Brown University women's soccer will bring seven new student-athletes into the program as members of the Bears' Class of 2021, Brown head coach Kia McNeill announced on Monday.

"I'm thrilled about the talent and character we have coming in with our 2021 class," McNeill said. "It's a group of young women from all over the country and beyond who all share a passion for the game and a commitment towards excellence that will help us reach our program goals."

The Bears' Class of 2021 spans the continental United States and the Caribbean with student-athletes arriving on College Hill from Virginia, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Texas, California, and Georgia. The group comprises several attacking players and multiple defensive players, including a goalkeeper.

The class includes midfielder/back Cameron Brown (Portsmouth, Va.), back Sydney Cummings (Millstone Township, N.J.), goalkeeper Maria "Puchun" Guerrero (San Juan, Puerto Rico), forward/midfielder Zeinab "Z" Kante (Dallas, Texas), midfielder/forward Samantha Messing (Los Angeles, Calif.), forward Brittany Montgomery (Lawrenceville, Georgia), and forward Star White (Norfolk, Va.).

"Our team has been very good in spring training so far, and this class is certainly going to fortify the strong roster we already have," McNeill said. 

Cameron Brown
Position: Midfielder/Back
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Portsmouth, Va.
High School: Norfolk Collegiate School
Club Team: Beach FC
Prep Accolades: Earned TCIS Player of the Year and TCIS Defensive MVP honors in 2016 … Garnered VISAA All-State Team accolades in 2014, 2015, and 2016 … Gained a spot on the All-Tidewater Team as a senior … Took home TCIS All-Conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Won a state title in 2014 and conference titles in 2015 and 2016 … Played for head coach John Hall … Competed for Beach FC, ODP, and CCL Select at the club level … Helped lead Beach FC to a No. 1 ranking in Virginia … Also competed in basketball, field hockey, and cross country … Served as President of the National Honor Society … an AP Scholar with Honors.
Why Brown? "In researching Brown, I was immediately attracted to the unique academic curriculum. After visiting the campus and getting to know Coach Kia and the rest of the coaching staff, it was easy to decide that the combination of academic and athletic opportunities at Brown was a perfect fit for me."
McNeill on Brown: "Cameron is an engine on field – she has a great work ethic, covers a lot of ground, reads aerial balls well, and is the type of defender that is willing to put anything on the line to help her team succeed. She is going to be a tremendous asset to our team and help us continue to be stingy defensively." 

Sydney Cummings
Position: Back
Height: 5-foot-10
Hometown: Millstone Township, N.J.
High School: Saint John Vianney
Club Team: FC Copa
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-Conference honors … Gained Second Team All-Shore accolades … Served team as captain for three years … Played for coaches Ted Ritter and Francesca Yaccarine … Competed on the club level for FC Copa … Helped lead FC Copa to No. 1 ranking in state and region and No. 3 ranking in the nation … Member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National Spanish Honor Society.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the highly regarded learning environment, the open curriculum, and the diverse student body."
McNeill on Cummings: "Sydney is an absolutely fearless defender who is going to help strengthen our backline. She's great in the air, has good range of distribution, and is hard in tackles, which are all key attributes I want in my defenders. She's also a great leader and communicator on the field with her club team, and I'm looking forward to her employing those same qualities here at Brown." 

Maria "Puchun" Guerrero
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
High School: Academia del Perpetuo Socorro
Club Teams: High Performance Soccer Academy, Challengers Soccer Club
Prep Accolades: Captained the U17 Puerto Rico Women's National Team … Started for the U20 Puerto Rico Women's National Team … Served as the backup goalkeeper for Puerto Rico's Senior Women's National Team in Olympic qualifiers … Earned high school's Athlete of the Year award three times … Played for head coach Esteban Torres … Played on the club level for High Performance Soccer Academy and Challengers Soccer Club … Also competed in volleyball and track & field … Member of National Honor Academy.
Why Brown? "Academia del Perpetuo Socorro became my new home in eighth grade, when I decided to transfer schools. From the moment I set foot, during my visit, I instantly loved the sense of community and what the school had to offer. I had not felt the same way until I visited Brown for the soccer prospect clinic in August. From the moment I stepped down of my uber ride, I felt goosebumps and the same connection I felt with my high school."
McNeill on Guerrero: "Maria is an incredible goalkeeper that will provide healthy competition and depth among our keepers. She has experience playing with the Puerto Rican National Team at both the youth and senior levels, so she is used to playing on a big stage, which will make her transition into college seamless. Her presence in goal coupled with her shot-stopping ability, and her technical game is going to be great for our program." 

