Soccer announces 2009 signing class

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas head soccer coach Erin Aubry has announced the Razorbacks’ newest signing class. The Razorbacks will welcome Allie Chandler, Kate Singleton, Fara Shahryary, Sami Pesek and Tara Zika for the 2009 season. Arkansas’ roster has already been bolstered by the addition of transfers Kelsey Allison and Laurel Pastor. Allison and Pastor are already on campus and participating in spring soccer drills."I am extremely excited about all our additions to the team for 2009," Aubry said."We have a tremendous core of returning players and these seven newcomers will compliment their talent, work ethic, and commitment. The entire team is anxious to welcome these players into the Razorback soccer family and begin our journey to an SEC championship."Chandler is a midfielder/forward out of Ralph H. Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas. She is a three-time first-team all-district selection, has been named to the all-region first team on two occasions and was the District 15-4A Offensive MVP. During Chandler’s prep career, Poteet has advanced to the regional quarterfinals three times. Through the first week of February of her senior season, Chandler has totaled 80 career goals and 49 career assists. Singleton is a member of the Dallas Texans-Sting club team.

Singleton is a defender from Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas. She has twice been selected to the first-team all-district team and as a freshman, was the District 25-5A Newcomer of the Year. Singleton has served as a co-captain for the soccer team all four years of her high school career and was the team MVP as a sophomore and junior. She was also a district champion and regional qualifier in the 100 meters for the track and field team. She plays for the Lonester Soccer Club.

Shahryary is from Great Falls, Va., where she is a midfielder/defender for Langley High School. She spent the previous two seasons at O’Connell High School where she was a two-time all-conference performer. Shahryary helped her team to a WCAC championship and conference runner-up finish as a sophomore and junior, respectively. She is a member of the FCV Virginia club team.

Pesek, a native of Mendoza, Argentina, is a midfielder/forward for Owasso High School in Oklahoma. During her junior season, she was selected to the all-metro, all-district and all-conference teams as she helped the Rams earn a spot in the state playoffs. Pesek was also an all-district and all-conference performer as a sophomore. She plays for Tulsa Soccer Club ’91.

Zika plays midfielder for Ursuline Academy in St. Louis, Mo. She was named to the all-conference first team twice and selected as the conference Offensive Threat of the Year following her junior season in which she recorded 19 goals and 12 assists. Zika helped lead the Bears to the division finals and a sixth-place finish in state as a junior. She plays for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team.

Joining the Razorbacks as juniors this spring are Allison and Pastor. Allison was a midfielder for the University of Oklahoma where she had three assists last season in 12 games as a sophomore. Pastor was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association performer for Virginia Commonwealth University last season. She led the team with nine goals and 20 points.