Seven newcomers added for 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida brings on seven freshmen for its 2009 season when it will compete for the first time in program history as an unrestricted NCAA Division I squad, making the Lady Ospreys eligible for NCAA and Atlantic Sun Conference postseason action.

“We are bringing in an extremely talented class,” UNF head coach Linda Hamilton said. “These girls will play a big part in our new era of being fully Division I eligible.”

The signing class consists of Kathryn Husted, Shelby Kelly, Michelle Larrinaga, Carolina Lencia, Kathleen Murphy, Marty Tracey and Allison Tucker.

Kelly, a Sarasota, Fla., native, earned three varsity letters for coaches Jamie Brester and Jen Short at Riverview High School, where she was an honor student and member of both the National Honor Society and Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Playing in the center midfield and at center forward, she helped the Rams post winning records her junior and senior seasons while earning first team honorable mention laurels.

Serving as team captain her final two seasons, Kelly tabbed her team’s Offensive MVP award for the 2007-08 season and scored the Bill Dehart Award for Heart and Soul the following year. She scored 10 goals and assisted on 17 goals as a senior to up her career totals to 20 goals and 35 assists in three seasons. She also was given the preseason most fit award prior to the 2008-09 season and led her squad to the first round of regionals as a junior and the district semifinals as a senior.

A product of Santa Fe High School, Murphy tallied three consecutive team MVP selections, beginning her sophomore season, scoring at least 20 goals each season. She finished her career with 101 goals, 116 assists, a district sportsmanship award (2007-08), school records in career and single-season scoring and a District 4A title (2008-09). She also served as captain for three seasons while her team notched 18 wins in 2007-08 and 19 in 2008-09.

Murphy graduated as an honor student and member of the National Society of High School Scholars. She lettered two seasons in softball and helped her team rack up a 30-1 record and a district championship as a freshman. The High Springs, Fla., native played for multiple club squads, securing a USASA Southeast Regional Championship in 2008. After attending camps at Florida, South Florida, Warner, Butler and York University, she was also recruited by Tampa, Armstrong Atlantic and West Florida.

Joining former high school teammate Samantha Keyes as a Lady Ospreys, Tracey competed all four high school seasons – one at Lyman HS and three at Lake Mary HS. At Lake Mary, she assisted on 15 goals and scored two as a junior to lead her team to the regional finals before sitting out her senior season due to an injury. She scored 12 goals and assisted on seven as a freshman at Lyman en route to being named to the all-district first team.

Also playing for IUS Elite U 12-16 and FSA Lightning U 18, Tracey won multiple club championships under coaches Corry Sheffield and Kim Montgomery. The Longwood, Fla., native graduated with high honors and as a member of the National Honor Society. She helped her teams compile an 84-14-12 cumulative record in high school.

Coming to UNF from Seminole High School, Seminole, Fla., native Tucker served her career in the Warhawks’ defensive unit, helping shut out opponents nine times as a junior and 10 as a senior, and earned her team’s defensive MVP accolade. She was also selected to play in the Florida Senior All-Star game in March.

Tucker earned all-district honorable mention one season before being tagged as a first-team all-district selection following her senior campaign. She played eight seasons with the Clearwater Chargers soccer club and grabbed honors for excellence in sportsmanship and the Century Award. She will play alongside former high school teammates Brittany Hahn and Vladana Petricevic after choosing UNF among a host of more than seven interested schools.

“We are excited to add this class, which is the first we have been able to watch and recruit for a whole year,” Hamilton said. “We believe we have a solid core that will continue to build the Lady Osprey program to the championship caliber it needs to be.”