Zeinab "Z" Kante
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Height: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
High School: Liberty Christian School
Club Team: Warriors Soccer
Prep Accolades: Earned All-State and All-District accolades … Broke Liberty Christian's record in the 400-meter dash … Gained Best Offensive Player honors in basketball … Played for head coach Bill Scrivner … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Played on the club level for Warriors Soccer; acted as team captain … Served as National Honor Society Parliamentarian … Earned the Latin Scholar Award.
Why Brown? "It felt like home as soon as I stepped foot on campus."
McNeill on Kante: "Z has separation pace unlike any other forward I've seen which allows her to get in behind defenses, but she is also very deceptive on the ball when running at players 1-v-1. I love having attacking players who have the confidence to run at defenses and take players on, and that is exactly what Z brings to the table. She is a very focused, determined and hard-working individual which will bode well for her both on and off the field here at Brown." 

Samantha Messing
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Height: 5-foot-3
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
High School: Brentwood School
Club Team: Westside Breakers
Prep Accolades: Led team in scoring as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Won a CIF All-League title … Played for head coach Jason Kelly … Competed on the club level for Westside Breakers … Led Westside in scoring in 2013, 2014, and 2016 … Gained IMG Academy Gatorade Player of the Week honors.
Why Brown? "I think I want to join the FBI, but I am not sure what to study. Brown offers great opportunities both inside and outside the classroom for me to explore, grow, and figure it out."
McNeill on Messing: "Sam is a dynamic left-footed player who has deceptive pace on the wing as a forward or outside midfielder. She is extremely versatile and comfortable working both sides of the ball, which will fit into our system well.  Her ability to get in behind defenses and provide service from the left flank is going to allow us to be more dangerous and productive in the attacking third." 

Brittany Montgomery
Position: Forward
Height: 5-foot-6
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.
High School: Grayson
Club Team: Gwinnett Soccer Association
Prep Accolades: Earned Gwinnett Daily Post Female Athlete of the Year and Forward of the Year in 2016 … Gained Gwinnett Daily Post First Team All-County honors as a junior … Led team to 2015 Region 8-AAAAAA state tile … Helped team gain Region 8-AAAAAA titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016 … Recorded 27 goals and nine assists as a sophomore and 20 goals and nine assists as a junior … Competed on the club level for Gwinnett Soccer Association; led team in scoring in 2015 and 2016.
Why Brown? "Brown provides a remarkable education to its students and graduating from an Ivy League school is very notable. The athletic program at Brown is also commendable. I am an athlete, so Brown is the perfect fit for me with tremendous academics and Division I athletics."
McNeill on Montgomery: "Brittany is going to be a great threat up top for us as she has the composure, strength, and technique to break defenses down. She doesn't hesitate to take players on and consistently puts herself in dangerous positions to score or draw attention to set her teammates up. She has the will and hunger to win which is exactly the type of attitude we want our attacking players to have." 

Star White
Position: Forward
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
High School: Maury
Club Team: Beach FC
Prep Accolades: Earned All-Tidewater Player of the Year honors as a junior … Garnered a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer All-America Watch List … Gained All-State and All-Region accolades twice … Took home First Team All-Conference laurels three times … Tallied 36 goals and 22 assists as junior, 23 goals and 26 assists as a sophomore, and 26 goals and 16 assists as a freshman … Competed on the club level for Beach FC, ODP, CCL, and VB City … Selected as Best Female Athlete of Senior Class … Member of National Society of High School Scholars and Spanish National Honor Society.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the high academic standards and reputation, the amazing campus environment, and the excitement around the women's soccer program and coaching staff."
McNeill on White: "Star is an incredibly dangerous and dynamic forward who has the capability to change games. She has the speed and strength that allows her to ride tackles and fight through defenders to get in on goal. She knows how to put herself in positions to score and doesn't need many chances to get it done. Her mindset is that of a true goal scorer, and I can't wait to start working with her in hopes that she can be a big attacking threat for us."

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