The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces Seven Signees
2/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Pam Cooney (Katy, Texas), Katie Forbis (Memphis, Tenn.), Philo Mbong (Norman, Okla.), Julie McFarlane (Greenville, S.C.), Jenny Meyer (Orlando, Fla.), Nicolette Nieves (Birmingham, Ala.) and Jennifer Williams (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) all signed with the Blazers.
"I'm excited about the group we have coming in next fall," said Harbin. "Six of the seven have experienced success at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) State team level, one has played in international competition with the Ontario (Canada) Provincial team, the equivalent of our U.S. Region team and all seven have won either state, regional or national championships with their clubs and high school teams."
Cooney is a midfielder who attends Taylor High School, where she was named all-region in 2002 and Houston Chronicle Player of the Week in 2001. She was Taylor's second-leading scorer in 2002 with 25 goals and was named first team All-District. Cooney is a member of the Eclipse club team. The Eclipse placed second at the 2002 Surf Cup and was the 2002 and 2003 South Texas State Champions. Cooney played for the South Texas ODP state team in 1999 and 2001. She is a member of the National Honor Society at Taylor.
"Pam is a strong, powerful defender who has the ability to get forward into the attack," said Harbin. Having trained several years under former US National Team Player, Rita Tower, Pam understands what it takes to succeed at the next level."
Forbis is the goalkeeper at White Station High School. Forbis has been the starting goalkeeper for the last three years at White Station. She was named to the Commercial Appeal Best of Preps All-Metro team in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Forbis plays for the Fury `85 Premier club team and has been co-captain for four years. The Fury won the Tennessee State championship in 1999, 2000, and 2001. They also won titles at the Spring Classic at Dallas Cup in 2000, Minnesota USA Cup in 2000 and were 2001 Region III semifinalist. Forbis was also a member of the 1999 and 2001 Tennessee ODP State team. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Beta Club at White Station. Forbis was named the 2003 White Station High School Athlete of the Year as well.
"Katie is a very solid, experienced, athletic goalkeeper with a phenomenal training focus and a great work ethic," said Harbin. "There is no doubt in my mind that she will positively impact our program."
Mbong is a midfielder and defender who attends Norman HIgh School. Her club team, Fury `85 Red was the 2002 state champion and a regional semifinalist. In 2001, the Fury was state runner-up. As a member of the Norman High School track team, Mbong was named to the All-State team. Mbong is the state champion in the long jump, with a distance of 17-11. She was named MVP of the track team for two years and competed in the Great Southwest Track and Field meet, a national meet. Mbong is a member of the National Honor Society, National Vocational Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society.
"Philo is an exceptional athlete who has been playing with one of the country's top club teams, the Norman Fury," said Harbin. "I'm fairly certain she'll be one of the fastest players in Conference USA next fall."
McFarlane, a goalkeeper, has lettered at Eastside High School for four years. While at Eastside, McFarlane's team was state champion in 2000 and 2003, state finalist in 2002 and region champion in 2001. McFarlane was named to the all-state team in 2002 and 2003, as well as being a member of the all-region team in 2003. She was also named to the South Carolina Super 18 team as a senior. Her club team, GFC `84 Black is a six-time state champion and a three-time South Carolina Youth Soccer Association Fair Play winner. They also won the 2002 Raleigh Shootout. McFarlane has been the South Carolina State Select team starting goalkeeper for the past three years (2000-02) and was selected to play in South Carolina's North/South Game in 2003. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Beta Club.
"Having added Julie to our team completes our goal of having two goalkeepers that we think can help us to win games against some of the top teams in the country," said Harbin. "Julie is an intense competitor who has won state championships at the Club and High School level. Basically, she knows how to win."
Meyer plays forward and midfield at Edgewater High School. Meyer played at Dr. Phillips High School in 9th and 10th grade before attending Edgewater. This season, Meyer was honored by being named All-Orange County Player of the Year, iHigh National Top Tenn Award, All-State, All-Central Florida first team, Metro Player of the Year and was named to the FACA Senior All-Star team. She has been the leading scorer on her team all four years of high school, tallying 138 career goals. In 2002, Edgewater was district champion, Metro Conference Champion and advanced to the Elite Eight. Meyer was named team Offensive MVP all four years of her career. She was the conference leading scorer in 2001 and 2001 and All-Orange County second team in 2001. Meyer was named All-Metro Conference Player of the Year in 2002, first team in 2000 and 2001 and second team in 1999. She was the Metro Conference's leading goal scorer for three years. She plays for the Seminole Ice club team and was named Johnny Mac Holiday Soccer Classic All-Tournament MVP in 2003. Meyer is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, French National Honor Society and Beta Club. She also received the Edgewater High Leadership Award.
Jenny is an intense competitor who loves the game of soccer," said Harbin. "She has been at our camp for three of the past four years. In the camper /staff game this past summer, she proved that she was willing and able to successfully assert herself against experienced college players."
Nieves is a forward from John Carroll Catholic High School where she was a member of John Carroll's 2002 state championship team. Nieves set the John Carroll freshman scoring record in 2000. She was a member of the all-metro team in 2000. In 2002, Nieves was named to the all-tournament team at the Lakeshore Shootout and the Daphne Trojan War tournament. At the Daphne Trojan War tournament, Nieves was named Offensive MVP of the tournament. Nieves has won five Alabama Youth Soccer State Championships as a member of the Attack Soccer club team. She served as team captain for the Attack and was the trainer for the U-11 Attack team in 2001. Nieves has been on the Alabama Olympic Development Program state team for five years. The Kiwanic Club honored Nieves with the 2003 Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. She is an Honor Student at John Carroll, with a 4.0 GPA.
"Nicolette is one of the top two players coming out of Alabama this year," said Harbin. "Although she has proven to be very successful thus far in her career at John Carroll, with the Attack, and on the Alabama State Team, I believe that she has not come close to reaching her potential. That's exciting!"
Jennifer Williams is a midfielder who plays club soccer with the Burlington Flames and the Toronto Inferno. While with the Flames, Williams' team was 2002 Ontario Cup Champions and 2002 National Gold medal winners. Williams was also named National Capital Tournament MVP in 1997 and 2002. She has been a member of the Ontario Provincial team from four years (1998-2001). Williams is on the Honor Roll at Birchmount Park Collegiate. Her older brother, Chris, is a member of the Canadian Men's Olympic (U-23) team.
"Jenny is a strong, skillful central midfield player who employs a good bit of deception in her play," said Harbin. "Her international experience with the Ontario Provincial Team should help her to make a quick positive transition to the college game."
