Ranked Recruits for USF Soccer

5/30/08

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida women's soccer team has recruited some of the best players in the country, according to SoccerBuzz.com, including international standout Bahar Sansar.



The Bulls have been awarded the 47th-best recruiting class in the nation, and the 12th-best in the Southeast Region, both of which are all-time high rankings for the USF women's soccer team. Of 31 national conferences, schools in the BIG EAST have the sixth-best incoming recruits, with USF taking the seventh position in the league.



Incoming freshman Bahar Sansar, a midfielder/defender from Montreal, Canada, was one of 20 players listed on the Top International Recruits of 2008 list. Sansar currently plays for the Canadian U20 National Team and was previously on the U16 and U15 National Team as well as the U-16 Quebec Team.



"With these recruits, we are continuing to build a team that will compete in the BIG EAST Conference, which is arguably the best women's soccer conference in the country," said USF head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. "We established a good foundation with last year's team and we hope to build upon that with this talented incoming group of recruits. The newcomers will definitely complement our experienced returners."



The 2008 class includes the Florida 2A State Championship MVP, players from the Canadian national and provincial teams, senior all-star game participants and a player from the NSCAA / adidas High School National Championship team. Three of USF's recruits will receive the Presidential Award, a full-ride scholarship for their academic achievements, and a majority of the incoming players are receiving the Florida Bright Futures scholarship for their academic success heading into college.



USF's 2008 women's soccer recruiting class includes: Brittany Burt, MF/F, Northeast High (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Kristin Chenault, D/M, St. Thomas Aquinas High, (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); Courtney Flanagan, MF, Pope John XXIII(Hackettstown, N.J.); Gaby Garton, GK, Sarasota Christian School, (Sarasota, Fla.); Alyssa Gazarek, MF, Freedom High, (South Riding, Va.); Chantelle Goodson, F/MF, Lake Howell High, (Winter Park, Fla.); Malaney Hupp, MF, Winter Park High, (Winter Park, Fla.); Chelsea Klotz, F, Tampa Prep, (Lakeland, Fla.); Brandi Locoe, D/M/F, Bishop D.J. O'Connell High, (Arlington, Va.); Kelly Mastellar, DF, Eastside HS( Gainesville, Fla.); Rehana Murani. MF, Salisbury Composite HS (Edmonton, Alb.); Valorie O'Brien, D/MF, Lake Highland Prep, (Winter Park, Fla.); Gina Pacheco, MF, St. Pius X (Ottawa, Ont.); Noelle Pineiro, MF/F, Cardinal Mooney HS (Bradenton, Fla.); Thara Salam, MF, Palm Harbor HS (Palm Harbor, Fla.); Bahar Sansar, DF/MF, College Francais de Longueuil (Montreal, Que.); Tabitha Schofield, MF, St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Molly Stack, MF, Palm Harbor Univ. High (Palm Harbor, Fla.).



Catch the Bulls in action this fall when USF opens the season on August 22 against UNF at the University of Tampa, or see the Bulls at the USF Soccer Stadium home opener on September 11 when Stetson comes to town. USF will play nine home games this fall in September and October. Check out the USF website at www.GoUSFBulls.com for more information about the 2008 squad.