Looking into the future of Gators soccer

The Gators ended their 2022 season with the worst record in program history. Despite a disappointing season for first-year head coach Samantha Bohon and the Gators, the team will look ahead to next season with a fresh start and new faces.

Bohon welcomed her first signing class on Nov. 9, consisting of eight athletes from across the country.

Lena Bailey

Lena Bailey, a forward from Tampa, Florida, has found success within her club and high school teams.

Her club team, Tampa Bay United 04/05 ECNL, made it to the final four in Nationals in 2021. Bailey has been a key goal scorer for her high school team, Tampa Catholic. She scored 31 goals as a freshman, 10 as a sophomore and 23 as a junior. So far, with three games played as a senior, she has recorded two goals.

Didn't have to wait too long… 1st game with a flying header! @LenaBailey_ @Biggamebobby @TCCrusader https://t.co/AqK0jlnazG pic.twitter.com/RpRXC32Hpm

— Aesha Bailey (@Coach_Bailey4) November 10, 2022

Paris Bice

Paris Bice is a goalkeeper from Gainesville, Florida. Bice has been in net for various ECNL and DA teams. However, most recently, she competes for Charlotte Soccer Academy 04/05 ECNL while attending Alachua eSchool.

https://twitter.com/CSA_Soccer/status/1567286622391078913?s=20&t=0gbE9fQDUrkohCWG-qZgxA

Elyse Campbell

Elyse Campbell is a midfielder from Windermere, Florida. Her club team, Florida Krush ECNL, made it to ECNL National Playoffs this year. The midfielder competed for Buchholz High School before playing for Olympia High School as a junior and senior.

While a freshman at Buchholz, Campbell was named to the Sun All-Area Second Team 2019-20.

https://twitter.com/GatorsSoccer/status/1590473054202875905?s=20&t=0gbE9fQDUrkohCWG-qZgxA

Sami Fisher

Sami Fisher is a forward/midfielder from Scottsdale, Arizona. She plays club for Phoenix Rising ECNL and high school soccer for Chaparral High School.

Fisher has collected various accolades. She is ranked a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer and she is the leading goal scorer on her club team, among other recognitions.

As for high school, she was named the Conference Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season by the 6A Arizona Interscholastic Association. The same year, she was a Gatorade Player of the Year finalist.

Megan Hinnenkamp

Megan Hinnenkamp is a defender/forward from Kearney, Missouri. She plays for KC Athletics U19 Girls ECNL and Liberty North High School. Notably, she was named to the ECNL Midwest Conference First Team.

2021-22 Midwest Conference Postseason Awards pic.twitter.com/KKEZEMznAX

— ECNL Girls (@ECNLgirls) August 11, 2022

Hinnenkamp was named a 2021-2022 High School All-American by United Soccer Coaches. Also, she was the 2022 4A Co-offensive Player of the Year and part of the All-State first team, voted by the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association. The Gators soccer commit was also named the 2022 Liberty North Athlete of the Year by Courier-Tribune.

Avery Upton

Avery Upton, a defender from St. John, Florida, plays for Florida Elite Soccer Academy ECNL and Creekside High School.

Her high school team was the 2022 Florida High School Athletic Association 7A champion. Upton was a necessary asset to the team in the championship game, as she aided in both creating scoring chances and holding down the defense.

She was also named to the 2021 and 2022 St. Johns-Flagler-Volusia All-Area First Team and St. Johns All-County First Team.

Paloma Peña

Paloma Peña is a goalkeeper from Miramar, Florida. She plays for Tampa Bay United ECNL and her high school, Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy.

Notably, Peña was part of the Dominican Republic National Team, where she played in the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 and U-17 championships.

Congratulations to Faith Espiritusanto, Jazmin Herrera, Paloma Pena, and Bella Ventura from our Women's Varsity Soccer Team. These young women have been chosen to play on several different national teams for the Dominican Republic in the 2022.. https://t.co/n2g7CfweLN pic.twitter.com/oM2ZYtdTWX

— Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School (@McCarthyHS) February 19, 2022

She was also selected to be a part of the 2022 ECNL New Jersey National Selection Games.

Amelia Malkin

Amelia Malkin is a forward from Sarasota, Florida. She currently plays at IMG Academy, but previously attended Riverview High School.

While attending Riverview High School, she amassed a few achievements. She was a 2021 All-Star nominee, part of the 2020-21 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State team and part of the Herald Tribune 2020-21 All-Area Team Selection.

https://twitter.com/GatorsSoccer/status/1590500490231844865?s=20&t=A7CqeBCuDc-eA_2KRONh7g

With this being Bohon’s first recruiting class, the future looks bright for the Gators.