University of Kentucky head women?s soccer coach Warren Lipka has signed eight student-athletes to national letters-of-intent, it was announced today. The signing class includes forward Cindy Abbott, goalkeeper Laura Baker, midfielder/defender Holly Cento, forward/defender Katie Fahey, defender Jordan Flad, defender/midfielder Julie Hull, forward Stefani Kildare and midfielder Ashley Stack.

?Like every class, we try to fill holes and fill spots that will make a difference in our program,? said 14th-year head coach Warren Lipka. ?We feel like we have accomplished that goal with this group. We expect several to contribute immediately and they should all compliment our returning players very well.?

Cindy Abbott

Cindy Abbott is a 5-2 forward from Cedar Park, Texas. This past fall, Abbott tied for the team lead in goals scored for the Lonestars 88 Red club team, the top team in the Austin, TX area. Additionally, she has led her club team in scoring each of the last three years. She attends Cedar Park High School where she was a two-year letterwinner in soccer for the Timberwolves. Abbott is a standout runner at CPHS as well. She?s a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track and holds the school record for the 800-meter dash. She was a member of the 5A state championship cross country team and was named the Competitive Athlete Training Zone (CATZ) national athlete of the month in January of 2006. Abbott also excels in the classroom and is a four-time member of the All-District 14-5A academic team. She is already a published poet and works as a mentor for elementary and middle school students.

Laura Baker

Laura Baker is a 6-0 goalkeeper from Pike High School in Indianapolis, Ind. She is the shutout leader at PHS with 27 and was named All-Conference, All-State honorable mention and a Star North All-Star. The three-year letterwinner was named ICGSA First Team All-State and ISCA First Team All-District this season. Baker was also named All-County by the Indianapolis Star and was honored as the Pike High School Female Athlete of the Month in September. Baker is the goalkeeper for the Carmel United Soccer Club ?88 Cyclones who are currently ranked fifth in the nation by NationalSoccerRanking.com. In 2005, Baker?s club team fell in the Region II semifinals in overtime to the eventual U-17 national champion. In 2004, the Cyclones were USYSA Region II spring league champions. Baker is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and serves as her class treasurer.

Holly Cento

Holly Cento is a 5-5 midfielder/defender from Dove Canyon, Calif. She attends Santa Margarita High School where she was recently named an NCSAA/Adidas High School All-American. Cento started at midfielder for the three-time Serra League Champions in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2005, she was selected to the All-Conference second team. Her club team, Irvine Strikers, advanced to the 2005 Cal-South state finals with Cento as a starting defender, losing in overtime to the eventual U-17 Region IV champion. Cento helped lead her team to three consecutive appearances in the Cal-South semifinals during her club career. At SMHS, Cento also played basketball and ran track for the Eagles.

Katie Fahey

Katie Fahey is a 5-6 forward/defender from Notre Dame Academy in Ft. Wright, Ky. She served as the team captain as a senior and was a Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Athletic Association (NKGCAA) first team selection. She was named the Southern Ohio/Kentucky Coaches Association All-Star Game MVP and earned first-team All-State honors from the Cincinnati Enquirer. As a junior, Fahey was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 Kentucky high school state tournament after leading her team to the state championship. In addition, she was a first team All-State selection by the Enquirer and was voted NDA?s Top Offensive Player. Fahey was also named all-district, all-region and NKGCAA second team that same year. Fahey was a two-time Ohio South state champion with the Classics Hammer FC.

Jordan Flad

Jordan Flad is a central defender from Dallas, Texas, where she attends Allen High School which is currently ranked No. 1 in the state by the latest Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) poll and is ranked No. 2 in the nation by the NSCAA. The explosive ball winner serves as team captain and was recently named All-Tournament and Defensive MVP for the Allen tournament. Flad was also named to the All-Collin County Girls Team. She also received second team all-district honors and was selected as the defensive MVP. Flad?s club team, the Dallas Texans Red North, defeated the defending national champion in their last meeting and is widely considered the new No. 1 club team in the nation for her age group. They are currently ranked first in the nation by NationalSoccerRanking.com. Flad is a club teammate of current UK player Katie Rice.

Julie Hull

Julie Hull is a 5-5 defender/midfielder from Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received First Team All-State honors by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and All-Conference accolades as a senior. As a junior, Hull was named First Team All-Conference, while receiving third team All-State honors. She was named Second Team All-GMC. Hull is a member of the Cincinnati United Premier club team. The former Region II ODP pool selection was a member of the State Cup and Midwest Regional championship teams in 2003. Hull has excelled off the field as well and is a two-time GMC conference All-Academic team honoree.

Stefani Kildare

Stefani Kildare is a 5-8 forward from Albuquerque, N.M. Kildare was the leading scorer the last three years for the two-time Region IV finalists Albuquerque United Football Club. The four-time ODP state selection led AUFC to three state cup championships. She was a three-year letterwinner at Albuquerque Academy and advanced to the state finals all three years. Kildare served as a co-captain as a senior and ranked first on the team and sixth in the state in scoring with 22 goals and 10 assists. She also earned first team All-Metro and All-District honors as a senior. Off the field, Kildare works as a Special Olympics volunteer and is an AYSO certified referee.

Ashley Stack

Ashley Stack is a 5-5 midfielder from Malabar, Fla., where she was a member of the 2004 Florida state high school championship team at Melbourne Central Catholic High School. Stack served as the team captain and led the team in scoring and assists as a senior. She led the team in assists and was second in scoring as a junior. Stack was a two-time All-Region, All-Conference and All-Brevard County selection. She was second in scoring for her club team, the Indialantic Force Blue, who won the 2004-05 U-18 State Cup. The three-time ODP state starter was also a member of the SuperClubs national championship teams in 2002 and 2003. Stack played softball, volleyball and basketball at MCC. As a freshman, she started for the Florida state high school runner-up basketball team. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Who?s Who Among American High School Students.

The eight signees figure to play key roles in replacing departing seniors Liz Butler, Kristen Jedlo, Courtney McCrudden, Kristin Moyer, Ashley Schillig and Jennifer Weakley.