ORONO – The University of Maine softball team has received National Letters of Intent from eight players to attend the school starting in the fall of 2006, first-year UMaine softball coach Stacey Sullivan announced Monday.

The eight players include Stephanie George, Jessica Ghazali, Erin Iandoli, Christine McGirney, Jennifer Puccinni, Alexis Souhlaris, Melinda Corssino and Whitney Spangler.

Four of the eight players come from Massachusetts.

George, a utility player from Seekonk, Mass., was a starting third baseman who led Seekonk High in hitting and was named a South Coast Conference all-star.

A pitcher from Waimanalo, Hawaii, Ghazali was named to the ILH Hawaii first team last season. She led Education Laboratory High School to a 3-1 victory in the ILH Small School Championship, allowing one run in 14 innings.

First baseman-outfielder Iandoli was a conference all-star in 2003 and 2004 while playing for Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Mass. She was also a member of the Polar Crush, which won the 2005 New England softball regional tournament.

McGirney pitches for Hinsdale (Ill.) Central High School. She was an all-league pick in 2005.

A shortstop from North Dighton, Mass., Puccinni was also a South Coast Conference all-star at the position in 2004 and 2005 while playing for Dighton-Rehoboth High School.

Souhlaris plays several positions in the outfield for Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H. She was a Class L New Hampshire first-team selection and had the fastest home plate-to-first time (2.61 seconds) at the New England NFCA recruiting camp last summer.

Corssino, an infielder from Bedford, Mass., was a three-time first-team Dual County League pick from 2003-05. She and Iandoli are teammates on the Polar Crush club team.

Spangler is a catcher for Central Catholic High School in Alliance, Ohio. She was an Ohio all-league selection in 2003 and 2004.

Eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

The early signing period began Nov. 9 and ended Nov. 19.