Women's Soccer | 6/19/2020 4:00:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Head coach Sarah Dacey announced the first batch of recruits for the Barry University women's soccer team for the fall of 2020.

Five players, two transfers and three freshmen, are set to join the team in the fall. Junior transfers Rachel Barnaby and Jaida Scott and freshmen Erin Nelson, Marianna Sanchez and Ella Wallfur Skiljic make up the first batch of recruits.

Barnaby is a 5-2 central midfielder from Derry, Ireland by way of Jones County JC in Mississippi. She led the Bobcats to a 26-10 mark over two seasons with 24 goals and 10 assists in 25 games played. She had 17 goals and five assists as a freshman as the Bobcats won the conference title. Her sophomore season was cut short by injury, but she added seven goals and five assists in just nine games.

 "Rachel is a game changer," Dacey said. "Coming to us as a transfer, she already has the experience and maturity to lead a team to be successful. Rachel is a special player who has the ability to change the game at any moment. A goal scorer and a playmaker, she is also a tremendous leader who will lift our team in those critical moments. With her natural ability, competitiveness, and special qualities we expect big things from Rachel this fall."

 "Barry is in a highly competitive conference and constantly competing at a high level," Barnaby said. "On my visit, I saw why they are a successful team and it streamed from the winning mentality of the coaching staff. The atmosphere on and off the field is something I wanted to be a part of. The players were so welcoming and friendly and it felt like I knew them a long time. That is something very hard to find in a team. I'm excited to get in and start the season with them."

Scott, a 5-7 defender, is a transfer from UCF. Playing off the bench the last two seasons for the Knights, she appeared in 15 games for 29.2 minutes per game. The Knights won 13 of the 15 games in which she appeared, out-scoring the opponents 41-8. A graduate of nearby American Heritage High in Plantation, Fla., she was the 2017 Broward 3A Player of the Year by the Sun-Sentinel. She led the Patriots to four straight final four appearances in the state tournament, including three straight championships.

"Jaida is a powerful addition to our team," Dacey said. "Having come from a very successful NCAA Division I program, Jaida already understands what it takes to win. She will bring that competitiveness and drive that this team needs in order to push us to the next level. As a player, Jaida is a strong 1v1 defender, has good size and great game awareness, and brings that needed leadership aspect to our backline. We expect Jaida to make an immediate impact right away."

"I chose to transfer to Barry University because I wanted to challenge myself academically and athletically," Scott said. "Most importantly, I wanted to challenge myself personally and, for me, that involved not giving up on something that I love just because of a minor setback. Barry gives me the opportunity to be more than what I was labeled to be and reignite my soccer career! I am excited to join a family-oriented program that shows passion and enthusiasm for what they do and how they do it. I am excited to grow, meet new people, and be all the things I was meant to be here at Barry University."

Nelson is a 5-6 attacking player, at home either on the wing or up top. Her high school squad at Tyne Met College won five national championships. She was named Player of the Match at the English College Football Association national final. Playing in 15 matches with 12 starts, she scored nine goals, including four game-winners.

 "We could not be more excited to have Erin join our team," Dacey said. "If there is one word to describe her, it would be 'rapid.' Erin has tremendous speed that will immediately add another level of offensive threat to our front line. Erin is also very soccer-savvy and has played at a very high level in England.  Because of that, she has a professional mentality and maturity that will serve her well. We will look for her to create goal-scoring opportunities for us and put a ton of pressure on other teams' backline. We think very highly of her and expect her to compete for a starting spot right away."

 "I chose Barry as I felt it was the right place for me to develop as a player and a person," Nelson said. "After speaking to (Coach Sarah Dacey) about the program and the aspirations for the following years, I felt like it was the best place for me to carry on my career. The location and the football mixed together felt like the perfect mix."

Sanchez is a 5-2 defender from nearby Doral Academy Prep. She led the Firebirds to an 18-6-1 mark as a senior. She led a defense that allowed just 1.04 goals per game and recorded 12 shutouts. She earned Third-Team All-Dade County from the Miami Herald, after contributing five assists off the backline. She also starred for Weston FC.

"We are excited about the addition of Marianna to our team," Dacey said. "She comes from a very strong club and has experience playing with high level players. Marianna is a solid defender who has a lot of bite for someone her size. Competitive and driven, she adds much needed depth to our back line.  Marianna is a hard worker and has great character, so we are looking forward to see what Marianna can bring to our team overall."

"I chose Barry University because, on my first official visit, I knew it was the place for me," Sanchez said. "The university is full of people who genuinely care about you and do their best to help you. Their women's soccer team is like no other. They have a hard-working ethic and are always striving to be better. I loved how the team shared a strong bond and it just made me want to be a part of it."

Wallfur Skiljic is a 5-3 midfielder from Sweden where she played for clubs Sävedalens IF and Kungsbacka DFF, as well as earning 13 caps with the youth national team. In 16 matches, 12 starts, she scored six goals and added 12 assists.  

"Ella was a big get for us," Dacey said. "There were a lot of NCAA Division I schools recruiting her heavily, so we could not be more excited that she chose Barry. A member of the Swedish youth national team, she brings a wealth of experience at the international level. Very technical and good in tight space, she makes great decisions on the ball, and can change the game in an instant. She has great vision for setting up her teammates, and a strong awareness as a central midfielder. Ella wants the ball at her feet to make things happen which will make our already talented central midfield that much more dynamic.  We know Ella will make an immediate impact from the start for us."

"I chose Barry University because, after speaking to (Coach Dacey), I got a great feeling about the soccer program and think we've got good chances of winning a lot next season," Wallfur Skiljic said. "I believe strongly in the way coach describes how she wants the team to play, and it is a type of soccer that I think will fit me well. I also got the impression that the team spirit is great, which was very important to me when choosing a college. Barry University also has a great location and good possibilities to combine athletics with studies."

The Bucs plan to bring in several more players for the fall.