Feb. 12, 2007

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University's Women's Soccer Program announced that seven student-athletes will join the Pirates in 2007. The class includes Amanda Broz (Houston, Texas), Regan Sigler (Austin, Texas), Jessica Gulley (Concord, N.C.), Scarlet Van Loon (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Jessica Cunningham (Ashburn, Va.), Tricia Tufts (Exeter, NH) and Bailey Wilcox (Fredericksburg, Va.)

Amanda Broz
Back
5'9"
Houston, Texas

Amanda plays club soccer for the Challenge Soccer Club coached by Steve Krase. Her team won the South Texas State Cup Championship from 2001-2005. Her team was also US Region III quarterfinalists in 2004-2005. She played for Klein High School where she was named her team's defensive MVP. Klein was two-year district champions and Amanda was named All-District 2nd Team. Amanda is a member of Who's Who among American High School Students and the National Honor Society.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I thought I had my heart set on a school until I got the chance to visit ECU. I loved the atmosphere of the school and everything about it from the academic opportunities to the Division I soccer program. It's far from home but I've come to find out that this team is a family in itself. I know ECU can offer me exactly what I was looking for."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"We have followed Amanda for a few years and we feel she is a tough physical back. She can play centrally or out wide and does a great job joining the attack. She is a great competitor and has the attitude and mentality to be a top level back."

Regan Sigler
Back
5'6"
Austin, Texas

Regan was a former player for the South Texas Olympic Development Program. She currently plays club soccer for Lonestar '89 Premier Red coached by Jim Wain. She plays school soccer for Westwood H.S. coached by Jim Donahue where she was the RRISD Varsity Newcomer of the Year in 2005. She was named to the All-District 2nd Team and Academic All-District in 2006. Regan has also received the Academic Achievement Award from 2003-2007.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"When I visited ECU I fell in love with the town, the soccer program and the campus. It had always been a dream of mine to play soccer at the Division I level and I knew what I was looking for academically. ECU was the perfect fit!"

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Regan is an excellent defender and loves to attack out of the back. She understands the game well and is extremely focused. Her speed and crossing ability will add another dimension to our attack."

Jessica Gulley
Midfield
5' 7"
Concord, N.C.

Jessica was a member of the N.C. Olympic Development Pool and the 2007 Super Y League ODP National Camp. She plays for FC Carolina Alliance coached by Shane Carew. Her team was three-time NCYSA State Cup semi-finalists and participated in the Region III Premier League in 2005. FC Carolina Alliance was the 2006 Greensboro Labor Day champions, 2005 Jefferson Cup finalists and 2004 CASL Shoot-out champions. Jessica plays high school soccer for First Assembly coached by Fernando Sosa. She has scored 44 career goals and assisted on 71. As captain of the team she has been a two-time team MVP and been named all-state (three times), all-conference (three times) and all-region (one time). Jessica has a 4.3 GPA and is a member of the Beta Club.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I chose ECU because of the strong academics and excellent sports medicine/exercise science programs. After attending Coach Donnenwirth's camp, I knew ECU was the right fit for me and would allow me to play competitive Division I soccer."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Jessica has outstanding athleticism. She can cover a lot of ground and has very good defensive instincts. She has a great attitude and upside potential."

Scarlet Van Loon
Midfield
5'6"
Winston-Salem, N.C.

Scarlet was a three-time NC Olympic Development Team player. She plays for the 88 Lady Twins Premier team coached by Chad Lorentz. She also played for FC Carolina Alliance coached by Dan Dudley. Scarlet plays high school soccer for RJ Reynolds coached by Tim Sparks. Her team has combined for a 48-9-4 record over the last three years and won two CPC Championships and was the runner-up in 2005. In 2006 her team also finished as the NCHSAA Western Region runner-up. During her high school career she has scored eight goals and tallied 15 assists while earning all-conference honors in 2005.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"When I visited ECU over spring break I fell in love with the school. Maybe it was our awesome tour guide, but I loved everything from walking everywhere to sitting in the quad with my mom watching all the students. After our tour we drove to the field house to find Coach D but instead talked to assistant coach, Shannon St. George. She was happy to sit down with us and talk about the soccer program. I remember her telling me the best thing I could do was come to summer camp, so I did. I went and had an awesome time and I am so happy to call myself an incoming Pirate! What I liked most about my decision is that I fell in love with the school first and thankfully the soccer opportunity just fell into place.

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Scarlet can cover a lot of ground on the flank as an outside midfielder. She has good crossing ability and has the ability to get behind defenders."

Jessie Cunningham
Forward/Midfield
5'2"
Ashburn, Va.

Jessie was a member of the Virginia Olympic Development Team in 2003 and 2004. She plays club soccer for the Great Falls Strikers coached by Tim Lucas and Stephanie Drinkwine. As team captain she has been the team's leading goalscorer from 2003-2006 and was named the team's most valuable player from 2004-2006. She is a four-year starter for Broad Run High School coached by Claire Collins and Annie Smith. Broad Run was Va. State Runners-up in 2004. Jessie has also been an honor roll student at Broad Run.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I really loved ECU the first time I saw it! When I met the coaching staff I knew this was the place for me to play college soccer. On my official visit, I was able to meet the team and this confirmed my choice. I am looking forward to the season!"

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
I like Jessie's aggressive attitude going to goal. She has very good speed, 1v1 ability and scores goals. We look forward to her scoring those goals for the Pirates."

Tricia Tufts
Forward
5'9"
Exeter, N.H.

Tricia was a member of the 2006 New Hampshire Olympic Development team. Tricia played for the 2006 Seacoast United Soccer Club, coached by Paul Willis, where they advanced to the USYSA Region I Tournament. The SUSC Team also participated in the Super Y-League National Tournament and Tricia earned First Team Tournament Honors. Previously, as a member of the Bedford Classics, she participated in the USYSA Region I Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. She was a two year Captain for the Exeter High School, coached by Megan Curran, and won the 2006 State Championship. She scored four game-winning goals on the road to the Championship scoring a total of five goals in the tournament. She was also named tournament MVP and earned All-State First Team honors. She will represent New Hampshire this summer in the Lion's Cup Senior All-Star Soccer game against Vermont.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I have a great desire to play Division 1 college soccer and Coach Donnenwirth has a wonderful program with quality soccer and a great group of girls. I am excited about traveling south to play in their program."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"We learned about Tricia from the Seacoast coaching staff. She has a good ability to play with her back to the goal and possesses a hard shot. She is a hard worker and has a great attitude."

Bailey Wilcox
Forward
5'5"
Fredericksburg, Va.

Bailey was a four-time member of the Virginia Olympic Development Team. She was a three-time captain for the FASA Impact coached by Pete Cinalli. She was a two-time MVP and the leading scorer for her club. She was also a three-time captain for Riverbend High School coached by Rebecca Berry. Riverbend were two-time District Champions and won the Regional Championship on their way to the State Semifinals. At Riverbend, she was a two-time leading scorer and Most Valuable player. She was twice named First team All-District and All-Region and was the District and Regional Player of the Year. She was also named First Team All-State and earned Second Team All-Metro honors. Bailey has been an honor roll student and earned scholar-athlete honors.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I chose ECU for its awesome team chemistry, the coaching staff, and the incredibly beautiful and spirited campus."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Bailey is a very driven person and will work hard to achieve her goals. She has good speed and is a proven goalscorer."