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March 3, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee women's soccer team and Head Coach Angela Kelly announce the signing of five incoming freshmen for the fall of 2009. Jayden Barrett, Kylie Bono, Ali Hall, Amy Harrison and Jessica Rolfs are set to join the Lady Vols next season after signing National Letters of Intent on Feb. 4. The quintet comes highly touted and brings Olympic Development Program (ODP) and national team experience to the Orange and White.
"It's crazy to think that the 2009 Lady Vol Soccer class is finally official," Kelly said. "Several of these players have been committed to our program and have been eager to get here for more than two years. We feel like the class is filled with a great deal of talent that can come into the program and have a significant, immediate impact. Although they are aware that nothing is guaranteed, they are all working extremely hard with their club teams to stay fit, focused and disciplined to come into their freshman season ready to go."
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Jayden Barrett is a two-time California State Cup MVP hailing from Corona, Calif. A member of the same Slammers FC club squad as current Lady Vol Tanya Emerson and fellow signee Kylie Bono, Barrett helped Slammers to four Surf Cup Championships, two Cal South State Cup finals appearances, the 2008 Region IV title and a runner-up finish at the 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championships. The 5-2 forward was a member of the Region IV ODP pool from 2005-07, claiming the Region IV title in each of those years. Barrett also traveled to England in 2007 to train with both Arsenal and Chelsea Ladies Academies. Barrett was a member of the U.S. Under-15 National Team pool in 2005 and 2006, and was named one of the top 25 youth players in the nation at the adidas Elite Soccer Program in 2007. A two-time letterwinner in both soccer and track at Mater Dei High School in La Habra, Calif., Barrett helped the Monarchs to back-to-back Serra League championships and the 2007 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division I title.
"Jayden is a prolific goal scorer and has been for her entire career," Kelly said. "She is extremely fast and athletic, and in my opinion, will be very exciting to watch. You can expect Jayden to be breaking defenses down and either finishing on her own or getting her teammates involved as often as she can." |
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A four-year letterwinner at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, Calif., Kylie Bono is a 5-8 forward and three-time all-league selection out of Yorba Linda. As a freshman and junior, Bono led the Aztecs to the Sunset League title, earning the league's offensive MVP award in 2007-08. This year, Bono led Esperanza in goals and assists, guiding it to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Championships. Bono also comes from Slammers FC where she helped the club to five Surf Cup titles, two state championships, the 2008 Region IV crown and a runner-up finish at U.S. Youth Nationals. She also traveled with Slammers to Sweden in 2005, where it topped IF Brommapojkarna of Sweden to capture the Gothia World Youth Cup. Bono is also a three-year letterwinner and two-time captain for the Esperanza track team.
"Kylie has developed so many different aspects of her game, that she has become a utility player for her club and can play anywhere on the field," Kelly said. "Her versatility, coupled with athleticism and talent makes her the real deal." |
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Hailing from Hawthorn Woods, Ill., Ali Hall is a 5-7 defender and a four-year letterwinner at Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. Last year, Hall led the Patriots to a section title while earning all-conference, all-area, all-state and all-section honors. Hall plays her club soccer with Eclipse Select. The 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-American has helped guide Eclipse to a national championship, two appearances in the national finals, two U.S. Youth Soccer Region II titles, the 2008 Illinois state title and the 2008 Disney Showcase U18-19 championship. Hall has participated in U.S. Youth National Team training camp five times and was an ODP national pool player in 2005. Hall was also selected to the Region II ODP pool in 2004 and 2005.
"Ali Hall is a player from Eclipse, another extremely successful club, that has exposed her to higher levels within her game," Kelly said. "Ali has played center back for the majority of her playing career and we feel that she come in with a very high soccer I.Q., competitive fire and technical ability that will enable her to make significant contributions to this program, now and for years to come." |
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, native Amy Harrison is a 5-7 midfielder and member of the Canadian Under-17 Women's World Cup squad. Harrison traveled with Team Canada to the 2008 FIFA U17 World Cup in New Zealand this fall, starting two contests and seeing time in each of the squad's four matches before it was bounced out in the quarterfinals by Germany. Harrison competed with the U17 team for two years and gave an impressive performance in the 2008 CONCACAF Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago, helping Canada finish third and qualify for the World Cup with two goals in group play, including the game winner against Jamaica. Prior to joining the U17 squad, Harrison spent 2006 training and competing with Canada's U15-16 team. Harrison is also a Manitoba Provincial Team veteran, spending each summer from 2003-07 at tournaments with Manitoba squads, earning the 2009 Manitoba Soccer Association President's Award for her efforts. As a five-year captain with Winnipeg South End United, Harrison helped her club squad to the 2008 Manitoba Championship and three straight city and league championships between 2005 and 2007. In 2006, Harrison took home both the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association and South End United Player of the Year Awards after garnering MVP honors at the Golden Boy International Tournament, where South End United claimed the U18 girls' title. Harrison played high school soccer with Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn., and played ice hockey for Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg.
"Amy is a very vocal central midfielder with a tactical understanding of the game and a physical presence," Kelly said. "Amy will bring a mentality to our midfield that I am very excited to see. She is also a natural leader which is unique and extremely hard to find in this day and age. Amy had an invaluable experience at the U17 World Cup in New Zealand this past fall, and that international experience will only benefit her in her quest to make an impact on our soccer program." |
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Hailing from Normal, Ill., Jessica Rolfs is a 5-9 goalkeeper and four-year letterwinner at Normal Community High School. A two-year captain with the Ironmen, Rolfs helped lead her squad to the 2007 intercity and regional titles. Rolfs is a three-time first team all-conference selection and two-time all-section team member. She also garnered three straight conference scholar athlete awards from 2006-08. Rolfs has posted a combined 29 shutouts over the past two seasons, notching a 36-8-0 record during that span. A member of the KUFC Cosmos, Rolfs guided her U18 squad to the 2008 Illinois State Cup championship, topping fellow signee Ali Hall's Eclipse Select team in the final. Rolfs also helped KUFC to a runner-up performance at 2007 U.S. Club Soccer nationals and to back-to-back U.S. Club Soccer Region D championships in 2005 and 2006.
"Jessica Rolfs is a goalkeeper that has more upside than any young lady we are bringing in this fall," Kelly said. "She is eager to learn and get as much training and experience at this level as she possibly can. Jessica has all of the physical and mental attributes that are needed to be successful in her position and that is very exciting, as the sky is the limit for her." |
The Lady Vols will welcome the five freshmen and bring back 19 letterwinners from the 2008 team that took home the SEC Tournament title. Last year's squad made its eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and saw senior keeper Jaimel Johnson selected in the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer draft.
"All-in-all we are very pleased and excited about our 2009 class," Kelly said. "I believe that this class is filled with experience, talent and, most importantly, a desire to compete. That desire will make this class very exciting to watch in the years to come."
Tennessee will open its spring season on March 28, with a three-team tournament featuring West Virginia and Georgia at Regal Soccer Stadium.
| 2009 Tennessee Signing Class | |||
| Name | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Jayden Barrett | 5-2 | F | Corona, Calif./Mater Dei HS |
| Kylie Bono | 5-8 | F | Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS |
| Ali Hall | 5-7 | D | Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Adlai Stevenson HS |
| Amy Harrison | 5-7 | M | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada/Vincent Maffey Collegiate |
| Jessica Rolfs | 5-9 | GK | Normal, Ill./Normal Community HS |
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