The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer Adds Eight For 2008
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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."
Below are quotes from former coaches of the eight athletes that will be playing for UAB next season:
Laura McCalla
"I have watched Laura grow up on the soccer field from a very young age. She has grown into a great attacking player. Having coached her in high school has been wonderful. She is so good at making things happen on the field. She has an eye for finding the back of the net as well as finding her teammates. She has always given 100 percent, not only in games, but at practice as well. She is a work horse for the game. I am sure she will add a lot to the UAB program." - Deanise Myers (Starr's Mill High School head coach)
"I am very excited for Laura and for UAB. I think it's a perfect fit for both. Laura is clearly one of the hardest working and determined players that I have ever coached. In the last year, she has really come into her own as a player and has become a dangerous striker. I expect to see great things from her at UAB and won't be surprised if she becomes a force in Conference USA very soon. I am also confident that Paul Harbin and the UAB Staff will continue her growth in the game." - Brian Moore (Concorde Fire Elite 90 head coach)
Karen McDaniel
" Karen has been our varsity goalkeeper for all four years of her high school career and named the No. 1 goalkeeper in our conference by the other coaches for the past three years. She is a talented player and a leader both on and off the field. She has a passion for the game of soccer and reads the flow of a game very well. Without her leadership and ability, we would not have made it to the championship game this season in the Florida 6A state finals. She is an outstanding person, an excellent student and will be missed as we go into next season to defend our state finals run." - Scott Waisanen (Oviedo High School head coach)
"I think Karen is one of the top goalkeepers in the state of Florida. I'm confident she will do very well at the collegiate level, both academically and athletically". - Fidge Haig (Space Coast United head coach)
Sarah Nicole Peters
"Sarah Nicole is a motivated young lady who has demonstrated leadership on and off the field. Her determination to succeed will greatly benefit her as she takes on the challenges of Division I soccer." - Chris Wilson (Grayson High School head coach)
"Sarah Nicole would be described in one word, persistent. She is one of the hardest working individuals I have been around. UAB is getting a great person, player and student when they brought her on board." - Judson Hamby (GSA Phoenix Red 90 head coach)
Carolyn Polcari
"With Carolyn going to UAB, they get a person who has a great upside. I believe that Coach Harbin will make Carolyn an even better player and person. Having recruited against Coach Harbin while I was coaching at Alabama, I know what he is capable of creating once kids go there. I am truly excited for Carolyn and her whole family. I can't wait to see what kind of a player she becomes from such a great school, but also what a
wonderful person she will become." - Dawn Crowe (Plano East High School head coach)
"Texas Spirit is very proud to have Carolyn join such a supreme program as UAB. Carolyn has a rare creative and attacking mind for the game that radiates exciting soccer. UAB is a very competitive program. Hard work will be essential for Carolyn to come in and make an impact. Carolyn has not yet reached her full potential as a player and I believe there is no better program for her to develop and reach her full potential then under guidance Coach Harbin and Coach Perala." - Wilco Ravestijn (Texas Spirit Red West head coach)
Ayana Russell
"Simplistic, reliable, skilful and eager to learn." - Marlon Charles (Trinidad & Tobago Women's National Team head coach)
"Ayana is a wonderful young woman and an exceptional athlete. She anchored our defense and led our team by example on and off the field. During her tenure as our center back, we only had 17 goals scored against us and 28 shut-outs in two seasons (41 games). Ayana is technically smooth, and has the tactical awareness of an elite international player. She can organize the defense and is an incredibly positive personality which allows her to easily relate to her teammates. She will be dearly missed, but we all look forward to watching her career continue at UAB." - Tracey Britton (Monroe CC head coach)
Tiffini Turpin
"Tiffini has improved her overall performance over the last four years and has become one of the state's leading scorers, as well as an intergral component of our soccer team." - Bridget Littleton (Vestavia Hills High School head coach)
"Tiffini has been a pleasure to coach and even more a joy to watch compete. She is a true competitor, one who approaches every game looking to make an impact. She will do great at the next level because of her desire to succeed." - Eric Dade (Birmingham United head coach)
"Tiffini was one of the hardest workers on the team and had such a wonderful knack of being in the right place at the right time for a goal. She has that natural instict that all good strikers should have. She may not be the biggest player, but she never shrinks away from any defender." - Sean McBride (former Mountain Brook Angels head coach)
Natalie Watkins
"Natalie is an awesome athlete that has the best touch on the soccer ball that I have ever seen. We are really proud of her accomplishment and believe that she will continue to achieve excellence at UAB." - David Winkleman (Granbury High School head coach)
"Natalie is one of the most athletics players in Dallas. She is dynamic every time that she gets the ball and her pace is excellent. Natalie has the ability to make an early impact at the Division I level." - Jay Fitzgerald (Sting 90 West head coach)
Allison Young
"Everyone associated with our program is very excited for Allison as she moves on to face new challenges and enjoy new triumphs as a UAB Blazer. She has been an integral part of our team's success over the past four seasons, and will be missed and difficult to replace. I believe that Allison's tremendous work ethic and positive attitude will serve her well as she joins Coach Harbin and her new teammates at UAB." - Damon Brown (Evansville Central High School head coach)
"Ali is one of the most athletic and hardworking players that I have ever coached. She has an amazing left foot and will bring a very dangerous player to the UAB program." - Krissy Meek-Engelbrecht (Evansville Blitz head coach)
