North Florida Adds 11 on Signing Day

February 3, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Head Women's Soccer Coach Robin Confer and her staff announced the signing of 11 new Ospreys on National Signing Day. The geographically diverse class is the largest in Confer's tenure at North Florida.
 
"This 2017 class is filled with a combination of freshman and transfers that embody the type of student-athlete we recruit at North Florida," said Confer of 2017 class. "Coach (Josh) Schirmer and I have worked hard to put together a group that fits the culture and playing style we need to build an ASUN Championship caliber program."

Under Confer the Ospreys have made three-straight ASUN Postseason appearances, tied for the program's longest stretch since joining the league in 2005.

"This is also most decorated incoming class academically we have recruited to date," added Confer. On the field, the class effectively addresses some key needs by position both defensively and offensively with the intention of filling any voids existing from last year's graduating class.  We also added some young players that we feel have incredible potential both now and in the future."
 


 
Karina Bermudez
Position: M/F
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Terra Environmental Research Institute
Club Team: Boca United
 
High school: Four-year letter winner at Terra Environmental Research Institute… Led the team to district finals all four years, District Champions in 2016… Set the record for most goals in school history... Selected to the All-Dade team all four years… Named to the National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and Science Honors Society... Competitor in HOSA, junior and senior year, winning 3rd place at Regional HOSA Bowl in 2016. 
 
Club: Played for MSVG from 2006-2012, winning Orange Classic and President's Cup Finalists in 2012. 2012-2015 played on Tropical, Strikeforce, and Weston FC. Played last two seasons with Boca United ECNL, winning the Disney Showcase in 2016. Lead scorer on the team. 
 
Personal: Full name is Karina Michelle Bermudez. Daughter of Gunther and Martha Bermudez. Born on December 1st, 1999. Has one sibling, an older sister, Nikole Bermudez. Planning to major in Sports Medicine / Physical Therapy.
 
Coach's Quote: "Karina attended our ID camp and really showed us her passion for the game. She is very coachable and brings a competitive fire. One of her defining qualities is she can score goals. Every time we have seen her play, she scores. She has a knack for getting on the end of things in the box and can strike a ball very well."
 


Haley Cook
Position: D
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.
Previous School: King University (Tenn.)
 
King University: Selected All-Conference Carolinas first team...Started in all 18 games...Had three goals on the season...Took 22 shots, 10 of which were on goal...Had a goal in back-to-back games at home October 19 agaisnt Southern Wesyelan and October 22nd agaisnt Erskine College.
 
Eastern Florida State College: In the two years there she helped the Titans to a combined record of 30-2-2. During her first year, the Titans were ranked has high as third and won conference and regional championships. In 2015, Eastern Florida State went 17-1, winning conference and regional championships, before finish national runners-up. Cook was named first team All-Region and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) second team All-American.
 
Coach's Quote: Haley came to us this spring from King University and has stepped in and started off the spring well. As a defender she is composed on the ball and reads the game very well. She knows when to step, and when to drop in and cover. She also has good size and is very good in the air.  
 



Sara DeLucca
Position: D
Height:  5-2
Hometown: Fort Myers, Fla.
High School: Fort Myers
Club Team: Cape Coral Cyclones
 
High School: A four-year varsity player at Fort Myers High School and a captain her senior season… As a center and outside back, won the team's defensive player player of the year award.
 
Club: Played for the Cape Coral Cyclones since 2012 and was the club's captain from 2013-15… Club reached a state ranking of No. 4 in 2017… Two-time champion at the Disney Qualifiers (2015 & 2016) and a member of the 2015 Disney Showcase teams… Finalist in the 2016 CDL Showcase and semifinalist in the 2016 Jefferson Cup… Finished first in the 2016-17 FSPL season.
 
