The University of Memphis women's soccer team had the No. 27 nationally-ranked recruiting class in 2005, according to Soccer Buzz, an online women's soccer magazine. It's no coincidence that the Tigers also set school records in wins last season with a nationally-ranked offense. Although Brooks Monaghan's squad only lost two players to graduation from the 2005 roster, the sixth-year coach decided to grab as much talent as possible in 2006. On Wednesday Monaghan announced the signing of six prep standouts that will join the Tigers next fall, including two top players from the Memphis area in Brittany Baldwin and Lia Fannin.
"We have a strong group coming in for the 2006 season, and they will have the opportunity to compete and help bolster our lineup," Monaghan said.
The U of M returns 20 players from last season's record-setting team, and the new recruits are expected to boost the talent already in place.
"It says a lot about our team," Monaghan said. "We're adding more firepower. (We're) very close to competing for a C-USA championship. This class is as strong a recruiting class as last year if not stronger."
Monaghan and his staff already had a leg up on securing the services of local standouts Baldwin and Fannin. The two played club soccer together with the Memphis Mercury and were coached by Memphis assistant Jodi Fisher.
"We had a head start on them," Monaghan said. "In my opinion they are two of the best in the city."
Baldwin, a midfielder/defender out of Collierville High, was selected to the Commercial Appeal's Best of Preps her sophomore through senior seasons. The Memphis native helped the Dragons to a 20-4-1 record last season and a state championship.
Although The U of M seemed to be the obvious college of choice for Baldwin, she said she had completely ruled out playing for the Tigers at first.
"I had it in my head that I was going to get out of Memphis," Baldwin said.
She had taken a visit to UNC-Greensboro, she said, and was planning to sign with the out-of-state school before she got an important call from Monaghan.
"Brooks called me and said that I should at least stay with the girls and take a visit to (The U of M)."
Baldwin took the visit and the rest is history.
With her talent, Baldwin will compete right away for playing time at the center mid and center back positions.
"Brittany is one of the top players to come out of Memphis this year," Monaghan said. "She comes into our program with great size and is a very skillful and technical player. Not too often do you find a player with that type of mixture and ability."
Fannin, meanwhile, played her high school soccer just miles down the road from Baldwin at Houston High. While Baldwin and Collierville captured the 2005 Class AAA state championship, Fannin led the Mustangs to the state title in 2004. She was selected to the all-state team as a junior.
Baldwin, who has known Fannin for nearly six years, said she enjoys the competitive relationship the two have on the field.
"One of us will knock the other one down, and then the other one will get up and do the same thing," Baldwin said. "But it's all fun with us."
In addition to the two local products to sign with the Tigers, Monaghan said he and his staff are excited about the out-of-towners as well.
Laura Laufenberg, from Columbine High in Littleton, Colo., was the third leading scorer in Colorado during the 2004 season but got hurt and did not play her senior season. It was this injury, Monaghan said, that ultimately landed Laufenberg at The U of M.
"She was injured and slipped under the radar," he said.
Laufenberg played club soccer for the Colorado Rush, one of the top teams in the country, according to Monaghan, and was apart back-to-back state titles the team won in 2002 and 2003.
Isabel Briones will also have competition for time at goalkeeper thanks to the signing of Chelsea Brooks out of Karns High in Knoxville. Brooks was an all-region goalkeeper at Karns.
"During her time here, she will have the opportunity to develop into a great goalkeeper," Monaghan said.
While he is more than pleased with his six new recruits, Monaghan and his staff are still out on the road courting more talent in an effort to get more commitments and to continue improving the team, he said.
