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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida women’s soccer is excited to announce the signing of seven incoming freshmen as announced by head coach Eric Faulconer and staff.
Five of the seven incoming Ospreys arrive from the Sunshine State, with two hailing from Georgia.
Hear from Head Coach Eric Faulconer
“Signing Day is always an exciting time for our incoming student-athletes and our program. We are graduating a good number of team members that were quite impactful during their playing careers. So, we knew this incoming class would need to be a strong one consisting of players that could make an impact from day one. We feel strongly that we exceeded that goal. This class is full of promise and a tremendous amount of talent. They fit our playing style, positional needs and will enrich our culture. We welcome our seven newcomers to our Osprey family and look forward to their arrival on campus.”
Chandler Browning
High School: Cambridge High School
Club: Atlanta Fire United ECNL
Height: 5’7
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
Coaches Quotes:
“Coach Faulconer has recruited a great athlete and dangerous forward but an even better all-around person in Chandler Browning. As a forward she can expose backs with her speed and dribbling ability and has the knack to get to the end line and serve the BANGU!! Off the field, Chandler is a responsible and loyal teammate and player. Coach Eric will know that Chandler will be a player in the program he can trust and rely on. I am so happy for UNF, coach Eric and Chandler. This is going to be a perfect fit!” – Dom Martelli, Atlanta Fire ECNL
“Chandler is going to be a great attacking addition to our program. She has pace and is very strong on the ball. She has the ability to beat defenders 1v1 and produce accurate service from the flank and half space areas. Chandler is also quite versatile, as she is very comfortable playing several different positions on the field. We will really like Chandler’s skill set and can’t wait to get to work with her this fall.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
5A First-Team All-Region
Offensive Player of the Year at Cambridge HS
2024 5A State Runner-up
Seven-year ECNL player
Katie Entlich
High School: Pacelli High School
Club: Concorde Fire Platinum ECNL
Height: 5’6
Position: Forward
Hometown: Columbus, Georgia
Coaches Quotes:
“After choosing UNF to pursue her D1 soccer career, I have no doubt Katie will play a key role in her team’s success with her scoring abilities. She is a natural threat in and around the box and never shies away from a challenge. UNF truly got a great one!” Coach Byron Peters, Concorde Fire Soccer Club
“Katie comes from Concorde Fire Platinum, one of the premier ECNL clubs in the nation. She has a goal scorers’ mentality, finishing at the club level against some of the best teams in the country. It is hard to find a true box finisher and Katie provides us with that skill set. She anticipates where she needs to be around the goal and can find the back of the net in a wide variety of ways. We feel she is going to make a big impact in our program, and we are excited about her early arrival on campus in January.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
TopDrawer Soccer 3-Star Prospect
ECNL Florida 2024 Standout by TopDrawer Soccer
2024 GIAA All-State Team
2024 GIAA First-Team All-Region
2024 All Chattahoochee Valley First-Team
Team Captain
2022 GHSA All-State Team
2022 GHSA First-Team All-Region
Region Offensive Player of the Year
2022 All Chattahoochee Valley First-Team
SEC Scout Report – Georgia Top 10 Girls Players to Watch
Skya Horth
High School: New Smyrna Beach High School
Club: Orlando City Soccer Club ECNL
Height: 5’5
Position: Defender
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Coaches Quotes:
“Skya has been with our club for more than 10 years and we are so proud of her achievements on and off the field over the last decade. She has consistently been one of our best performers and has led by example over the years. She’s a natural leader and the ideal teammate. We can’t wait to follow her collegiate career and wish her the very best”. Dan Nolen, Orlando City ECNL
“Skya came to our college ID camp at quite a young age and that allowed us to track her growth over the past several years. She is a very athletic and a tenacious defender who will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact as a freshman. She can play both the center- and outside back positions at a very high level. We are excited to have Skya join our Osprey family and look forward to her arrival on campus.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
TopDrawer Soccer 3-Star Prospect
TopDrawer Soccer Ranked 23rd Best 2025 Prospect in Florida
2022-2023 U17 ECNL Southeast All-Conference Second-Team
2023 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Selection
2024 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Selection
Team Captain at New Smyrna Beach HS
Four-year Honor Roll recipient
2021 Orlando City Heart and Hustle Award recipient
Natalie McCann
High School: Ponte Vedra High School
Club: Jacksonville FC
Height: 5’8
Position: Defender
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Coaches Quotes:
“Natalie’s high technical ability and game IQ is something that sets her apart from so many players at this level. She reads the game so well and has the versatility to play in a variety of positions on the pitch. Natalie also possesses the ability to unlock a game with her cultured left foot where she can play any type of pass through the lines, cross field or over the top. It also goes without saying that her resilience is what makes her a great fit to go and do great things at the next level with UNF.” Coach Wale Leyimu, Jacksonville FC ECNL
“Natalie McCann is one of the best attacking left backs in the state. She has the unique ability to provide many scoring opportunities, and her accurate left foot is unmatched.” Coach Dave Silverberg, Ponte Vedra High School.
