Photo by: DigItUpSports
Women's Soccer Announces 12 Additions for 2010
2/10/2010 2:54:47 PM | Women's Soccer
RADFORD, Va. – Radford women's soccer head coach Ben Sohrabi has announced the addition of 12 players, including nine from Virginia, to join the Highlanders for the 2010 season.
“I am very excited about this talented class,” Sohrabi said. “I think all of these players bring a lot to the team next year in many different ways. They are all intelligent students of the game that have a high commitment to soccer. It is a large class, but the quality is definitely present also. I think they will gel with our returnees quickly during preseason in August.”
RADFORD'S 2010 SIGNING CLASS
Sahar Aflaki (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield) – Forward – Club: VISTA Fury
• Two-time all-district selection at Gainesville
• Second team all-state selection as a sophomore
• Also competed in track & field for the Bobcats
Sohrabi's take: “Sahar is a crafty deceptive player that will contribute at forward and possibly outside midfield depending on our system. She is great at combining with other players and has great movement with and without the ball. She has good speed and is dangerous in the attacking third of the field.”
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Allyson Brown (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) – Goalkeeper – Club: Virginia Rush
• Two-time All-Beach District pick
• All-Eastern Region first team selection as a sophomore; honorable mention all-state
• Beach District Rookie of the Year in 2007
Sohrabi's take: “Ally is a very experienced goalkeeper that has a high knowledge of the position. Ally communicates and runs her defense very well. She has excellent reflexes and makes good decisions in clutch times.”
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Che′ Brown (Manassas Park, Va./Manassas Park) – Goalkeeper – Club: Vista Shockwave
• Two-sport athlete (basketball/softball) at Manassas Park
• Manassas Park's all-time scoring leader in basketball
• Career .610 hitter in softball for the Cougars
Sohrabi's take: “Che is a very raw player that has a huge upside. Che is very athletic and dominates her box on crosses and through balls with her size. Each time I see her play I am more and more impressed with her shot blocking improvement.”
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Rachel Conway (Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate) – Defender - Club: Missisauga Falcons
• Multi-sport athlete for Forest Heights Collegiate (soccer/track & field/volleyball)
• School's athlete of the year as a sophomore
• Team's leading scorer with nine goals and eight assists last season, serving as team captain on the way to a district title for Forest Heights
Sohrabi's take: “Rachel is another player that will help rebuild our graduating defense. Rachel has tremendous speed, agility, and quickness. She is the type of defender that makes her presence known through hard tackles and passion for taking it personal. As a central defender she is very competent at possession and building from the back.”
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Brittany Ingvaldsen (Salem, Va./Salem) – Midfielder – Club: Salem Sabres
• Began her academic career at Radford University in January
• Helped the Spartans to a 20-4-2 record in 2009, and their second straight Region IV Championship
• Three time First Team All-River Ridge District selection
Sohrabi's take: “Brittany is a very versatile player. She could help us in the back or midfield. She is very quick and deceptive in her play. Brittany is a fierce competitor that is already making strides at proving herself for the future. I look forward to working with her this spring.”
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Tyler Drake (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna County) – Midfielder/defender – Club: Richmond Strikers
• Twice named a first team all-district selection (sophomore, junior years) for Fluvanna County
• Second team all-region pick as a junior
• Helped her club team, Richmond Strikers, to a 2009-10 Virginia State Cup championship
Sohrabi's take: “Tyler is a talented center midfielder that has great command of the position. She is fantastic at finding the open seams when playing the ball forward. She also has very good vision and can be physical when needed. She is one of those players that have a natural feel for the game.”
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Sydney Golden (Lexington, Ky./Paul L. Dunbar) – Defender/midfielder – Club: Mockingbird Valley
• Four-time all-city and all-region selection for Dunbar
• Member of Kentucky's Olympic Development Program from 2004-08
• ODP team captain from 2006 through 2008
Sohrabi's take: “Sydney is a tough central defender that does well in a zonal defensive formation. She is a very intelligent 1v1 defensive player when needed, but also has very good field presence in attacking and possessing out of the back.”
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Lauren Hicks (Centreville, Va./Westfield) – Midfielder/Defender – Club: VISTA Fury
• Member of Virginia's Olympic Development team from 2005-present
• Established a school record for most minutes played as a sophomore
• Accepted into Radford University's honors academy
Sohrabi's take: “Lauren (Hicks) is a tough center midfielder/defender with an unbelievable work rate. Lauren is a good possession player and has very good field vision. She is a tough scrappy player that goes into every tackle hard.”
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Kathryn Johnston – (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) – Midfielder/Forward – Club: VISTA Shockwave
• Helped Robinson to a No. 3 ranking in the 2009 final state poll and to the No. 1 spot in the ESPN.Rise national poll for five weeks
• In her three seasons at Robinson, the Rams have posted a 48-5-4 record
• Has six goals and five assists, including three game-winners, in her Robinson career
Sohrabi's take: “Kathryn is a very strong player that has an endless work rate up and down the flanks. She is a very good communicator and a fierce competitor. She played for a very competitive club team where she has gained very valuable experience. I like the way she gets endline and serves crosses.”
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Victoria Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) – Midfielder/forward – Club: Beach FC
• Three-time All-Beach District pick, including second team as a junior
• Team MVP as a junior; named captain of the Cavaliers as senior
• Helped Beach FC Piranhas to 2009 VCCL and Virginia Beach Sun Cup championships
Sohrabi's take: “Torrie is also a very versatile player that has been successful at many positions with her club and high school team. With her speed we plan to use her as a flank player in an outside back or outside midfield type role. Torrie is a tough defender that likes to go forward. She will fit in perfect with our attacking style game.”
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Lauren Markey (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) – Goalkeeper – Club: Roanoke Star
• All-Blue Ridge District honoree as a freshman
• Helped the Knights to a district title as a freshman and sophomore
Sohrabi's take: “Lauren is another local talent out of a talented Cave Spring team. She played club ball this past year with the Roanoke Stars and gained a lot of experience against good competition. Lauren has extremely high potential. I've seen her play a lot over the years coaching against her in club. It will be good to be on the same sideline.”
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Julie Ruh′e (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) – Forward – Club: FC Frederick
• Four-time selection to the Frederick News Post All-Area Team
• Earned first team all-state honors as a senior
• Three-time first team all-conference selection
Sohrabi's take: “Julie is a fantastic player with an incredible work ethic. She can play any attacking position, but I see her helping us mostly in the attack as a forward. Julie has great technical ability, speed, and is a superb finisher.”
Thursday, April 23
Sunday, April 12
Thursday, April 02
Saturday, March 21
