Feb. 7, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton women's soccer program has signed five highly talented student-athletes for the 2008 season announced head coach Mike Tucker on Thursday. The class features one forward, two defenders and two midfielders. Two of Tucker's recruits hail from Ohio, while the others come to Dayton from California, Illinois, and England.

Joining the Flyer program next season are Kelsey Owen (Ojai, CA), Kelsey Miller (Barrington, IL), Josie Grant (Wigton, Cumbria), Kathleen Beljan (Hilliard, OH), and Brittany Persaud (Westerville, OH).

"Wow I'm so impressed with our newest class of UD Flyers! Our intent is to win championships, and this class will play a big role in helping to accomplish that. I commend our staff for their efforts in securing such a diverse and talented group. Besides being blessed with tremendous soccer abilities, great athleticism, and high level experiences, these young women are all exceptional students," said Tucker.

"They all bring a strong work ethic and an enthusiastic love of the game. It will be exciting to witness their contributions to the Flyers in 2008!"

Kelsey Owen
Position: MF
Height: 5'5"
Hometown: Ojai, California
High School: Nordhoff
Club/ODP: Camarillo Eagles
Coach Tucker on Kelsey Owen - "KO" is a very dynamic attacking player who has played a key role in helping her Eagles (CA) club team to two national championships. She is always a threat to score, and is adapt at either creating her own chances or on getting on the end of her teammates passes. Kelsey is tough, physical presence an will be a great addition in the middle of the field for the Flyers."

High School Accolades - Tallied 11 goals and five assists during the 2007 season...Named First team Tri-Valley League 2005-2007...All-CIF Second Team in 2004 and All-CIF Third Team in 2005 and 2006...In the 2004-05 season, her team finished as the Tri-Valley League Runner-ups and as CIF quarterfinalists...The following year she helped lead her squad to win the Tri-Valley Championships ... In club action, her team finished as state, regional and national champions in 2007 and 2004...She also helped her club team win the Premier League Championship in 2005, the Coast Soccer League Cup in 2006 and the Surf Cup in both 2005 and 2006...Academically, she holds one of the top 50 spots in her class and is a member of her high school's Gold Key Club.

Kelsey Miller
Position: D/MF
Height: 5'7"
Hometown: Barrington, IL
High School: Barrington
Club/ODP: Chicago Sockers FC
Coach Tucker on Kelsey Miller - "Kelsey is an athletic, tough, aggressive, and skillful defender. She can play either centrally or wide, and is an excellent attacker from the back. Last spring one Chicago area newspaper referred to hear as "perhaps the top defender in the state." Kelsey comes from a family of great defenders! Her brother, Ryan was an All-America defender at Notre Dame before being drafted recently by the Columbus Crew. Her other brother, Andy is a starting defender for the Wisconsin Badgers. We will be counting on Kelsey to play a prominent role in the defensive third."

High School Accolades - Helped her high school team to the regional championship in 2007...Her club team, the Sockers were regional semifinalist in 2006...She is a 2006 Joga Bonita World Champion...Four-year honor roll member at Barrington...Has two brothers, Ryan, who played for Notre Dame and was drafted to the Columbus Crew and Andy, who is a starting defender for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Josie Grant
Position: MF
Height: 5'7"
Hometown: Wigton, Cumbria
High School: The Nelson Thommlinson
Club/ODP: Windscale Ladies
Coach Tucker on Josie Grant - "Our first European player, Josie possesses a feel for the game unusual to many Americans. She grew up playing primarily against males and she has more than held her own! Her skills and tactical awareness, as well as her physical presence will allow her to play effectively anywhere on the pitch. She plays with enthusiasm and a high work rate. Jose has played with and against some of the top youth players in England and will adapt to the college game shortly."

High School Accolades - A three-sport athlete in both soccer, netball, and track and field....As a four-year member of the Nelson Thomlinson high school football team, she was a three-time team captain and helped her squad to the North West County Championship title in 2004...She played for the Blackburn Rovers club team from 2001-2004...In 2005, she was named player of the year as a member of the Carlisle City club team...Currently a member of the Windscale Ladies FC...In other sports, while playing netball for the Cumbria Netball team she was named the captain and defensive player of the year in 2003...The following year she earned player of the year and player's player of the year honors ...In track, she earned second place in the Javelin in the North West Regional in 2003, took third place in the pentathlon in 2004 and second place in the heptathlon in 2005...Was a first place finisher in the 2005 Junior Girls County Pentathlon.

Kathleen Beljan
Position: D/MF
Height: 5'2"
Hometown: Hilliard, Ohio
High School: Hilliard Davidson
Club/ODP: Ohio Premier (South)
Coach Tucker on Kathleen Beljan - "Kathleen has outstanding speed and quickness, is skillful and is equally adept playing either in the back or in the midfield. She is very comfortable joining the attack from the back and is excellent in transition. She is very comfortable as a left-sided player. Kathleen has played at a very high level of club and high school play and will challenge for a role in the defensive third initially."

High School Accolades - Four-year starter and scholar athlete of the year at Hilliard Davidson High School...Named Ohio Capital Conference Second Team in 2007...In 2004 and 2007, her high school team finished 20-1-1 and 13-3-4, respectively...In club play, was a 2005 and 2006 state quarterfinalist and 2007 state semifinalist...Academically, she has been in the top 10 of her class all four years and is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Brittany Persaud
Position:F/MF
Height: 5'4"
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
High School: Westerville High School
Club/ODP: Blast F.C.
Coach Tucker on Brittany Persaud - "Brit can absolutely crush a ball and I'm sure that she will contribute some "highlight reel" goals for the Flyers! She is comfortable up top or in the midfield and is both a distributor and scorer. She is very strong, yet can play with great finesse as well. Coming off a serious knee injury, Britt has worked hard to be ready to make an impact for the Flyers in 2008."

High School Accolades -
Second team All Ohio Capital Conference in 2004...High School team finished as District Champions in 2007 and as runner-ups in 2005...Her club team, Blast F.C., were 2005 State Cup finalists and 2001 and 2003 State Cup semifinalists...Member of Ohio South ODP Team 2004-2007...Also attended National Camp in 2004...Was a member of the regional pool in region two from 2004-2006.

The women's soccer team will kick off its spring season on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Purdue University. The Flyers will take on Loyola Chicago at 2 p.m. ET, followed by the Boilermakers at 5 p.m. ET. Dayton will play in two home games at Baujan Field during the spring on Sunday, Apr. 3 versus Toledo (2 p.m. ET) and Friday, Apr. 11 against Ohio State (7:30 p.m. ET).