Kelly Esposito

Position:
Forward
Height:
5-4
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Wilmington, NC
High School:
Eugene Ashley

General - Returning letter winner who provides the Tar Heels depth at the striker position...coach Dorrance says Kelly is great for team chemistry and praises her academic accomplishments at UNC.
2005 Season -- Didn't see any game action for the Tar Heels but excelled on the practice and scout teams...had a superb freshman year academically...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.967 GPA...was named to the Dean's List both semesters and compiled a perfect 4.0 in the fall semester.
Club Soccer -- Played defense and midfield for '87 Wilmington Wave Soccer Club...was named to N.C. State ODP Team in 2005.
Prep - Graduated from Eugene Ashley High School on May 28, 2005...played defense and midfield on soccer team for four years...ran cross country for four years...on the pitch...she was a three-year All-Conference selection and two-year All-Region choice...was named the team's best defensive player and garnered Wilmington Star-News All-Area honors...helped lead school in only its third year of existence to the third round of the state playoffs...played for East Team at 2004 State Games...was three-year MVP of cross country team...named All-Conference four years...two-year All-Region...two-time state qualifier...holds high school record for 5K (19:27)...two-time Wilmington Star News All-Area...team captain as senior...Wendy's High School Heisman Award national nominee...U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award...Ashley High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2005...valedictorian of high school class...members of National Honor Society and National Beta Club...recipient of Robert C. Byrd Scholarship and N.C. Amateur Sports scholarship...AP scholar with honors...National Merit commended student ...North Carolina and Presidential scholar ...Morehead Scholarship nominee...named to A honor roll all four years with 5.106 weighted GPA...graduated with honors in English, history, Spanish and science.
Personal - Given name is Kelly Rose Esposito...was born September 19, 1987 in Springfield, Mass.... is the daughter of David and Kathleen Esposito...has three siblings--Michael (15), Colleen (11) and Emily (4)...is likely to major in biology...would like to attend medical school and become a surgeon...classically trained in the flute for 11 years...also plays ice hockey and enjoys painting and reading...athletes she most admires are Lance Armstrong, Brett Favre and Kristine Lilly...biggest sports thrill was finishing third in regional cross country meet while setting school record...people with greatest influence on her career are her dad and her soccer coaches, Piotr Slomski and Giles Roberts...personal favorites include The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, bread and ice cream, the Star Wars movies and Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Sopranos...says she is a sci-fi movie junkie...her father, David, played soccer at the University of Connecticut and her mother, Kathleen, ran track there...has had four uncles who were also collegiate athletes.