SKYHAWK SOCCER ALUMS CONTINUE TO SHINE FOR BOTH CLUB AND COUNTRY
10/1/2020 9:29:00 AM | Soccer
MARTIN, Tenn. – While the University of Tennessee at Martin soccer program has produced a rich history within the Ohio Valley Conference, former Skyhawks continue to leave their mark on the pitch following their collegiate playing careers. UT Martin currently has seven former players either competing on the professional or national stage.
The group of Rianna Jarrett, Dominika Čonč, Sara Ketiš, Danae Kaldaridou, Amy McGivern, Elin Berggren and Sam Kelly are each performing at professional clubs in Europe. Meanwhile, the quintet of Jarrett (Republic of Ireland), Čonč (Slovenia), Ketiš (Slovenia), Kaldaridou (Greece) and Kelly (Northern Ireland) are representing their respective countries in the UEFA Women's European Championship Qualifiers.
"We are extremely proud and excited for these former Skyhawk soccer players," UT Martin head coach Phil McNamara said. "These ladies are currently representing some of the top leagues and clubs known in the world of soccer. Each of them have clearly demonstrated the required work ethic, self determination to improve and passion for the sport to reach the professional level. It is extremely rewarding for our staff and current players to follow and admire these players' careers following their time at UT Martin."
When asked how so many players have reached the professional level after their Skyhawk career, McNamara responded, "There are numerous reasons really, ranging from the individual quality and personalities of the players to the strength of our game schedule her at UT Martin. I do believe a major contributing factor for much of this success is our team style of play, supporting a high tempo possession style – in addition to our daily high intensity practice environment – and of course the fact that we work hard to always recruit a few international student-athletes. Above all, the players have offered a wealth of commitment and desire to succeed."
A native of Wexford, Ireland, Jarrett spent one season in a Skyhawk uniform in which she set numerous offensive records and claimed OVC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. The All-OVC first team selection scored a program-record 17 goals on the year while tallying 38 points and five game-winning goals en route to earning a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region squad. In her professional career she won the Women's National League Player of the Year award in 2019 with the Wexford Youths after ranking as the overall top scorer and leading her club to a FAI Women's Cup title. She currently plays in the English Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion while representing the Republic of Ireland internationally.
A 2014 All-OVC first team honoree, Čonč hails from Maribor, Slovenia. In her four seasons (2011-14) leading the Skyhawks, she set the program record for career matches played with 86 while lifting the team to 50 victories. The midfielder scored 12 career goals while tallying 11 assists, capping off her career accolades by being named to both the United Soccer Coaches All-Region and Scholar All-Region teams. She has played for seven teams as a professional, including her current club AC Milan of the Italian League while representing Slovenia internationally since 2010.
Hailing from Maribor, Slovenia, Ketiš enjoyed a strong four-year career for the Skyhawks from 2015-18. The midfielder appeared in 56 matches while earning 51 starts, tallying one goal and three assists. After being named to the 2018 OVC Soccer All-Tournament Team, she began her professional career with FC Bari Pink of the Italian League. In addition to her club career, she has been a member of the Slovenia National Team since 2017.
A two-time All-OVC first team honoree, Kaldaridou was impressive in her three seasons at UT Martin (2016-18) where she played in 56 matches. The two-time OVC Offensive Player of the Week proved to be a dynamic scoring threat by ranking in the program's top-10 in total points scored (44), goals (17) and assists (10) for her standout career while helping the squad to a 2018 league championship and claiming United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors in the process. The Athens, Greece native currently plays on Clube de Albergaria in Portugal while representing Greece on the national stage.
A native of Drumaness, Northern Ireland, McGivern played four seasons (2015-18) in a Skyhawk uniform before capping off her career as the 2018 OVC Offensive Player of the Year, an United Soccer Coaches All-Region recipient and team captain in a championship campaign. A four-time OVC Offensive Player of the Week and two-time All-OVC first team honoree, she played in 74 matches for her collegiate career where she ranked fourth in program history in total points scored (60) and goals (26) while also tallying eight assists. Additionally, her six game-winning goals in 2018 set a new single-season program record. After her stellar collegiate career, she transitioned into her professional career where she plays for the Crusaders of the Northern Ireland Football League.
Hailing from Mallbackens, Sweden, Berggren spent just one season in a Skyhawk uniform during the 2019 campaign but impressed in her debut. She was honored by the league with All-OVC second team and OVC All-Newcomer team honors after anchoring a tough Skyhawk defense which recorded five shutouts. On top of her defensive work, she tallied two assists and placed four shots on goal. She continued her soccer career at the professional level where she currently plays for Mallbackens IF in Sweden.
A native of Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Kelly played a big role for the Skyhawks during the 2018 season, helping the Skyhawks to an OVC championship along with claiming All-OVC Newcomer honors. In her lone season, she played in 17 matches while tallying four goals and three assists. On the professional circuit she plays for Glentoran FC of the Northern Ireland Football League where she led her team to a NIWFA League Championship while earning Senior Player of the Year honors back in 2017. She is also no stranger to the international level where she has represented Northern Ireland since 2017.
