Miami Women's Soccer Signs Four to Class of 2010
Feb. 3, 2010
CORAL GABLES – University of Miami women’s soccer coach Tricia Taliaferro has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Kelley Griffin (Londonderry, N.H.), Tara Schwitter (Oradell, N.J.), Brianna Smith (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) and Blake Stockton (Linwood, N.J.) will join a young, but talented Hurricane squad this fall.
“I feel very good about this class because they have the ability to play different positions which adds to our depth and creates options,” said Taliaferro. “Each one of them has great character and drive to improve individually and commit themselves to the team and the goals our program has set.”
Griffin, a member of the Seacoast United Club, coached by Ian Burgess, helped lead her team, as a forward, to multiple state cup championships and Region I Tournament appearances. As a member of Seacoast United, Griffin was selected to the New Hampshire ODP State team multiple times, selected to Super Y National Camp from 2006 through the present and has been named the 12th best player in the Northeast region by TopDrawerSoccer.com The soon to be graduate of Londonderry High School led her team to its best record in school history in her final year while also breaking the school record for goals in a season with 25. She was also named first team all state. She ended her four-year high school career with multiple team selection and MVP honors, while providing 49 goals and 29 assists.
“A hard working forward who makes the players around her better. She is bright tactically and gets in great spaces to create opportunities for her team,” said Taliaferro.
Schwitter is a member of the Arsenal World Class Club where she trains for current U17 National Team coach Kazbek Tambi and has been the team’s leading scorer the past several years. Tara will provide an attacking prowess to the Hurricanes this fall having scored a total of 79 goals with 47 assists for her high school, Immaculate Heart Academy. Two-time State Champion, Immaculate Heart Academy also won three Bergen County Championships with Schwitter, a forward, providing much of the attack on her way to being named four time All-County and two time All-State.
“A quick and creative exposed player who I expect to provide another dimension in our attack,” added Taliaferro. “Tara is not afraid to improvise and is courageous around the goal.”
Smith is a central defender for her club, the Ottawa Fury, coached by Jimmy Zito. She helped lead her team to New England Division Champions of the Super Y League in each of the past two years, as well as qualifying for the Super Y League finals. In addition to these accomplishments, Smith led the team to a US Cup Region A championship in 2008 and a placement in the US Cup Nationals the same year. She also was a multi-sport athlete at Ecole Secondaire Public Louis-Reil High School competing and winning in soccer (Ontario Provincial Champions), basketball (Ontario Provincial Bronze medalists) and volleyball (Ontario Provincial Runners-up).
“A big strong athletic defender who approaches the game professionally and I have been impressed with her development over the last year. I believe she will be identified as one of Canada’s top young defenders,” said Taliaferro.
Stockton is a forward for her club, PDA of New Jersey, which is a member of the highly competitive Elite Clubs National League and coached by Tom Anderson. Blake is a soon to be graduate of the Hun School of Princeton where she led her team to a Mid Atlantic Prep League championship and a spot in the state championship game this past season while recording nine goals and seven assists to bring her career totals to 25 goals and 17 assists for a total of 67 points. Along with those team accolades she was also selected as a first-team all-state, first-team all-prep and First-Team All-Maple Conference.
“Blake has a tremendous upside and I am excited to have the opportunity to coach her,” said Taliaferro. “She is extremely athletic and competitive in everything she does and loves to score goals.”
The 2010 recruiting class will replace six seniors lost to graduation, highlighted by midfielder Beverly Goebel who was drafted into the WPS by the Washington Freedom. The team returns nine starters from last season and will be looking forward to the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years.
