The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer Welcomes Eleven Newcomers
2/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB women's soccer head coach Harold Warren announced Wednesday the addition of nine high school signees, one transfer and one early enrollee that will all play for the Blazers beginning next season.
"We are excited about our incoming class," UAB head coach Harold Warren said. "This group is loaded with excellent technical skills, physical attributes, tactical ability, speed and combativeness. In addition, they are great in the classroom and have excellent character. These young ladies will enable our team to accomplish the goals that we have been working so hard to achieve over the past few years. Thinking about our returning group and the new signees together as one gives me the utmost confidence that all the hard work put in over the years will definitely bring us success this fall."
Sarah Buse
Midfield | 5-3 | Louisville, Ky. | Sacred Heart Academy
Buse spent her high school career at Sacred Heart Academy. Sarah helped guide the Valkyries to the 2015 Kentucky State Championship where she notched the game-winning assist. In 2016, Buse was named a First Team All-State selection, team captain and the Sacred Heart Academy Offensive Player of the Year. The Louisville native is also a member of the Javanon club team and has won the Kentucky State Championship the past three years.
Sarah has seven siblings and plans to major in biomedical engineering. She volunteers at the Episcopal Church Home for the Elderly and is a member of the National Honors Society, Beta Club and Future Doctors of America. When she is not on the field, Buse enjoys snowboarding, fishing, scrapbooking and baking.
Kassandra Daniel
Defense | 5-4 | Arlington, Texas | James Martin High School
Daniel joins the Blazers after playing on the varsity squad at James Martin High School. Kassandra helped lead the Warriors to three straight district championships. She earned District 4-6A First Team honors in back-to-back seasons and was named a 2014 District 3-5A Second Team Utility Player. Daniel is also a member of the Dallas Texans ECNL team that went to the national playoffs last year.
Kassandra plans to major in nursing. She has one brother and one sister and enjoys going on hikes and nature walking in her spare time. She is a part of the Martin National Honors Society, Martin Key Club and Martin Psychology Club.
Hallie Hunt
Defense | 5-8 | Williston, Fla. | Trinity Catholic High School
Hunt comes to the Green and Gold after playing four years at Trinity Catholic High School. Hallie finished her career with five goals and 12 assists in 24 games. She helped the Celtics to the 2A State Finals in 2013-14 and the regional semifinals in 2014-15. The defender played club soccer with both Florida Rush in the Florida State Premier League and Tampa Bay United in the ECNL. Hunt was a member of the Florida ODP state team for the past two years.
Hallie is looking to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a physical therapist. She likes to volunteer with the elderly, animals and various charity organizations. She is a member of the 4-H club which raises and shows champion Boer Goats.
Regan Kommor
Midfield | 5-7 | Louisville, Ky. | Louisville Collegiate School
Kommor comes to UAB by way of Louisville Collegiate School where she played varsity soccer all four years. Regan owns the school record for career goals with 121, surpassing the previous record of 89, and goals in a season. She scored four goals on senior night to help the Amazons to a 4-0 shutout victory. The midfielder was a three-time All-A Tournament Team selection as well as a two-time First Team West All-Region selection and MVP. Kommor also played basketball for four years and ran track for three years during her tenure with the Amazons. Kommor plays club soccer for the three-time state champion Javanon SC with fellow signee, Sarah Buse.
Regan plans to major in sports broadcasting/journalism. She has a brother who played collegiate soccer for Denison University. She is the president of the SADD and pep clubs and is the school's mascot. When not playing soccer, Regan likes kickboxing, reading and traveling.
Kamilah Mustafa
Forward | 5-3 | Atlanta, Ga. | Chamblee Charter High School
Mustafa joins the Blazers from Chamblee Charter High School. Kamilah was the top goal scorer her junior year with the Bulldogs. She had the most goals and assists of any freshman in DeKalb County in 2014. The forward is a two-time member of the DeKalb County All Star Team and earned the distinction of Varsity Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. Kamilah also played for the Lady Chiefs Elite Club team and has been the top goal scorer for the DDY U-16 Super Y League South Atlantic team in 2015 and in Athena A in 2014.
Kamilah has one brother and one sister and plans to major in biomedical sciences. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Society for Black Engineers, Jewish Student Union and Anatomy Club where she is president. In her spare time, Kamilah likes to watch English Premier League games, movies, thrift shop, interior decorate and volunteer at the Atlanta Track Club races.
