May 30, 2006

SoccerBuzz.com 2006 Top Recruiting Classes

The 2006 version of the Sacred Heart women's soccer team, under second year head coach Kim Banner, will welcome the addition of the top-ranked recruiting class in the Northeast Conference according to Soccer Buzz Magazine (www.soccerbuzz.com). Banner and the Pioneers welcome a wealth of talented newcomers to the mix as they aim for their sixth-straight trip to the NEC Tournament, the longest active streak in the league.

Leading this year's incoming class are Ashley Testani (Monroe, CT), Ashley Zimmerman (Huntington, NY), Jackie Sharp (West Islip, NY), Kelly Coffey (Cumberland, RI), Stacey Leonard (Rockland, MA), Kristen Burch (Monroe, NY) and Christina Soave (Stamford, CT).

Testani, out of nearby Monroe, is an outstanding defender and member of the Connecticut Olympic Development Program and the South Central premier teams. Soave is another local find for Coach Banner, making the trip up I-95 in Stamford to SHU. A forward, Soave played for the Yankee United and CUFC premier teams.

Sharp, a West Islip, New York product is a defender / midfielder who also played in the Long Island Olympic Development Program. She also played with the Stony Brook Impact premier team. Zimmermann is also a New York product out of Huntington. A former member of the Long Island Olympic Development Program, the midfield / forward also played for the Lady Riders and Cold Spring Harbor premier teams.Burch, a goalkeeper, hails from Monroe, New York and played with the Monroe Magic.

Leonard, from Rockland, Massachusetts, is a forward / midfielder and a former member of the Mass Olympic Development Program. She also played for Charles River United. Coffey comes to Sacred Heart out of Cumberland, Rhode Island as a forward / midfielder. She was a former member of the R.I. Olympic Development Program and she played for the Rhode Island Rays

Banner also welcomes newcomers Katie Reid from Manchester, CT, Tansey True from Mendham, NJ, Chrysta Blair, a transfer from Springfield Tech Community College and Ashley Steeves from Salem, MA.