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university of georgia soccernational signing day

february 1, 2012

information packet

2012 national signing day

The Georgia soccer team will add seven incoming freshman to its roster, as third-year head coach Steve Holeman announced his 2012 class on National Signing Day. The incoming group will help bolster a Bulldog squad that won 13 games in 2011 while reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the sixth time in program history. Included in the 2012 class are five players from the state of Georgia and one each from New Jersey and New York. The class also brings a variety of strengths to the team, comprised of three forwards, three backs, and one midfielder. Over the past several years, true freshmen have played a vital role in Geor-gia’s success on the pitch. In the last five years, three Bulldogs have been named SEC Freshman of the Year (Carrie Patterson in 2006, Kelli Corless in 2007 and Laura Eddy in 2009). In 2010 Alexa Newfield was the only freshman in the league named first team All-SEC while her classmate Torri Allen joined Newfield on the All-Fresh-man team. The 2010 class of 14 newcomers made their presence known from the start, responsible for over half of Georgia’s scoring on the season. In 2011, rookie Jenna Owens was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, continuing Georgia’s trend of strong incoming groups.

“Our entire staff is very excited about this incoming class of fresh-men. It’s a talented, athletic, aggres-sive, and hard-working group. This class has a lot of competitive drive, and that’s a quality that will continue to improve the complexion of the program.” - Head Coach Steve Holeman

holeman adds seven on national signing day 2012

mariah dickeylawrenceville, ga.

andie fontanettaneshanic station, n.j

elizabeth johnsonmarietta, ga.

toriana pattersonyorktown heights, n.y.

liliana riosduluth, ga.

cara smithevans, ga.

emma sonnettmarietta, ga.


mariah dickeyforward • lawrenceville, ga. • collins hill hs

high school (collins hill)• three-year varsity starter• all state in 2011• school record for fastest goal scored in 2011 (12 seconds)• voted best offensive player 2009 and 2011• team mvp in 2009• region 7-AAAAA champions in 2009, 2011• elite eight in 2009 and 2011• most goals scored in region games in 2011

club (gwinnett soccer association)• super ‘y’ participant in 2007, 2008, and 2009• disney soccer showcase runner-up in 2008

• team-high goals and assists in 2011• club teammate of cara smith

personal• daughter of fred and amy dickey• one sister, brea• four-year varsity softball player• region 7-AAAAA softball champions 2009-11• also enjoys photography

“Mariah was a welcome addition to the 94 ECNL team this season. Her speed and quickness will get the attention of any soccer follower. She has grown as a striker throughout the season, which culminated in her scoring some very important goals in the Sanford ECNL event as well as throughout the season. Mariah’s athleticism is off the charts and she has been a successful multi-sport athlete. UGA will be very grateful for her addition to their roster in 2012.” -Coach Andrew Trevers


andie fontanetta forward • neshanic station, n.j. • mount saint mary academy

high school (mount saint mary academy)• varsity starter• skyland conference/raritan division first team for three seasons• fixture on n.j. state scoring leaders list• named player-to-watch in 2009• team mvp in 2009

club (player development academy) / odp• starting striker for pda celtic, named #1 girls soccer club in the nation in 2009-10 per ecnl championship• named to us soccer club super ‘y’ odp elite national team in 2010

• nj odp state team 2010-11• ecnl all-tourney team in 2010• ecnl/id2 national camp in 2011

personal• daughter of john and sandie• one sister, alexandra, and two brothers, anthony and andrew• works with new york red bull arena’smedical team• enjoys scuba diving, training younger ath-letes, and serving as dale carnegie mentor• member of national honor society and honor roll

“Andie can be an electrifying player. She has tremendous determination on the field to compete and win games. Andie has an arsenal of attacking moves, but doesn’t shy away from physically battling for every ball. She is constantly looking for ways to better herself as a player and you can be sure she will be giving 150 percent to bring her personal best to each and every match.” -Coaches Seth Korman and Larry Hart


elizabeth johnson defender • marietta, ga. • fellowship christian hs

high school (fellowship christian)• four year varsity starter• 2011 team mvp• state final four in 2011• state all-region all four years• named espn top 150 club (north atlanta soccer association) / odp• third place in national championships with nasa g12 elite II in 2011• national league champions in 2010• region III champions in 2011 and finalists in 2009 • state champions in 2008 and 2010, runners-up in 2009 and 2011• odp inter-regional event in 2011• ga odp captain for four years

personal• daughter of kevin and aprille johnson• brother, zack (22), is a senior in uga’s terry college of business• served in the dominican republic for past three years• serves on jdrf board at school to help raise funds and awareness for juvenile diabetes• helps coach younger age groups at north atlanta soccer association• enjoys running long distances (owns half marathon pr of 1 hour, 41 minutes)• aspires to be a doctor in the mission field • four year member of honor roll and beta club• spanish national honor society president• national honor society four-year member• played two years of varsity basketball• also a track standout, taking fourth place at state meet in the mile (5:22) and two mile (11:46)• high school and club teammate of emma sonnett

