Florida Soccer Announces Four Additions for 2007 Season

March 5, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - University of Florida head coach Becky Burleigh announced Monday that four players will join the Gator soccer program for the 2007 fall season.

Two incoming players were members of national championship teams. Goalkeeper Meghan Berlingo (Massapequa, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy), a six-year selection to the Eastern New York State Olympic Development Program (ODP), was part of the 2005 ODP National Championship team. Berlingo is a two-time all-state first-team selection. Karly Findorff (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain H.S.), a member of Denver’s Real Colorado National club team, was part of the 2006 U.S. Under-16 Youth National Championship team. She scored Real Colorado’s third goal in its 4-2 championship match win last summer in Des Moines, Iowa. Findorff is Colorado’s 2006 Colorado 4A Player of the Year and a two-time all-state selection, including a spot on the 2006 first team.

Nicolette Kit (Livermore, Calif./Granada H.S.) is a three-time California ODP Girls State Team and was invited to two ODP Regional Camps. She also participated in the 2005, 2004 and 2003 Nike Cup. Alyshah Smith (Spokane, Wash./Mead H.S.) has been invited to the last three national ODP camps and is also a three-time Washington State ODP pool selection.

"These players will be welcome additions to our program. They all have strong club backgrounds and bring experiences from some of the nation’s top events," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. “They are also good students and good people. We are looking forward to them joining the Gators next fall.”

During the 2006 season, Florida turned in a record of 14-6-5, advanced to the NCAA Round of 16, won its seventh Southeastern Conference title and was runner-up in the SEC Tournament. The Gators ranked No. 10 on the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.

Name Position High School Hometown
Meghan Berlingo Goalkeeper Sacred Heart Academy Massapequa, N.Y.
Karly Findorff Midfield Cheyenne Mountain Colorado Spring, Colo.
Nicolette Kit Forward Granada Livermore, Calif.
Alyshah Smith Midfield Mead Spokane, Wash.



Meghan Berlingo
United Soccer League (USL) Super Y-League ODP National Select team in 2003 and 2004*USL Super Y-League regional selection in 2003 and 2004*Six-year selection to Eastern New York State Olympic Development Program (ODP) team and named to 2003 Region I ODP team*Three-year member of East Meadow Magic club team and joined Massapequa Rascals United in the past year*Coached by Paul Caffrey at Massapequa Rascals United*Member of 2005 ODP National Championship team*Eastern New York ODP team reached semifinals of 2003, 2004 and 2006 Disney Showcase * team was runner-up in 2006 and champion in 2004*Club team reached Region I Premier League final in 2005 and 2006, taking the title in 2006*Four-year member of Sacred Heart Academy team where she earned New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports (NYSSCOGS) All-State first team honors in 2005 and 2006*All-league and All-Long Island selection in 2005 and 2006*Turned in five shutouts as goalkeeper in 2006*2005 Defensive Player of the Year by Catholic High School Association*Sacred Heart won 2004 and 2006 Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) state championships and won Long Island titles the same years*Coached by Penny Stansfield at Sacred Heart*Also member of Sacred Heart junior varsity basketball team in 2003*National Honor Society member*Will graduate from Sacred Heart Academy in spring of 2007.


Karly Findorff
Member of 2006 US Under-16 Youth National Championship club team Real Colorado National; scored third goal in 4-2 championship match victory*Two-year member of Real Colorado National club team and coached by Neil Payne*Club team won 2006 Region 4, state and Surf Cup titles*2006 Colorado 4A Player of the Year and member of state first team for Cheyenne Mountain High School*Member of Colorado Springs Gazette’s All-Area First Team in 2006*Led high school in assists in 2006 and named team's Most Valuable Player*2005 Colorado 4A All-State second team member*MVP of 2005 Colorado 4A state championship team; scored the only goal in the championship match*CMHS offensive leader (15 goals, 21 assists) in 2005*Cheyenne Mountain team reached Colorado state semifinals in 2006*Three-year member of Cheyenne Mountain H.S., where she was coached by Nikki Aethey*Attended Colorado Springs Christian School as a freshman *Father, Scott, was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American as a member of the University of Southern California swim team; also a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team*Youngest of three children - oldest brother, Michael, is a sophomore on the Miami Redhawks ice hockey team and other brother Kris was a member of Auburn's 2006 NCAA champion swim team*Will graduate from Cheyenne Mountain this spring.

Nicolette Kit

Selected to the 2003, 2004 and 2005 California Olympic Development Program (ODP) Girls State Team*Invited to 2003 and 2004 Regional Camp*Participated in 2005, 2004 and 2003 Nike Cup*Member of Pleasanton Rage Under-18 club team that reached the 2005 and 2006 California State Cup semifinals, advancing to the final in 2006*Nine members of club team are signing national letters of intent with four-year programs this year*Played four season of high school soccer at Granada High School*All-league second-team selection in 2005*Named high school’s Best Attacker in 2004*Multi-sport athlete, having also participated in karate, softball, basketball, volleyball and track*Competed at 2002 and 2001 Fast Pitch Softball Nationals*Coached by Nikki Ferguson at the Pleasanton Rage and Amy Apodaca at Granada H.S.*Honor roll student throughout high school career*Will graduate from Granada High School in spring of 2007.


Alyshah Smith
Invited to three National Olympic Development Program (ODP) camps (2004, 2005, 2006)*Three time Washington State Olympic Development Program (ODP) ’89 pool selection (2004, 2005, 2006)*Alternate to United Soccer League (USL) Super Y-League ODP National Select team in 2006*2003, 2004, 2005 Northwest Divisional Select Team member*Seven-year member of Spokane Shadow club team that won the 2006 Nomad Showcase championship*Club team advanced to 2005 Washington State Cup quarterfinal round and the 2004 Super Y League North American final*Coached by Marissa Strasburg at the Spokane Shadow*Four-year starter for high school varsity soccer team*Mead High School took fourth in 2006 state championship and won the district title the same year*Coached by Chris Allen at Mead H.S.*Also played high school volleyball and softball*Will graduate from Mead H.S. this spring.