Highlanders Sign Six to Letters-of-Inent

Radford, Va. -- Radford women’s soccer head coach Ben Sohrabi announced that six high school seniors have signed National Letters-of-Intent and will join the Highlanders for the 2005-06 academic year. Four of those players, Erin Michael (Mechanicsville, Va.), April Goode (Powhatan, Va.), Corin O’Donnell (Midlothian, Va.) and McKenzie Vergara (Chester, Va.) hail from the FC Richmond Mystx club team, who rank 22nd in the nation. Rounding out the class is Laura Culver (Fairfax, Va.) of the Herndon Heat and Kristen Piatkowski (Millington, N.J.) of the Stronghold SSC Power.

“I am very excited about this talented class. I think all six 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. I think they will gel with our returnees quickly during preseason in August,” stated Sohrabi.

Michael, a forward and midfielder, has played three years under Brad Dalton a Lee Davis High School. She earned First Team All-Capital District and Second Team All-Central Region distinctions as a sophomore and junior as well as Second Team All-District as a freshman. Academically, she is a three time academic All-District and All-Region member.

“Erin is a crafty deceptive player that will help at forward and attacking midfield. She is great at combining with other players and has great movement with and without the ball. She has quick feet and is dangerous in the attacking third of the field,” Sohrabi.

Goode, a forward/midfielder, led the Powhatan High School Indians in scoring and was the team MVP as well as being named First Team All-District as a sophomore. She was a member of the Virginia ODP from 1998-2001 and 2003 and a Region I Camp participant from 1999-2001. She also was a member of the Virginia Rush Super Y league in 2003, leading them in scoring and helping them advance to Nationals.

“April is a very versatile player. She could help us in the back, midfield, or in the attack, however I see her helping more at the forward position. She is very quick and deceptive in her play,” Sohrabi.

O’Donnell, the only defender in the class, was named Second Team All-Metro last season and earned Second Team All-District honors as a freshman and sophomore. A team captain for the Mystx, she is also entering her fourth season as a letterwinner for the Clover Hill High School Cavaliers under the direction of Jamie Burd. She also has been named to the All-Academic team all three years.

“Corin is a tough central defender that can play zonal or man mark a player out of a game. She is a very intelligent 1v1 defensive player, but also has very good field presence in attacking and possessing out of the back,” said Sohrabi.

Vergara, a midfield/forward, was named the 2004 Central District Player of the Year. As a junior, she was named First Team All-Metro and All-Central Region, while helping Thomas Dale High School to a Central District Championship. A three-time First Team All-District player, she was named Second Team All-Metro and All-Region as a sophomore and Honorable Mention All-Region as a freshman.

“McKenzie is a fantastic player with an incredible work ethic. She can play any position, but I see her helping us mostly in the attack as an attacking midfielder/withdrawn forward type of player,” Sohrabi.

Culver, a central midfielder, lettered for Paul VI Catholic High School under the direction of Meg Ashley. She was named Second Team All-Conference as a sophomore and Third Team as a junior.

“Laura is another 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,” Sohrabi.

Piatkowski, another central mid, is the lone out of state signee for the Highlanders. She was a four-year letterwinner at Watchung Hills Regional High School under the guidance of Peter Lobrecht. She is two-time First Team All-Conference member and New Jersey State Coaches Selection her junior and senior seasons. In 2002, she was Second Team All-Conference. An ODP regional member in 2000 and 2001, her team was a State Cup Finalist. She has also lettered five times in indoor and outdoor track, where she holds three school records.

“She is a tough center midfielder with an unbelievable work rate. Kristen is good in the air and has very good field vision. She is a tough scrappy player that goes into every tackle hard,” Sohrabi.

In 2004, The Highlanders finished 10-6-2 overall and finished third in the Big South regular season with a 5-1-2 record. Radford will return eight starters and several lettermen for the 2005 season.