University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Soccer Signs Six On National Signing Day 2008
February 06, 2008 | Soccer
ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia soccer team received National Letters of Intent from six players Wednesday, announced Georgia head coach Patrick Baker. Five of the six signees hail from the state of Georgia, as the Bulldogs continue to rein in local talent.
"We are very excited to have this wonderful group of young ladies entering our program this fall," said Baker. "We have addressed every position on the field with this class and the quality of this group is exceptional. A record five regional-team starters, of which three are All-Americans, have paved the way for another impressive class headed to Athens. In building a national championship contender, you must have a number of top-flight recruiting classes to compete at the highest level. This group adds another piece to the overall picture in getting our program closer to the nation's elite."
The 2008 signing class features three NSCAA High School All-Americans. Five of the six players are members of the Region III ODP squad and three of them have been invited to U.S. National Team Camp at least once during their youth careers.
Addressing both immediate and long-term needs, Georgia brings in three defenders, a goalkeeper, one midfielder and one forward.
The 2008 class hopes to join its 2007 and 2006 predecessors among the nation's Top-15 ranked signing classes. Head Coach Patrick Baker brought in Georgia's first Top-15 class in 2006, as that group garnered a No. 8 national rating. In 2007, the incoming Bulldog class was listed at No. 14. Both signing classes were each ranked as the second-best incoming groups in the Southeastern Conference for that year as well.
Incidentally, the last two SEC Freshman Of The Year Award winners have come from those two Bulldog signing classes, as Carrie Patterson won the accolade in 2006 and Kelli Corless followed suit in 2007.
Following is a brief sketch on each player, in alphabetical order. For complete biographical information on each signee, please see the accompanying PDF.
Ashley Baker, Goalkeeper, Lilburn, Ga.
Baker is a member of the Region III ODP team and has competed at interregional events across the country. A 2007 NSCAA High School Region Team selection, she was also named to the Rise Magazine Greater Atlanta All-Area Team and the Gwinnett County Super 6 squad. Baker has been a member of two Region 5A Georgia State Championship teams at Parkview, and helped PHS to three straight Georgia Region 8 Championships (2005, '06, '07).
"Ashley is one of the region's top youth goalkeepers and was our first 2008 commitment," said Baker. "She possesses great range and is capable of making high-level saves. Ashley has the mentality we are looking for in a goalkeeper and we feel she has tremendous upside. Working day-in and day-out with Coach Thompson will provide her with a fantastic training and learning environment. We are excited to have her attending the University of Georgia."
Jamie Bouck, Defender, Alpharetta, Ga.
Bouck has enjoyed great success at both the club and high school level. As a four-year starter at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, she helped lead her squad to a Region 3A Georgia State Championship in 2006 and a Region Championship in 2007, as well as Region Finalist finishes in 2005 and 2006. Bouck is also an accomplished student, earning Magna Cum Laude honors as a freshman and a senior in high school.
"Jamie has won at every level and will bring that mentality to our program," said Baker. "We have enjoyed watching her play and feel she may be one of the best-kept secrets in this year's class. Jamie's ability to defend and tackle will be a much-needed addition to our defense. Her versatility to play centrally and out wide in the back line will give us more options in the defensive third. Jamie is going to bring a lot to our program and we are excited to have her in Red and Black this fall."
Jenna Buckley, Defender, Atlanta, Ga.
Buckley is another member of the Region III ODP U-19 squad and has recently been invited on that team's 2008 trip to Europe. A product of Westminster High School, the same institution that sent Georgia's 2007 Team MVP Megan Tomlinson to Athens, Buckley has led WHS to a pair of Region 3A Georgia State Championships (2005, 2006) and a state Runner-Up finish in 2007.
"Jenna is arguably one of the best backs in the Southeast this year and is becoming one of the best in the country," said Baker. "She not only defends very well, but is excellent at getting forward in the attack. Jenna is one of the best athletes in Georgia and possesses very good pace. She is also a versatile player, capable of playing anywhere along the back line or as a wide midfielder. Jenna has a very bright future and we are excited to have her joining our Bulldog family."
Ashley Miller, Forward, Lake Mary, Fla.
