May 25, 2006

BOCA RATON, FL -- The Florida Atlantic University recruiting class of 2006 for the women's soccer team was ranked tops in the Sun Belt according to Soccerbuzz.com on Thursday.

The Owls narrowly edged new conference foes Middle Tennessee State and North Texas for the distinction.

Below is how Soccerbuzz.com broke down FAU's recruiting class:

A THREE WAY TIE? FAU WINS OUT
This is no regular season game so no ties allowed. In a three-way dead-heat, league newcomer FAU gets the nod for best class in the Sun Belt. The state of Florida proved lucky for FAU which got five great preps in-state. Aleisha Peterson, Nicole Farrell and Kendall Kravec all earned all-state honors in the Sunshine State. Peterson played with the Hillsborough County club team and will be joined by two of her club teammates, Jayne Wabeke and Tessa McGarrity. From club Challenge in Houston, Sonia Richards heads to FAU and brings her experience on the South Texas ODP state team with her. Devon Romak is a solid defender out of Canada and the London Gryphons club. Notre Dame transfer Jannica Tjeder may be as big a signee as any if her injury days are over as the Finnish midfielder once played with her youth national teams.

The national rankings have not yet been released.

FAU won its first-ever Atlantic Sun Championship in 2005, the team's final season in the conference. They earned a berth to the 2005 NCAA College Cup and led the country in shutout percentage while blanking 16 opponents in 21 games.

2006 will mark the first season of competition for FAU women's soccer in the Sun Belt.