BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont women’s soccer team will add 10 newcomers, including three Vermonters, to the squad for the 2008 season. First-year head coach Kwame Lloyd made the announcement today.

Joining the Catamounts this fall will be Samantha Ciaravino (Burke, Va.), Kristin Davenport (Williamsburg, Va.), Becky DeSieno (Abington, Mass.), Kristin Hagenbarth (Killington, Vt.), Krista King (Stowe, Vt.), Alexandra Laniewski (Scarborough, Maine), Kristina Miele (Valley Cottage, N.Y.), Emily Perrin (Charlottesville, Va.), Tess Weafer (Scituate, Mass.) and Liz Yasewicz (Colchester, Vt.).

“I am excited to announce this recruiting class,” stated Lloyd. “The most impressive elements of this group of student-athletes is their character, technical ability, athleticism, and academic promise. After sharing our vision for the women's soccer program, they are excited about the new direction of the team and we are excited to have them join the Catamount family. I believe the incoming class will compliment the current team who had a tremendous spring,” continued Lloyd.

Ciaravino (pronounced chair-a-vino) is a transfer from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. where Lloyd was the head coach for seven seasons. A forward, she led the Captains in scoring last year as a freshman, tallying 25 points on 11 goals and three assists in 20 games. Ciaravino became the second freshman in CNU women’s soccer history to garner NSCAA All-Region First Team honors last year. She was also named to the All-USA South Conference First Team and the USA South All-Tournament Team. CNU posted a record of 14-7 overall and went 8-1 in USA South. The Captains advanced to the championship game behind Ciaravino’s overtime game-winning goal in the semifinals versus Greensboro.

Davenport, a defender, is another Virginia native and played her high school soccer at Walsingham Academy and competed for the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club. At Walsingham she was a three-time Virginia Gazette All-Star, and named to the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) First Team twice. In 2007, Davenport also earned all-state second team honors and was named to the Newport News Daily Press All-Star team. Walsingham posted a record of 11-3-1 overall and went 7-3-1 in conference play last season.

DeSieno (pronounced di-c-no) comes to Vermont from Abington High School where she was a three-sport athlete, including a four-year starter for the soccer team. A defender, she played her club soccer with the Cape Cod Lady Crusaders and was a three-year Massachusetts Premier Soccer Regional Olympic Development player. In 2007, the Lady Crusaders captured the U.S. Club Soccer National Championship. During her high school career, DeSieno was named to the Eastern Massachusetts Coaches All-Star First Team, the Soccer All-Scholastics Team and the South Shore League All-Star squad. She scored 38 goals and recorded 47 assist in her career.

Hagenbarth, one of three Vermont natives in the incoming class, played at Woodstock Union High School and for the Nordic Soccer Club. As a midfielder she graduated high school with 53 career goals, ranking as the all-time leader at Woodstock and finished second in the program’s history in assists with 21. Hagenbarth was a three-time Marble Valley All-League First Team selection and garnered all-state honors twice.

King, another Vermonter, is a forward who played at Stowe High School and for the Capital Soccer Club. King led Stowe in goals and assists for three consecutive seasons and was a four-time all-league selection. She also garnered all-state honors during her final three seasons and was named to the All-New England squad as a senior.

Laniewski (pronounced la-new-ski), a forward, led Scarborough High School to the SMAA Conference Championship in 2005. She was an all-conference first team pick in 2007 and also earned all-state honors as a senior. Scarborough posted a record of 16-3-1 in 2007 and she finished her career with 52 goals and 49 assists in her four-years. Laniewski played her club soccer with Costal FC and led the team to the Premier State Championship in 2007.

Miele (pronounced meal-e) comes to Vermont from Nyack High School. The midfielder was a three-time captain at Nyack. She earned all-section honors twice and was named to the all-county team in 2007. She led Nyack in scoring as a junior and senior, combining for 23 goals and 14 assists in two seasons.

Perrin is a forward from Charlottesville High School. She brings family ties to UVM as both her parents are alums and her father, Tom, played basketball at Vermont (1975-79). Perrin was a four-year starter at Charlottesville and earned All-Jefferson District First Team honors three consecutive seasons. She was named the Jefferson District Player of the Year, Central Virginia Player of the Year, and Region II Player of the Year as a sophomore when she exploded for 51 goals and 23 assists. Perrin owns the Virginia state record for most consecutive games with a goal (17) and holds three Charlottesville High School marks, including the records for goals in a season and points in a season. She closed out her scholastic career with 115 goals and 59 assists for 289 points. Perrin played her club soccer with SOCA (Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albemarle) for six years and was a Central District Olympic Development Program player for four seasons.

Weafer (pronounced wee-fer) is a defender from Scituate High School where she was a four-time Patriot League First Team All-Star. She was named to the Eastern Massachusetts All-Star squad as a junior and senior and was a three-time member of the all-scholastic team. Weafer, who played her club soccer with the Cape Cod Crusaders, led Scituate to a record of 12-4-1 overall and 7-3-1 conference mark in 2007.

Yasewicz (pronounced yaz-ah-wits) comes to Vermont from nearby Colchester High School. A midfielder, she was a four-year letterwinner for the soccer and tennis teams. She was named to the NVAC Metro League All-Star team twice. Yasewicz played her club soccer with the Nordic Soccer Club in Vermont.

The Catamounts return 19 letterwinners, including five seniors, to the program for the 2008 season.