PrepZone: Gulf Coast soccer star Ali Rogers signs with FGCU

Photo by MICHELE ANNELOUISE COHEN

Gulf Coast's Brandi Tisch, connects at the plate in the 5A regional quarter final softball game against Tampa-Sickles on Tuesday April 26, 2011 at Gulf Coast high school in Naples, Fla. Michele AnneLouise Cohen for Naples Daily News

NAPLES — Forward/midfielder Ali Rogers highlighted Gulf Coast's signing ceremony at noon Wednesday when she inked with defending Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament champion Florida Gulf Coast University.

Rogers, who had 14 goals, eight assists and 36 points last season despite missing the last six games with a hyperextended knee, opted to stay close to home despite 14 scholarship offers, the most in Southwest Florida. But she didn't choose the Eagles over programs like Miami and Rutgers simply to stay close to the nest.

"It's nice that it's close to home, but even if it was across the world, my parents would understand and let me do that," said Rogers, sporting a green FGCU T-shirt.

Also signing Wednesday were baseball middle infielder Nick Faur, with Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y., and softball third baseman Brandi Tisch, who will play at St. Petersburg College next year.

FGCU coach Jim Blankenship has built a strong program in just five years. His Eagles went 14-5-2 and won the A-Sun with a 7-1-1 record before winning the conference tourney at home in their first postseason appearance after four seasons of Division I transition. FGCU lost, 3-0, at Southeastern Conference power Florida in its first-ever NCAA tournament game.

"I hope we can keep FGCU in that routine and keep winning the A-Sun Conference and then keep going farther than that," Rogers said.

Blankenship was the first coach to closely monitor Rogers, who led the Sharks in scoring all three seasons and twice was an all-conference selection, when he began doing so five years ago.

"It's funny because he's the first coach I ever gave my soccer profile to and that's where I decided to end up," Rogers said.

Rogers, who picked FGCU because of its success, style of play, quality of players and knowledgeable coaches, said she believes she'll play quickly and that Blankenship views her "as more of an attacking, offensive person."

Gulf Coast coach Mark Voorhees believes Rogers, a team captain, and FGCU are a great fit.

"I never had a more hard-working player than Ali," he said. "Very determined. Led by example. I knew she had it in her to get to the next level, and you look at a team like FGCU which made the College Cup Tournament last year ... she's going to be playing with the best and I know she'll be successful."

A New York native who began playing baseball when he moved to Florida at 4, Faur, whom Sharks coach Bob Cofield said is one of the most hard-working and driven players he's groomed, will have relatives and friends near Onondaga.

"I'm definitely glad to go back up there," Faur said. "It's going to be a cool experience and I won't be too far from home."

Tisch hopes to parlay her two-year JUCO experience at St. Petersburg College into a major scholarship and believes third-year Titans coach Breanna Myers is the right person to lead her there.

"She offered me a lot of help and promised she would improve my skill level enough to go to the next level of college, like D-I or D-II," Tisch said. "She offered me a really good deal."

Tisch also loved the idea of being close to home, for at least a couple of years.

"For sure," Tisch said. "I'm a baby. I need my mama."