April 2, 2003

VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova University head women's soccer coach Ann Clifton recently announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent during the NCAA's early signing period. The five players who will join the Wildcats in the fall of 2003 are Megan Farmer (Middle Island, N.Y.), Valerie Grow (Cumberland, R.I.), Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.), Jamie Weist (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), and Athena Yiantsos (Voorhees, N.J.).

Hailing from Middle Island, N.Y., Megan Farmer attended Longwood High School and the HBC Fury club team in New York. Farmer was a two-year member of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Team. She was named to the All-County team during her senior season and was honored as the Suffolk Coaches Outstanding Athlete and an All-State performer. In addition, her club team has been a national finalist since 2001, the Eastern NY Club Champions since 1999, and is currently ranked second in the nation.

"Megan comes to the Main Line from a very successful club team that will give her the experience to excel at the college level," said head coach Ann Clifton. "Her greatest assets as a player are her speed and ability to stretch defenses with her offensive abilities."

A native of Cumberland, R.I., Valerie Grow attended Cumberland High School and was a member of the Stars of Massachusetts club team (Mass.). A Region I Olympic Development team member since 2001, she was named to the first team Rhode Island All-State Team in both 2001 and 2002. Grow helped lead the Stars of Massachusetts to back-to-back State Cup Championships in 2001 and 2002.

"Valerie is a terrific addition to our program," said Clifton. "She brings a wonderful sense for the game. She will add to our offensive weapons in the midfield with a tremendous outside shot. She will make an immediate impact on the Wildcats and in the Big East Conference."

Hailing from Vineland, N.J., Jillian Loyden attended Vineland High School and was a member of the Ocean Shooting Stars and the Mt. Laurel Shockwaves (NJ) club teams. Loyden has been on the New Jersey Olympic Development Team since 1999, and was also on the Regional Team since 1999 and on the National Team during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. She has been awarded a number of honors including the NJ All-State first team, as well as being named the Atlantic City Press Daily Journal Soccer 2002 Player of the Year. In addition, Loyden is currently a member of the Ocean Shooting Stras and won the Raleigh (NC) Shootout Championship.

"Jillian is an outstanding asset to our goalkeeper position," said Clifton. "She will provide amazing athleticism and a very high level of experience to our core of goalkeepers."

Residing in Mt. Laurel, N.J., Jamie Weist attends Lenape High School and is a member of the Mt. Laurel Shockwaves and PDA Splash club teams. Weist comes to Villanova as a highly decorated soccer player. She was recently selected as the 2002 Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier Post and Burlington City Times Player of the Year. Weist was also named the 2001 and 2002 Midfielder of the Year by the South Jersey Coaches Association and was honored by the Newark Star Ledger and the Associated Press as an All-State first teamer. She led her Lenape High School team to four straight Olympic Conference Championships, two South Jersey Coaches Tournament titles and to a runner-up spot in the Group IV State Championships. In addition, she is a member of the Region I Olympic Development (since 2000) and has been a member of the New Jersey Olympic Development Team since 1997.

"Jamie is a very gifted athlete with an outstanding ability to be a great playmaker," said Clifton. "She sees the field very well and will bring a very high level of composure and speed to our midfield. She has the skills to spark our offense in many ways."

Athena Yiantsos hails from Voorhees, N.J., where she attends Eastern Regional High School and the Ocean Shooting Stars Club Team. Yiantsos has been a member of the USYSA Region I Team since 2000. She helped lead her New Jersey Olympic Development team to the 2003 National Championships in Texas. Yiantsos was also selected as the Eastern Regional High School MVP as a sophomore, junior and senior, was named to the 2002 NJ All-State team and garnered Courier Post Rookie of the Year accolades as a freshman as Eastern Regional.

"Athena brings tremendous speed to our attack," said Clifton. "We will look for her to develop into a player who will strike fear into our opponent's defenders."

Name			Position	Hometown/ High School
Megan Farmer		F		Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood HS
Valerie Grow		M		Cumberland, R.I./ Cumberland HS
Jillian Loyden		GK		Vineland, N.J./ Vineland HS
Jamie Weist		M		Mt. Laurel, N.J./ Lenape HS
Athena Yiantsos		F		Voorhees, N.J./ Eastern Regional HS