Feb. 4, 2004

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's newly anointed head field hockey coach Jill Reeve announced today the signing of seven incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent for the 2004 season. The Red and White welcomed today, at a joint press conference with football and women's soccer, one of the nations more talented recruiting classes.

A shift in recruiting focus over the last two years has brought in players from all regions of the country, and this year's class is no different representing five different states. Two players come from both California and Pennsylvania, while there is one recruit from New Jersey, Kentucky, and Ohio, respectively.

Miami's lone signee from New Jersey is Meredith Corradino (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional), a defender and midfielder that was named a Second-Team High School All-American last season. Corradino is a highly decorated player also having earned First-Team All-County, First-Team All-Division and Second-Team All-State accolades during her high school career. She was her team's Most Valuable Player and tallied career numbers of 44 goals and 26 assists. Corradino also played in the National Field Hockey Festival Tournament, the National Futures Tournament and the National Indoor Tournament.

"Meredith is an outstanding player," Reeve says. "She is an athletic player, sees the field well, and because of that is a great distributer of the ball. She should have an immediate impact on our program."

The only other defensive player on this year's recruiting class is Courtney Furia (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos). Furia signs with the RedHawks after a very successful career at Los Gatos High School where she was her team's Most Valuable Player as a senior. A First-Team All-Central Coast selection, Furia also has played in the National Field Hockey Festival and the National Futures Tournament. She earned First-Team All-League and First-Team All-Blossom Valley Athletic League honors as a senior.

"Courtney is a solid and determined defender with good fundamental skills," Reeve says. "Her fitness and athleticism should be an asset to our team immediately."

The remaining five members of next year's class are four forwards and one midfielder. The lone midfielder is Meghan McMurtry (San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos), a first-team all-league player out of San Marcos High School. McMurtry also is an All-North County and Second-Team All-CIF selection, as well as an All-Academic Team honoree by the San Diego Union Tribune. Like all the other signees before her, McMurtry has played at the National Field Hockey Festival and in the National Futures Tournament, as well as with the Futures Elite and Cal Cup teams.

"Meghan has quick feet and is fundamentally sound in her game," Reeve says. "She has good ball control skills and distributes the ball nicely."

The first of four forwards signing with the Red and White is Taylor Florence (Louisville, Ky./Assumption), an All-State pick from Assumption High School in Kentucky. Florence was a Regional All-American at Assumption and earned all-state tournament accolades on last year's state championship team. She led the entire state of Kentucky in scoring with 34 goals and 27 assists last year and polished off her list of accolades with all-county honors. Florence has played at the National Field Hockey Festival and National Futures Tournament.

"Taylor has great speed, nice small-space stickwork, good vision and a great nose for the goal in the circle," Reeve says. "She is a hard worker who should be able to get us some goals early in her career."

Christine Loyd (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day) represents another incoming goal scorer for the RedHawks after scoring 54 goals at Maumee Valley Country Day School. She also is Miami's only Ohio native in next year's freshman class. Loyd is an All-Ohio selection was named her team's Most Valuable Player after her senior year. She also is another product of the National Field Hockey Festival and National Futures Tournament.

"Christine has good speed, hustles and always seems to get involved in the play," Reeve says. "She has an unbelievable passion for the game of field hockey."

The remaining two players among the seven signees are both products of Pennsylvania high schools in Alyssa Nye (Bernville, Pa./Tulpehocken) and Laura Seidel (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley). Nye was a First-Team All-State honoree last season at Tulpehocken High School. She also earned All-County kudos and was an honorable mention player in her division. Nye has played at the National Field Hockey Festival and in the National Futures Tournament, as well as in the Junior Olympics.

"Alyssa has great feet and a variety of shots," Reeve says. "She should score plenty of goals and be an offensive threat early in her career at Miami. She is a hard worker, goes strong after everything and is very aggressive."

Seidel is Miami's other Pennsylvania high school product out of Oley Valley High School. She represents the ideal student-athlete at Miami after being named to the All-State Academic team and the Berk's County All-Academic squad. Seidel was a member of a county championship team and district champion at Oley Valley. She also has played in the National Field Hockey Festival and the National Futures Tournament.

"Laura is a team player with solid stick skills, good footwork and speed," Reeve says. "Her offensive skills will be a great addition to our team."

        Name                    Pos.    Hometown/High School
        Meredith Corradino      M/D     Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional
        Taylor Florence         F       Louisville, Ky./Assumption
        Courtney Furia          D       Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos
        Christine Loyd          F       Maumee, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day
        Meghan McMurtry         M       San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos
        Alyssa Nye              F       Bernville, Pa./Tulpehocken
        Laura Seidel            F       Oley, Pa./Oley Valley