WILMINGTON, North Carolina – A group of seven high school standouts, including three performers from North Carolina, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UNCW and play for Head Coach Paul Cairney and the women's soccer team in 2016.

Nikki Cox of Granville, Ohio, Grace Hersey of Alexandria, Va., Katie McGrath of Centreville, Va., and Cassidy Overstreet of Glendora, Calif., will join state recruits Baley Edwards of Wilmington, N.C., Ashley Johnson of Huntersville, N.C., and Dominique Martinez of Havelock, N.C., as members of the Seahawks' incoming class.

"Our 2016 team will benefit from these signees coming in," Coach Cairney said. "They have all achieved quite a lot in their young careers and we are excited to work with them.
 
"Our current team is working very hard to maintain the working culture we have created," Cairney added. "The key element is that our new players buy into this working culture so that we can continue our winning culture. We have a very solid base of talent on our team right now and this new batch will add competition in most positions."

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2016 UNCW Women's Soccer Recruits

Nikki Cox
Position: Forward
Hometown: Granville, Ohio
High School: Granville
Club Team: Ohio Premier SC ECNL

Highlights: Four-year letter winner who finished career as Granville's all-time leader with 143 goals and 75 assists … also holds school single-season record for goals (50) and assists (26) … two-time All-America pick … four-time all-league and all-district selection … named all-state three times … helped Granville reach state semifinals twice … honored as 2014 Ohio Player of the Year … competed in several ECNL Showcase events … member of Granville golf team as a sophomore and was two-year letter winner in softball … mother, Tami, played basketball at Ashland University … father, Clint, was a member of University of Toledo football team.

Baley Edwards
Position: Midfield/Forward
Hometown: Wilmington, N.C.
High School: Laney
Club Team: Triangle Futbol Club Association (TFCA)

Highlights: Three-time all-conference selection who earned all-state recognition as a junior … two-time all-region honoree … named as team MVP twice … has served as team captain twice … member of 2015 State Cup championship team … competed at Disney and CASL Showcase events with TFCA … mother, Buffy, graduated from UNCW and competed on women's golf team from 1994-96 … father, Cee, played basketball at Barton College.

Grace Hersey
Position: Forward
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
High School: Bishop Ireton
Club Team: Arlington Soccer Association

Highlights: Three-year letter winner who served as team captain at Bishop Ireton … three-time all-conference selection who earned First-Team honors as a junior and senior … named First-Team all-met as a senior … served as a team captain for club team and participated in Jefferson Cup, CASL and Disney Showcase … two-sport athlete who also competed for track and field team at Bishop Ireton.

Ashley Johnson
Position: Forward
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
High School: William A. Hough
Club Team: Lake Norman '97 Eclipse

Highlights: Four-year letter winner at William A. Hough who served as a team captain last year … member of 2014 state championship team … also helped Hough reach state finals as a freshman and was named as the team's MVP … helped club team reach finals of 2014 State Cup … member of state and regional championship team in 2013 … won Golden Boot award at state, regional and national championships in 2013 … competed at several showcase events, including Disney Showcase and CASL Showcase … grandfather, Gordon Lofts, was Hall-of-Fame athlete at Olivet College who competed on basketball, football and track and field teams. 

Dominique Martinez
Position: Defense
Hometown: Havelock, N.C.
High School: Havelock
Club Team: TFCA Alliance

Highlights: Four-year letter winner at Havelock … tallied 18 goals with 11 assists as a freshman … also contributed 11 goals with 10 assists during junior season … member of 2015 Disney Showcase championship team with OCSA U-18 team … helped TFCA Alliance win 2015 State Cup championship … attended ODP national camp in Arizona in 2014 … qualified for Region 3 ODP pool in back-to-back years … three-sport athlete who also competed on Havelock basketball and track and field teams.

Katie McGrath
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Centreville, Va.
High School: Chantilly
Club Team: VSA

Highlights: First-Team all-district and all-region selection at Chantilly who serves as team captain … earned Second-Team all-state and All-Met distinction … named as team MVP … also served as team captain for VSA club team … competed at CASL Showcase, Disney Showcase and Bethesda Showcase … played on junior varsity basketball team as a freshman.  

Cassidy Overstreet
Position: Midfield/Forward
Hometown: Glendora, Calif.
High School: Glendora
Club Team: Albion SC USA GU18

Highlights: All-League honorable mention selection at Glendora who has scored nine goals with seven assists as a senior … competed at Las Vegas College Showcase, Surf Cup Showcase Tournament and Albion Cup … member of Glendora's cross country team as a freshman.

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