UNCG recruiting class best in SoCon, No. 51 nationally, according to Soccer Buzz

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro’s incoming recruiting class for women’s soccer has been rated the best in the Southern Conference and 51st in the country according to Soccer Buzz, one of the leaders in collegiate women’s soccer coverage.

The Spartans received top honors in the SoCon, the fifth straight season that Soccer Buzz has rated UNCG’s class either No. 1 or 2 in the league. Furman was second, followed by Elon, College of Charleston and Western Carolina.

UNCG coach Eddie Radwanski received NLI commitments from forward Kelly Attayek, midfielder Leigh Riordon, midfielder Jen Bronson and forward Kim Keener. Bronson, Riordon and Attayek all currently play club soccer together for the CASL Spartan Elite and head coach Jay Howell. CASL finished third at the national championships on the heels of their Region III title in 2005 and back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004 and 2005.

Bronson is a product of Leesville Road HS in Raleighwhere she earned all-state and all-region selection. She also earned NSCAA Regional All-American honors and played for the ODP Region III squad.

Attayek was an all-state selection at Broughton HS in Raleigh and was the team’s leading scorer and helped the team to a No. 1 national ranking in 2003.

Riordon is a product of Northwest Guilford HS where she was a three-year starter for former Spartan Jennifer Kennedy. She earned all-state honors, playing midfielder and sweeper and is a Region III ODP pool player.

A product of IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, Keener was an NSCAA All-American last year as a junior at Forsyth Country Day. A two-time first-team all-state selection and member of the USA Under-16 national team pool, she was also on the ODP Region III team and the North Carolina State ODP team.

UNCG will also gain the services of Lauren Lopez. A native of Concord, NC, Lopez graduated from Robinson HS and enrolled in classes at UNCG this past spring. A member of the North Carolina ODP squad and a Region III pool player, she was a club teammate of Kim Keener last year, winning the North Carolina State Cup as a member of the Winston-Salem Twins. She was also an all-region selection at Robinson.

UNCG finished the 2005 campaign 11-6-1, including a 6-3-1 mark in Southern Conference play. The Spartans advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament’s semifinal round, where they fell to tournament host Furman in overtime. UNCG graduated eight seniors off of that squad, but returns six regular starters.

The Spartans open the 2006 campaign with an exhibition match on August 19 against Duke at UNCG Soccer Stadium. UNCG opens the 2006 regular season at William & Mary on August 25.