"Each of these former players are quality individuals with massive passion and desire for our sport – which is easy to appreciate," McNamara said. "They are all excellent footballers that enjoyed great individual and team success here at UT Martin. We are excited for them and proud they had the pleasure to wear the Skyhawk badge. We wish them every success for the future! Go Skyhawks!"
The group of Rianna Jarrett, Dominika Čonč, Sara Ketiš, Danae Kaldaridou, Amy McGivern, Elin Berggren and Sam Kelly are each performing at professional clubs in Europe. Meanwhile, the quintet of Jarrett (Republic of Ireland), Čonč (Slovenia), Ketiš (Slovenia), Kaldaridou (Greece) and Kelly (Northern Ireland) are representing their respective countries in the UEFA Women's European Championship Qualifiers.
"We are extremely proud and excited for these former Skyhawk soccer players," UT Martin head coach Phil McNamara said. "These ladies are currently representing some of the top leagues and clubs known in the world of soccer. Each of them have clearly demonstrated the required work ethic, self determination to improve and passion for the sport to reach the professional level. It is extremely rewarding for our staff and current players to follow and admire these players' careers following their time at UT Martin."
When asked how so many players have reached the professional level after their Skyhawk career, McNamara responded, "There are numerous reasons really, ranging from the individual quality and personalities of the players to the strength of our game schedule her at UT Martin. I do believe a major contributing factor for much of this success is our team style of play, supporting a high tempo possession style – in addition to our daily high intensity practice environment – and of course the fact that we work hard to always recruit a few international student-athletes. Above all, the players have offered a wealth of commitment and desire to succeed."
A native of Wexford, Ireland, Jarrett spent one season in a Skyhawk uniform in which she set numerous offensive records and claimed OVC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. The All-OVC first team selection scored a program-record 17 goals on the year while tallying 38 points and five game-winning goals en route to earning a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region squad. In her professional career she won the Women's National League Player of the Year award in 2019 with the Wexford Youths after ranking as the overall top scorer and leading her club to a FAI Women's Cup title. She currently plays in the English Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion while representing the Republic of Ireland internationally.
A 2014 All-OVC first team honoree, Čonč hails from Maribor, Slovenia. In her four seasons (2011-14) leading the Skyhawks, she set the program record for career matches played with 86 while lifting the team to 50 victories. The midfielder scored 12 career goals while tallying 11 assists, capping off her career accolades by being named to both the United Soccer Coaches All-Region and Scholar All-Region teams. She has played for seven teams as a professional, including her current club AC Milan of the Italian League while representing Slovenia internationally since 2010.
Hailing from Maribor, Slovenia, Ketiš enjoyed a strong four-year career for the Skyhawks from 2015-18. The midfielder appeared in 56 matches while earning 51 starts, tallying one goal and three assists. After being named to the 2018 OVC Soccer All-Tournament Team, she began her professional career with FC Bari Pink of the Italian League. In addition to her club career, she has been a member of the Slovenia National Team since 2017.
A two-time All-OVC first team honoree, Kaldaridou was impressive in her three seasons at UT Martin (2016-18) where she played in 56 matches. The two-time OVC Offensive Player of the Week proved to be a dynamic scoring threat by ranking in the program's top-10 in total points scored (44), goals (17) and assists (10) for her standout career while helping the squad to a 2018 league championship and claiming United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors in the process. The Athens, Greece native currently plays on Clube de Albergaria in Portugal while representing Greece on the national stage.
A native of Drumaness, Northern Ireland, McGivern played four seasons (2015-18) in a Skyhawk uniform before capping off her career as the 2018 OVC Offensive Player of the Year, an United Soccer Coaches All-Region recipient and team captain in a championship campaign. A four-time OVC Offensive Player of the Week and two-time All-OVC first team honoree, she played in 74 matches for her collegiate career where she ranked fourth in program history in total points scored (60) and goals (26) while also tallying eight assists. Additionally, her six game-winning goals in 2018 set a new single-season program record. After her stellar collegiate career, she transitioned into her professional career where she plays for the Crusaders of the Northern Ireland Football League.
Hailing from Mallbackens, Sweden, Berggren spent just one season in a Skyhawk uniform during the 2019 campaign but impressed in her debut. She was honored by the league with All-OVC second team and OVC All-Newcomer team honors after anchoring a tough Skyhawk defense which recorded five shutouts. On top of her defensive work, she tallied two assists and placed four shots on goal. She continued her soccer career at the professional level where she currently plays for Mallbackens IF in Sweden.
A native of Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Kelly played a big role for the Skyhawks during the 2018 season, helping the Skyhawks to an OVC championship along with claiming All-OVC Newcomer honors. In her lone season, she played in 17 matches while tallying four goals and three assists. On the professional circuit she plays for Glentoran FC of the Northern Ireland Football League where she led her team to a NIWFA League Championship while earning Senior Player of the Year honors back in 2017. She is also no stranger to the international level where she has represented Northern Ireland since 2017.
"Each of these former players are quality individuals with massive passion and desire for our sport – which is easy to appreciate," McNamara said. "They are all excellent footballers that enjoyed great individual and team success here at UT Martin. We are excited for them and proud they had the pleasure to wear the Skyhawk badge. We wish them every success for the future! Go Skyhawks!"
Players Mentioned
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