University of Nevada Athletics

Feb. 1, 2006

RENO, Nev. -- Second-year women's soccer coach Terri Patraw has announced the addition of seven student-athletes who will study and play soccer at the University of Nevada starting in the fall of 2006.

"We are really excited about this class. This a very fast, athletic group," Patraw said. "Our team speed just grew exponentially. We added a lot of goal scorers, increased our speed in the midfield and solved a need in the defense. This class should push us over the top as we compete for a Western Athletic Conference championship and an NCAA bid this fall."

CLASS of 2006

Jennifer CLark
5-4 - Freshman - Forward
Northridge, Calif. (Notre Dame HS)

Jennifer Clark is a 5-4 forward out of Notre Dame High School in Northridge, Calif. A two-time all-conference selection, she led the Mission League in scoring as a junior. A multi-sport athlete, she has also lettered in track and volleyball. Clark plays club soccer for So Cal United, one of the top club teams in southern California.

"Jen is incredibly fast. Without question, she is one of the fastest players in the West," Patraw said. "She also has an unbelievable work-rate; she never stops running. Jen is going to be a lot to handle for opposing teams. We will be very, very fast up top this fall."

Whitney Gilson is a 5-8 midfielder out of Tahoma Senior High School in Maple Valley, Wash. An all-league selection, she served as a team captain on Tahoma's 2005 squad, which won the Washington state championship. Gilson scored the game-winning goal in the state championship match. She also plays club soccer for the FC Marauders, which won the Washington state title in 2004.

"Whitney is a versatile athlete who could play a lot of positions for us. We anticipate her competing for time in the midfield," Patraw said. "After winning multiple state championships, she brings a winner's mentality to our program."

Myisha Gray
5-3 - Junior - Forward
Las Vegas, Nev. (Bonanza HS/Phoenix College)

A 5-3 forward, Myisha Gray heads to Reno after spending the last two seasons at Phoenix College in Phoenix, Ariz. Last season, she led the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in goals and points scored. A first-team all-conference selection, she also earned first-team National Junior College Athletic Association Region I honors and was a second-team NJCAA All-American in 2005. Gray is originally from Las Vegas, Nev., where she attended Bonanza High School.

"Myisha is a lightning quick goal-scorer. She will likely compete with incoming freshman Jennifer Clark to see who is the fastest player in the conference," Patraw said. "Myisha is going to be exciting to watch."

Devin Noe
5-8 - Freshman - Defender
Simi Valley, Calif. (Royal High School)

A 5-8 defender, Devin Noe will join the Wolf Pack after a standout career at Royal High School in Simi Valley, Calif. A two-time All-Marmonte League selection, she was the MVP of Royal's conference championship team in 2005 and helped the team to C.I.F. playoff appearances in each of the last three seasons. A starter for the highly competitive So Cal United club team since 1998, Noe is also a standout long distance runner, earning all-league honors in cross country each of the last three seasons and setting school freshman records in the 800 meters and the mile.

"Devin is our most versatile recruit in this class. We expect her to compete for a starting spot in the defense right out of the gate," Patraw said. "She is a very athletic and fit player with a very strong tactical sense for the game. Devin was a top priority of ours from the first time we saw her, and we are ecstatic that she will be a member of the Wolf Pack."

Kenishia Warren
5-3 - Junior - Midfielder
Terrigal, New South Wales Australia (South Grafton HS/Brescia University)

A 5-3 midfielder, Kenishia Warren comes to Nevada after spending the last two years playing for Central Coast United of the Australian Women's Premier League. She also spent one year at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky. She led Brescia in goals and points scored in 2003 and was named to the NAIA All-Region second team that season. She will have two years of eligibility remaining when she joins the Wolf Pack this fall.

"Kenishia is a very experienced, athletic player with good speed and fitness," Patraw said. "She will add a lot to our program after two seasons in the top Australian Women's League. Similar to current Aussie, Aivi Luik, we expect Kenishia to have a big impact in the midfield for us."

Carly Wood
5-2 - Freshman - Forward/Midfielder
Incline Village, Nev. (Incline HS)

The only member of the 2006 recruiting class from northern Nevada, Carly Wood is a 5-2 forward/midfielder from Incline High School in Incline Village, Nev. She earned Class 3A state MVP honors and was the most valuable player in her league last year, leading Incline to the state championship game. A four-time all-conference selection and a three-time all-state honoree, she is also a track standout, running the fastest 200 meters in the state of Nevada last spring. Wood played club soccer for Nevada Pride.

"Carly is a dynamic player who is willing to take people on. She has good speed and athleticism," Patraw said. "We expect Carly to push for a starting position at the outside midfield spot."

KAREN ZMIRAK
5-4 - Sophomore - Forward
Oakville, Ontario, Canada (St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School/University of Georgia)

Karen Zmirak is a 5-4 forward who transferred to Nevada from the University of Georgia. She led the Bulldogs in scoring, assists, points and shot percentage as a freshman in 2004 and redshirted last season. The four-time leading scorer of the Ontario Youth Soccer League as a member of the Oakville Soccer Club, Zmirak was named the 2004 Female Athlete of the Year by the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun. She is enrolled at the University of Nevada for the spring semester and will have three years of eligibility remaining starting this fall.

"Karen is a dangerous scorer who is very creative around the goal," Patraw said. "She brings great experience from her year in the Southeastern Conference. Her technical skills will fit in tremendously with our dynamic, attacking style of play."

The Wolf Pack returns all but three letterwinners from last year's squad, which turned in a school-record 11-7-2 record and made the program's first postseason appearance. Nevada will open the 2006 season with an exhibition match against Chico State on Aug. 17 in Reno before starting the regular season with an Aug. 27 game at Sacramento State.