Women's Soccer Southern Conference

UNCG Announces Soccer Signings

Two Oregon high school seniors, Julie Baird and Jamie Ableman, have signed National Letters of Intent and will play women's soccer at UNCG beginning this fall, coach Eddie Radwanski announced February 28.

The two signees will be the first UNCG student-athletes from Oregon high schools.

Baird, a 5-5 forward of Lake Oswego, OR, was a Third Team All-State selection as a senior at Lakeridge H.S. and her team reached the state playoffs. She scored 11 goals and made eight assists. She was a Second Team All-State pick as a junior and a three-time First Team All-League selection.

Lakeridge was a state semifinalist and league champion in 1998 and made the state playoffs in 2000.

Baird also plays for the Lake Oswego Premier club team, finalist for the past three years in the Snickers State Club Tournament, and has participated in the Far West Regional Camp of the Olympic Development Program since 1996.

She is a three-year letterwinner on the softball team and also plays basketball.

Ableman, a 5-6 forward of Corvallis, OR, was a First Team All-State selection and Valley League Offensive MVP as a senior after leading Cresent Valley H.S. in scoring. She finished her career with more than 60 goals in soccer and was also a four-year letterwinner in basketball and track. Radwanski was appointed coach February 15, succeeding Jack Poland, who guided the UNCG team in its first 13 years before resigning Dec. 31, 2000 to pursue other professional interests.

The Spartans finished 14-8-1 overall and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last fall after winning the Southern Conference title for the third time.