Florida Soccer Announce 15 Additions

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - University of Florida head coach Becky Burleigh announced Monday that 15 players will join the Gator soccer program for the 2008 fall season. It is the largest class for Florida since the premiere class for the 1995 season.

Midfielder Tahnai Annis (Zanesville, Ohio) is a 2007 and 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas High School All-America selection. She also was Ohio's 2007-08 Gatorade Girls'
Soccer Player of the Year. Five other newcomers have experience either with their national team or with the Olympic Development Program (ODP) national team. Sarah Chapman, a midfielder from Silver Spring, Md., attended the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team camp earlier this month in Carson, Calif. She has also been a part of the U.S. U-17 and U-16 national teams. Defender Jazmyne Avant (Coppell, Texas) was a part of the U.S. national teams in 2006 and 2005. Midfielder Brooke Patterson (Glenview, Ill.) and defender Kathryn Williamson (McKinney, Texas) have both been a part of U.S. Youth Soccer Association ODP national teams.
Forward Claudia Henriquez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) played two years with the Dominican Republic National Team and was part of the Caribbean Football Union championship team that advanced the Dominican Republic to 2004 CONCACAF U-19 Women's World Cup qualifying play in Canada.

Florida's class contains several players with considerable Olympic Development Program (ODP) experience. Midfielder McKenzie Barney of Sammamish, Wash., participated in the 2006 National Development Camp in Stockton, Calif., and was part of the 2005 Region IV camp and the state team in her only year of participating in ODP. Marsha Harper, a forward from Denver, Colo., was part of the state ODP pool in 2006. She also was a part of the Real Colorado National team that claimed the 2006 US Youth Soccer U-16 national championship. Three have experience with the Florida ODP team - forward Katie Kadera (Boca Raton), midfielder Lindsay Thompson (Bradenton) and forward Lindsay Williams (Pensacola). Thompson also is a two-time selection to the Region III ODP team.

Allison Bullard is the third player from Gainesville to sign with the Gators. The midfielder is a four-year member of the Buchholz High School team that reached the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 6A regional semifinals in 2007 and made four consecutive regional quarterfinal appearances. Brooke Chancey (Middlesburg) was in goal when St. John's Country Day School won the 2007 and 2005 FHSAA Class 2A title, picking up the 2007 Florida Sports Writers Class 2A state tournament's most valuable player honor. She owns St. John's Country Day's career record with 38 shutouts. Forward Danielle DeLuca was a four-time All-Metro selection for Lake Mary High School. Lake Mary H.S.
advanced to the FHSAA Class 6A semifinals in 2007 and 2006, finishing as runner-up in 2006. Forward Laura Ray (St. Augustine) has already enrolled at UF for the spring, 2008 semester. In 2006, she was runner-up for the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Soccer Player of the Year after turning in 55 goals as a sophomore. She finished her career with a county record 148 goals and was a 2007 All-First Coast first-team selection by the Florida Times Union.

"We are very pleased with this year's recruiting class. This class is very talented and deep," Burleigh said. "Eight finished their Florida careers last fall, so we knew there would be spots to fill. This class helps address those needs. I expect that several will make an impact next fall."

During the 2007 season, Florida turned in a record of 17-5-3, advanced to the NCAA Round of 16, won its second consecutive and eighth overall Southeastern Conference title and also claimed the program’s eighth SEC Tournament crown. The Gators ranked No. 17 on the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.

2008 University of Florida Newcomers
Name Position High School Hometown
Tahnai Annis Midfield Pickerington North High
School Zanesville, Ohio
Jazmyne Avant Defender Coppell High School Coppell, Texas
McKenzie Barney Midfield Skyline High
School Sammamish, Wash.
Allison Bullard Midfield Buchholz High
School Gainesville, Fla.
Brooke Chancey Goalkeeper St. Johns Country Day Middlesburg,
Fla.
Sarah Chapman Midfield Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School Silver Spring, Md.
Danielle DeLuca Forward Lake Mary High School Lake Mary, Fla.
Marsha Harper Forward Kent Denver School Denver, Colo.
Claudia Henriquez Forward St. Michael's School Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic
Katie Kadera Forward Spanish River High School Boca Raton,
Fla.
Brooke Patterson Midfield Glenbrook South High
School Glenview, Ill.
Laura Ray Forward St. Augustine High School St. Augustine,
Fla.
Lindsay Thompson Midfield Lakewood Ranch High
School Bradenton, Fla.
Lindsay Williams Forward Washington High School Pensacola, Fla.
Kathryn Williamson Defender McKinney Boyd High
School McKinney, Texas

