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Husky freshman Falon Miller.
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Aug. 9, 2012
SEATTLE - Preseason practices are winding down until the season opener for the Washington women's soccer team and GoHuskies.com is introducing three more newcomers. In part two of Meet the Huskies, get to know three freshmen who are sure to make a name for themselves at UW.
Berkley Gamble
Defender/Midfielder, Boulder, Colo. / Fairview HS
Gamble was a breakout star at Fairview, where she led them to at least the quarterfinals of the 5A State Tournament in the four years she's been there. In her freshman year, the team finished first in District and at Regionals and fourth in the state. Gamble led the team to the state championship the next year, earning a No. 11 national ranking. After overcoming an ACL tear during her junior year, she received the Semper Pi Award and Fairview finished first at the District and Regional levels. In her senior year, she was captain for the 15th-ranked Knights and led them to the state finals, where they lost 1-0 to fifth-ranked Cherry Creek. Gamble was the anchor of a defense that recorded five consecutive shutouts, including the first four games of the tournament, and notched eight goals while adding a pair of assists. The defender was named First-Team All-State and All-Region, and earned a roster spot on the All State game. Gamble also swam for the Knights her senior year and qualified for state in the 100 back, 100 fly, 200 free relay, and 200 medley relay. With the Boulder County Force Club Team, she was named MVP and team captain in 2008 and 2009, and led them to the State Cup title in 2010. Gamble comes from a family of athletes - her mom was an All-American tennis player at the University of Texas, her dad was a three-time All-American skier at the University of Colorado, and her brother is currently on the men's basketball team at the University of Colorado.
McKenzie "Jammer" Karas
Defender, Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor View HS
Karas was recently named the sixth-best defender in the country and the No. 33 player overall. She was also ranked 24 on the ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list last fall. Nicknamed "Jammer", the freshman has played for the US Youth National Team from 2009-12, where she was converted to goalkeeper. Playing for the Las Vegas Premier Club Team for three years, she and fellow incoming freshman Falon Miller helped lead the team to a first-place undefeated finish in the 2011 Surf Cup held in San Diego, Calif. She also played for the Heat FC in the past and finished first in the 2012 Disney Showcase in Florida. Karas was a four-time letter-winner and two-time team captain (2010-11) at Arbor View HS. During her sophomore year, she was named Sunset Region NW League Player of the Year and Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, leading the team to a District, Regional, and State Championship and a 18-1 record. Soccer wasn't the only sport Karas excelled at, as she was the kicker on the football team her sophomore year; in her first two games, "Jammer", said to be called by teammates for her ability to jam the football through the uprights, was 6-of-9 on extra points and was promoted to first string after the previous kicker suffered a season-ending injury. She also played volleyball her junior year, and ran track, where she placed third in the state for the 4x200m relay.
Falon Miller
Forward, Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor View HS
Miller is one of two players hailing from Las Vegas (along with fellow freshman McKenzie Karas). Playing with the Las Vegas Premier Club Team from 2008-11 and with the Las Vegas Heat Club Team since 2011, Miller led her club to the 2011 Surf Cup Championship, where they went undefeated, a second-place finish in the 2011 Las Vegas College Showcase, and fourth in the FWRL Final Four. She also played for the Heat FC and was selected to the U17 Elite Clubs national League All-Event Team for the 2011-12 ECNL National Showcase in San Diego, Calif. The forward was a four-year letter-winner at Arbor View High School and earned First-Team All-State her junior year. Miller helped lead the team to the State Championship during her sophomore season and a 18-1 overall record. Miller was also a multi-sport athlete, playing volleyball in 2010 and 2011 and earning Second-Team All-State.
Check back on Friday to meet the last four newcomers for the 2012 season.
