Feb. 17, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- - UAB women's soccer coach Paul Harbin announced today 10 commitments for the 2001 season. Those individuals include Jessica Barr (Dallas, Texas), Jana Brauer (Ormond Beach, Fla.), Amy Disko (Birmingham, Ala.), Tara Kidwell (Leesburg, Va.), Suzanna LaMotte (Dallas, Texas), Allison Maynard (Lilburn, Ga.), Briana McCarty (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Devon Richardson (Richardson, Texas), Jenny Rynders (Marrietta, Ga.) and Alexis Sutton (West Columbia, S.C.).

This talented group will join a Blazer team in 2001 that will face one of their tougher slates in school history that includes games with defending national champion North Carolina and other nationally-ranked programs including Portland, Nebraska, Washington and Conference USA foe Marquette.

Barr, a 5-foot-5 forward, played on an area and district championship team and was her team's Newcomer of the Year at Lake Highlands High School during the 1997-98 academic year. She collected all-district honors once and is a member of the D'Feeters club team. She played in the North Texas Soccer Association Olympic Development Program as well.

"Jessica always seems to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net," Harbin said. "My hope is that she can continue to do that here at UAB."

Brauer preps at Seabreeze High School where she is her varsity team captain. The 5-foot-3 forward/midfielder has scored 75 goals and added 68 assists in her four years as her team reached the state finals twice and quarterfinals once in Class AA. She was a first-team all-state selection after her junior season and garnered all-area and all-conference awards. She was touted as the best midfielder by her teammates. Brauer is also the club team captain for the Ormond Beach Waves.

"Jana has a tremendous work ethic, the mentality to go at players, the speed to get in behind them and the consistent ability to hit driven crosses and score goals. She adds an exciting, dynamic element to our team," Harbin added.

Disko is a homegrown product, who attends Oak Mountain High School. She earned all-state honors twice, while garnering an all-county nod once as she collected 29 career goals. The 5-foot-5 midfielder collected awards that included being named Optimist All-Star accolades three times, her school's MVP last season and the Optimist Pelham MVP in 1999. She has played on the Alabama ODP team from 1995 to 2000.

"Amy may be the most skillful player coming out of Alabama this year," Harbin said."That skill, combined with her determination and work ethic, make for a great addition to our team."

Kidwell played her prep soccer at Loudoun County High where she scored 58 goals in three seasons. The 5-foot-4 forward/midfielder collected first-team all-state honors as well as all-district accolades three times - once being named most valuable player. She was awarded all-region first team once and second team once. Kidwell is a member of the school's basketball team where she has been a varsity player for three seasons, team captain and chosen for the 110% Award. Her club soccer team is Vista United.

"Tara loves going at players and isn't afraid to go to the goal," Harbin added. " She'll be an exciting addition to our team."

LaMotte attends W.T. White High School where she captured three all-district awards at defender. The 5-foot-5 player currently is a member of the D'Feeters Soccer Club where she is team captain. She played for the North Texas Soccer Association ODP team from 1996 to 1999.

"Suzanna's trademark has been to simply support her teammates and be the hardest working player on the field," said Harbin. "Every successful team has to have a player like this. We're happy that she'll be here at UAB."

Maynard, the 5-foot-9 midfielder/defender has won many awards at Parkview High School, which included guiding her team to the AAAA state championship game twice, including winning the title in 1999 and a national ranking as high as No. 9. The 2000 team captain was a Gwinnett Daily Post all-county selection twice and made the county all-star team. Maynard participated in the ODP for the last four years. She played for the Georgia High School All-Star team as well that reached the National High School Championship in 2000 where she was named an All-American.

"Allison brings a mature, composed field presence to our team," Harbin said. "At Parkview, she was often the heart and soul of a team that played for two state championships. That type of contribution here will be crucial to our future success."

McCarty comes to UAB from Collins Hill High School after after being a member of the Gwinnett Daily Post all-county team the last two seasons and led Gwinnett County in assists en route to being named her team's MVP in 2000. The 5-foot-11 midfielder/defender also garnered the Silver Eagle award in 1999 and the offensive MVP accolade in 1998. McCarty currently plays for the Tophat 01 Gold club team which has won the last five state championships. She has been a member of the Georgia ODP team from 1997 to 2000.

"Over the last year, I've seen Briana dominate some of the top central players in the country. If she continues that tradition here at UAB, we'll be one step closer to winning our conference championship," added Harbin.

Richardson, a 5-foot-5 defender, has been an all-district and all-city choice the last two seasons at L.V. Berkner High and was picked as one of the top 20 players in Dallas. Her team captured the district championship during the 1998 campaign. Richardson was named the top newcomer for the squad as a freshman and two seasons ago was voted her team's defensive MVP. Currently, she plays for the D'Feeters Soccer Club.

"Devon is one of the most intense, fierce competitors I've seen play," said Harbin. "Hopefully, her battling mentality will be contagious as we prepare for the one of the toughest schedules in the country."

As for Rynders, the Pope High School product played on two AAAA state championship teams and was her team's 2000 MVP. She led her club team, the Atlanta Hotshots, to the 1999 state championship. The 5-foot-8 forward/midfielder, plays basket ball at Pope as well and was a starting guard on the 1999 AAAA State Championship squad and 2000 final four team.

"The combination of Jenny's strength, simplicity, composure and explosiveness will make her an extremely difficult player for opponents to deal with," Harbin said. "I am glad we are not the opponents."

Sutton currently attends Brookland-Cayce High School. She helped guide her team in winning the SCAAA Lower State crown in 2000 and was runner-up in 1999. She was an all-state selection in 2000 and the state's leading scorer in 1999. Through her first three seasons, the 5-foot-2 forward scored 97 goals and was her school's offensive MVP in consecutive seasons. Other awards include being named all-area by The State newspaper and Region IV AAA three times including the Player of the Year award twice in 1999 and 2000. Sutton has been a member of the South Carolina ODP team for the last two seasons.

"Alexis is an extremely skillful explosive front-runner who consistently scores goal," Harbin said. "She'll definitely add excitement in our attack."

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