University at Albany women’s soccer announces 9-player recruiting class

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany women’s soccer head coach Nick Bochette has announced the addition of nine players to the Great Danes’ squad in 2019.  The class features players from two countries and four from New York State.

“We’re delighted to welcome this group to the UAlbany Class of 2023 and to our UAlbany Soccer family,” said Bochette.  “These nine young women are an energetic and talented group who have the character and the drive to achieve great things over the next four years.  We are excited to integrate them into an excellent group of returning student-athletes who are all hungry to build on the successes and challenges of last year.  There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months, and we can’t wait to get started.”

The nine newcomers join a squad that has won three of the last four America East titles, and won a single-season program record 14 games in 2018.

Tiffany Bernot | M
Old Westbury, N.Y. | The Wheatley School | Albertson SC

Bochette on Bernot: Tiffany is a powerful and rock-solid midfielder who possesses a fantastic knowledge of the game to go along with excellent technical ability. She will add quality to our already-solid midfield group, which we’re very excited about. 

Natalie Burns | F/M
New Hartford, N.Y. | New Hartford | Syracuse Development Academy

Bochette on Burns: Nat is a player whose intelligence, energy, technical ability & athleticism will allow her to play a variety of different roles for us. She has an incredible engine and a style that’s all her own, and we’re excited to see her assimilate it to the college game.

Savannah Edwards | D
Richmond Hill, Ontario | Bill Crothers SS | Toronto Azzuri

Bochette on Edwards: Savannah is an ideal fit for how we aim to play. She is an athletic, hard-nosed, and versatile defender who can play effectively both inside or outside and is comfortable making the game with her foot on the ball.

Natasha Fowler | M
Wappinger Falls, N.Y. | Ketcham | Sky Blue NYSA DA

Bochette on Fowler: Natasha is a relentless player with a high soccer IQ, great vision, and an ability to make good decisions under intense pressure. She is a young woman who possesses all the attributes of an effective and influential player at our level.

Akasha Gaige | F/D
Chaumont, N.Y. | Watertown | Western New York Flash Academy ECNL

Bochette on Gaige: Akasha is a dynamic athlete that could legitimately play 5 different positions depending on where she is asked to. She’s an extremely hard-working and honest player, and will leave everything she has on the field for us at any given time.

Sophea James | M
Barre, Mass. | Northfield Mount Hermon | FC Stars of Mass

Bochette on James: Sophea is a mobile and intelligent player with good vision and ability to play in tight spaces. Her size, athleticism, and technical ability will allow her to play in multiple different positions at the college level and she will undoubtedly provide quality in all those positions. 

Lean Pais | F
Vaughan, Ontario | St. Marcellinus | Vaughan SC

Bochette on Pais: Leah is as complete a player as we’ve ever seen at her stage of development. She’s a dangerous attacking threat who can play with her back to goal, drive at defenders with the ball, and make devastating and well-timed runs in behind the defense.

Isabella Romano | D
St. James, N.Y. | Smithtown | Brentwood SC

Bochette on Romano: Isabella is a central defender who’s communication and size will be an asset for our group. She’s someone who isn’t going to back down from any attacking threat and won’t give anything up easily.

Sahara Zingano | F/M
Grimsby, Ontario | Grimsby SS | Asante Soccer Academy

Bochette on Zingano: Sahara is a driven, athletic, and powerful attacking player who will never miss an opportunity to drive the team forward. Her eye for goal and ability to pass over distance make her a formidable opponent to play against, and will expand the space we can play in.