Gators Sign 11
Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh announced the 11 joining the Gator roster for 2019 season.
Friday, November 23, 2018

Gators Sign 11

Mary Howard
Among the 11 additions for the 2019 season are players with international experience, members of state club champion teams who also played at regional or national ECNL, U.S. Player Development or ODP events. The class also includes a state sprint champion and the program's first legacy signing. 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator soccer gets an infusion of 11 freshmen for the 2019 season. Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh announced the 11 who signed with the team in the November.
 
The class includes players with international experience, members of state club champion teams who also played at regional or national ECNL, U.S. Player Development or ODP events. The class also includes a state sprint champion and the program's first legacy signing.
 
"We're really excited about this class coming in. It's a big class and is one of the biggest we've had in while," Burleigh said, "but we also graduated a big class.
   
Florida Soccer Signees (enrolling for 2019 season)
Name Hometown Position High School Club
Lauren Durbin Lone Tree, Colo. MF/F Rock Canyon H.S. Colorado Rush
Francesca Faraci Park Ridge, Ill. GK Maine South H.S. FC United
Alexia Fotopoulos Land O'Lakes, Fla. D Land O' Lakes H.S. Tampa Bay United
Alivia Gonzalez Palm Harbor, Fla. D/F Palm Harbor University H.S. Tampa Bay United
Cameron Hall Buford, Ga. MF/F Buford H.S. Tophat Soccer Club
Sydney Kennedy Fletchers Lake, Canada MF/F Halifax West H.S. Suburban F.C.
Ava Kuyken Oxford, England MF The Cherwell School Arsenal
Kouri Peace Chalfont, Pa. F Pennridge H.S. Penn Fusion
Laney Steed Sharpsburg, Ga. MF/F East Coweta H.S. Southern Soccer Academy
Ava VanMarter Hilton Head, S.C. F/D Heritage Academy USA Tormenta
Nicole Vernis North Palm Beach, Fla. MF/D The Benjamin H.S. Palm Beach Gardens Predators
 
Lauren Durbin @laurendurbin10  
"Lauren's played a very high level with her Colorado club team. We needed some real quality depth at defender and we think she brings that to us. Excited to have her as a part of this class." – Becky Burleigh
 
Francesca Faraci @ffaraci17  
"With the graduation of Kaylan [Marckese], we knew we wanted a goalkeeper in this class. Francesca has worked very hard to get here. She's been persistent that Florida is her No. 1 school. We're excited to have her as a part of our class." – Becky Burleigh
 
Alexia Fotopoulos @lexifofo 
  • Position: Defender
  • High School:  Land O' Lakes High School (Coach: Vicky King)
  • Hometown: Land O'Lakes, Fla.
  • Club Team: Tampa Bay United (Coach: Jim Cote)
  • Info:
    • Land O'Lakes reached 2016 and 2017 3A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 3A semifinals and 2018 3A regional final
    • Tampa Bay 00 reached 2018 Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) semifinal (Seattle, Wash.) and 2017 ECNL National
    • Invited to August 2014 Player Development Program (PDP) event
    • First daughter of a Florida soccer alumnae to sign with Florida. Oldest child of Gator Athletics Hall of Fame member and all-time NCAA goals and points leader Danielle Fotopoulos
 
"Lexi Fotopoulos has a last name that may be familiar to Gator fans. She's the first ever child of a former player to join the Gator soccer team. I can say that I know Lexi better than any player we've ever recruited as I've known Lexi since she was a baby. It will be fun to have her as a part of our team and excited for what she brings. Lexi is an amazing teammate and really good player." – Becky Burleigh

Alivia Gonzalez  @aliviag04   
"Alivia Gonzalez plays on the same club team as Lexi [Fotopoulos]. Alivia has shown a steady build throughout her career. She's someone who has worked really hard for everything she's gotten in soccer and will bring a lot to the table in terms of our culture and the way she prepares every day." – Becky Burleigh
 
Cameron Hall @hallcam_2  
"Cameron [Hall] plays for Tophat, a club team renowned around the country for producing and developing top talent. Cameron is also a tremendous leader, not just for her team and soccer, but also in her community. I'm really excited about coaching her." – Becky Burleigh
 
Sydney Kennedy @sydkennedy14
  • Position: Midfield/Forward
  • High School: Halifax West High School (Roy Snook)
  • Hometown: Fletchers Lake, Nova Scotia
  • Club Team: Suburban FC (Coaches: Andrew McDonald, Matt Blair)
  • Info:
    • Made Canada Youth National Team debut in 2016, scoring six goals during the course of the CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship held in Orlando, Fla. Canada took the CONCACAF silver
    • 2016 Soccer Nova Scotia Youth Female Player of the Year
    • Scored game-winning goal to give Nova Scotia the 2017 Canada Games bronze – first medal for Nova Scotia in Canada Games women's soccer in 24 years.
    • Selected at age 13 for Regional EXCEL Program (REX/EXCEL) created by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) Women's program. Attended 2017 EXCEL U-17 camp
    • Also plays hockey
 
"Syd Kennedy is from Halifax, Canada – which is way up there. She's had some great experience playing with Canadian National Team program and is currently playing with the Canadian Youth National Teams. We saw her very early in the recruiting process and were impressed with her right away." – Becky Burleigh
 
Ava Kuyken @AvaKuyken  
"Ava Kuyken was identified by [UF Associate Coach] Alan Kirkup, who saw her play multiple times. Another player with international experience as she has played with the U-17s, 18s and 19s for England. She has a really good feel for the game in terms of tactics. She plays very similarly to the way we play and also brings some leadership qualities to our team." – Becky Burleigh
 
Kouri Peace @kourrpeacee  
"Kouri Peace is really fast. Not sure if she'll do both sports [track] here but certainly has the capability of doing that. That speed is going to be an added dynamic on our team as well." – Becky Burleigh
 
Laney Steed @LaneySteed
  • Position: Midfield/Forward
  • High School: East Coweta High School (Coach: Todd Beldon)
  • Hometown: Sharpsburg, Ga.
  • Club Team: Southern Soccer Academy (Coach: Jordan Davis)
  • Info
    • 2017 Newnan Times-Herald Co-Players of the Year – 38 goals, 88 points
    • 2016 Co-Region 3-AAAAAA MVP; 2017 All-Region 2-AAAAAAA
    • 2016 Newnan Times-Herald Girls Newcomer of Year - 25 goals 61 points in first season of varsity play
    • 2017 Region III ODP selection
    • 2016-17 Georgia ODP Team
    • Southern Soccer Academy runner-up in 2018 Girls 2000 Georgia Cup; 2015 champion
 
"Laney is someone who plays soccer in a different way. It is hard to explain until you see her play but she really makes others around her better. She's like having a coach on the field. Laney is great at setting others up as well as creating her own chances. She's going to be a really exciting player to watch." – Becky Burleigh
 
Ava VanMarter @AvaVanMarter  
"Ava VanMarter has played with Jacksonville Armada but lives in Hilton Head, so is obviously dedicated to make that commute to play. She a really athletic player who is going to help us in terms of much needed depth in needed areas. Ava is enrolling in January so we are excited about her getting her career started early here." – Becky Burleigh
 
Nicole Vernis  
"Nicole Vernis is someone who I think is highly under rated nationally. She is a player who can control the midfield, very athletic and also super technical. She's also a great tactical leader of the game." – Becky Burleigh
 
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