University of Tennessee at Martin head soccer coach Nathan Pifer is counting on the energy of 11 newcomers to boost the Skyhawks in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The strong recruiting class, alongside a well-balanced group of returners and three seniors should make the Skyhawks a much improved team this season.

Among the returning players is Christina Moore, a sophomore midfielder from Germantown who was second on the team with 18 shots on goal and four goals. Two of her goals were game-winners for the Skyhawks.

Also from Germantown is Amy King, a sophomore forward who took seven shots and led the team in assists.

Other returning players who made an impact include Rachel Callahan, a sophomore midfielder from Versailles, Ky. and Ginger Parson, a midfielder from The Colony, Texas. Senior Sherrie Weeks, a left midfielder from Vernon, British Columbia, is the team’s leader on the field, along with seniors Tavi Renier and goalkeeper Caryn Scheufler. Weeks was tabbed All-Ohio Valley Conference Honorable Mention and a team MVP for the Skyhawks for her efforts last year. With her 35 shots and seven goals last season, Weeks holds both the career lead in shots and goals for UTM.

Scheufler is entering her second year at UT Martin after transferring from Young Harris College. The senior goalkeeper, from Carrolton, Ga., was named to the All-OVC team after picking up 144 saves for UT Martin, putting her second on the all-time saves list.

Renier, a midfielder from Tuscon, Ariz, had one goal and one assist for UT Martin in 2001.

With no juniors on the team, the three seniors must rely on the sophomores and freshmen.

Rounding out the returners are Emily Cairncross (D, London, Ontario); Joanna Gomez (D/MF, Clarksville); Meghann Jordan (D, Hendersonville); and Emily Miller (F, Collierville).

Oklahoma proved to be a hot bed for the Skyhawks as four of the 11 newcomers, Sarah Barnes, Danelle Myrick, Lindsey Tilk and Kitty Trent, make their way on to the team. Myrick and Trent have experience playing for the Oklahoma Olympic Development Program (ODP) state team. Trent and Tilk also played club soccer as members of the Oklahoma Shockers.

Alissa Ruud, a defender and all-conference selection comes to UT Martin from Moline, Ill. She also has club experience playing for the Quad City Strikers.

A late addition to the Skyhawk roster is Shannon Lewis who comes to UT Martin from Santa Cruz, Bolivia and is hoping to see some time in the goal.

Filling out the rest of the roster, five newcomers call the Volunteer state their home. Coming from Columbia are Lauren Cook adn Megan Dempsey. Cook splits time in the midfield and forward positions while Dempsey prefers the goal. Cook was named all-district and all-region while playing for Columbia Academy, while Dempsey was a three-time all-district selection at Columbia Central.

Tabitha Fishburn will be looking for a spot with the Skyhawk midfield after being a four year starter at Gallatin High School. She earned all-district and all-tournament awards while with the Green Wave and also played for the Gallatin Soccer Club. Katie Hausauer comes to UT Martin from Clarksville. She started for four years at defense, being named to the all-district team the past three. She also garnered a lot of experience while playing for the Lady Royals Soccer Club.

Rounding out the team is Katie Jackson, a forward from Franklin where she helped lead her team to a state championship in 2000 and state runner up title in 2001. Katie was an all-state selection while playing forward in 2000. Pifer enters his third year as head coach of the Skyhawks.

After finishing his first season 0-18 with UT Martin, the Skyhawks saw some improvement last year with a 4-14 record. He hopes that the experience returning from last year’s squad and the energy of the newcomers will help boost the team to new heights in Skyhawk soccer.