Bobcat Soccer Adds Six to 2009 Roster
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – On the heels of the program’s
first trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Georgia College & State
University soccer team and head coach Juan Pablo Favero have
announced six additions to the roster for the 2009 fall season.
The first full recruiting class for second-year head coach Favero,
the newcomers will hope to cover the gap left by the team’s
four departing seniors.
“We are very excited and proud of our first full recruiting
class,” said Favero. “We feel we have added key players
in two key ways: In positions where we lost key seniors, as well as
in other areas where we did not have enough depth last year. All of
these girls have been very successful at both the club and high
school level and come well coached and well prepared for the
challenges of the college game.
“With the hard work and commitment of our returning players
and the addition of these talented student-athletes, we feel we
will be ready for another excellent season in 2009.”
Jamie Colcord (Marietta, Ga.) joins the squad from Lassiter High
School where she was coached by John Asmussen. Colcord is a
versatile player whose primary role is as a marking back, but she
can also play as an outside midfielder and a forward.
A “great athlete with excellent technical ability”
according to Favero, Colcord brings an ability to attack out of the
back. Colcord also played for the 2007 State Finalist and 2008
Atlanta Cup Finalist North Atlanta Soccer Association club team
under Eric Ritter.
Coming from what is widely considered one of the best club programs
in the nation, Becky Knoll (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) joins the
Bobcats from her Eclipse club squad under head coach Mike Nesci.
The team earned an MRL Championship in 2008. She played for James
B. Conant High, a two-time regional champ under head coach Jason
Franco. Knoll earned all-conference last season.
“Her experience and excellent technical ability together with
her composure and distribution makes her the kind of complete
player we love to have,” said Favero.
Filling perhaps the biggest need of the recruiting class was
goalkeeper Taylor Mulryan (Roswell, Ga.). Mulryan joins the Bobcats
from Blessed Trinity High under Gilbert Jean-Baptiste and is a
“very hard-working, disciplined young lady with a great
attitude”. She also has very good physical attributes which
are key to successful goal-keeping at this level, and “with
her strong foundation technically we believe she will give us
another excellent net-minder”.
Bolstering the attack is Anna Wierzbicki (Fayetteville, Ga.) giving
Georgia College more depth in two critical attacking roles. As a
center-forward “she is excellent with her back to goal, shows
well for her teammates, and has a knack for scoring goals”. A
member of the AFC Lightening Soccer Club, “her excellent
technical ability and vision also help her in her secondary role as
an attacking center midfielder. She has been very well coached by
Andy Thompson and we believe she will be able to step in right away
and make a positive impact for us” according to Favero.
Haley O’Hayer (Savannah, Ga.) is a versatile player from the
Savannah Arts Academy under head coach Rob Priestley. O’Hayer
gives the Bobcats the option to play her as a forward as well as an
outside midfielder or an attacking marking back. A two-time
all-region selection—twice making the A squad—she
played her club ball with the Coastal Georgia Soccer Association,
led by Hillary George.
“Her speed, relentless work ethic, and her great attitude
make her stand out in the crowd,” said Favero. “We also
loved her confidence in taking defenders on and her ability to
score goals, so we feel very good about what she brings to the
team. We think Hailey will thrive in our environment and her
potential is limitless.”
A defensive center midfielder and the lone junior-college
transfer, Sarah Young (Rome, Ga.) comes with two years of college
experience from Middle Georgia College led by head coach Vincent
Gill.
“Sarah is a great athlete and has the ability to win balls
both on the ground with her tackles and in the air,” said
Favero. “Sarah has a great work-rate and besides her
experience she also adds depth to the very important part of the
midfield.”