Personal: Full name is Sara Ashley DeLucca… Born on January 28, 1999… Daughter of Laura and Gary DeLucca… Has two siblings, Tyler and Maya… Recipient of UNF's Presidential Gold Academic Scholarship… Plans on majoring in Criminal Justice.
 
Coach's Quote: "Sara is extremely athletic and confident on the ball. She has a very good ability to play out of the back and her understanding and positioning in the back is superb. One of things I like about Sara is her work rate and determination. She is very coachable and we are excited to see her impact our program."
 



Chloe DiDonato
Position: M/D
Hometown: Stuart, Fla.
High School: South Fork High School
Club Team: Team Boca
 
High School:  Four-year starter at South Fork… Played center mid, left back and left mid for Coach Tony Ianitti… Scored 32 goals and talled 44 assists throughout her prep career… Served as the team's captain her junior and senior seasons… Won districts and had an undefeated regular season in 2015-2016 season… Was a dual enrollment student her junior and senior years.
 
Club: Played two years for Team Boca 98's team under Cally Morrill… Made it to final 8 in the Florida State cup.
 
Personal: Full name is Chloe' Anna DiDonato… Born on September 1st, 1998 in Boca Raton, Fla. … Daughter of Joseph and Jessica DiDonato… Has two older brothers, Zac and Andrew.
Plans on majoring in Psychology.
 
Coach's Quote: "Chloe came to our ID camp several times and really caught our eye.  She is a very versatile player that can play in the back, in the midfield or up front.   She is very composed on the ball and is able to solve pressure well.   I love her attitude and work rate and can't wait to have her a part of our program. "
 



Amber Jones
Position: M
Hometown: Harmony, Fla.
High School: Harmony
Club: Florida Kraze Krush (FKK)
 
High School: Four-year varsity starter at Harmony…Led the team in goals and assists sophomore year… All-County as a junior.
 
Club: Played under Hue Menzies at FKK... ODP National training 2015, ODP Region III Pool 2014, ODP State Pool 2013-2014, State Cup Finalist 2014, State Cup Final Four 2015.
 
Personal: Daughter of Jonathan and Kerry Jones… Has two siblings, Erin and Dylan… Born on April 21,1999… Aspires to be an orthodontist.
 
Coach's Quote: "AJ was one of our first commitments and is another player in this class that is a competitor. She wants to win and brings a mentality on the field that is contagious. As a holding mid, she is not afraid to tackle, good in the air, and keeps the game simple when she wins the ball."
 



Hollyn Knight
Position: F
Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.
High School: Viera
Club Team:  Space Coast United
High School:  A four-year letter winner under Cortney Lundy at Viera High School and also served as team captain… Top 10 scorer in 2015-16…  Team won district, regional and state championship in 2014-15 and again in 2015-16… Team also won National Championship in 2015-16 while she played at Viera High School.
 
Club:  Played for Space Soccer United Soccer Club since the age of seven...Her teams took home Championships at the Disney Presidents Day Soccer Festival Champions in 2014 and the Disney Showcase in 2016… Was a state Cup semifinalist in 2016.
 
 Personal: Full name is Hollyn Marie Knight… Daughter of Darren and Kileen Knight... Born on July 14, 1999 in Melbourne, Fla. … Has two siblings, Jordan and Tanner. She plans on majoring in Sport Management.
 
Coach's Quote: "With Hollyn, we are adding something we haven't had yet, some height and size.  Hollyn's ability to head the ball is one of the best I have seen. She is fearless and her timing is exceptional.  Not only is she great in the air, but she is very technical on the ball and is a very tactical finisher - she knows the right surface and option to score goals."


 
Caroline Larsen
Position: F
Hometown: Satellite Beach, Fla.
High School: Satellite
Club: Space Coast United
 
High School:  Four-year letter winner at Satellite, playing at forward and midfield. Team Captain senior year and currently leading the team in goals.
 
