Women’s Soccer Signs Five to National Letters

4/12/05 -- Long Island University women’s soccer coach Tracey Bartholomew has announced the signing of Whitney Collins-Cephers, Christina O’Connor, Nicole Allen, Kelly O’Connell and Ashley Brown to National Letters of Intent for the fall 2005 season.

Collins-Cephers, a 5-5 defender/midfielder, was the team captain of the 2005 Smoky Hill High School squad that was ranked fourth in the region, receiving national votes. A fast composed and skilled player with good distribution from the back, the Aurora, Colo. product was a member of the touted Colorado Soccer Academy (CSG) club team, a state cup finalist three years and semifinalist for five years. CSG Academy is directed and coached by former LIU men’s soccer player, Rafael Amaya (1983-85), one of six Blackbirds drafted in the 1996 inaugural Major League Soccer draft- the most of any collegiate program. Collins-Cephers was the state cup MVP in 2000 and helped lead her school to a third-place finish in the 2001 Far West Regional. In addition, she was also the basketball team’s most valuable player. A member of the National Honor Society, Collins-Cephers will be joining the Honors program at LIU.

O’Connor, a 5-6 defender, brings additional speed and tenacity to the Blackbirds' back line. The sister of current LIU defender Ashley O’Connor, the Pittsburgh product was tabbed a Region I All-American in 2004 and Player of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2004. As captain of her 2004 team, O’Connor helped the squad advance to the state quarterfinals, was selected all-state and named to the Elite 11 squad a second straight season. In her junior year, she helped lead Venetia High School to the state semifinals. In addition, the four-year varsity starter was tabbed All-WPIAL and all-section each of the last two seasons. She is also a member of the Century United club squad.

Allen, a tenacious and hard-nosed player, hails from David Prouty High School. A Central Massachusetts All-Star in 2000, the Spencer, Mass. product competed four seasons for the U-17 Boston Renegades, who captured the 2004 Super Y League national championship. That also marked the second season in which she was named the team’s MVP. Coming off ACL surgery this season, the 5-8 Allen was a member of the Super-Y- Regional ODP pool, and is expected to add depth to the central midfield spot and backline. A standout student, she will also be joining the Honors program.

O’Connell comes to Brooklyn from Bartholomew’s hometown of Rochester, N.Y. The 2004 Section V Monroe County II Player of the Year brings her physical play and outstanding 1v1 defending to the squad. She was a member of the All Greater Rochester Soccer Team last year and was tabbed first team all-county her junior and senior seasons. As a freshman and sophomore, she was named Honorable Mention All Greater Rochester. Also a starter for the Greece Arcadia High School basketball team, O'Connell helped lead the squad to the state title earning Honorable Mention All Greater Rochester accolades. O’Connell is also member of the Greece Cobras club team. She will also be enrolled in the LIU Honors program.

Brown comes to LIU from Westminster, Colorado. The 5-9 defensive central midfielder will add impressive size and physical stature to the Blackbird team. An outstanding all-around athlete, Brown was a three-year captain for Standley Lake High School and was tabbed first team all-conference in her season campaign. She played on the Colorado ODP squad one season and helped the (CSGA) – along with Collins-Cephers- to a second place finish at the 2004 State Cup. Brown also was a standout in basketball, being named second team all-conference as a senior. She scored 17 points to aid Standley Lake in a second-round rout of Doherty High School in the Class 5A state tournament.

“I am extremely excited about the incoming class. This group has incredible athleticism, speed and soccer talent,” said Bartholomew. “These players will make an immediate impact in the program and add quality and depth to our team.”

The Blackbirds last fall reached postseason play for just the second time in school history, advancing to the ECAC final before an overtime setback to Columbia. In their first postseason appearance since the 1999 NCAA College Cup, the Blackbirds defeated Fordham to reach the final.

“All of the players come from successful backgrounds of winning and competing at a high level and they will help us make the next step forward in the future of the LIU soccer program,” Bartholomew adds. “Even more importantly, they are exceptional young women that fit into the character, attitude and heart of our team.”

LIU also enjoyed success off the field in 2004 as it was one of 53 schools which saw its men’s and women’s soccer team each post at least a 3.00 grade-point average during the 2003-04 academic year. The Blackbirds earned their seventh NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America)/adidas Team Academic Award.