“EJ is a born leader in every sense of the word. She possesses great skill and has an outstanding level of fitness as well. EJ’s communication and vision allow her to control games from center back, or holding mid. It’s been my honor to coach EJ!” -Coach Dave Smith


“Jenna is an all-around talent who is comfortable in the midfield or up top. She brings so much to the table. She’s got pace and power and bite. She can defend and attack. She is very smooth on the ball and is remarkable at dancing out of pressure. She has exceptional technical ability and a knack for delivering the killer ball to spring a teammate in behind the defense. Jenna’s talent as a distributor – her vision, the weight and timing of her passes, her ability to play with any surface – it’s really something. In front of goal she’s very dangerous. There are players who can score goals but aren’t very good passers. And there a lot of good passers who can’t finish. Jenna can cut you either way and that makes her very valuable.” -Georgia Head Coach Steve Holeman

“Jenna Owens is an exciting player who attacks the other team relentless-ly with her athleticism and technical ability. Very few kids have left Real Colorado as technically polished as Jenna. Her determination to become a great player along with the gifts she was born with should help her make a strong impact at Georgia as a freshman and beyond.” -Jared Spires, Real Colorado

toriana patterson defender • yorktown heights, n.y. • yorktown heights hs

high school (yorktown heights)• four-year varsity starter / one-year captain• 2011 all-league, all-conference, all-section• journal news all-star / msg varsity westchester & hudson valley all-star• 2010 all-league, all-conference, all-section and con-ed all-star• aa league champions in 2009• 2009 all-league / all-conference• north county news first team in 2009• named espn top 150

club (quickstrike fc) / odp / national team• played with quickstrike fc since 2008• starter for jamaica u-20 national team• new york state odp team 2004-08• 2010 super ‘y’ usl finals all-tournament

team• 2010 new york east (nye) state final• 2008 and 2010 region 1 semifinalist• 2009 super ‘y’ (usl) finals mvp• nye state champions in 2008 and 2010• 2009 super ‘y’ national champions personal• daughter of chris and raquel patterson• twin brother, trey, will play soccer atumass-amherst• older sister, talisa, played at boston u

“Tori has always been a vital part of our Quickstrike team. The physicality she brings to the field and the ability to use her head is second to none. Tori has grown tactically which has made her a great center back. Her ability to defend high-level forwards allows her to be a dominant player. She will make a big impact at UGA.” -Coach Jesse Kolmel




liliana rios midfielder • duluth, ga. • marist hs

high school• four-year varsity• 4a state quarterfinalists in 2010 andchampions in 2009

club (united futbol academy) / odp• played with ufa since 2007• state champions 2009-2011• state finalists in 2008• national league since 2010• region III championship finalist in 2010• disney showcase finalist in 2009• 94 region III camp from 2007-10• odp region III regional pool in 2009• arizona odp champions in 2011• usys girls national developmental camp in 2010

personal• daughter of jose and martha rios• older brother, julian, is a sophomore at uga majoring in biology• member of the national honor society

“Coaching players like Liliana is what makes you enjoy the job of coaching soccer. Her willingness to learn at all times has made her a very competitive player with strong athleticism and good technique. I always say that the greatest thing about the game of soccer is the people that you meet, and behind her quiet attitude and her smil-ing face, Lily is an amazing young lady and whenever she is around, her smile lights up the place. Liliana’s ability to read the game and take people one-on-one will help her to compete at UGA. I am so looking forward to see her on the field.” -Coach Ignace Moleka




cara smith forward • evans, ga. • westminster schools of augusta

high school (westminster)• all-area, all-region, and all-state teams 2009-11• offensive mvp 2009-11• 61 goals, 47 assists in first two seasons• gisa aaa high school state semifinals in 2011• gisa aaa state finals in 2010 and champions in 2009

club (gwinnett soccer association) / odp• gsa red phoenix 93• seven-time ga state cup champions (2005-11)• region III championship tournament quarterfi-nals in 2008 and 2011, semifinals in 2010, finals in 2009• region III premier league east champions in 2007 and 2009, finalists in 2008• disney girls showcase champions in 2010• region III premier league east U16 scoring leader in fall 2008

