Feb. 6, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's soccer program announced Wednesday that it signed five to National Letters of Intent to compete for the Knights in 2008, while the Black and Gold also welcomed two more additions to round out this year's class.
Stephanie Gagnon (Longwood, Fla./Orangewood Christian), Stacie Hubbard (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin), Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla./Satellite), Kaci Kratch (Austin, Texas/Bowie) and Andrea Rodrigues (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg), along with University of Maryland transfer Emily Maynard (Munster, Ind./The Latin School of Chicago) and Heather Dooley (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage), all join UCF next season.
"We are excited to add these seven student-athletes to our 2008 roster," said head coach Amanda Cromwell. "They are very unique players who will contribute in different ways and we know they all will help build on the success of 2007."
"This class is one of the finest classes we have ever had here at UCF and they should fit in perfectly with our returning team," added associate head coach Colby Hale. "We return our top 10 scorers and eight starters from last year's C-USA Championship team, and we fully expect all seven players to step in and compete to play right away. We have added proven champions that have won at every level they have played, from high school and club, to state and Regional Olympic Development Programs. They are great students, young ladies and soccer players, and we are proud to welcome them to our UCF family."
Heather Dooley
5-3 - F/MF - Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage High School
A four-year starter at American Heritage, Dooley scored 93 goals and added 71 assists during her career. Dooley was a three-time all-state honoree and led the team twice in scoring. She earned second-team all-state recognition as a freshman before being selected first-team all-state as a sophomore and a junior. Dooley received all-county honors from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel three-straight seasons as her squad won the state championship in 2005 in a season in which AHHS was ranked No. 1 nationally. At the club level, Dooley played for the Weston Fury and trained with the state Olympic Development Program for three years.
Amanda Cromwell on Dooley:
"Heather has everything you want in an attacking player. She is great around the goal, has tremendous speed and has a variety of tools that will help her impact the collegiate game."
Stephanie Gagnon
5-6 - GK - Longwood, Fla./Orangewood Christian High School
Gagnon led Orangewood Christian to the Class 2A Florida high school semifinals the last three seasons, as she is prepared to battle Tampa Prep in the semis Thursday. In 2007, she registered 20 shutouts while being named to the all-district first team and the all-county second team. Gagnon also was the 2006 Orangewood Christian Woman of Valor Award winner. Outside of high school, she participated in the Central Florida Diadora Soccer Shootout in 2006 where her team claimed the overall championship, and competed for four years with the Olympic Development Program State Team and the 2008 Region III Team. Gagnon, meanwhile, was selected to the ODP Region III Pool in 2007.
Amanda Cromwell on Gagnon:
"Stephanie is one of the best true shot stoppers we have seen. She is athletic and fearless. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and makes good decisions in distribution."
George Sasvari, DOC FC America:
"Stephanie has been a consistent performer at a very high level for as long as I have known her. She has a flair for the spectacular save but also does the little things from training to the matches."
Stacie Hubbard
5-7 - MF/D - Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin High School
Hubbard served as a starter all four seasons for Mandarin High School, including being the team captain as a senior. She posted 92 goals and 104 assists in her career for an average of 23 goals and 26 assists each year, while earning a spot on the All-Gateway Conference First Team every season. Hubbard's squad claimed the Gateway Conference championship from 2004-06 and was a regional quarterfinalist each campaign. At the club level, she was part of the 2005 and 2007 Disney Showcase final four and the 2006 Disney Showcase title game, as well as the 2006 Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup final four and the 2006 Score at the Score championship match. Hubbard advanced to the Raleigh Cup finals in 2004 and 2005, and lifted her team to the Region III Premier League title during the 2006-07 season. Hubbard also spent time with the Florida "A" Team Olympic Development Program from 2004-06 as a starter at defensive midfield and outside back, where the squad placed third in at the national championships in 2006 and won the Region III title in 2005.
Amanda Cromwell on Hubbard:
"Stacie is a huge piece to the 2008 recruiting class. She is a unique blend of toughness, athleticism and technical ability. She covers a lot of ground and plays with a bite that will serve the team well. She is versatile enough to play anywhere on the field and we look forward to watching her battle for UCF."
Jason Lee, Jacksonville Youth Soccer U18:
"Stacie is athletic, technical and a great ball-winner. She is one of the toughest players that I have coached, and plays with an energy and toughness that is contagious. I can see her making a huge impact at UCF the minute she steps onto the field."