The only out-of-state signee in the 2008 class, Miller is one of three Bulldog signees to be named a 2007 NSCAA High School All-American. Previously a youth All-America and All-South Region honoree, Miller has been a Region III ODP team member at every level beginning with U-14. Another signee with international experience, Miller was a member of the Region III U-17 team that went 4-0 on its European Tour in 2007. A 2003 and 2004 National Team Training Camp participant, Miller also gained experience with the Strikers of the Women's Professional Soccer League in 2006.
"Ashley has been one of the most creative attacking players in her age group for some time," said Baker. "She possesses tremendous skill and is a very good passer of the ball. Ashley continually creates for others, while still being a threat to score herself. She will enhance our attack in the final third and gives us another tremendous option up top. We were looking for that special player outside the state of Georgia and she fulfills that mold. Ashley will have a very good college career at the University of Georgia."
Jamie Pollock, Midfielder, Powder Springs, Ga.
Pollock is the second Georgia signee to be named a 2007 NSCAA Youth All-American and also brings Regional ODP and National Team Camp experience to the table. Leading Harrison High School to three consecutive Region 5A Championships (2005-07), Pollock was named her team's Offensive MVP all three of those years. Pollock also gained international experience with the Region III ODP U-17 team's European Tour in 2007.
"Jamie is considered by many to be one of the best youth players in the state of Georgia and in the Southeast Region," said Baker. "We love her size, quickness, tireless work rate and ability to make things happen. Jamie makes everyone around her better and her abilities in the midfield will impact our team. Her decision to stay in state was very meaningful and we look forward to her development over the next four years. She is one of the state of the state of Georgia's best players and we are excited that she will be a Bulldog."
Bailey Powell, Defender, Fayetteville, Ga.
Powell is one of the most decorated players in the 2008 signing class as she was named a 2007 NSCAA Youth All-American, High School Scholar All-American, High School Region III All-American and the Georgia 4A High School Player of the Year. A three-time Region 4A First-Team All-State honoree, Powell was invited in to the U.S. U-17 National Team Camp in 2007.
"Bailey is a very talented student-athlete who we feel is a player really coming into her own," said Baker. "The state of Georgia was blessed with a number of quality center backs and we were excited that Bailey chose Georgia. She possesses great height, good skill and strikes a ball exceptionally well. Bailey has the potential to be a dominant player at the college level and we look forward to helping her become that player. She will join a relatively young back line that became one of the best in the SEC last year."
Additional Quotes Regarding Georgia's 2008 Signing Class:
Patrick Baker, Head Coach, Georgia Soccer:
"Once again we have put a premium on bringing some of the state of Georgia's finest soccer players to UGA. Baker, Bouck, Buckley, Pollock and Powell would make a tremendous five-a-side team and we are thankful they chose to stay in state. Besides being talented soccer players, they are impressive students and even better people. Because the state of Georgia has such a wealth of talent, you are going to have to be a pretty talented out of state player to catch our eye, and Miller is that special player in this class. She is one of the best attacking players in Florida, the South Region and nationally."
Randy Diggs, Editor, SoccerBuzz Magazine
Another stellar signing class keeps Georgia cemented on the national soccer recruiting scene with a strong batch of local signees. The 2008 signing class should join it's 2006 and 2007 counterparts among the nation's Top 25 incoming groups. As Coach Baker strives to put his program atop the SEC, this year's signing class will surely rank among the top two classes in the conference for the third straight year.
"What stands out most about this smaller class of incoming freshmen is the experience. Perhaps more so than with past recruits, these latest Bulldogs bring years of youth experience, particularly at the national level. Arguably without a consensus individual star, Georgia brings aboard players such as Powell, Miller and Pollock, who could immediately contribute at a level beyond the ability of most freshmen across the country. Ashley Baker's addition in goal could be crucial as well. Georgia again inks five players among the nation's Top 200, including at least three who rank among the Top 100 individuals in the Class of 2008."
Pat O'Toole, Head Coach, Region III ODP U-19:
"Jamie Pollock is a creative attacking player with the ability to unlock defenses. She is capable of generating scoring chances with both her dribbling and passing. Jamie has great vision and a sense of what needs to be done to help make her team successful. This quality, along with a tremendous work rate, will cause problems for Georgia opponents. She will excite Georgia Soccer fans with her ability to score goals and create goals for others. I am sure she will provide some exciting moments for the Bulldogs."
