May 22, 2008

Greenville, S.C. -- Furman's eight-player women's soccer signing class has been ranked as the best in the Southern Conference and 15th in the Southeast Region in Soccer Buzz Magazine's annual recruiting rankings released this week.

The Paladins class topped the SoCon for the first time since 2004 and finished ahead of Clemson, Mercer, incoming SoCon member Samford and Alabama in the regional rankings. Furman placed 89th in the online publication's list if the top 100 classes and was the only league school to crack the top 100.

"We are excited about this year's incoming class," said Furman head coach Andrew Burr. "There are definitely some players in this group that will have an immediate impact on our program. The Southern Conference is a solid league and teams like Samford and UNC Greensboro are always bringing in quality players. For us to be ranked ahead of those teams, as well as several other strong programs in the region, is a nice honor."

The class of Sarah Caldwell (Todd, N.C.), Megan Dougherty (Rogers, Ark.), Katya Gokhman (Alpharetta, Ga.), Martha Hall (Knoxville, Tenn.), Alexa Jones (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Rachel Shelnutt (St. Simons Island, Ga.), Jessica Smith (Franklin, Tenn.) and Laura White (Atlanta, Ga.) will report for preseason practice in August.

The class is highlighted by Region III ODP team member Martha Hall, a forward who earned IMG Academy Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors last season, and Russian U-19 National Team forward/midfielder Katya Gokhman of Milton High School. The Lady Paladins also added depth at keeper with the addition of Brentwood Real Madrid standout Jessica Smith and Greensboro Twisters' netminder Sarah Caldwell.

The 2008 Lady Paladins return six starters from a squad that posted a 16-6-1 record, claimed the Southern Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth the time in the last eight seasons.

The complete Soccer Buzz rankings can be found at www.soccerbuzz.com.

2008 Signing Class

Player Pos. Hometown High School Club

Sarah Caldwell GK Todd, N.C. Watauga High School Greensboro Twisters

Megan Dougherty F/MF Rogers, Ark. Rogers High School Mississippi Fire

Katya Gokhman F/MF Alpharetta, Ga. Milton High School Atlanta Fire United

Martha Hall F Knoxville, Tenn. Edison Academic Center IMG Academy

Alexa Jones MF Lawrenceville, Ga. Collins Hill High School Atlanta Fire United

Rachel Shelnutt F/MF St. Simons Island, Ga. Frederica Academy Tophat `08 Gold

Jessica Smith GK Franklin, Tenn. Battle Ground Academy Brentwood Real Madrid

Laura White MF Atlanta, Ga. The Lovett School Tophat `08 Gold