Katie Jackson
5-9 - MF - Satellite Beach, Fla./Satellite High School
Jackson was a co-captain for two of her four seasons at Satellite High School, where she netted 106 goals and recorded 76 assists for her career, including leading the team in both categories in 2007-08, as Satellite is set to take on Niceville in the Class 5A semifinals Friday. She helped lift her squad to the Class 5A state title in 2006-07, and was named to the all-county second team by Florida Today in 2006. The 2005 Michelle Akers Classic Offensive MVP was an Orlando Sentinel All-Brevard County team member and a Florida Today second-team all-county honoree in 2005. Away from high school, Jackson competed with the Space Coast United club team, where it won the 2006 and 2007 state championships and reached the semifinals of the Region III Tournament. With the Indialantic Force, Jackson finished in second place in points in the Region III Premier League as the Force claimed the state title in 2005. The midfielder also participated with the Florida Olympic Development Program 89's from 2004-07, and was on the 2007 Region III ODP Team '89 and the 2005 Region III ODP Pool '89 during her career.
Amanda Cromwell on Jackson:
"Katie seems to get better every time we see her play. She is an extremely dynamic midfielder with great quickness, a tireless work rate and a technical ability that will fit in well with our style of play. We envision Katie having a tremendous impact at UCF."
Fidgi Haig, U18 Space Coast United:
"Katie is one of the top players to ever come out of Brevard County. In the regional semifinals last year she was one of the best players on the field and I think that experience will help her do extremely well at the next level. I can see her making a big impact at UCF from the day she gets there."
Kaci Kratch
5-3 - MF - Austin, Texas/Bowie High School
A member of the Olympic Development Program in the state of Texas, Kratch was a three-year student-athlete of the Bowie High School soccer program, helping BHS to the district championship in 2006. She competed for the Austin United Premier team from 2003-06 and the Lonestar Premier team in 2007-08, and was a participant on the Snickers Cup state championship team during her career. Kratch also spent three years on the Bowie basketball squad when she was not on the pitch.
Amanda Cromwell on Kratch:
"Kaci is everything that you want in an attacking midfielder. She is quick, talented and smart. She plays with composure and confidence and can take over a game. Her decision-making in the final third is fantastic and she also has the technical ability to play the right ball."
Jim Wain, Lonestar Soccer Club:
"Special."
Emily Maynard
5-3 - MF - Munster, Ind./Maryland/The Latin School of Chicago
Maynard will enter her junior season after spending two years with the University of Maryland, where she recorded three goals and three assists in 30 games played for the Terrapins. As a freshman, Maynard made 10 starts and two game-winners, one vs. No. 10 Tennessee and the second against No. 11 Virginia. In high school, she was the 2004 and 2005 Independent Schools Player of the Year and set The Latin School of Chicago record with 66 career assists. Maynard also was credited with scoring the fastest goal in Illinois history during her career (12 seconds after kickoff). Competing for the Eclipse Select club team, Maynard helped the squad win the 2004 and 2005 U.S. Youth Soccer Association national titles. She also spent five years as a member of the Region II Olympic Development Program team where it participated in the European Tournament in 2004 and 2005.
Amanda Cromwell on Maynard:
"Emily is a transfer student-athlete we recruited out of high school. She is a difference-maker. She is an active, technical midfielder who plays with her heart on her sleeve. She is very competitive and her experience on the regional team and in the ACC will help her transition to UCF be seamless."
Andrea Rodrigues
5-6 - MF/F - St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg High School
Rodrigues served as the St. Petersburg High School team captain three-straight years, leading her squad to the 2007 Class 6A district championships and the regional semifinals. She finished her senior season as the top goal scorer in the country with 27 tallies while adding 16 assists en route to St. Pete Times first-team all-county honors. As a junior, Rodrigues guided St. Pete to the 2006 Class 6A state semifinals, and was a St. Pete Times second-team all-county honoree in both 2005 and 2006. For her career, she netted 82 goals and had 87 assists. An International Baccalaureate student, Rodrigues also was a Florida "A" Team Olympic Development Program selection from 2003-07, competing on the 2006 National ODP 90G third-place team and the 2005 Region III ODP 90G championship squad. Meanwhile, she played up one age group to help the St. Pete Raiders club team claim the state championship in 2003, and with the Countryside Lightning '89 Florida state champs in 2005 and 2006.
Amanda Cromwell on Rodrigues:
"Andrea is a left-footed attacking player with an extremely creative aspect to her game. She loves the ball at her feet on the dribble and she is special on set pieces. She is versatile and will help fill some holes in the attack, especially on the left flank."
Chris Brown, RSL U18:
"Andrea is the most technical player on the team. Her creative and technical ability on the ball will help her be successful at the next level. I think being in the college environment day in and day out will help her reach her full potential."
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