"Ashley Miller is an outstanding attacking player with the speed and finishing ability to create problems for any opponent. The fans will love Ashley's Bulldog spirit. She is a tough player who works for everything and will make the players around her better. Ashley is a player that can beat you with skill and creativity, or she can beat you with athleticism and determination. Defenders will have to worry about Ashley's ability to beat them when she controls the ball, and in turn, will have to face the pressure she puts on them when they have the ball."
"Bailey Powell is one of the top central defenders in the country. She has all of the physical and mental tools to excel in the college game. Her understanding and ability to read the game are her biggest strengths. Bailey is not only a great defender but she is also a player that can start the attack. She is a very good passer, and has the range to play dangerous balls behind defenses from anywhere on the field. Her height and aggression in the box should be a big asset on set pieces at both ends of the field."
"Patrick Baker and his staff at the University of Georgia have once again put together one of the top recruiting classes in the country. Five Regional team players, three of which are All-Americans, will add a great deal of quality to a very young team that had an outstanding 2007 season. It has taken Coach Baker only a couple of years to turn the program around. The University of Georgia is well on its way to becoming one of the top programs in the country with the recruiting classes they have had the last couple of years. Clearly, their results on the field are reflective of their efforts to bring top-quality players to the University of Georgia, and the tremendous work they do to improve the players once they become Georgia Bulldogs."
Ted Colburn, Head Coach, Tophat Gold '08:
"Jenna Buckley is the best athlete that I have ever had the opportunity to coach. She is one of the best defenders in the country in this signing class. She is a tenacious defender and has the athleticism and fitness to run the entire field. Most of our attack on the Tophat '08 Gold team runs through Jenna. She will be able to make an immediate impact at the next level."
"Patrick Baker has signed another great class which will allow his program to continue to build upon last year's success. Coach Baker continues to land many of the best female soccer players from the state of Georgia."
Judson Hamby, Head Coach, Parkview High School:
"If you were creating a women's team from scratch, you would want this player on your roster. She is one of the hardest-working and most competitive players I have ever met. She hates losing and will do whatever it takes to make the team and herself successful. Ashley loves the game of soccer, but more importantly, she loves leading and doing things well. Ashley does not know what the words "half-effort" mean. Everything she does is full-speed and full-effort. The University of Georgia is blessed to get not only a great player, but a great person."
"We are very excited to have this wonderful group of young ladies entering our program this fall," said Baker. "We have addressed every position on the field with this class and the quality of this group is exceptional. A record five regional-team starters, of which three are All-Americans, have paved the way for another impressive class headed to Athens. In building a national championship contender, you must have a number of top-flight recruiting classes to compete at the highest level. This group adds another piece to the overall picture in getting our program closer to the nation's elite."
The 2008 signing class features three NSCAA High School All-Americans. Five of the six players are members of the Region III ODP squad and three of them have been invited to U.S. National Team Camp at least once during their youth careers.
Addressing both immediate and long-term needs, Georgia brings in three defenders, a goalkeeper, one midfielder and one forward.
The 2008 class hopes to join its 2007 and 2006 predecessors among the nation's Top-15 ranked signing classes. Head Coach Patrick Baker brought in Georgia's first Top-15 class in 2006, as that group garnered a No. 8 national rating. In 2007, the incoming Bulldog class was listed at No. 14. Both signing classes were each ranked as the second-best incoming groups in the Southeastern Conference for that year as well.
Incidentally, the last two SEC Freshman Of The Year Award winners have come from those two Bulldog signing classes, as Carrie Patterson won the accolade in 2006 and Kelli Corless followed suit in 2007.
Following is a brief sketch on each player, in alphabetical order. For complete biographical information on each signee, please see the accompanying PDF.
Ashley Baker, Goalkeeper, Lilburn, Ga.
Baker is a member of the Region III ODP team and has competed at interregional events across the country. A 2007 NSCAA High School Region Team selection, she was also named to the Rise Magazine Greater Atlanta All-Area Team and the Gwinnett County Super 6 squad. Baker has been a member of two Region 5A Georgia State Championship teams at Parkview, and helped PHS to three straight Georgia Region 8 Championships (2005, '06, '07).
