Feb. 28, 2005

DAYTON - University of Dayton women's soccer head coach Mike Tucker has announced that freshman goalkeeper Nicole Reed will enroll at UD this fall after transferring from Vanderbilt University.

"We're thrilled to have a player of her ability join the program," Tucker said. "I know Niki very well because I coached her in the Olympic Development Program and I recruited her out of high school. We feel she is one of the top goalkeeping prospects in the country."

Originally from Hamilton, OH and a graduate of Fairfield High School, the 5-9 Reed was one of eight goalkeepers from across the country to be invited to the under-19 National Camp in Los Angeles. The camp was held in January at the U.S. National Training Center. UD incoming freshman Anne Mariscalco (Centerville, OH) was also an invitee at the National Camp. Reed played has played for five years (2000-05) on the Region II ODP '86 Team.

Reed saw action in four games last year for the Commodores - playing behind a senior First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection. In perhaps her most outstanding game of the season, Reed played over 118 minutes in a double-overtime 1-1 draw with nationally-ranked Wake Forest. She held the Demon Deacons to just one goal, while making seven stops. She finished the season with two starts and a 1.62 goals against average in 388 minutes of action.

At Fairfield High School, she started and lettered in 2001 where she earned Second Team All-Conference honors. She chose to forgo her junior season to play club soccer for the U-18 Ohio Premier and then graduated a year early from FHS. Reed was named the 2000 Gatorade Kid of the Year in Ohio and also carried the Olympic Torch through Cincinnati as it made its way to Sydney, Australia in 2000. Reed was a Punt, Pass and Kick National Champion in 2002.

Reed will be eligible to play in the fall as a sophomore.

Coach Tucker also announced that sophomore GK Sarah West (Downers Grove, IL) will transfer to DePaul University and be eligible to play there next season. West saw limited action this year due to a an injury, but was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection and named Third Team All-Ohio in 2003. She finished her freshman campaign with a 0.78 GAA -- the second-highest in team history.