Club:  Played at Space Coast United under Scott Armstrong… Team won the CASL Showcase in 2014 and 2015, FSPL in 2015, and the Disney Showcase Qualifier in 2016.  Florida State Cup Quarter-Finalist  in 2015 and 2016.
 
Personal: Full name is Caroline Emilie Larsen, daughter of Pete and Karen Larsen... Has one brother Ryan. Born on June 2nd, 1999 in Littleton CO. A Health Science major.
 
Coach Quote: "Caroline has continued to grow as a player over the course of the year and her mobility and work rate off the ball is very good.    She reads the game well and understands the right runs to get the ball in behind or at her feet.    She is good with her back to goal and can hold the ball up front as well as being dangerous on the flanks with her service."  
 



Hannah Menendez
Position: D
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
High School: Academy of the Holy Names
Club Team: Tampa Bay United ECNL
 
High School: Four-year letter winner at Holy Names and the team's captain her senior year… Her team won the 2015-16 District Championship, Regional Championship and reach the Florida State Final Four… Named a Tampa Tribune Honorable Mention selection.
 
Club: Her Tampa Bay United squad won back-to-back State Championships in 2015-16… In 2014 reach the State Final.
 
Coach's Quote: "Hannah is a quality outside defender that will bring in a blue collar mentality to our back line. She is a grinder and will work up and down the flanks to get forward. She's also not afraid to put in a tackle. I love her mentality and competitiveness."


 
Thais Reiss
Position: D/M
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
High School: Marista Santa Maria
Club: Curitiba Football Club
 
Personal: Full name is Thais Reiss de Araujo… Born on December 9, 1999… Daughter of Patricia and Marco Araujo.
 
High School: Three-time Player of the Year at Marista Santa Maria… Served as the team captain all four years… Scored 33 goals in five games.
 
Club/National Team: A member of five championship teams with Curitiba… Played on the Brazilian U17 National Team in 2015 & 2016… Earned caps at the 2015 International Tournament of Sao Paulo and the U17 Women's World Cup in Jordan.
 
Coach's Quote: "Adding Thais to this class is tremendous. Bringing in a player that played and started for Brazil in the recent U17 World Cup will help impact this team immediately. Thais is competitive and wants to win and will bring that mentality to UNF. She is very composed on the ball, and her ability to play a final pass is very good. We can't wait to see what she can do for our program."
 



Madi Sagas
Position: F
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
High School: P.K. Yonge High School
Club: Gainesville Soccer Alliance
 
High School: Also a four-year varsity tennis player at P.K. Yonge winning a number of district and regional singles and doubles championships.
 
Club:  Played final season of club soccer with Gainesville Soccer Alliance after spending time with Orlando City ECNL… In 2015, led Orlando City ECNL in goals in 2015 with 14 in 16 games… A member of the 2014 U14 USYS National Championships Best 11 team… Was the 2014 Southern Regionals leading goal scorer… Team won the 2014 Storm Region II Premier League East Championship and the 2013 Jacksonville FC Southern Region Premier League Championship.
 
Coach's Quote: "Madi is a feisty player that is going to bring a lot of speed and energy to our front line.  Her pace and explosiveness will allow her to get behind defenses and score goals. She is confident on the ball and likes to run at players 1v1 and her work rate defensively up front is some of the best I have ever seen."  
 



Andrea Sanchez
Position: M
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
High School: Universidad Intercontinental (UIC)
Club: Chamartin
High School/Club: Selected to participate in the prestigious Gatorade Camp… Winners of the A-1 League at the club level and won multiple high school conference tournament on three different occations.
 
Personal: Daughter of Roxana and Ernesto Sanchez… Has one sister named Maria… Both have played together on the national u-17 and u-20 Mexico's national team.
 
Coach's Quote: "We were very excited to add Andrea this spring. Her international experience with Mexico has already translated onto the field this spring. She has come in extremely fit and has been playing well in training. She is very composed on the ball and has a very high soccer IQ. Her ability to see the game and play make will impact this team."
 

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