Ospreys Land Five on Signing Day for Women's Soccer
11/14/2019 12:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
JACKSONVILLE -- North Florida women's soccer head coach Eric Faulconer announced the signing of five players for the Ospreys during the NCAA's National Signing period.
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in the program's Division I era, Faulconer and his staff looked to add talent and competitive depth to the UNF roster. North Florida finished 11-6-2 overall this season including a 5-2-1 mark in ASUN Conference play.Â
"We are adding a lot of high quality to our program with the 2020 recruiting class," stated Faulconer. "These student-athletes are all very talented soccer players, as well as outstanding students. They have fully bought into our vision for the UNF women's soccer program. Culture always starts with the right people and this group will only enhance our overall team culture.  I want to thank my assistant coaches Devin Zvosec and Morgan Luckie for their hard work in regards to this class.  I also want to thank our athletic administration, support staff and the faculty members on campus who continue to take the time throughout the year to meet with our potential student-athletes. We made a huge jump this season. Coming off arguably the best season in the division I history at UNF, we are definitely a program on the rise. We return virtually our entire starting line-up, all four all-conference players and 32 of the 33 goals we scored this season. This class is going to bolster our lineup and create a tremendous amount of competition in the fall. The future of our program is very bright and we cannot wait to get after it again this spring and upcoming fall."  Â
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Faulconer's Take:
"Rachel is a very confident goalkeeper that is vocal and has a great command of the game. She has very strong technique and the ability to make the big save. She possesses excellent distribution skills and is comfortable with the ball at her feet. She has a great passion for UNF and is an excellent student. We are looking forward to having her in our program."Â
What They Say...
"Rachel is a very talented, hardworking goalkeeper that I have had the pleasure of coaching for the past seven years. Rachel is very driven to be the best goalkeeper that she can be and leads by example with her hard work, dedication and commitment. I am confident that Rachel will be a huge asset to the University of North Florida soccer program and will be an excellent student athlete." Coach Mark Barnett Head Coach Weston FC GDA
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Faulconer's Take:
"I tell Haynes this all the time that I love watching her play. She is 100% invested in every game, a true competitor. She is a strong 1v1 defender, but also has the ability to get forward and create problems in the attack for the opposition because of her pace.  We are committed to having top Jacksonville area soccer players in our program and we are excited to have Haynes join our Osprey family."
What They Say...
"No one will outwork Haynes. No one puts more pressure on herself than Haynes. That is why she succeeds at what she puts her mind to. UNF is lucky to have such a dedicated player." Coach Tom Devenny Bishop Kenny High School.Â
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Faulconer's Take:
"It has been quite common for other college and club coaches to come up to our staff and rave about Amanda Hartmann. Amanda is a true soccer player in every sense. She is technical and has great tactical awareness. She is calm under pressure and protects the ball in possession. She reads the game very well and is a disruptive presence in the defensive phase of the game. We are thrilled to have Amanda join our program and we look forward to working with her this fall."
What They Say...
"After multiple choices to play division one college soccer, I'm pleased to announce the Amanda Hartmann has decided to play her college soccer at UNF. They are getting a player that can come in and help their program immediately. She is one of the best midfielders in our club." Coach Craig Melton, Orlando City Soccer.
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Faulconer's Take:
"Zara is an outstanding player and leader. She is so calm when she plays and never gets rattled. We believe she is one of the best center backs in the 2020 class in the state. She organizes the back line well, is very good in 1v1 situations and is an excellent distributor of the ball. She is very comfortable connecting passes and looking to build out of the back. She is another outstanding student in this class and we feel she has the potential to have a standout collegiate career."
What They Say...
"Zara is one of the most hardworking, dedicated and committed soccer players that I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. Her leadership on and off the field is just amazing for such a young person and makes her a dream player for any collegiate coach. Zara is a very driven, athletic, intelligent soccer player and a born leader, who I am very confident, will make an immediate impact at The University of North Florida." Coach Mark Barnett Head Coach Weston FC GDA
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Faulconer's Take:
"Averi is an outstanding player and we love her versatility. She just wants to be on the field and she is passionate about playing the game. She is tactically very sharp and is going to be a strong addition to our roster. She is from a rural area of Georgia and goes to great lengths to work and develop her game. I think that speaks volumes about her dedication. She is academically off the charts and we are excited about Averi's arrival this spring. I think getting a jump start on her college career will pay big dividends for her this fall."
