Barnes Adds Pair of Europeans to 2019 Class
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head soccer coach Sarah Barnes announced Tuesday the addition of two players to the team’s 2019 recruiting class.
After welcoming an early enrollee and signing six others during the winter, the Hurricanes have now added European standouts Mari Horpestad of Norway and María Sól Jakobsdóttir of Iceland.
“We’re excited to officially be able to welcome Mari and Maria to the Hurricane family,” Barnes said. “They’re coming from quality clubs who compete at a high level and that has prepared them to compete in the ACC. They’re passionate about their development and are looking forward to contributing to the program.”
A 5-foot, 6-inch defender from Bryne, Norway, Horpestad joins the Hurricanes after graduating from Bryne Vidergåande Skule.
Horpestad was a regional team player for Team Rogaland from 2013-16 and helped them win the Sotra Kretslagsturnering, the national tournament for regional teams, in 2016.
Competing at the Club level, she helped lead Bryne FK to a league title in 2018 as well as Sør Cup, Sørlandets Vinterferie Cup and Kvia Serien victories.
Jakobsdóttir comes to Miami from Garðabær, Iceland, where she attended Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ. A 5-foot, 4-inch midfielder, she competed with Grindavík for two seasons before joining her current homegrown club Stjarnan FC. Jakobsdóttir competed in the Pepsi League with both clubs, the highest tier in Iceland.
While competing with Grindavík in 2018, Jakobsdóttir was chosen as the most promising player among her peers. In 2012 and 2015 she was named the best player for the Stjarnan U-20 team. Jakobsdóttir also played for Iceland’s U-17 Women’s National Team.
Horpestad and Jakobsdóttir join a fellow European and early January enrollee in Ine Østmo of Norway, as well as incoming freshmen Melissa Dagenais, Jackie Koerwitz, Morgan Ledenko, Jaclyn Marra, Taylor Shell and Emma Tucker in Miami’s 2019 recruiting class.
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