Hurricanes’ Soccer Signs Four Student Athletes

2/11/08

CORAL GABLES, Fla.- Head coach Tricia Taliaferro and the University of Miami soccer team has announced the signing of four student athletes to National Letters of Intent. Vikki Alonzo (Carrolton, Texas), Ashlee Burt (Saddle River, New Jersey), Julianne Rickers (Leesburg, Virginia), and Brooke Van Aman (Valrico, Florida). Each of them comes in with highly decorated high school, club, and ODP careers.



Goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo was named the North Texas Goalkeeper of the Year her senior year for Class 6-5A. She captained the D’Feeters Soccer Club to the Region III Premier League West Championship and to the Region III Tournament Semi-finals. Alonzo was also a member of the North Texas ODP Team, Region III Team, and US Soccer U16 National Team.



Taliaferro on Alonzo, “Vikki is one of the premier goalkeepers in the 2008 class. She has incredible range off her line, is a great shot stopper, has solid leadership skills, and has that blue collar mentality that we thrive on.”



Ashlee Burt is a midfielder from New Jersey and Arsenal World Class. Her high school team was ranked #1 in the country during her senior year, and she earned all-state honors her junior and senior years. Burt comes from a family of former Hurricanes. Her father Jim Burt, starred on the Hurricanes football team and is in the University of Miami Hall of Fame. Her brother Jim Burt Jr. was also an All-American on the baseball team.



“I love the professionalism Ashlee lives by on a daily basis, from her training, competition, academics, anything, she puts her mind to accomplishing,” Coach Taliaferro says. “She is one of the most mentally tough and driven players I have ever come in contact with and I believe she is a diamond in the rough.”



A striker from Leesburg, Virginia, Julianne Rickers attended Loudon County High School were she was team captain and earned the honors of the 2007 Virginia “AA” All-State Team, and the All-Region and All-District Player of the Year. A dynamic and strong forward Rickers scored 25 goals her senior year.



On Rickers, Coach Taliaferro says, “She is a very tactically savvy player in the attacking third, who is exciting to watch. Her passion for the game is shown through her work ethic and creativity on the field.”



Rounding out the class is Brooke Van Aman, a tall, fast forward from Valrico, Florida. She was Rookie of the Year her freshman year and as a senior captain she scored 24 goals, and was named 1st Team All-Conference.



“She has good size and speed, with a knack for scoring goals,” says Taliaferro. “Brook adds a new dimension and scoring threat to our front line”.



This class has the coaching staff excited and Coach Taliferro believes that these recruits can come in and play right away.



“Overall this class is full of blue collar tough players who will come in and make an immediate impact on the national scene. We are excited to add extra speed, size, and strength to the already successful team we have in place”



The 2007 Miami Hurricanes finished the season at 9-7-5, 4-4-2 in the ACC, and received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Hurricanes also jumped into the National Top 25 for the first time in 6 seasons. Miami will return 18 letter winners from the 2007 season.