Tahnai Annis
2007 and 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Girls High School All-America Team member…2005 NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-America selection…2007-08 Gatorade Ohio Girls' Soccer Player of the Year…Led Pickerington North High School to Ohio Division I state semifinals as a senior…2007 Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association (OSSCA) Division I Player of the Year…Named to OSSCA All-Ohio Division I first team in 2006 and 2007…Ohio Capital Conference Central Division first-team selection in 2006 and 2007…Finished high school career with 86 goals and 30 assists…Played first two seasons at Dresden Tri-Valley High School, earning first-team all-state honors in
2005 and third-team all-state in 2004…2004 All-Eastern District Player of the Year…2006 Olympic Development Program (ODP) regional pool selection…Member of Ambassador Red Soccer Club that reached the 2006 and
2005 Ohio State final and advanced to 2007 state semifinal…Coached by Brandon Koons at Ambassador Red S.C…Volunteers as a local youth soccer instructor and at a summer fitness camp for area children…Owns a 4.01 grade point average and will graduate from Pickerington North H.S. this spring.

Jazmyne Avant
2006 U.S. National U-16 Girls National Team member…Member of 2005 U.S.
U-15 Girl's National Development Team…Part of U.S. Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP) 1990 Player pool from 2004-06…Member of fourth-place team at 2007 ODP national championships…2003-07 North Texas State Soccer Association 1990 ODP selection…2007 US Youth Soccer
Under-17 North Texas State champions...Member of 2004-05 NTSSA State Cup championship team…Member of D'Feeters club team since 2004 and coached by Hugh Bradford…Dallas Morning News 2006-07 All-Area Girls Soccer first team selection…Class 5A All-District 5-5A Defender of the Year…Coached by Chris Stricker at Coppell High School…Owns a 3.9 grade point average and will graduate from Coppell High School this spring.

McKenzie Barney
Participated in 2006 National Development Camp in Stockton, Calif…2005 Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) camp holdover pool and part of 2005 Washington state ODP team in only year participating in ODP…Member of 2005 and 2006 Washington Youth Soccer State Cup champion teams…Team advanced to 2005 Region IV semifinal…Member of 2004 Santa Barbara Cup, 2003 Rimland Pacific Cup and 2003 adidas Beaverton Tournament championship teams…Named to all-tournament team at 2004 Team Gothia Cup in Sweden…Member of the Eastside FC ’88 Red soccer club formerly coached by Hilton Bashford and currently coached by Michelle French…Member of the 2005 and 2006 Class 3A Washington All-State Girl's Soccer First Team…Skyline High School took third in 2006 state
championships…2006 KingCo 3A All-League MVP…The Seattle Times 2005 and
2006 all-area selection…Four-year member of Skyline High School soccer team that is coached by Don Braman…Also member of Skyline H.S. track and basketball teams…Advanced to Washington High School State Track & Field Championships in 1,600-, 3200- and 4x400-meters - Skyline H.S. won
2007 3A state track & field team title…Earned 2007 KingCo honorable mention accolades in basketball…Missed 2007 season with knee injury…Four-year Scholar Athlete Award recipient…Active in Athletes of Kids (mentorship program)…Will graduate from Skyline H.S. this spring.

Allison Bullard
Part of Gainesville Soccer Alliance (GSA) club team that reached Florida State Cup semifinals in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, advancing to final in 2005 and 2007...Eight-year member of GSA/Leg-A-Z Soccer Academy and coached by Cherie Clark...Four-year member of Buchholz High School team that reached the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 6A regional semifinals in 2007, advanced to 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 regional quarterfinals and won 2007 and 2008 district titles...Captain as a junior and senior...2006 and 2007 all-area second team
selection...2007 The Gainesville Sun All-Area Large School honorable mention selection...Rookie of the Year and Freshman of the Year by Buchholz H.S....Coached by Ron Messick at Buchholz High School...Also played volleyball and member of track & field team at Buchholz H.S....Member of Student Council Cabinet and part of Journalism/Yearbook/Scroll...Will graduate from F.W. Buchholz High School in spring of 2008.

Brooke Chancey
Member of 2006 and 2007 US Youth Soccer (USYS) Florida State Cup and
2007 Score at the Shore championship teams (with Clay County
United)…2006 3v3 Challenge National runner-up…Part of 2007 Orange Classic and Discovery Cup championship teams (with Jacksonville Fury)…Current member of Jacksonville Fury club team and coached by Marc Osterberger...St. John's Country Day School won 2007 and 2005 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A title and advanced to 2008 and 2006 FHSAA Class 2A semifinal…2007 Florida Sports Writers Class 2A state tournament Most Valuable Player after posting shut-outs in each of team's regional and final four matches…2007 All-First Coast first-team selection by the Florida Times Union…Named to
2007 and 2008 Lake Highland Soccer Invitational all-tournament teams after team claimed titles in both seasons…Owns St. John's Country Day School records for season shut-outs (22 as a junior), season starts (31) and career shut-outs (38)…2007 nominee for Wendy's High School Heisman nominee…Also a 2006 and 2007 all-county selection for volleyball…Member of track & field team and plays tennis….Vice President of National Honor Society…Tenth in 2005 and 2006 National French Exam …Will graduate Summa Cum Laude from St. John's Country Day School this spring.