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What They Say...
"Averi Walraven is one of the greatest people I have ever coached in my 25+ years. Not only is she a fantastic soccer player who is always looking to improve her game, but she is also a wonderful human being who is kind, caring and a true team player. She is versatile and can play multiple positions. Both on and off the ball she is extremely intelligent and makes good decisions. She had a lot of NCAA DI interest and I believe she made the right choice by joining UNF and Coach Eric Faulconer. I wish her nothing but the best in her collegiate career." -Alex Pama, Cherokee Impact.
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Coming off one of the most successful seasons in the program's Division I era, Faulconer and his staff looked to add talent and competitive depth to the UNF roster. North Florida finished 11-6-2 overall this season including a 5-2-1 mark in ASUN Conference play.Â
"We are adding a lot of high quality to our program with the 2020 recruiting class," stated Faulconer. "These student-athletes are all very talented soccer players, as well as outstanding students. They have fully bought into our vision for the UNF women's soccer program. Culture always starts with the right people and this group will only enhance our overall team culture.  I want to thank my assistant coaches Devin Zvosec and Morgan Luckie for their hard work in regards to this class.  I also want to thank our athletic administration, support staff and the faculty members on campus who continue to take the time throughout the year to meet with our potential student-athletes. We made a huge jump this season. Coming off arguably the best season in the division I history at UNF, we are definitely a program on the rise. We return virtually our entire starting line-up, all four all-conference players and 32 of the 33 goals we scored this season. This class is going to bolster our lineup and create a tremendous amount of competition in the fall. The future of our program is very bright and we cannot wait to get after it again this spring and upcoming fall."  Â
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RACHEL FISHKINÂ
A talented goalkeeper from Parkland, Florida. Has a great command of the game and brings to the UNF goalkeeping position a lot of top-level youth club game experience. Plays her club soccer for the Weston FC U18/19 girls US Soccer Development Academy team and is a teammate of incoming freshman Zara Siassi. Was a Florida Coaches Athletic Association All state Award winner in 2016-17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.Faulconer's Take:
"Rachel is a very confident goalkeeper that is vocal and has a great command of the game. She has very strong technique and the ability to make the big save. She possesses excellent distribution skills and is comfortable with the ball at her feet. She has a great passion for UNF and is an excellent student. We are looking forward to having her in our program."Â
What They Say...
"Rachel is a very talented, hardworking goalkeeper that I have had the pleasure of coaching for the past seven years. Rachel is very driven to be the best goalkeeper that she can be and leads by example with her hard work, dedication and commitment. I am confident that Rachel will be a huge asset to the University of North Florida soccer program and will be an excellent student athlete." Coach Mark Barnett Head Coach Weston FC GDA
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HAYNES GRANT
A very quick and dynamic defender from Jacksonville. Plays her club soccer for the Jacksonville Armada FC U18 ECNL team and high school soccer for Bishop Kenny. Was a 2017-2018 selection to the ECNL All Southeast Conference team, while helping her team win the league championship. She was a three-year member of the Florida ODP first team and a Florida Times Union All-First Coast selection at Bishop Kenny. She is an excellent student and a member of the National Honor Society.Faulconer's Take:
"I tell Haynes this all the time that I love watching her play. She is 100% invested in every game, a true competitor. She is a strong 1v1 defender, but also has the ability to get forward and create problems in the attack for the opposition because of her pace.  We are committed to having top Jacksonville area soccer players in our program and we are excited to have Haynes join our Osprey family."
What They Say...