"Ashley is one of the region's top youth goalkeepers and was our first 2008 commitment," said Baker. "She possesses great range and is capable of making high-level saves. Ashley has the mentality we are looking for in a goalkeeper and we feel she has tremendous upside. Working day-in and day-out with Coach Thompson will provide her with a fantastic training and learning environment. We are excited to have her attending the University of Georgia."
Jamie Bouck, Defender, Alpharetta, Ga.
Bouck has enjoyed great success at both the club and high school level. As a four-year starter at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, she helped lead her squad to a Region 3A Georgia State Championship in 2006 and a Region Championship in 2007, as well as Region Finalist finishes in 2005 and 2006. Bouck is also an accomplished student, earning Magna Cum Laude honors as a freshman and a senior in high school.
"Jamie has won at every level and will bring that mentality to our program," said Baker. "We have enjoyed watching her play and feel she may be one of the best-kept secrets in this year's class. Jamie's ability to defend and tackle will be a much-needed addition to our defense. Her versatility to play centrally and out wide in the back line will give us more options in the defensive third. Jamie is going to bring a lot to our program and we are excited to have her in Red and Black this fall."
Jenna Buckley, Defender, Atlanta, Ga.
Buckley is another member of the Region III ODP U-19 squad and has recently been invited on that team's 2008 trip to Europe. A product of Westminster High School, the same institution that sent Georgia's 2007 Team MVP Megan Tomlinson to Athens, Buckley has led WHS to a pair of Region 3A Georgia State Championships (2005, 2006) and a state Runner-Up finish in 2007.
"Jenna is arguably one of the best backs in the Southeast this year and is becoming one of the best in the country," said Baker. "She not only defends very well, but is excellent at getting forward in the attack. Jenna is one of the best athletes in Georgia and possesses very good pace. She is also a versatile player, capable of playing anywhere along the back line or as a wide midfielder. Jenna has a very bright future and we are excited to have her joining our Bulldog family."
Ashley Miller, Forward, Lake Mary, Fla.
The only out-of-state signee in the 2008 class, Miller is one of three Bulldog signees to be named a 2007 NSCAA High School All-American. Previously a youth All-America and All-South Region honoree, Miller has been a Region III ODP team member at every level beginning with U-14. Another signee with international experience, Miller was a member of the Region III U-17 team that went 4-0 on its European Tour in 2007. A 2003 and 2004 National Team Training Camp participant, Miller also gained experience with the Strikers of the Women's Professional Soccer League in 2006.
"Ashley has been one of the most creative attacking players in her age group for some time," said Baker. "She possesses tremendous skill and is a very good passer of the ball. Ashley continually creates for others, while still being a threat to score herself. She will enhance our attack in the final third and gives us another tremendous option up top. We were looking for that special player outside the state of Georgia and she fulfills that mold. Ashley will have a very good college career at the University of Georgia."
Jamie Pollock, Midfielder, Powder Springs, Ga.
Pollock is the second Georgia signee to be named a 2007 NSCAA Youth All-American and also brings Regional ODP and National Team Camp experience to the table. Leading Harrison High School to three consecutive Region 5A Championships (2005-07), Pollock was named her team's Offensive MVP all three of those years. Pollock also gained international experience with the Region III ODP U-17 team's European Tour in 2007.
"Jamie is considered by many to be one of the best youth players in the state of Georgia and in the Southeast Region," said Baker. "We love her size, quickness, tireless work rate and ability to make things happen. Jamie makes everyone around her better and her abilities in the midfield will impact our team. Her decision to stay in state was very meaningful and we look forward to her development over the next four years. She is one of the state of the state of Georgia's best players and we are excited that she will be a Bulldog."
Bailey Powell, Defender, Fayetteville, Ga.
Powell is one of the most decorated players in the 2008 signing class as she was named a 2007 NSCAA Youth All-American, High School Scholar All-American, High School Region III All-American and the Georgia 4A High School Player of the Year. A three-time Region 4A First-Team All-State honoree, Powell was invited in to the U.S. U-17 National Team Camp in 2007.
"Bailey is a very talented student-athlete who we feel is a player really coming into her own," said Baker. "The state of Georgia was blessed with a number of quality center backs and we were excited that Bailey chose Georgia. She possesses great height, good skill and strikes a ball exceptionally well. Bailey has the potential to be a dominant player at the college level and we look forward to helping her become that player. She will join a relatively young back line that became one of the best in the SEC last year."
