Feb. 8, 2008

Greenville, S.C. -- Eight players signed national letters of intent to join the Furman women's soccer program for the 2008 season, it was announced on Wednesday by head coach Andrew Burr.

Sarah Caldwell (Todd, N.C.), Megan Dougherty (Rogers, Ark.), Katya Gokhman (Alpharetta, Ga.), Martha Hall (Knoxville, Tenn.), Alexa Jones (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Rachel Shelnutt (St. Simons Island, Ga.), Jessica Smith (Franklin, Tenn.) and Laura White (Atlanta, Ga.) will report for preseason practice this coming season.

"I am excited about the talent level of our 2008 class and believe they will represent Furman very well both in the class and on the field," said Burr. "Within this recruiting class, we have several dynamic players who will have an immediate impact on our program."

The class is highlighted by Region III ODP team member Martha Hall, a forward who earned IMG Academy Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors last season, and Russian U-19 National Team forward/midfielder Katya Gokhman of Milton High School. The Lady Paladins also added depth at keeper with the addition of Brentwood Real Madrid standout Jessica Smith and Greensboro Twisters' netminder Sarah Caldwell.

The 2008 Lady Paladins return six starters from a squad that posted a 16-6-1 record, claimed the Southern Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth the time in the last eight seasons.

2008 Signing Class

Player Pos. Hometown High School Club

Sarah Caldwell GK Todd, N.C. Watauga High School Greensboro Twisters

Megan Dougherty F/MF Rogers, Ark. Rogers High School Mississippi Fire

Katya Gokhman F/MF Alpharetta, Ga. Milton High School Atlanta Fire United

Martha Hall F Knoxville, Tenn. Edison Academic Center IMG Academy

Alexa Jones MF Lawrenceville, Ga. Collins Hill High School Atlanta Fire United

Rachel Shelnutt F/MF St. Simons Island, Ga. Frederica Academy Tophat `08 Gold

Jessica Smith GK Franklin, Tenn. Battle Ground Academy Brentwood Real Madrid

Laura White MF Atlanta, Ga. The Lovett School Tophat `08 Gold

Sarah Caldwell

5-9, Goalkeeper

Todd, North Carolina

Played for coach Doug Kidd at Watauga High School... Helped lead the Lady Pioneers to the third round of the state playoffs as a junior... Garnered all-conference and all-region honors... Helped Watauga to back-toback conference championships as a freshman and sophomore... Earned all-region and all-conference honors as a sophomore... Named all-conference as a freshman after allowing just eight goals all season... Played club soccer for the Greensboro Twisters... Claimed the 2007 North Carolina Premier League championship after reaching the state cup finals the previous season... Also lettered in basketball.

Megan Dougherty

5-4, Forward/Midfielder

Rogers, Arkansas

Prepped for coach Chris Leshinski at Rogers High School... Guided Rogers to a pair of state titles and three conference championships in her first three prep seasons... Earned all-state honors and team MVP accolades as a junior... Plays club soccer for the Mississippi Fire... Helped Ingram Futbol Club to two state titles and No. 37 national ranking... Member of the Arkansas ODP team and Region III pool.

Katya Gokhman

5-5, Forward/Midfielder

Alpharetta, Georgia

Three-year starter for Milton High School... Missed most of last season with a knee injury... Guided Milton to a state semifinal finish as a freshman and state playoff berth as a sophomore... Plays club soccer, along with fellow Furman signee Alexa Jones, for Atlanta Fire United... Has helped her team to a Georgia State title and semifinal finish over the past two seasons... A member of the Georgia ODP squad and Region III pool... Also a member of the Russian U-19 National Team... Played in three UEFA matches scoring one goal for the U-19s this past year.

Martha Hall

5-4, Forward/Midfielder

Knoxville, Tennessee

Starred her junior and senior season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., after playing her first two years at Knoxville Catholic School... Will serve as team captain for IMG Academy as a senior... Earned offensive player-of-the-year accolades as a junior... Earned all-region, all-district and all-state honors at Knoxville Catholic as both a freshman and sophomore... A member of the Tennessee ODP team and Region III ODP team... Member of the 2004-05 National Team pool.

Alexa Jones

5-4, Midfielder

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Three-year starter and team assist leader at Collins Hill High School... Paced Collins Hill to Region 7-AAAAA title and state final four finish as a sophomore with a 15-7-0 record... Helped the team to a 10-5-4 mark and second round playoff showing as a sophomore... Led Collins Hill in goals as a junior... Played club soccer with fellow Furman signee Katya Gokhman at Atlanta Fire United... Grabbed fourth place in the Region III Premier League East Region while netting a team-high six goals this past season... Helped her squad to the Super Y National Finals in two consecutive seasons... A member of the Georgia ODP team.

Rachel Shelnutt

5-4, Forward/Midfielder

St. Simons Island, Georgia

Played under coach Charlie Morgan at Frederica Academy... A three-time all-state and all-region selection... Led her team to state titles as a freshman and sophomore and has claimed region titles all three years... Two-time team MVP was named Glynn County Spring Sports Player-of-the-Year as a sophomore... Played club soccer with Furman signee Laura White at Tophat `08 Gold... Helped Tophat to the Region III Premier League title and regional berth last season... Guided her club to a state title in 2005-06... A member of the Georgia ODP team and Region III pool... Also lettered in volleyball.

Jessica Smith

5-10, Goalkeeper

Franklin, Tennessee

Played her prep soccer for head coach Jan Browne at Battle Ground Academy... Guided her team to a 16-0-5 record, region championship, state championship and No. 9 national ranking as a senior... Captured a region title and state finals berth with a 15-4-2 mark as a junior... Team captain is a three-year all-state and all-region choice... Registered 11 shutouts and 0.57 goals against average as a senior... Helped Region III Premier League club team Brentwood Real Madrid to four straight state titles and No. 7 national ranking by SoccerinCollege.com this past season... Helped Brentwood reach regional semi finals in 2006-07 allowing just three goals in five matches... A member of the Tennessee ODP squad and Region III pool... Captain of the varsity basketball team.

Laura White

5-4, Midfielder

Atlanta, Georgia

Played midfield for coach Tony Patino at The Lovett School... Team captain guided her squad to AA state semifinal appearance as a junior... Claimed 2006 region title and 2005 AA state championship... Tallied five goals and 10 assists as a junior... Played club soccer with Furman signee Rachel Shelnutt at Tophat `08 Gold... Helped Tophat to the Region III Premier League title and regional berth last season... Guided her club to a state title in 2005-06... A member of the Georgia ODP pool and member of the varsity diving team.