Florida Soccer Program Adds Seven
Thursday, February 4, 1999 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida head coach Becky Burleigh announced Thursday that seven players have signed national letters of intent with the Gator soccer program. They will join the Florida program for the fall, 1999 season in August.
The seven newcomers bring an impressive list of accolades to the UF program, as six players were named All-America by either the National Soccer Coaches Association of America or Parade Magazine. Kristin Fisher of Rochester Hills, Mich., is a current member of the under-18 national team while Kara Rao (Boca Raton), Erica Schubert (Delran, N.J.), Andrea Velasco (West Windsor, N.J.) are part of the U-18 national team player pool.
"This is definitely one of the best classes that we have signed at UF," Burleigh said. "These players bring a vast amount of experience from their club and high school programs, which will be a big benefit as they adapt to the college game. We are really excited by the contributions this group can make to the Florida program."
The Florida soccer team claimed the 1998 NCAA team title in just its fourth season of varsity of play last December in Greensboro, N.C. The Gators, who finished the season with a program-best 26-1 record, also won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference team title in 1998.
The seven newcomers bring an impressive list of accolades to the UF program, as six players were named All-America by either the National Soccer Coaches Association of America or Parade Magazine. Kristin Fisher of Rochester Hills, Mich., is a current member of the under-18 national team while Kara Rao (Boca Raton), Erica Schubert (Delran, N.J.), Andrea Velasco (West Windsor, N.J.) are part of the U-18 national team player pool.
"This is definitely one of the best classes that we have signed at UF," Burleigh said. "These players bring a vast amount of experience from their club and high school programs, which will be a big benefit as they adapt to the college game. We are really excited by the contributions this group can make to the Florida program."
The Florida soccer team claimed the 1998 NCAA team title in just its fourth season of varsity of play last December in Greensboro, N.C. The Gators, who finished the season with a program-best 26-1 record, also won their third consecutive Southeastern Conference team title in 1998.
University of Florida Soccer Recruiting Class of 1999 |
|||
Name |
Pos. |
High School |
Hometown |
| Kristin Chapman | D | Vicksburg H.S. | Vicksburg, Miss. |
| Kristin Fisher | MF | Rochester Adams H.S. | Rochester Hills, Mich. |
| Kara Rao | MF | Olympic Heights | Boca Raton, Fla. |
| Danielle Rust | D | Barron Collier | Naples, Fla. |
| Erica Schubert | F | Delran HS | Delran, N.J. |
| Andrea Velasco | MF | West Windsor-Plainsboro H.S. | West Windsor, N.J. |
| Regan Wiesemann | GK | Bowling Green H.S. | Bowling Green, Ky. |
Kristin Chapman
1998 Parade All-American as a defender…five-time member of the U.S. Region III Olympic Development team…former member of U.S. under-16 National Team…four-time Mississippi High School Player of the Year…Mississippi's Gatorade Player of the Year…NSCAA All-Region Player…traveled to Europe three times with Region III team…club team: Challenge 80/81 of Houston, Texas.Kristin Fisher
Member of the U.S. under-18 national team…also member of the U.S. U-17 national team in 1997…1998 NSCAA Youth All-American…five-time member of Michigan Olympic Development all-state team (1994-98)…club team won state title last four seasons (1995-98)…member of Midwest Region II Olympic Development Team since 1995-96 season…two-time All-State first-team member…club team: Michigan Hawks.Kara Rao (rhymes with how)
NSCAA Youth All-American…Member of the under-18 national team pool…1998 Palm Beach Post and Boca News Player of the Year…three-time Olympic Heights H.S. MVP (1996-98)…MVP at the 1997 Junior Orange Bowl and State Cup tournaments…club team: Team Boca.Danielle Rust
Three-time All-Country team member (1996-98) and a member of the 1997 Southwest Florida Team...member of championship team at 1998 Orange Bowl and State Cup tournaments…four-time member of Florida's Olympic Development Program team (1995-98) plus member of Region III pool in 1996 and '98…club team: Tampa Bay HeatherErica Schubert (Shoe-bert)
Three-time NSCAA All-America selection…The Philadelphia Inquirer's 1998 South Jersey player of the year and a three-time member of the Inquirer's first team…scored 120 goals during prep career, including 35 as a senior at Delran High School…member of under-18 national team player pool…appeared in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd in January of 1999…club team: Counties United (Scotch Plains Counties United)Andrea Velasco
Three-time NSCAA All-America selection…currently a member of the under-18 ODP National Team Player Pool…claimed both the NSCAA and Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year awards in 1997…three-time all-state first team selection (1996-98)…three-time player of the year selection by The Trentonian and The Times…club team: Counties United (Scotch Plains Counties United)Regan Wiesemann (Weeze-man)
1998 NSCAA All-America selection at goalkeeper…1998 Kentucky's NSCAA Player of the Year… named Kentucky's Miss Soccer on Nov. 15…three-time first-team all-state selection(1996-98)…1998 & '97 ODP Region II team member…holds Kentucky's state record for shutouts with 37…club team: Bon Air Thunder.Players Mentioned
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