Betsy Ornelas
Forward | 5-2 | Chula Vista, Calif. | Olympian High School
Ornelas makes her way to Birmingham following a successful high school career at Olympian High School under head coach Aaron Rossi. While playing both forward and midfield for the Eagles, Ornelas was named the 2015 Team MVP after helping lead her team to the CIF Finals of the San Diego Section. In addition, Ornelas was a standout for the track and field team and was tabbed the 2016 Athlete of the Year at Olympian High School. Over her career, she would become a CIF finalist in the 400 meters and 4x400 meter relay and was a state qualifier in both events in 2016.
Ornelas plans to major in biology at UAB.
Haley Riley
Midfield | 5-5 | Arlington, Texas | Martin High School
Riley arrives in Birmingham following a standout career at Martin High School under head coaches Ruth Knight and Sabina Harrington. She was named First Team All-District, was the All-District MVP and an All-State Honorable Mention as a junior after helping the Warriors to a District Championship in 2016. Riley also led the Warriors to district championships in 2014 and 2015 and was a Second Team All-District selection as a junior. As a freshman, Riley broke the single-season school record with 122 goals in 2014 as a freshman.
Riley has one sister and plans to major in communications with a minor in professional writing. In her spare time, Riley enjoys writing, reading and baking.
Lucy Thrasher
Midfield | 5-6 | Birmingham, Ala. | Oak Mountain High School
A local product by way of Oak Mountain High School, Thrasher choose to play in her hometown after a standout career under head coach Chris Blight. Thrasher racked up several awards during her career with the Eagles. She was a two-time Alabama State Second Team selection, Shelby County First Team honoree and Metro All-Tournament Team choice. Thrasher was also named to the 2015 McGill Toolen All-Tournament Team in 2015 and was the 2015 Lakeshore Tournament MVP. She also plays club soccer for BUSA ECNL and serves as team captain.
Thrasher has one brother, Michael, and one sister, Mary Allison, and plans to major in kinesiology. She enjoys hiking, swimming and spending time with her family and friends in her down time.
Audria Wood
Defense | 5-6 | Gadsden, Ala. | Gadsden City High School
Wood spent her high school career as a four-year starter for the varsity squad at Gadsden City High School. Audria was tabbed All-State, All-District and Player of the Week at Gadsden City High School, and was selected as team captain her senior year. She has also been named the MVP of the 2014 & 2015 Lakeshore Tournament and earned Greater All-Etowah County accolades in 2016. Wood helped the Titans reach the 2014 Sweet Sixteen and 2015 Elite Eight. Audria also plays for Vestavia Hills Soccer Club where she has won five state championships, was two-time Premier League Champions and played in the USYS National League.
Audria plans to major in biology while at UAB. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, President of Health Occupation Students of America, reporter for Future Business Leaders of America, secretary of Mu Alpha Theta, a Titan Ambassador (top 24 students from the junior and senior classes) and recipient of the Bryant Jordan award (given to the top senior student athlete). In her free time, Wood likes to make ceramics and crafts.
Margaret Newman
Midfield | 5-6 | Moody, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville High School
Newman graduated from Hewitt-Trussville High School in December and has joined the Blazers as an early enrollee. The midfielder played for three seasons under coaches Justin Pino and Pete Dakis. Margaret recorded the game winning assist against Mountain Brook High School to help the Huskies to a top ranking in Alabama.
Margaret comes from a blended family of 10 kids and plans on majoring in nursing while at UAB. Her step-father, Joel Wallace, is an assistant coach with the men's soccer team at UAB and her step-brother, Kevin Wallace, is a member of the men's soccer team at UAB. She was a member of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta club and the sign language club. Margaret enjoys going on mission trips around the world and has done work in Africa, Italy and India.
Jamiera Lunsford
Forward | 5-3 | Cincinnati, Ohio | University of Memphis
Lunsford is a transfer from the University of Memphis where she spent the last semester. Prior to college, Jamiera was a forward and midfielder at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati. She was selected to the All-Region and All-City teams. Lunsford played for the Kings Hammer Soccer Club and helped the team to three consecutive state championships.
Jamiera plans to major in business and has one older and one younger sister. When she is not on the pitch, Lunsford likes to go shopping, hang out with friends, watch movies and work out.
For more information on UAB women's soccer, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WSOC), Instagram (@UAB_WSOC) and Snapchat (@UABAthletics).
