BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont will add four newcomers to the women's soccer program for the 2016 season. Head coach Kristi Lefebvre announced that Christina Barry (Apple Valley, Minn.), Megan Frost (Ottawa, Ontario), Bridgette King (Freehold, N.J.) and Julia Smith (Norcoss, Ga.) will join the Catamounts next season.
 
"We are very excited about the quality of this class and we fully expect them to step in and help contribute immediately," said Lefebvre. "This is a group of talented athletes who will excel on the field and in the classroom at the University of Vermont. We look forward to helping them achieve their goals and are thrilled to add them to the Catamount family."

 

Barry, a defender, comes to UVM from Apple Valley, Minnesota. She was a three-sport athlete at Eastview High School, competing in soccer, basketball and track and field.
 
As a senior at Eastview, Barry was a team captain for soccer and earned first-team all-state, all-conference and all-section honors. She was also named to the all-conference and all-section squads as a junior.
 
Barry played her club soccer with the Minnesota Thunder and was a member of the Minnesota ODP program and Region II Team for four years. She helped the Thunder win the ECNL U17 North American Championship and was selected to the ECNL Player Development Program. Barry also won a US Soccer U15 National Championship with the Dakota Rev.
 
"Christina is an incredible athlete who will bring depth to our back line. She is a tall central defender who is aggressive in the air. She can break up plays defensively as well as be a threat on set pieces," said Lefebvre.

 

Frost, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, is the first Canadian native to join the program since 2006 (Cassandra VanLeeuwen '06). She played scholastically at Glebe Collegiate High School, leading the team to back-to-back Ottawa City AAAA High School Championships. She also competed on the track and field team at Glebe and helped the 4x100 relay team record the top time and win a gold medal at the Ontario Track Provincial Games.
 
Frost, a defender, played her club soccer with the Ottawa Fury. While with the Fury, the team won the east division of the Ontario Provincial U18 Tournament in 2014 and added a fourth place finish in 2015. Frost also played in the Ontario League 1 opening weekend.
 
"Megan is a quick, skillful outside back who will allow us to play and attack out of the back. We are thrilled to have an international presence on our team," said Lefebvre.

 

King comes to Vermont from Freehold, New Jersey and played at Colts Neck High School where she finished her career with 125 points. King scored 50 goals in her career, including a career-best 24 as a senior, and added 25 assists.
 
A team captain as a senior, she helped Colts Neck win two New Jersey State Sectional Championships as a junior and senior. Colts Neck also captured the Shore Conference Championship, New Jersey Group 3 State Championship and the B-North title in 2015.
 
A forward, King also played club soccer for Matchfit in the ECNL.
 
"Bridgette is a speedy forward who relentlessly pressures the opponent's back line. She's constantly involved in the play, makes intelligent runs to get free and because of her work rate creates opportunities for herself and her teammates. She has proven she is a goal scorer and we look for her to continue that at Vermont," said Lefebvre.
 
Smith, a midfielder, comes to UVM from Norcross, Georgia. She was a three-sport athlete at Norcross High School, also playing tennis and competing on the track and field teams. Smith also played club soccer for Atlanta Fire United ECNL.

 

Smith was a member of Georgia ODP and the Region III team in 1997 and from 2009-14. She competed in several ODP events including the Boca Raton Interregional Tournament, and overseas trip to Germany, Italy and Switzerland. She was also invited to a national training camp in Phoenix in 2013. Smith competed in multiple ECNL PDP Southeast events and US Soccer Training Centers.
 
"Julia is another athletic player who can cover a lot of ground on the flank. She's excellent 1v1, has a great service and can get on the end of services as well. She has a contagious enthusiasm for the game and will be an exciting player to watch," said Lefebvre.
 
The Catamounts advanced to the America East Tournament for the third time in four years in 2015. UVM defeated UMBC, 1-0, in the program's first-ever night game at Virtue Field in the quarterfinal round. Vermont fell in overtime to eventual champion Albany in the semifinals. Four Catamounts garnered America East All-Conference honors – Nikki McFarland (second team), Caroline Greer (second team), Sarah Martin (second team), Casey Garfinkel (all-rookie) – and Ally Ramos was selected to participate in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer Senior Bowl.