One day after the Buffalo football team announced its 2016 class, the women’s soccer team did the same.
On Thursday, head coach Shawn Burke announced his four-player class, three of whom are from New York and one from Ontario, for the 2016 season. The Bulls added Kara Daly, a forward from nearby Orchard Park, defender Mairead Martin of Mahopac, New York, Adrianna VanCuyck, a midfielder from Walworth, New York and Gurjeena Jandu, a defender from Mississauga, Ontario.
Daly is considered one of the top prospects in Western New York after her successful career at Hamburg High School. She tallied more than 100 goals in her career while being named to the All-Western New York First Team and team MVP three years in a row.
Like Daly, Jandu was also a three-time team MVP. She is known as a tenacious defender with ample experience between club and school teams.
Martin could have had more of an illustrious career, but an injury during her senior year put a stop to her high school career. Nonetheless, Martin is healthy and is expected to make a difference immediately at the center back position.
VanCuyck broke out during her senior year, leading her Wayne Central High School team to an 18-2 record and a school-record 36 goals. She was honored with a selection to the All-State Third-Team and was named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year.
The four recruits will replace five graduating seniors, including standout defender Jackie Hall and midfielder Kassidy Kidd. Both players were instrumental in Buffalo’s Mid-American Conference Championship in 2014. The Bulls lost to Western Michigan in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament this past season.
The 2016 schedule has yet to be announced.
Jordan Grossman is the co-senior sports editor and can be reached at jordan.grossman@ubspectrum.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jordanmgrossman.