• ga odp since 2004-05, including two years playing up an age group• u-19 interregional camp in philadelphia in 2011• region III odp champions in 2009-10 (leading scorer)• odp national championship (third place) in 2010• club teammate of mariah dickey

personal• daughter of ed and anne smith• has an older sister, caitlin, and a twin sister, kelly• also enjoys wakeboarding, cooking, andswimming• honor roll 2008-12• national honor society / beta club / ap scholar

“Cara has been a joy to coach this season. Cara slowly integrated herself back into the game after undergoing ACL surgery in early 2011. She is a tremendous soccer talent. Cara’s contribution increased more and more as she got stronger, and her energy,enthusiasm, competitiveness, commitment and sweet feet will bring a wonderful addi-tion to UGA in Fall 2012. I am excited for all she will accomplish for UGA and personally. She will be dearly missed.” -Coach Andrew Trevers


emma sonnett defender • marietta, ga. • fellowship christian hs

high school (fellowship christian)• four-year varsity starter and two-year captain• state semifinalists in 2010-11• all-region team in 2010-11• 2010 espn third team all-america• named espn top 150

club (north atlanta soccer association) / odp• nine year member• 2011 us youth national semifinalist• 2011 us youth region III champion• 2010 us youth national league champion• 2010 disney tournament champion• 2009 us youth region III finalist• 2008 us youth region III quarterfinalists• 2008 us youth region III league champions• 2008 ga state cup champions

• 2007 ga state cup champions• 2007 washington area girls soccer (wags)champions• 93 ga state odp 2008-10• 2010 alabama showcase

personal• daughter of bill and jane sonnett• has a twin sister, emily• high school coach was trip hughes• enjoys reading, listening to all genres of music, and art• high school and club teammate ofelizabeth johnson

“Emma is a tremendous talent and will be an impact player at the college level. Emma has been a true pleasure to coach -- great attitude, fantastic workrate, and an outstanding teammate. She has been a joy to coach. -Coach Dave Smith


GEORGIA SOCCER 2012 SIGNING CLASS

NAME POS. HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL CLUB

Mariah Dickey F Lawrenceville, Ga. Collins Hill GSA

Andie Fontanetta F Neshanic Station, N.J. Mount Saint Mary PDA

Elizabeth Johnson D Marietta, Ga. Fellowship Christian NASA

Toriana Patterson D Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Yorktown Heights Quickstrike

Liliana Rios M Duluth, Ga. Marist UFA

Cara Smith F Evans, Ga. Westminster GSA

Emma Sonnett D Marietta, Ga. Fellowship Christian NASA

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“Andie has a fantastic blend of talent, pace and aggression and the confidence to want the ball when the game is on the line. She’s a proven goal-scorer as well as a tough, punish-ing player. Andie plays with reckless disregard for her own body and tackles as hard as anyone on the field. She’s the type of forward that defenders hate to play against because she’s just relentless. Andie’s willingness to chase down defenders and put in tackles makes her a perfect fit for our style of play.”

“Emma has really come into her own over this past year as a high level defender. She’s fast, strong and courageous and can play with either foot, and she’s a very good header of the ball. Emma reads the game well and has excellent defensive instincts and her communication has improved dramatically. She’ll make an excellent addition to our corps of defenders.”

“Tori is a very talented center back who has gained invalu-able experience with the Jamaican U-20 national team over the past two years. She’s physically strong and very clean technically. Her decision making and her composure on the ball are really advanced qualities for a young player. Tori is one of the best defenders coming out of Region I and we’re excited to have her here at Georgia.”

“Mariah is an exciting addition to our attack. She’s tough, physical and most of all fast. She’s a pure burner who can change a game with her pace because she’s got the ability to get behind defenses. Her speed makes her a threat to turn nothing into something and that’s going to be a problem for any opponent. Mariah is a grinder who is good at knocking players off the ball to create chances for herself. In front of goal she is a scrappy and efficient finisher.”

“EJ is a solid all-around defender with good size, strength and technical ability. She’s well known for her work rate, discipline and leadership qualities which are critical for a central defender. EJ’s ability to read the game makes her an excellent positional defender.”

“Liliana is a very polished technical player who can excel in our possession-style attack. She is very good at escaping pressure on the dribble and is very reliable as a player who will keep the ball for her team. Liliana’s vision and composure on the ball are big strengths that will serve her well at the next level.”

“Cara is an exciting attacker with a wonderful combination of speed, talent and a predisposition for scor-ing goals. Cara suffered an ACL injury during her junior year but has looked very sharp since her return to the field. She is an exceptionally creative player who thrives in 1v1 situations where she can run at a defender to create chances for herself and her teammates. She’s a natural goal-scorer with an affinity for popping up in the right place at the right time and finishing her chances.”

Coach Holeman on the signees...

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