: Transfer from the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where she scored 40 goals in 31 collegiate games...While at Huntsville, she received All-South Region and First Team All-Gulf South Conference honors...Was tabbed as the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year, while also eanring a spot on conference's Academic Honor Roll...Received the University of Alabama-Huntsville Athletics Bronze Scholar Award...Set UAH single-season records for goals (17), points (41) and single game records for goals (5), points (10)...Prepped at Wang Sport School in Oslo, where she was a standout in soccer and floorball.
Courtney David - 5-7 - Midfielder - St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada/Saint Francis Secondary
Prior to URI: Has played for the Ontario Provincial Team for the past two years...In club soccer, was a member of the Mississauga Dixie Saints and helped the squad win various showcase tournaments in the U.S., including the Orange Classic, the Score at the Shore, and the Jefferson Cup...Was a four-year starter at Saint Francis Secondary, serving as team captain for her senior year as the team won three consecutive City Championships, while advancing to the quarterfinals of the Ontario Provincial Championship...Was also voted one of the top ten high school basketball players in the city.
Jillian Dougherty - 5-6 - Defender - West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin
Prior to URI: Has played the last five years with the West Chester United Spartans, the 2004 U.S. Club Soccer Regional champions...The club also reached the Regional finals in 2006 and 2007, while advancing to the semifinals in 2005...Four year varsity starter for Bayard Rustin H.S., where she captained the team as a junior and senior...During her high school career, earned First Team All-County, First Team All-Area, and Second Team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania accolades...Also lettered in lacrosse, leading the squad to the 2007 Pa. State semifinals...Also earned Second Team All-County honors in lacrosse...Member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and Student Council, and was a Regional Parliamentarian for Future Business Leaders of America...Graduated fourth in her class out of 297.
Erese Fair - 5-7 - Forward - East Northport, N.Y./Northport
Prior to URI: A member of the East Meadow Dynamite club - the defending New York State Cup champions...Gifted player with explosive speed who led Northport H.S. in scoring as a junior and senior while earning All-League and All-Conference honors...Also lettered in track, excelling as a sprinter and middle distance runner...Holds school records in the 4x400m and the sprint medley relays...Has also studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance since she was four years old and was named 1996 Dancer of the Year for the Venettes Cultural Workshop.
Courtney Findlen - 5-6 - Midfielder/Defender - Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough High School
Prior to URI: Two-year member of the Greater Boston Bolts, who were the Massachusetts State Champions in 2007...Lived in Downingtown, Pa. until 2006 and played for the Spirit United Gaels, helping the team to the Eastern Pennsylvania State and Region I Championships...As a senior, Acton-Boxborough won the 2007 Division I State Championship...Was voted Dual County League First Team All-Star in both 2006 and 2007, as well as a Lowell Sun All-Star in 2007...Selected to represent her school at a Leadership in Athletics seminar and became a member of the Athletes and Leadership board...Enjoys snowboarding, running, basketball and coaching youth sports.
Mary Kate Krol - 5-8 - Defender/Midfielder - Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side
Prior to URI: Played for five seasons with the Massapequa Shockwaves - the top team in the Northeast Regional Premier League in 2007...Also a four-year member of the Long Island Lady Riders Super Y youth team from 2002-2006 and the U-20 Long Island Rough Riders...Prepped at South Side H.S., which was ranked #1 in the nation after the 2007 season after its fourth consecutive N.Y. state title...South Side finished the 2007 campaign with a perfect 22-0 record, scoring 69 goals while allowing just seven against...As a senior, tallied 10 goals and 22 assists en route to earning All-Conference accolades...Earned 11 varsity letters, competing in gymnastics, track & field, and soccer...Also earned All-Conference in track & field and gymnastics.
Tara Murphy - 5-9 - Goalkeeper - Holland, Pa./Council Rock South
Prior to URI: Served as the starting goalkeeper for the FC Bucks Vipers - the five-time Eastern Pennsylvania State Champions and 2007 Region I finalists in 2007...Was also a standout for Council Rock South H.S., helping lead the squad to the district championship in both 2005 and 2007...Voted the team's most valuable player, as well as the most improved player, in 2007...Named to the 2007 Bucks County Courier Times "Golden Team"...Also lettered in volleyball and was named the team's 2007 MVP.
Stephanie Santos - 5-5 - Forward - Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate
Prior to URI: First Team All-State, All-Division and All-City player for Toll Gate H.S. in Warwick...Tallied 20 goals as a senior for Toll Gate, leading the squad in scoring...In club soccer, competed for South Shore Select - the 2007 Massachusetts State Champions - and led the team in scoring...Earned Second Team All-State honors in track & field, finishing as state runner-up in the 55m dash...Was also an All-Division honoree in the 45m dash and 4x100 m relay.
Elizabeth Slaymaker - 5-8 - Goalkeeper - Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well
Prior to URI: Helped lead Flowing Well to the 5AII State Championship in 2007...Did not allow a goal during the entire state tournament...Was a 2007 First Team All-Southern Arizona and AHSSCA First Team All-State honoree...In 2006, she helped guide her squad to the 4AI State semifinals and she was a second team All-State and All-Southern Arizona selection...Was named to the Watch List in the Arizona Daily Star and was named Key Performer by the Arizona Republic as a senior...Along with soccer, she enjoys the culinary arts and roller hockey.
Alexis Veith - 5-2 - Forward - Burlington, Conn./Lewis Mills
Prior to URI: Earned All-American as a senior at Lewis Mills H.S., helping the team win four consecutive Berkshire League Championships...Earned First Team All-Berkshire League and was ranked the #1 player league in each of her four years of high school...Was a three-time All-New England player...Competed for the Connecticut State Select Team and the Region 1 ODP team...Also played for the Oakwood Soccer Club, which captured the 2006 Connecticut State Championship...Four-year letterwinner in basketball team, where she was the starting point guard.
