Feb. 2, 2006

Greenville, N.C. - The East Carolina University's women's soccer program announced that six student-athletes that will join the Pirates in 2006. The class includes Sarah Kirkley (Raleigh, N.C.), Jennifer Kurowicki (Flemington, N.J.), Kami York-Feirn (Boulder, Colo.), Jessica Swanson (Smithfield, N.C.), Amy Szilard (Frankfort, Ill.) and Caylin Sandke (Mooresville, N.C.).

Sarah Kirkley (Raleigh, N.C.)
Sarah has been a member of the North Carolina Olympic Development team from 2001-2005. As a member of the 87 CASL Elite club team, coached by Jay Howell, her team was the Premier League Champion and qualified for the USYSA Region III Tournament in 2006. CASL won the NCYSA State Championship and were USYSA Region III participants and US Club Region Champions in 2004. In 2003, her team won the US Club National Championship. Sarah plays for Broughton High School, coached by Izzy Hernandez, where she was the varsity captain in 2005 and 2006. Broughton won the State 4A Championship in 2005 and 2003 and were runners up in 2004. Sarah earned various academic honors including the academic 4.0 Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete, Latin Honor Society and National Honor Society all four years (03-06)

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I played ODP under Coach Donnenwirth and thought that playing Division I soccer for him would be great. When I had my first campus visit I saw the facilities and met the girls; I knew then that ECU was the place for me."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Sarah is a tough competitor. She is very versatile and can play centrally or out wide in the back or midfield. She has a great attitude and is very technical and creative."

Jennifer Kurowicki (Flemington, N.J.)
Jennifer was a 2005 member of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program after two years as a pool player for the NJ ODP. She played club soccer for Match Fit Academy coached by Kevin Long, where they were U-23 State Cup Champions and USASA Region I Finalists in 2004. Jen's U-18 team was N.J. State Cup Finalist and Jen was named the U-18 State Cup MVP in 2004. They also were U-17 US Club Soccer National Finalists. Jen played for Hunterdon Central Regional High School under the direction of Chris Crowell where she helped them to the 2003 and 2005 County Champions, capturing tournament MVP honors in '05. Jen also earned first-team All-West Jersey, second-team All-Group 4 and all-conference accolades and was named all-area honorable mention. Jen was named to the Principals Honor Roll all four years and was a member of the National Honors Society, Student Council and attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I chose ECU because I always wanted to go to school in North Carolina and the campus offered me everything I was looking for academically. ECU provides me with the opportunity to play soccer at a competitive Division I level. After meeting the coaching staff and girls on the team I knew that ECU was the right school for me."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Jennifer is a very athletic goalkeeper with good technical ability. She has gained experience at a very high level, which should prepare her for the collegiate game."

Kami York-Feirn (Boulder, Colo.)
Kami joined the Colorado Rush Nike team, coached by Erik Bushey, in 2005 and helped them to the Colorado State Cup Finalists and league champions. In 2004 she led the team in scoring and was named team MVP. In high school action, Kami played for Boulder High School, coached by Emily Cole, where she earned second-team all-state honors and first-team all-region accolades in 2005. She was awarded the Braveheart (Best Attacker) award leading her team with 11 goals. Kami is a member of the National Honors Society and was named to the honor roll with three years over a 4.0 GPA.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"Because ECU has an awesome journalism/communications department, which is my intended major and an awesome soccer team. I liked the size as well and the location of the campus. Visiting campus helped solidify my decision."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Kami has explosive speed and will cause opponents headaches. She has a good mindset going to goal and has great goal-scoring capability"

Jessica Swanson (Smithfield, N.C.)
Jessica played for Triangle Football Club Navy, coached by Bill Coulthart, and was a 2005 N.C. State Cup Final Four participant. She helped the TFC collected the 2005 Forsyth Challenge Tournament Champions and was a 2004 Super Y-League Championship Participant. Jessica plays for West Johnson High School, coached by Louie Nenni and Tony Koy, and was named captain her sophomore and junior season. She was named team MVP and earned all-conference her first three seasons, while being named to the all-region team her during her freshman campaign. Jessica is an Honor Roll and Principal's List recipient and was named Who's Who Among America's High School Student's.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I've always been a Pirate fan and always thought about attending the school. I love the campus and the college town atmosphere. The coaches are awesome and very supportive. They kept in touch with me very much throughout the commitment process, which no other school accomplished as well as they did. I also chose the school for their medical programs, which is what I am planning on pursuing. Plus purple and gold just fit me!"

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"We first saw Jessica at our summer camp and we were impressed with her athleticism. She does a good job as an outside midfielder and uses her speed to get around the corner well. "

Caylin Sandke (Mooresville, N.C.)
Caylin was a member of the 2005 North Carolina Olympic Development Program and was a Region III pool player. She played for the Team Alliance Soccer Club, coached by Chris Turner, and was 2005 Premier Champions. Caylin also played for the Super Y Carolina Dynamo team and was runner's up in the South Atlantic Region in 2005. In 2004, she played for the Super Y Champion Charlotte Soccer Club and also was 2003 runner's up. Caylin plays for Mooresville Senior High School, coached by Stephen Stith, where she scored 36 career goals and 27 career assists. She was named captain her junior year and earned North Piedmont 3A All-Region and all-conference her sophomore and junior year, and all-county her junior year. Caylin was named Who's Who Among American High School Student all four years and National Honor Society and Beta Club her junior and senior years.

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"I love the sports and academic atmosphere and ECU has a strong sports medicine program."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Caylin is a soccer junkie that loves to play any chance she gets. She is a good athlete and a tough competitor."

Amy Szilard (Frankfort, Ill.)
Amy was a member of the Illinois Olympic Development Program in 2004 and 2005. She plays for the Windy City Pride, coached by Ko Thanadabouth, which won the 2004 Midwest Regional League Championship and were 2005 State Cup Semifinalists. Amy started every varsity game for four years at Lincoln-Way East, coached by Brian Papa. She ranks seventh all-time in Illinois history for most goals in a single-season, was named captain in 2004, named team Most Valuable Forward, and team MVP as a freshman. Amy is a member of the National Honor Society, is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of Pi Sigma Pi (Social Studies National Honor Society).

Reason I chose the Pirates:
"ECU has a great coach and people that made me feel at home. They play in a strong conference so it will be great competition. ECU has a friendly atmosphere and it will be a new experience and chance to meet many new people and grow as a person and soccer player. ECU also has a strong academic program and it just felt right."

Coach Donnenwirth's Comments:
"Amy is an active forward that makes intelligent runs. This combined with good speed and technical ability will make her a dangerous forward."