"No one will outwork Haynes. No one puts more pressure on herself than Haynes. That is why she succeeds at what she puts her mind to. UNF is lucky to have such a dedicated player." Coach Tom Devenny Bishop Kenny High School.Â
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AMANDA HARTMANN
A technically gifted midfielder from DeBary, Florida. Possesses great tactical knowledge in both the attacking and defensive phases of the game. Plays her club soccer for the Orlando City Soccer Club U18 ECNL team and high school soccer for University High School. She was selected and attended the ECNL PDP event as one of the top players in the southeast in her age group in 2018. Was recognized by Top Drawer soccer as an ECNL top performer at the ECNL Florida event in 2019.  Was touted by Orlando City as one of the top players to watch for the 2018-2019 season. Captain of her high school team at University, where she has garnered all area honors from both the Orlando Sentinel and the Daytona Beach News-Journal. An excellent student who is currently taking dual enrollment courses at Daytona State CollegeFaulconer's Take:
"It has been quite common for other college and club coaches to come up to our staff and rave about Amanda Hartmann. Amanda is a true soccer player in every sense. She is technical and has great tactical awareness. She is calm under pressure and protects the ball in possession. She reads the game very well and is a disruptive presence in the defensive phase of the game. We are thrilled to have Amanda join our program and we look forward to working with her this fall."
What They Say...
"After multiple choices to play division one college soccer, I'm pleased to announce the Amanda Hartmann has decided to play her college soccer at UNF. They are getting a player that can come in and help their program immediately. She is one of the best midfielders in our club." Coach Craig Melton, Orlando City Soccer.
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ZARA SIASSI
A technically and tactically talented central defender, who can also play in the midfield, from Lake Worth, Florida. Siassi is rated as one of the top players in the 2020 class in Florida by Top Drawer Soccer. She is captain of the Weston FC U18/19 girls US Soccer Development Academy team and is a teammate of incoming freshman Rachel Fishkin. Was selected and participated in US Youth Soccer ODP national camp in 2016 in Phoenix, AZ and was a member of the Florida ODP state team  from 2014-2016. Attends Park Vista Community High School where she participated in Varsity Cross Country, Soccer, and Track. At Park Vista she was an All-Conference team selection for varsity soccer and her 4x800m relay team went to the Florida state track championships in 2017. An all A student throughout high school, she is graduating in the top 10% of her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, HOSA, and Best Buddies.Faulconer's Take:
"Zara is an outstanding player and leader. She is so calm when she plays and never gets rattled. We believe she is one of the best center backs in the 2020 class in the state. She organizes the back line well, is very good in 1v1 situations and is an excellent distributor of the ball. She is very comfortable connecting passes and looking to build out of the back. She is another outstanding student in this class and we feel she has the potential to have a standout collegiate career."
What They Say...
"Zara is one of the most hardworking, dedicated and committed soccer players that I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. Her leadership on and off the field is just amazing for such a young person and makes her a dream player for any collegiate coach. Zara is a very driven, athletic, intelligent soccer player and a born leader, who I am very confident, will make an immediate impact at The University of North Florida." Coach Mark Barnett Head Coach Weston FC GDA
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AVERI WALRAVEN
A very versatile and talented player from Red Bud, Ga. Walraven can play in the midfield or anywhere along the backline. She will early enroll at UNF this spring. Plays her club soccer for the Cherokee Impact and helped her team to the National Premier League Piedmont Conference Championship and the Georgia State Cup title in 2019. A member of the US Youth Soccer South Region ODP team in 2017, Walraven was selected for the South ODP international team and Costa Rica tournament. Attends Sonoraville High School where she is a four-year letter winner, All-Region Team selection and the Chattanooga Times Free Press: Best of Preps Award recipient. She carries the top GPA in her graduating class and she is a member of Beta Club and the Spanish Honors Society.Faulconer's Take:
"Averi is an outstanding player and we love her versatility. She just wants to be on the field and she is passionate about playing the game. She is tactically very sharp and is going to be a strong addition to our roster. She is from a rural area of Georgia and goes to great lengths to work and develop her game. I think that speaks volumes about her dedication. She is academically off the charts and we are excited about Averi's arrival this spring. I think getting a jump start on her college career will pay big dividends for her this fall."
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What They Say...
"Averi Walraven is one of the greatest people I have ever coached in my 25+ years. Not only is she a fantastic soccer player who is always looking to improve her game, but she is also a wonderful human being who is kind, caring and a true team player. She is versatile and can play multiple positions. Both on and off the ball she is extremely intelligent and makes good decisions. She had a lot of NCAA DI interest and I believe she made the right choice by joining UNF and Coach Eric Faulconer. I wish her nothing but the best in her collegiate career." -Alex Pama, Cherokee Impact.
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