May 26, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Women’s soccer coach Benji Walton has announced the addition of five players for next season.  Rachel Bartek, Whitney Smith, Brittany Soto, Brandi Mira, and Stephanie Gore will join the Panthers on the field this fall.

 

Rachel Bartek is a defender out of Birmingham.  Rachel was a four year starter for Indian Springs School.  Helped bring her team to a state semi-finals appearance in 2006 and a state championship game in 2008.  2008 she made the state all tournament team.  Rachel played for Birmingham United Elite team that won 4 consecutive state championships.   From 2003-2005 she was a member of the Alabama Olympic Development Program.  Twice her team competed in the Region III championship tournament.  Along with soccer Rachel also played basketball at Indian Springs and was named All Tournament MVP in 2008.

 

Whitney Smith is also a defender from Birmingham.  Whitney was a 4 year varsity member of Altamont’s women’s soccer team and a starter since her sophomore year.  With Altamont she won two state championships in her freshman and sophomore year.  Her senior year she helped lead her team back to the state championship but finished as runner-up.  She played club soccer all over Birmingham including stints with Mountain Brook Soccer club, Vestavia Hills Soccer Club and finished up with BUSA.

 

Brittany Soto is a midfielder and defender out of Ball Ground, Georgia and will transfer to the Hilltop from Winthrop University.  Brittany was a 4 year starter during her high school career at Sequoyah and South Forsyth High Schools.  She helped lead her 2005 team to the State Finals and as a senior in 2007 she was team captain and was named to both the All County  Before college she played club soccer for the Concorde Fire out of Atlanta, GA.  She was also a member of the Georgia Olympic Development Program.  She also competed with the Super Y Program where she made the Southeast Region Team and was invited to National Camp.  After high school she signed a NCAA Division I scholarship to play at Winthrop University in the Big South Conference.  She was a two year starter on defense for WU.  She is transferring to BSC in 2009 to play soccer and pursue a degree in Chemistry. and the All District Teams.

 

Brandi Mira is a forward out of Zephyrhills, Florida.  Brandi was a 4 year starter for her high school team.  Her Junior year she had 26 goals and 9 assists and was named 1^st team all county and 2^nd team all conference.  Her Senior year she had 38 goals and 11 assists and was named to 1^st team all county, 1^st team all conference and 1^st team all state.  She was also named to the North Suncoast first team.  In 2009 she was the Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year.  She made the Florida West All-Star team.  She was also a Wendy’s Heisman Winner.  In her career she scored 92 goals. 

 

In school, Brandi maintained perfect school attendance, lifetime honor roll, Magna Cum Laude, and was a member of National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Students Against Destructive Decisions Club.  She also captained Soccer, Cheerleading and Track. 

 

Stephanie Gore is a forward and defender from Davies, Florida.  Stephanie was a two sport athlete at University School excelling in both Lacrosse and Soccer.  She will be coming to BSC to compete in both sports.  Her senior year she helped University School to its first trip to the state tournament and one if its most successful seasons in school history.  Stephanie will also be the first soccer player from University School to play college soccer.