Three more new faces will don black and gold uniforms this fall. Finland National Teamers Vera Varis and Katarina Naumanen as well as Miami transfer Cortney O’Connell have joined the UCF women’s soccer team, head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak announced Thursday.

Varis, a goalkeeper, and Naumanen, a defender, have been teammates for the last five years on Finland’s youth and senior national squads. A Virginia native, O’Connell comes to UCF after spending two years as a forward at Miami.
“We're adding some valuable experience to our roster, with these recent signings,” Roberts Sahaydak said. “Vera and Kata both played critical roles for Finland's U20s in the last World Cup, and more recently with the senior team at the Cyprus Cup. I have no doubt that their presence will be felt immediately. Cortney is another newcomer with plenty of playing experience. She's proven herself as a player in a top soccer conference. Her speed will be another dangerous element to our attack.”

The trio will join 10 members of the 2015 signing class, which was announced in February.

Vera Varis, Goalkeeper
• 2015 Finland Women’s National Team
• Appeared in 2014 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Participated in three U19 UEFA Championships in addition to the 2010-11 UEFA U17 Women’s Championship
• Appeared in 31 matches with Finnish national team in U17 and U19 UEFA competitions
• Her club team, FC Honka, won the 2014 National Championship

Katarina Naumanen, Defender
• 2015 Finland Women's National Team
• Captain of the 2014 U20 World Cup Team
• Served on the U17 National Team from 2010-12 and the U19 team from 2012-14

Cortney O'Connell, Forward
• Started 13 of 29 matches played at Miami from 2013-14
• Scored three goals in her two years at Miami, including the game-winner in the final minute of regulation against Clemson (10/31/13)
• Competed for Freedom High School for two seasons (2009, 2010), garnering all-state honors
• Named Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention accolades as a sophomore and was chosen as all-district second team in 2009 and first team in 2010.
• Two-time state champion for Bethesda SC during her club career from 2008-13
• Led Bethesda to US Youth Soccer Region Championship in 2011
• Selected to ECNL player development program (Philadelphia) in 2012.
• Competed for Virginia ODP state team in 2006 and 2007 before being selected for national camp in 2008
• Won Super-Y League North American Championship in 2010

Information written and provided by UCFAthletics.com.