Women's Soccer Announces 2000 Signees
Feb. 15, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – University of Miami head women’s soccer coach Jim Blankenship has announced the signing of four players for the 2000 season. Signing with the Hurricanes are Vonda Matthews (Broken Arrow, OK/Broken Arrow), Nikki Safran (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford), Mary Luke (Ft. Pierce, FL/John Carroll) and Caryn Blood (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank).
“This is a great group,” said Head Coach Jim Blankenship. “These four girls have the ability to come in and become a very important part of the 2000 team. They are all impact players. If they bring the amount of talent they displayed when we recruited them, our 2000 season will be very exciting. On paper, this class is just as good than the 1999 class, which was rated in the top 10 nationally.”
2000 Signee Bios:Vonda Matthews
5-8, D/M, Broken Arrow, OK (Broken Arrow HS)
Member of the United State Under-18 National Team…also played on the South Region Olympic Development team for the past four years…First-Team High School All-American…regarded as the top signee in the three-year history of the UM soccer program…chose Miami over North Carolina and Notre Dame.
Coaches’ Quote
“We are very excited about Vonda signing with Miami,” said Head Coach Jim Blankenship. “She can play and succeed anywhere on the field. She is an immediate impact player that gives us credibility at a national level.”
Nikki Safran
5-9, M, Harrison City, PA (Penn-Trafford HS)
An NSCAA National First-Team High School All-American…part of the North Region Olympic Development pool from 1996-99…played on the Regional team as well…a 1998 NSCAA Regional All-American…1998 & ’99 NSCAA All-State selection…1997-99 NSCAA All-WPIAL (western Pennsylvania region)…1996-99 NSCAA All-Section…completed her high school career as the all-time leader in career goals (117), goals in a single season (44 in 1997) and was named team Offensive MVP…also had 48 assists on her high school career (12 shy of the school record)…named the 1999 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Girls Soccer Player of the Year…also named to the 1998 Post-Gazette All-Star team…chose the Hurricanes over Connecticut and Boston College.
Coaches’ Quote
“Nikki is more dynamic offensively,” said Head Coach Jim Blankenship. “She can play either up front or in the midfield. She is exciting to watch due to her attacking personality. Nikki will fit real well into our system.”
Mary Luke
5-7, D/M, Ft. Pierce, FL (John Carroll HS)
Played on the South Region Olympic Development team in 1999…member of the Florida State ODP team for four years, 1996-99…attended the ODP Region III Camp 1997-99…part of the ODP Region III pool for three seasons, 1997-99…played club soccer with Team Boca Under-18s…played wide midfield, stopper and full back…part of the 1998-99 State Cup Championship Team…played on her high school varsity team each of her four years…led team to the 1997 district title…named First-Team All-Area and District 1997-99…was the News Tribune Player of the Year for 1998-99…team MVP in 1999…earned the Sportsmanship Award at the 1997 Miami Orange Classic…also an honor roll student…competed in swimming & diving, track & Field, as well as soccer…chose UM over Auburn and Clemson.
Coaches’ Quote
“Mary Luke is strong, tenacious, relentless and a physical presence,” said Head Coach Jim Blankenship. “She will play either in the middle or back. She is a difference maker and we’re very excited in having her come to Miami.
Caryn Blood
5-8, F, Red Bank, NJ (Red Bank HS)
Three-year Member of the state Olympic Development team and Regional ODP pool…team captain of her high school team, where she was a four-year starter at striker…began her senior season with eight goals and six assists over the first five games, before an ACL injury sidelined her for the remainder of the season…holds school record for assists (60) and second in goals scored (78)…received all-state honors during her sophomore and junior seasons and was named Jersey Sports News Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year in 1998…three-time All-County selection and leading goal scorer in 1997 and 1998…member of the New Jersey State Champion Wyckoff Torpedoes.
Coaches’ Quote
“Caryn is a proven goal scorer,” said Head Coach Jim Blankenship. “She can play up front or in the middle. Caryn is very dangerous in front of the goal. She may be the diamond in the rough we were looking for.”
Miami completed its second season of varsity soccer in 1999 with a 12-8 record and qualified for the eight-team format BIG EAST Championships in its first full season of league action. UM posted a 2-3 record in the BIG EAST Northeast Division and played at No. 6 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. Freshman Lisa Gomez was named a First-Team Freshman All-American, while sophomore defender Diedre Bass and freshman midfielder Allison McWhinney also garnered postseason honors. Miami was 11-7-1 in its inaugural 1998 season.