Sarah Chapman
Member of 2007 U-18 Women's National Team player pool and attended national team camp earlier this month in Carson, Calif…Traveled to Holland with U.S. Under-16 Girl’s National Team for three matches in the spring of 2006…2006 and 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas High School All-Region III selection…Listed among the top 20 soccer recruits in the nation by RISE Magazine…Member of the Maryland Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2003 to present and the Region I Pool from 2003 through 2007…2007 U.S. Club National Cup championship team…Region 1 ODP Champions 2004, 2005, 2006…National ODP Co-Champion 2006…Member of Freestate Shooters club team and coached by Winthrop Puffer…2007, 2006 and 2005 Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer (MACS) All-State first-team selection…Washington Post All-Metro first-team in 2007 and honorable mention in 2006…All-Examiner (Washington Area) first team in 2007 and second team in 2006…2007, 2006,
2005 All-County first-team by Montgomery Gazette…WCAC semifinalist in 2006…Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) All-Conference first team in 2007, 2006 and 2005 plus second team in 2004…Coached by Jim Bruno at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School…Also member of varsity basketball team and named MVP for 2004-05 diving team after taking fourth in WCAC Diving Championship…2007 Montgomery County All-Star diving champion and All-Star swimmer (butterfly)…National Honor Society member…Will graduate from Our Lady of Good Counsel H.S. in spring of 2008.

Danielle DeLuca
Club team reached 2002 state final…Member of the U-18 FSA Lightning club team, where she is coached by Kim Montegomery…Four-time All-Metro selection…Three-time all-county and all-region selection…Lake Mary High School was runner-up in 2006 Florida High School Athletic Association
(FHSAA) Class 6A tournament, reached 2007 semifinal round and advanced to 2008 regional final...Named to 2006 Michelle Akers All-Tournament team…Coached by Bill Eissele at Lake Mary H.S…Played for the Central Florida Strikers of the Women's Premier Soccer League in 2006 and 2007…Honor Roll student…Student Body Vice-President…Earned black belt in Tae Kwon Do …Will graduate from Lake Mary High School this spring.

Marsha Harper
Member of Real Colorado National team that claimed 2006 US Youth Soccer
Under-16 National Championship...Club team was runner-up in state 2006 and 2007…Two-year member of Real Colorado and coached by Neil Payne….Part of Colorado's state Olympic Development Program (ODP) pool in 2006…Member of Kent Denver School's 2006 and 2007 3A Colorado State Championship teams…Most Valuable Player of 2006 3A championship match…Named to 2006 All-State first team…2006 All-Metro League first
team…2005 All-Metro selection…Four-year member of Kent Denver School's soccer team and coached by Daniel Gilden…Tore right anterior cruciate ligament early in March of 2007 and sidelined for most of junior season…Also member of Kent Denver School's volleyball and basketball teams…Member of the Porter Billups Leadership Academy and Student Union for Diversity Awareness Club…Honor Roll student…Will graduate this spring from Kent Denver School.

Claudia Henriquez
Played two years with the Dominican Republic National Team…Member of Dominican Republic team that won Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to advance to 2004 CONCACAF Under-19 Women's World Cup qualifying round in Canada…Part of Avenida John F. Kennedy club team and coached by Jorge Allen…Top scorer at 2005 Campascasio Tournament and named team's best offensive player in 2002…High school team won 2007, 2006 and 2004 Loyola Cup, 2004 Francophone Tournament, 2006 Fusal Body Shop Tournament and 2005, 2004 and 2003 Saint Thomas Cup…Top scorer at several high school tournaments, including playing with boy's team at 2004 St. Thomas Cup…Most Valuable Player at 2001, 2003 St. Thomas Cup…Coached by Hector Insaurraldi at St. Michael's School…Also played basketball, tennis, swimming and synchronized swimming…Won 2005 Navidad Tennis Cup…Honor Roll student at St. Michael's School in Santo Domingo and will graduate this spring.

Katie Kadera
2003-04 Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) selection…Seven-year member of Team Boca that took 2004 state championship and runner-up in
2003 and 2005...2004 Orange Classic champions and runner-up in 2003…Coached by Steve Nugent at Team Boca…Four-year member of Spanish River High School team where she was coached by Kevin Turner…Florida Sports Writers Association 2004-05 Class 6A first-team selection…2005 Sun-Sentinel Player of the Year…All-county first team selection in 2004 and 2006…Two-time district champions and reached region semifinals in
2007 and 2005…Named Spanish River H.S.'s most valuable player in 2005 and the offensive MVP in 2007…Multi-sport athlete playing golf and tennis…Volunteer for TOPSoccer…Will graduate this spring from Spanish River H.S.

