Feb. 2, 2005

College Park, Md. - Maryland women's soccer head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski will welcome three high school stars and two transfers to the Terrapin soccer program for the 2005 season as part of National Signing Day.

"I'm very pleased with the class we've been able to assemble," said Higgins-Cirovski. "We lost two very good players to graduation, but we're bringing in five exceptional players in this class. It's a well-rounded class with tremendous versatility. The two juniors in the class bring a certain level of maturity with them. I have no reason to believe that this is not one of the top classes in the country.

"Along with some invited walk-ons, this is a very big class, and given our recent history with injuries, this class will complement our existing players and give us the depth we've missed in the last couple of seasons."

Coming to College Park to don the red and black will be midfielder/defender Aimee Bresani (Woodbury, N.J./Bishop Eustace), defender/midfielder Kimberly Bunting (Potomac, Md./Bullis), outside midfielder/forward Melissa Heintz (Sebastopol, Calif./Analy High/Santa Rosa JC), midfielder/forward Sarah Sample (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's/George Washington), and forward/midfielder Kaila Sciascia (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn).

Class of 2005 Profiles

Aimee Bresani
Freshman
Midfielder/Defender
Woodbury, N.J.
(Bishop Eustace)

Higgins-Cirovski on Bresani: "Aimee is a versatile player who will be able to help us almost anywhere on the field. She is strong, aggressive and tactically aware and has potential for enormous growth."

Bresani's Highlights: Two-year team captain at Bishop Eustace ... lead the Crusaders to four Olympic Conference championships ... two-time team MVP ... three-time South Jersey Parochial championships ... 2002 and 2004 New Jersey State Parochial titles ... two-time N.J. all-Parochial first team ... first team all-state in 2003 and 2004 ... four-time first team all-Olympic Conference ... 2003-04 all-South Jersey ... two-time first team selection by Philadelphia Inquirer and South Jersey Courier Post ... nominated for Philadelphia Inquirer and South Jersey Courier Post player of the year in 2003 and 2004 ... five-year member of the New Jersey ODP team (1999-2004) ... member of the Region I team from 2003-2004 ... member of the Region I pool from 1999-2004 ... played for the Pennsylvania Strikers club team ... helped the Strikers win the 2004 state championship.

Kimberly Bunting
Freshman
Defender/Midfielder
Potomac, Md.
(Bullis)

Higgins-Cirovski on Bunting: "Kimmy is a smart defender who is technically sound and reads the game well. She's strong, quick and will be a tremendous asset for us in the backfield or the defensive midfield."

Bunting's Highlights: Missed the entire 2004 season rehabbing a knee injury ... scored 30 goals to go along with 12 assists as a junior in 2003 ... 2003 first team selection by Prince George's County Gazette ... second team Washington Post all-Metro selection ... named team and offensive MVP ... first team all-ISL ... Bullis Female Athlete of the Year ... scored 21 goals as a freshman ... member of the Maryland State ODP for six years ... led Maryland ODP to Region I title in 2002 and 2004 and national silver medalists in 2003 ... member of the Region I team from 2001-2004 ... participated at the Boca Raton (Fla.) Interregional Event for three years ... selected to the 2001 and 2002 national pools ... lead the Bethesda Excel club team to five Maryland state titles ... two-time regional champions ... helped Bethesda Excel to the national title game.

Melissa Heintz
Junior
Outside Midfielder/Forward
Sebastopol, Calif.
(Analy High/Santa Rosa JC)

Higgins-Cirovski on Heintz: "Melissa is a quick, speedy midfielder who can get up and down the flank. She crosses well, is a tenacious defender and has good technical abilities and tactical awareness. Given her college experience, her maturity will help our team grow."

Heintz's Highlights at Santa Rosa JC: First team CCCSCA all-state and all-Northern California after leading the Bear Cubs with 14 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore ... second team NSCAA All-American ... named Bay Valley Conference MVP ... two-time all-Bay Valley Conference ... 2004 team MVP and two-time team offensive MVP ... 2004 team captain ... earned the SRJC Commitment of Academic Excellence Award ... scored 13 goals to go along with six assists as a freshman.

Heintz Prior to College: Four-year varsity starter at Analy High School ... four-time all-Sonoma County selection ... two-time all-Empire honoree ... named Sonoma County Democrat athlete of the week after a six-goal game as a senior in 2002 ... scored 58 goals and tallied 46 assists for 104 points during her career ... graduated with academic honors ... also played for the San Francisco Nighthawks in the Women's Premiere League.

Sarah Sample
Junior
Midfielder/Forward
Annapolis, Md.
(St. Mary's)

Higgins-Cirovski on Sample: "Sarah is a tall, athletic player who is versatile enough to play in the midfield or at forward. She has good technical ability is exceptional in the air and tactically sound. She has the ability to contribute immediately."

Sample's Highlights at George Washington: Transfer from George Washington ... first team all-Atlantic 10 after leading the Colonials with six goals and 14 points ... chipped in two assists ... started all 19 games ... member of the 2003 Atlantic 10 all-rookie team after scoring four goals and adding three assists to finish second on the team with 11 points ... played in 17 games, starting 14 as a freshman ... scored three points (one goal, one assist) in her first collegiate game.

Sample Prior to College: Three year member of the Olympic Development Team as a national pool player ... four years on the regional ODP team and eight years on the ODP state team ... recipient of several outstanding honors including McDonald's All-American, All-South, All-State, All-Met, All-County, All-League, Coaches Award, and Team Captain ... member of Bethesda Dragons club team who were Region 1 Champions in 2003 and 1999 ... the Dragons won the State Cup Champions in 2003, 2001 and 1997-1999 ... St. Mary's- IAAM A Conference Champions 2000, 2001, and 2002 ... named Best Utility Player for 2000 State Champions Severna Park ... four-year high school soccer letterwinner (three years at St. Mary's and one at Severna Park).

Kaila Sciascia
Freshman
Forward/Midfielder
East Northport, N.Y.
(John Glenn)

Higgins-Cirovski on Sciascia: "Kaila is a quick player with good technical skills. She reads the play well and is a good finisher. She plays well off the ball, combines well and has an excellent scoring mentality."

Sciascia's Highlights: Four-year varsity letterwinner at John Glenn High School ... three-time all-state MVP ... 2001 all-conference MVP ... member of ENYSSA state program for five years ... member of the 2004 U-17 Region I team ... attended the 2004 U-17 National Camp ... played for the Stony Brook Eclipse Region I Premiere club team ... also played for the Eastchester Patriots in 2004 ... lead the Patriots to the Oakwood Championship ... played in the ISA Super Y-League ... member of the U-17 national championship team ... played for the 2004 U-17 Regional team and was in the U-17 National pool.