Additional Quotes Regarding Georgia's 2008 Signing Class:
Patrick Baker, Head Coach, Georgia Soccer:
"Once again we have put a premium on bringing some of the state of Georgia's finest soccer players to UGA. Baker, Bouck, Buckley, Pollock and Powell would make a tremendous five-a-side team and we are thankful they chose to stay in state. Besides being talented soccer players, they are impressive students and even better people. Because the state of Georgia has such a wealth of talent, you are going to have to be a pretty talented out of state player to catch our eye, and Miller is that special player in this class. She is one of the best attacking players in Florida, the South Region and nationally."
Randy Diggs, Editor, SoccerBuzz Magazine
Another stellar signing class keeps Georgia cemented on the national soccer recruiting scene with a strong batch of local signees. The 2008 signing class should join it's 2006 and 2007 counterparts among the nation's Top 25 incoming groups. As Coach Baker strives to put his program atop the SEC, this year's signing class will surely rank among the top two classes in the conference for the third straight year.
"What stands out most about this smaller class of incoming freshmen is the experience. Perhaps more so than with past recruits, these latest Bulldogs bring years of youth experience, particularly at the national level. Arguably without a consensus individual star, Georgia brings aboard players such as Powell, Miller and Pollock, who could immediately contribute at a level beyond the ability of most freshmen across the country. Ashley Baker's addition in goal could be crucial as well. Georgia again inks five players among the nation's Top 200, including at least three who rank among the Top 100 individuals in the Class of 2008."
Pat O'Toole, Head Coach, Region III ODP U-19:
"Jamie Pollock is a creative attacking player with the ability to unlock defenses. She is capable of generating scoring chances with both her dribbling and passing. Jamie has great vision and a sense of what needs to be done to help make her team successful. This quality, along with a tremendous work rate, will cause problems for Georgia opponents. She will excite Georgia Soccer fans with her ability to score goals and create goals for others. I am sure she will provide some exciting moments for the Bulldogs."
"Ashley Miller is an outstanding attacking player with the speed and finishing ability to create problems for any opponent. The fans will love Ashley's Bulldog spirit. She is a tough player who works for everything and will make the players around her better. Ashley is a player that can beat you with skill and creativity, or she can beat you with athleticism and determination. Defenders will have to worry about Ashley's ability to beat them when she controls the ball, and in turn, will have to face the pressure she puts on them when they have the ball."
"Bailey Powell is one of the top central defenders in the country. She has all of the physical and mental tools to excel in the college game. Her understanding and ability to read the game are her biggest strengths. Bailey is not only a great defender but she is also a player that can start the attack. She is a very good passer, and has the range to play dangerous balls behind defenses from anywhere on the field. Her height and aggression in the box should be a big asset on set pieces at both ends of the field."
"Patrick Baker and his staff at the University of Georgia have once again put together one of the top recruiting classes in the country. Five Regional team players, three of which are All-Americans, will add a great deal of quality to a very young team that had an outstanding 2007 season. It has taken Coach Baker only a couple of years to turn the program around. The University of Georgia is well on its way to becoming one of the top programs in the country with the recruiting classes they have had the last couple of years. Clearly, their results on the field are reflective of their efforts to bring top-quality players to the University of Georgia, and the tremendous work they do to improve the players once they become Georgia Bulldogs."
Ted Colburn, Head Coach, Tophat Gold '08:
"Jenna Buckley is the best athlete that I have ever had the opportunity to coach. She is one of the best defenders in the country in this signing class. She is a tenacious defender and has the athleticism and fitness to run the entire field. Most of our attack on the Tophat '08 Gold team runs through Jenna. She will be able to make an immediate impact at the next level."
"Patrick Baker has signed another great class which will allow his program to continue to build upon last year's success. Coach Baker continues to land many of the best female soccer players from the state of Georgia."
Judson Hamby, Head Coach, Parkview High School:
"If you were creating a women's team from scratch, you would want this player on your roster. She is one of the hardest-working and most competitive players I have ever met. She hates losing and will do whatever it takes to make the team and herself successful. Ashley loves the game of soccer, but more importantly, she loves leading and doing things well. Ashley does not know what the words "half-effort" mean. Everything she does is full-speed and full-effort. The University of Georgia is blessed to get not only a great player, but a great person."
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