Brooke Patterson
2006 Under-16 United Soccer League (USL) Super Y-League Olympic Development Program (ODP) national select team…Attended 2007 National
U-16 camp…Three-time member of Illinois State ODP teams…2003 Regional ODP team member and attended national ODP camp the same year...Member of Sockers FC - Chicago for 10 years and coached by David Richardson…Won the 2006 U-20 Joga Bonito world title at finals held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…Advanced to world final after winning 2006 Regional Futsal U-16 (Chicago, Ill.) and 2006 National U-15 Futsal Championship (Venice Beach, Calif.)…Sockers FC - Chicago won 2004 Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) and 2004 and 2005 Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) tournament titles…Sockers FC reached Illinois State Cup semifinals in 2003, 2004 and 2005 plus the 2005 Region II semifinal…Represented USA in Barcelona, Spain, for the 2002 Fox Kids Cup and member of team that defeated Paraguay in the U-12 final…Honor Roll student at Glenbrook South High School and will graduate this spring.

Laura Ray
2007 All-First Coast first-team selection by the Florida Times Union…Runner-up for 2006 Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Soccer Player of the Year after setting county record with 55 goals as a sophomore…Member of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 All-St. John's County Girls Soccer Team…Finished high school career with 148 goals - a St. John's County record…Member of St. Augustine High School team that advanced to Florida High School Class 4A regional final in 2007 and 2006…Named St. Augustine Record Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007…Coached by Micah Clukey at St. Augustine H.S…Graduated from St. Augustine H.S. in December of 2007 and enrolled at the University of Florida for spring semester.

Lindsay Thompson
Four-year member of Florida State A Olympic Development Program (ODP) and a two-year member of Region III ODP team…Member of three state club championship teams…Member of 2008 Disney Showcase U-18 championship team…Member of the IMG Soccer Academy Club team and coached by Ian Martin…Region 3 Premier League U-18 leader in points in the 2007 season and ranked third for all age groups in both girls and boys...2006 and
2007 player of the year by the Bradenton Herald and the Herald Tribune…Four-year member of Lakewood Ranch High School team…Lakewood Ranch claimed five district titles and reached the 5A regional finals in 2006…Scored 126 goals in high school career to set Lakewood Ranch High School record, including a school-record 43 goals and 17 assists as a senior…Coached by Guy Virgilio at Lakewood Ranch H.S…Also participated in track & field, qualifying for 2007 5A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) long jump state championship…Earned AP Scholar and FCAT Excellence awards…Among the top four percent of Lakewood Ranch High School’s class of 2008…Former Gator football player Jim Yarbrough
(1966-68) is her father's uncle and former Gator swimmer Erin Yarbrough
(1997-98) is her second-cousin.

Lindsay Williams
Member of the Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2003-07…Part of third-place team at 2006 National ODP Championship held in Texas…Current member of IMG Academy club team where she is coached by Ian Martin…Also played for Pensacola Futbol Club from 2000-06 and Countryside Lightning from 2006-07…IMG Academy won the 2007 Region III Premier League and 2008 Disney Showcase championships…Member of 2002 Florida State Cup Championship team - team reached state semifinal in 2003…Countryside Lightning was runner-up in both 2007 Disney Showcase and Region III finals…Washington High School reached 2006 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 4A semifinals plus 2007 and
2008 region semifinals…2007 Pensacola News Journal Girls Soccer honorable mention…All-Area team selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior…Four -year member of B.T. Washington High School where she was coached by Kenny Morgan…Led Washington in assists each year of prep career…Also member of Washington H.S. track & field team…On the A Honor Roll and National Honor Society and will graduate this spring from B.T.
Washington H.S.

Kathryn Williamson
U.S. Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program (ODP) National team pool selection in 2004-05…North Texas State Olympic Development Program (ODP) player from 2001-present…Selected to 2003-05 Region III ODP team…Member of Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) tournament championship teams in 2003-04…Member and captain of D'Feeters club team since 1999 and coached by Hugh Bradford…Dallas Morning News
2006-07 All-Area Girls Soccer first team selection…Most Valuable Player of 2007 All-District 15-Class 4A team as a junior…Member of McKinney Boyd High School soccer team in 2007 and 2008 and coached by Jimmie Lankford…Played for McKinney North High School that won 2006 Texas High School 4A state title…National Honor Society member and McKinney Youth Leadership recipient…Ranks 33 out of 336 and will graduate from McKinney Boyd H.S. this spring.