Feb. 16, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's soccer team and head coach Paul Harbin have added eight new players to their roster for the 2008 season. Laura McCalla, Karen McDaniel, Sarah Nicole Peters, Carolyn Polcari, Ayana Russell, Tiffini Turpin, Natalie Watkins and Allison Young have all committed to play for the Green and Gold next season.
"We're very excited about our 2008 class," said Harbin. "This is a wonderful group of quality people and athletes. Assistant Coach Summer Perala and I set out to bring in an extremely athletic, skillful and experienced group of players that have competitive and winning mentalities. Without question, we feel that we were successful in doing so.
"Each of our recruits have also experienced a tremendous amount of success with their current teams and have had the type of coaching that will help them to transition quickly to the college game."
McCalla, a forward/midfielder from Fayeteville, Ga., lettered four years under head coach Deanise Myers at Starr's Mill High School. A team captain for Starr's Mill in 2007, she helped her squad to the 4A state finals as a junior and the 5A Georgia State Championship as a sophomore. She was a first-team all-region selection and also earned her team's Coaches' Award during her senior year.
McCalla played club soccer for head coach Brian Moore and the Concorde Fire Elite 90 South. She was a captain for three years and helped her squad to the 2007 Georgia State Championship. In addition, McCalla played on the Georgia Olympic Development team from 2004-06 and the Region III Olympic Development Team since 2007.
"We first saw and recruited Laura as a midfielder," said Harbin. "She showed a tenacious presence and looked to be nowhere near her potential yet. Since she committed to us last year, she has grown tremendously as a player.
"Not only was she invited to the US U17 National Team Camp, she has also moved from midfield and developed into one of the absolute top goal scorers in the Southeast Region."
McDaniel is a goalkeeper from Oviedo, Fla., starting four seasons in goal and serving as team captain and MVP for three years for head coach Scott Waisanen at Oviedo High School. Helping the Lions to the 6A Florida State Final Four, playing in the championship game as a senior in 2008, she earned a spot on the 2007 NSCAA/adidas High School Girls All-Region III South soccer team. She has also been named first-team All-Seminole Athletic Conference for two seasons and the Central Florida Player of the Week two times by Rise Magazine.
Playing her club career with head coach Fidgi Haig and Space Coast United, McDaniel led her team to three Florida State Cup Championships and the South Regional semi-finals in 2007. She has also been a two-year member of the Florida State Olympic Development team.
"Karen attended our camps this past summer and made an immediate positive impression on our staff," said Harbin. "She is a fearless competitor with quick reflexes, a cerebral approach to the game and great potential to develop at the next level."
Peters hails from Grayson, Ga. and played forward/midfield for head coach and former UAB soccer player Chris Wilson at Grayson High School. A four year letterwinner at Grayson, she helped lead her squad to the 2007 Georgia 5A State Championship as a junior.
Peters played club soccer for the GSA Phoenix 90 Red and head coach Judson Hamby. She was a key member of her team that made it to the Georgia State Cup Finals in 2007.
"Nicole is a quick, blue collar worker with good pace," said Harbin. "We're excited about her potential to continue developing as a player here at UAB."
Polcari is a forward/midfielder from Richardson, Texas and spent her high school career with head coach Dawn Crowe at Plano East High School. A team captain and four-year starter, she was a first-team All-District 8-5A selection in 2006 and a second-team all-district pick in 2007. She was also honored as the MVP of the Plano Tournament of Champions in 2007.
Polcari spent eight years with the Texas Spirit Red West club team and head coach Wilco Ravestijn. She was also a member of the North Texas State Olympic Development team from 2001-04.
"Carolyn has that skillful, creative flair that's that makes the game exciting and fun to watch," said Harbin. "Also, her ability to read the game and her subtle distribution create great opportunities for the players around her."
Russell is a highly-touted and experienced midfielder/defender from Las Lomas, Trinidad. She has played at the international level as a part of the Trinidad & Tobago Women's National Team and has competed in Olympic, Gold Cup and World Qualifying tournaments around the world from 2002-08.
Russell spent her high school career at El Dorado Secondary High School and her club career with the Rochester Rhinos W-League. She went on to play two seasons at Monroe Community College for head coach Tracey Britton.
While at Monroe, Russell was named NJCAA All-America, Most Valuable Player at the NJCAA tournament and honored as the Region 3 Player of the Year while helping her squad to the regional finals in 2007.
"Ayana is the center back for Trinidad and Tobago's national team, as well as for one of the best junior college teams that I've seen this year," said Harbin. "In addition to running the show in the back, she is an extremely skillful, smooth and confident attacking player.
"Our hope is to put her in midfield or as an outside back in order to take advantage of her exciting, creative attacking presence on the field."
Turpin is a local product from Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham. She lettered three years at forward for the Rebels and head coach Bridget Littleton. Turpin was honored as the Birmingham News' Metro Player of the Year while leading her team to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2007, where she was named the MVP of the state championship game. She also earned All-Metro honors and a spot on the All-State team by the Birmingham News as a junior in 2006.
Turpin played with the Birmingham United club team for head coach Eric Dade, helping her team win four state championships and advance to the Region III Championship three consecutive years. She was also a member of the Alabama State Olympic Development team from 2003-07 and the Region III Olympic Development team in 2005 and 2007.
"Tiffini is an explosive goal scorer who plays with equal amounts of passion, determination and flair," said Harbin. "Having seen her compete, there is no question that she has the ability to continue scoring at the next level."
Watkins is a native of Granbury, Texas and lettered four seasons for head coach David Winkleman at Granbury High School. She was honored as her team's Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and junior, while also earning Offensive MVP accolades during her sophomore and junior seasons with the Lady Pirates.
Watkins played for head coach Jay Fitzgerald and the Sting 90 West club team. She also was a member of the North Texas Olympic Development Pool from 2004-06.
"Natalie is a prototypical flank player with the speed and fitness to consistently get up and down the field," said Harbin. "She is the type of player who's going to eventually wear her opponent down late in the game."
Young is a forward that comes to UAB from Evansville, Ind. A four-year starter and two-year Offensive MVP for head coach Damon Brown at Evansville Central High School, she accumulated numerous accolades during her prep career, including playing in the North vs. South Indiana All-Star game as a junior and senior.
Honored as the All-City Player of the Year by the Evansville Courier Press in 2007, Young was also named to the honorable mention all-state team by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association two consecutive seasons.
Young spent her club career with head coach Krissy Meek-Engelbrecht and the Evansville Blitz. As a team captain, she helped the Blitz to a top-10 state ranking and a trip to the Indiana State Cup finals.
"Allison is a quick and explosive attacking player," said Harbin. "Her ability to get behind defenders makes her an extremely dangerous player for opponents to defend."