“Natalie is so steady. She stacks consistent performances and that is something you love to see as a coach. To add a technical attacking minded left back like Natalie will be a tremendous addition to our program. She will have the opportunity to earn immediate playing time as a freshman and we are very excited that she is an Osprey.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
Four-year letterwinner and 2024-2025 Team Captain at Ponte Vedra HS
2023/2024 FHSAA District 6A State Champion
Helped JFC 2007/2008s qualify for 2024 ECNL Seattle and 2023 San Diego National Playoffs
Soccer Wire ECNL Seattle National Playoffs Player to Watch List 2024
Marisa Ocasek
High School: Lake Mary High School
Club: Florida Kraze Krush ECNL
Height: 5’6
Position: Defender
Hometown: Longwood, Florida
Coaches Quotes:
“Marisa brings a lot of quality to any team she plays for. Not only does she have many strengths in her technical ability, but she is also a highly intelligent player with great awareness in her decision making. Marisa is a great teammate, positive and reliable person, and WE WILL MISS HER SO MUCH AT LAKE MARY HS” – Coach Christian Eissele
“Marisa can play anywhere along the backline, and she is just so calm and confident on the ball. We pride ourselves with our ability to play out of the back and she will enhance our ability to do so. Marisa’s high level of technical ability and tactical mind is going to strengthen our build in the initial attacking phase. We are looking forward to having Marisa join our program and feel she can make an immediate impact.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
2x FHSAA 7A District Champion
Played club soccer at Florida Kraze Krush
Helped lead the Krush to ECNL Nationals in San Diego and Seattle
Team Captain and four-year letterwinner at Lake Mary HS
First-Team All-Conference
Sophia Pontieri
High School: Fleming Island High School / Florida Virtual School
Club: Jacksonville FC and United Soccer Alliance
Height: 5’6
Position: Forward
Hometown: Fleming Island, Florida
Coaches Quotes:
“Sophia is the kind of player you want and need on your team. She has a competitive mindset. A true goal scorer that finds a way to put the ball in the back of the net. She has the ability to score from anywhere on the attacking third of the field.” – Coach Ron Messick, JFC
“Sophia has always been a player with the special ability to score a goal out of seemingly nothing. Distance or angle is not impossible for her, she always finds a way. She also has a tremendous ability to link up play and create chances for her teammates. It has been a blessing to work with her over the years and I know she’ll have continued success at the next level.” – Coach Wale Leyimu, JFC/USA
“Sophia is a powerful forward that has the ability to hold up play but can also get in behind a backline. She can absolutely punish a soccer ball and is a threat to score anywhere in the attacking third of the field. She possesses a high work rate and is very driven to put herself in dangerous areas in the attack. We are thrilled to have Sophia join our program as an early enrollee this spring and love that we are adding another high-level player from the local area.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
TopDrawer Soccer 3-Star Prospect
2018-2019 ODP Regional Team
2x FHSAA 2A State Champion (2021, 2022)
Girls Academy Talent ID Selection (Jan. 2023)
Played with Florida Elite Soccer Academy USL-W Team (2023)
2023-2024 All-County First-Team at Fleming Island HS
Played with Jax Armada WPSL Team in their inaugural season in 2024
Top 15 High School Players to Watch by Florida Times Union
Emery Scerbo
High School: Park Vista Community High School
Club: Football Club Prime ECNL
Height: 5’9
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Lake Worth, Fla.
Coaches Quotes:
“Emery exudes all you could ask for from a soccer player, athletic, technically sound, tactically astute. Plays with a quiet confidence and command of position, with unparalleled leadership skills amongst her peers at the ECNL level, capable of all that is asked of her. With over 25 years working with professional and elite athletes I can say without hesitation that Emery’s qualities as a player, teammate and human being are up there with THE very best. Every team needs an Emery, very few are fortunate enough to have Emery Scerbo.” Coach Nick Harrison, FC Prime ECNL.
“Emery has everything you are looking for from a midfielder. She has good size, covers ground, she is technical and tactically reads the game very well. She just carries herself with confidence and that shows in her play. She always seems to be one step ahead on both sides of the ball. We believe Emery has the tools to step on the field immediately as a freshman and we are thrilled that she is an Osprey.” Eric Faulconer
Accolades:
TopDrawer Soccer 3-Star Prospect
TopDrawer Soccer Ranked 34th Best 2025 Prospect in Florida
USYS Florida State Cup Champion (2022, 2023)
Best XI USYS Youth Nationals with the South Florida Football Academy
Player of the Day National Pro Event with the South Florida Football Academy
2024 ECNL First-Team All-Conference with FC Prime ECNL
7A First-Team All-County at Park Vista HS
High School Honor Roll recipient
