JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Local talent and Virginia Tech transfer Bella Pontieri returns home as North Florida women's soccer head coach and staff announce the signing of the forward/midfielder prior to the 2023 season.

The 5-7 Pontieri will join the UNF program in August following one collegiate season in Blacksburg. As a freshman, Pontieri played in four of Virginia Tech's first six games to start the year before having her first campaign cut short due to injury.

The attacking-minded Pontieri hails from Fleming Island, Fla., where she earned a 3-star rating by Top Drawer Soccer coming out of St. Johns Country Day. Additionally, she played her club soccer for United Soccer Alliance and IMG. At SJCD, Pontieri played with current Osprey Lauren Weiss under coach Mike Pickett. She was instrumental in helping St. Johns to the 2021 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A state championship.

At the club level, Pontieri finished as a top-10 goal scorer nationally in the U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy (DA), while claiming two consecutive 3-on-3 national championships.

She also helped Jacksonville FC win the 2021 United Women's Soccer League Two (UWS2) Sunshine Conference championship, earning two Player of the Match honors and a selection to the 2021 UWS2 All-Sunshine Conference First Team. She was tabbed to participate in the US Soccer's Youth National Team Regional event in March 2021 and was selected 22 times as a DA weekly standout by Top Drawer during her youth career.

"We are very excited that Bella is coming home and joining our UNF women's soccer program," stated head coach Eric Faulconer. "She is someone that is going to greatly strengthen our attacking group and provide us with a creative and dynamic personality in the final third of the field. She can help us score goals and has the versatility to play as a forward or attacking midfielder. Over the last several seasons we have been fortunate to add some really strong transfers from the local area that have gone on to have extremely productive careers in our program. We feel Bella has the potential to make a similar impact and we look forward to her arrival on campus."