The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces 2006 Signees
February 23 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron head women's soccer coach Catherine Byrne announced Thursday that Katie Davis (Olney, Md./Sherwood HS), Kate Drummond (Cincinnati, Ohio/Madeira HS), Kate Ferrara (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker HS), Kristen Gregg (Medina, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit HS), Adrienne Knox (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington-Kilbourne HS), Heather Rains (Hamilton, Ohio/Stephan T. Badin HS), Sarah Richardson (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake HS) and Kristen Sample (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough HS) have each signed a national letter of intent to play at the school beginning in the 2006 season.
Davis is a goalkeeper who will contend for time in the net as a rookie. The four-year letterwinner was the captain of her high school team for two years. As a senior she earned second-team All-Montgomery County honors. She played ODP for four years, with her 2004 squad being a regional finalist.
"I look forward to working with Katie," Byrne said, who enters her sixth season in charge of the program. "She will help to solidify the future of our goalkeeping corps, and will compete for time as a freshman."
Drummond, a midfielder, comes to Akron with an extensive list of honors and accolades. The Cincinnati native was selected as the state, Southwest and CHL Player of the Year in 2005 and named to the All-America team. She earned first-team all-conference honors during her sophomore through senior seasons at Madeira High School, and was an honorable mention all-league pick as a freshman.
"Kate was the motor that energized her high school team," Byrne said. "She is very good technically and has a great flair for the game."
Another midfielder, Ferrara hails from Charles W. Baker High
School in New York. She earned first-team all-league, all-region
and fourth-team all-state as a senior, and also played for the
Rochester Junior Rhinos club team. She's an honor roll student and
a National Honor Society member.
"Kate is a strong physical competitor with good height and great stamina," Byrne said. She has experience at several positions on the field, which is a tribute to her hard work and leadership abilities."
Gregg, who can play on both sides of the ball, was a four-year letterwinner at Walsh Jesuit and is no stranger to successful programs as the Warriors were 2004 state champions, and lost in the regional final this past season. She earned her team's sportsmanship award and maintained a 3.3 grade-point average throughout high school. Her activities away from soccer and school include volunteering at Medina General Hospital.
"Kristen is a very versatile player," Byrne said. "We will utilize her strength and competitiveness defensively and her tenacity and quickness offensively."
Knox graduated early from Worthington-Kilbourne High School and enrolled in classes at The University in January. She will help bolster the offense from the striker position.
"Adrienne has a knack for finding the goal," Byrne said. "She has great composure when she gets close to the goal, allowing her to finish shots under pressure with precise placement."
Rains was the captain of the state championship squad this season at Badin High School. She was a three-time first-team All-GGCL and all-city pick, and was chosen as all-state and all-region twice. She was MVP of the all-star game and was named the team's most valuable offensive player twice.
"Heather is feisty, quick and energized," Byrne said. "She is sharp in front of the goal and creates opportunities in a heart beat. She is very committed to pursuing success."
Richardson, a 2005 Cleveland Plain Dealer Best of the Best High School Fall All-Star, will play defender. She earned first-team All-Southwestern Conference honors and was Avon Lake High's most valuable player and most valuable defensive player during her senior season. Richardson was also a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll member all four years of high school. She has played most of her club career with the Westside Stars.
"We are thrilled to have Sarah with us, she was a highly sought after recruit" Byrne said. "She is a true grit player and is very coachable". Her competitive nature and her unbelievable work rate is what got her noticed. She gives 100 percent effort in games and in the classroom, and will compliment our program.
Sample is a goalkeeper from Baltimore, Md., and should challenge for a starting spot with the Zips during her freshman year. Selected to attend the Super Y ODP national camp, she was a second-team all-metro and all-conference pick as a senior at Seton Keough High. She led the conference in saves in each of her four seasons as a prepster. She earned second-team all-city recognition as a junior.
"Kristen's height allows her to dominate in the air," Byrne said. "She has a tough, feisty attitude that will be a great addition to our last line of defense."
The Akron women's soccer program gets its 2006 season underway with exhibition matches at the second-annual Westfield Cup at UA's Lee Jackson Field, Aug. 17-20.
