Lady'Backs add 11th to 2006 class

FAYETTEVILLE – Former Tulane University newcomer of the year Katie Somadelis has signed on to the University of Arkansas soccer team’s 2006 fall class to become the 11th newcomer to the Lady Razorback roster.

Somadelis joins Arkansas this fall and should compete immediately for a starting position after starting all 12 games for the Green Wave last fall. In those 12 starts, Somadelis assisted on one goal and took four shots, but was a force at outside midfield. She chose to transfer to Arkansas after Tulane suspended their women’s soccer program in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

“Katie is very quick and knows how to score goals,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “She’s not the biggest player in the world, but has done nothing but score throughout her career. She has consistently been one of her team’s top scorers at every level and is technically very sound. She was coached by one of the nation’s top club coaches in Terry Foley.”

Growing up in the soccer hotbed of Virginia, Somadelis attended Oakton High School in Oakton, Va., where she was a four-year starter and earned four all district and all-region selections. As a club player, she started for RFC Milan in Reston, Va., and led her team to a pair of regional championships. Perhaps her most impressive achievement during her prep days was the fact that she played not just on her state Olympic Development team, but was called up to the regional squad.

Somadelis and the rest of the Lady Razorback soccer team reports for fall drills on Aug. 9, with their first match scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.