Greenville, S.C. – Furman has added transfers Vivanna Gutierrez and Tara Katz to its women's soccer roster for the 2024 season, it was announced this week by Paladin head coach Andrew Burr.
 
Gutierrez, who will have four seasons of eligibility with the Paladins, is the younger sister of former Paladin and Southern Conference Player of the Year Isabella Gutierrez and current Furman midfielder Helen Gutierrez. She spent her freshman season at Southern Wesleyan University but appeared in only two matches before sitting out the remainder of the season due to injury and receiving a redshirt year. The Statesboro, Ga., native scored her first goal in her collegiate debut last September versus North Greenville.
 
"Vivi is a player with a high soccer IQ and a great family history with Furman soccer," said Burr. "Her natural leadership skills and blue-collar work ethic will fit in very well with our current freshman class."
 
A graduate of Statesboro High School, Gutierrez led the Georgia Impact to the ECRL Southwest Regional title. She served as team captain for the Impact and for the Georgia ODP 04/05 squad from 2018-22. Gutierrez also trained alongside her sisters with USL W-League champion Tormenta FC.
 
Katz joins the Furman roster as a graduate transfer after five seasons at the University of Tennessee. The Montgomery, Ala., native played in 73 matches and logged 54 starts for the Vols from 2019-22 before missing her fifth year due to injury. 
 
"Tara brings power five soccer experience and has the ability to have a significant impact with the Furman program," said Burr. "She is a versatile player, but we see her in an attacking role as we think she can prove to be a dominant goal scorer in the Southern Conference."
 
A regular starter for the Vols in 2020, 21, and 22, Katz posted one goal and four assists during her career in Knoxville, Tenn. She helped Tennessee to a 20-3-0 record, SEC championship, and a pair of NCAA Tournament victories in 2021 before guiding the Vols back to the NCAA postseason the following year. Katz notched an assist on Tennessee's lone goal in an NCAA Tournament loss to Xavier in 2022 during her final game on the field for the Vols.
 
Katz is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and was selected to the CSC Academic All-District Team in 2021. The 2018-19 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year, she guided Montgomery Academy to four consecutive state titles and was a three-time state tournament MVP. Katz, along with current Paladins Nieva Gaither and Miya Poplin, gives Furman three players who have claimed Gatorade state player of the year honors.
 
Furman is set to return eight starters from a 2023 team that posted a 7-5-7 overall record and 3-1-5 mark in SoCon play.