Feb. 6, 2006

DAYTON, Ohio - Head Coach Mike Tucker announced his 2006 University of Dayton women's soccer freshman class of eight Wednesday, on signing day. Mandi Bäck, Cara Cornacchia, Tasha Dittamore, Colleen Gibson, Lauren Maybury, Emily Miller, Lindsey Miller, and Caitlin Proffitt make up the incoming class.

"We targeted specific areas of the field with this recruit class," Tucker said, "with a priority to increase our scoring abilities. We are simply ecstatic with the quality of players who have signed, and feel that they not only bring tremendous skills to the field, but will also be great leaders and distinguish themselves in the classroom and in the community. This is a major impact class and I could not be happier to have them join the Flyer soccer family."

Mandi Bäck
Position: Forward / Midfielder
Height: 5-4
Hometown: North Olmstead, OH
High School: North Olmstead
Club/ODP: Westside Stars Soccer Club
Accolades: Tallied 59 goals and 38 assists as a four-year starter at North Olmstead...2005 adidas/NSCAA All-America selection...Named 2005 Southwestern Conference Player of the Year, GCSSCA Player of the Year and All-Greater Cleveland First Team...Named All-Conference and Greater Cleveland First Team in 2004 and 2005...Greater Cleveland Honorable Mention in 2002 and 2003.
Coach Tucker's comments: "This 2005 NSCAA High School All-American from northern Ohio is a crafty, quick and high-scoring forward who will contribute immediately in the Flyer attack. Mandi is equally adept at creating chances for herself or for her teammates. She will be the youngest of three sisters currently playing Division I soccer."

Cara Cornacchia
Position: Midfielder
Height:
Hometown: Pickering, Ontario, Canada
High School: St Mary Catholic
Club/ODP: Dixie 88s
Accolades: Member of the Ontario Provincial Team since 2000, which was the U16 National Champions...Part of the National Training program since 2002, with invitations to join the national camp in training in Florida, Peru, Saskatchewan, Vancouver and Michigan...Her clube team, the Dixie 88s is currently ranked No. 1...Also considered Rice, Rhode Island and Missouri.
Coach Tucker's comments: "Cara is one of two Canadian imports and is a club teammate of fellow Flyer recruit Lauren Maybury on the National champion Dixie 88s. Cara is a highly skilled and active midfielder who will remind Flyer fans of graduating senior Katie Lowstuter."

Tasha Dittamore
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Granite City, IL
High School: Granite City
Club/ODP: Eclipse Select / Missouri State Team, Region II Team
Accolades: Named All-State in Illinois and a NSCAA Regional All-America pick in 2005...Member of the Missouri State ODP and Region II ODP teams from 2003-2004...Also considered Notre Dame and Maryland...Also played basketball in high school.
Coach Tucker's comments: "An outstanding goalkeeper for the Eclipse (IL.) club team and the Region II ODP squad, Tasha is a tremendous prospect. She has good size, excellent athleticism and a great work ethic. Tasha will immediately vie for playing time in the goal."

Colleen Gibson
Position: Forward / Midfielder
Height:
Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
High School: Vista del Lago HS
Club/ODP: Santa Anita Strikers
Accolades: A three-time All-Conference pick, Gibson was named the Offensive MVP of her conference in 2005...Team MVP of her varsity team as both a freshman and sophomore...Led Visa del Lago to league championship all three seasons...All-Conference, All-League all three seasons...Holds school records for goals and assists.
Coach Tucker's comments: "Colleen plays with a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm. She is adept at attacking goal from anywhere on the field and will demand the attention of opponents at all times. Expect great things from Colleen immediately as she helps build scoring numbers for the Flyers."

Lauren Maybury
Position: Defender
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Bolton, Ontario
High School: Humberview
Club/ODP: Dixie 88s / Ontario Provincial Team (2003-2005); National Training Ontario Squad (2003-2005)
Accolades: A winner of 12 major championships at the club level, Maybury was selected to the Canadian National Player Pool in 2004...with theU-15 Ontario Provincial Team, she played three games against the Peru National Team after being invited to the U-15 National Team Camp...In 2005, she was named to the U-17 Canada Games Team.
Coach Tucker's comments: "Lauren joins fellow Canadian Cara Cornacchia in bringing great international playing experience to the Flyers. An athletic, physical defender, Lauren has the skills to dominate defensively while contributing to the attack. She is a tremendous competitor who is not afraid of contact."

Emily Miller
Position: Defender / Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Liberty Township, OH
High School: Lakota East
Club/ODP: Cincinnati United Premier / Ohio South
Accolades: Named First Team All-Greater Miami Conference in 2005 after being a Second Team selection in 2004 helping Lakota East to 14-win seasons each year...A seven-time A-Pool player in ODP with Ohio South the last two years...In 2005 her club team won the Regional League Championship and was the State Cup runner-up...Also considered Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Louisville and Kentucky.
Coach Tucker's comments: "Emily has been a teammate with fellow Flyer recruit Tasha Dittamore on the Region II ODP team as a skillful central defender or midfielder. And she joins former high school teammate Amanda Gallow at UD. Emily is an excellent organizer and communicator with great vision."

Lindsey Miller
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Prairie Village, KS
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Club/ODP: KCFC Alliance Pumas
Accolades: High School State Champion, five-time Club State Champion, and member of the Kansas ODP State Team...Also considered Indiana, Saint Louis, Kansas.
Coach Tucker's comments: "our first recruit from Kansas, Lindsey has excellent physical abilities and is a skillful attacker. She brings outstanding experience playing with club state champion KCFC. Lindsey's versatility will make her a valuable member of the Flyer squad."

Caitlin Proffitt
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
High School: St. Ursula Academy
Club/ODP: Cincinnati United Premier (White)
Accolades: Named Second Team All-City as a junior this past spring as she helped St. Ursula Academy to a 20-2-2 record and a Division I State Championship Final appearance...Won the OSYSA State Cup with her club team in 2005...Also considered Indiana, Akron and Toldeo.
Coach Tucker's comments: "Caitlin is a strong, physical striker who attacks relentlessly. Her speed and quickness are excellent and she will do anything to score. Demanding constant attention, Caitlin is able to draw defenders to her while finding open teammates for good scoring chances. She will be an immediate factor in the Flyer attack."

These eight newcomers join 21 returning players from last year's team, which finished 10-7-3 and advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference semifinals. The Flyers saw their string of four-straight Atlantic 10 Championships and NCAA berths snapped with a 1-0 upset at the hand of Saint Louis.