Four Sign With Elon Women's Soccer
ELON, N.C. ? New Elon women’s soccer head coach Chris Neal today announced that four players have signed National Letters of Intent to play for his Phoenix program next season. The 2008 freshman class will consist of Caroline Duke (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas HS/KCFC Alliance Jazz), Nikki Heilman (Leawood, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas HS/KC Comets Select ?90), Noell McCain (Burlington, N.C./Williams HS/89 Greensboro Twisters Green) and Mabry Williams (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest Rolesville HS/CASL).
Duke, a 5-9 defender, helped lead Richard Davies’ KCFC Alliance Jazz program to a national ranking of 13th while also leading the club to a Score at the Shore title. While at St. Thomas Aquinas, the squad captured state titles and national top-10 rankings in both 2006 and 2007. Caroline is the daughter of Justin and Ann Duke.
Heilman, a 5-8 midfielder, also assisted in St. Thomas Aquinas’ title runs in 2006 and 2007 as well as a third title in 2005. The program earned a national top-10 ranking in each of those championship seasons. As a member of Gino Schiraldi’s KC Comets Select ?90 program, Heilman helped the squad capture state titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She was also a state ODP team member in 2004. Nikki is the daughter of Ed and Anna Heilman.
McCain, a 5-5 forward/midfielder, was a two-time all-conference selection at Williams High School. She collected honorable mention all-region honors in both 2006 and 2007 and helped lead her prep program to two Eastern Region finals appearances. During her time as a member of Marc Nichols’ Greensboro Twisters club, the squad captured the Raleigh Shootout title and claimed a #1 ranking in the Premier Division in 2007. She has also been a North Carolina ODP state pool player for three years. Noell is the daughter of Larry and Brenda McCain.
Williams, a 5-6 midfielder, collected all-conference, all-region and all-state accolades in 2006 while playing for Wake Forest Rolesville. That program also advanced to the state semi-finals. In 2005, Williams led her Super Y ODP regional team in scoring. Her efforts also helped Rusty Scarborough’s CASL club to two state titles. She has also been a North Carolina ODP pool player. Mabry is the daughter of Todd and Robbie Williams.
CofC Announces Four Women’s Soccer Signees for 2008
Charleston, S.C. -- The College of Charleston women’s soccer coach Kevin Dempsey announced Monday the singing of Hope Atkinson, Lindsay Frey, Hannah Gmerek and Allison Truitt to national letters of intent.
Atkinson, Frey, Gmerek and Truitt highlight a recruiting class for a Cougars team that finished 6-2-2 in the Southern Conference and served as a host seed for the 2007 SoCon Tournament.
“Adding these four players to a team that is only losing one player is exciting for us,” said Coach Dempsey. “These four players will make us stronger in just about every position on the field.”
Atkinson plays club soccer for the Wall Strikers, the 2007 NJYSA State Cup Champions, 2007 USYSA Region I Semifinalist and NJYSA Finalists in 2004-2006. Atkinson was named to the 2007 Newark Star Ledger Group II First Team and led her team to the Central New Jersey Group II State Championship while amassing 162 career points.
“Hope as all the qualities to be an impact player at the collegiate level,” Dempsey said. “Besides her size and tremendous athleticism, she has a great technical side going at players and playing back to goal as well as an innate ability to score goals. We’ve never had a player with a combination of her attributes and we’re excited to integrate her into the team.”
Frey is a member of the Ohio South Olympic Development Program and three-time member of the USYSA Region II Camp pool. She plays club soccer for Cincinnati Classics Hammer. Her team has won the Ohio South State Cup four times, was a finalist in 2007 and, in 2005, was a USYSA Region II Semifinalist. Frey served as team captain her junior year and led St. Ursula Academy to the 2007 Ohio State Championship.
“Lindsay is a very technical player with great vision and an endless work rate that will fit nicely into a well-balanced midfield,” Dempsey added. “It’s great to add such a good player to a position where we need to have depth and quality. The players will enjoy playing with Lindsay and having a creative option on the field like her is tough to find.”
Gmerek was a member of South Carolina Olympic Development Program team from 2003-2007. She plays club soccer at the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA). Her CESA team is four-time SCYSA State Cup Champions (2004-2007) and two-times USYSA Region III Quarterfinalists. Going into her senior year at Wren H.S., Gmerek has already been named to SCHSL All-State Team in 2006 and 2007 as well as named 2005 Gatorade Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
“Hannah is another player that combines great athletic attributes with tremendous soccer ability,” said Dempsey. “She has the technical side that makes her very comfortable on the ball while, tactically, can adapt and play in just about any position on the field; a quality that will allow her to fit in at the college level quickly.”
Truitt plays her club soccer at the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA). Her CESA team was a four-time SCYSA State Cup Champion (2004-2007) and a two-time USYSA Region III Quarterfinalist. A member of the U15 and U16 South Carolina Olympic Development Program team, Truitt has been a two-time captain at J.L. Mann H.S., was the team MVP in 2007, and in 2006 garnered a second straight All-Region honor, leading them to a Region I title.
“Ally is a very hard-nosed and tough defender and will add immediate depth to a position that is young and looking for players to step forward,” Dempsey said. “We’re excited to have her intensity and style of play and hoping she rubs off on the others in what should be a very competitive battle in preseason for playing time.”
The Cougars, who play in one of the country’s premier mid-major conference for women’s soccer with three 2007 NCAA Tournament teams, open up the 2008 regular season August 22-24 in Jacksonville, FL against Jacksonville and North Florida.
Wofford women’s soccer announces the addition of five players
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Wofford head women’s soccer coach Amy Kiah has announced the signing of five players, including local product Anne Breeden, to her roster for the 2008 season. Joining Spartanburg, S.C., native Breeden will be Chelsea Dowell (Fisherville, Ky.), Maggie McLaughlin (Cary, N.C.), Anne Phillips (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Sydney Reed (Raleigh, N.C.).
“I am very excited about the potential of this year’s class,” noted Kiah. “We graduate a solid core of seniors and this group will help off-set that loss. I believe each one has the chance to contribute to our program.”
Furman Women's Soccer Signs Eight To National Letters Of Intent
Greenville, S.C. -- Eight players signed national letters of intent to join the Furman women's soccer program for the 2008 season, it was announced on Wednesday by head coach Andrew Burr.
Sarah Caldwell (Todd, N.C.), Megan Dougherty (Rogers, Ark.), Katya Gokhman (Alpharetta, Ga.), Martha Hall (Knoxville, Tenn.), Alexa Jones (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Rachel Shelnutt (St. Simons Island, Ga.), Jessica Smith (Franklin, Tenn.) and Laura White (Atlanta, Ga.) will report for preseason practice this coming season.
"I am excited about the talent level of our 2008 class and believe they will represent Furman very well both in the class and on the field," said Burr. "Within this recruiting class, we have several dynamic players who will have an immediate impact on our program."
The class is highlighted by Region III ODP team member Martha Hall, a forward who earned IMG Academy Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors last season, and Russian U-19 National Team forward/midfielder Katya Gokhman of Milton High School. The Lady Paladins also added depth at keeper with the addition of Brentwood Real Madrid standout Jessica Smith and Greensboro Twisters' netminder Sarah Caldwell.
The 2008 Lady Paladins return six starters from a squad that posted a 16-6-1 record, claimed the Southern Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth the time in the last eight seasons.
2008 Signing Class
Player Pos. Hometown High School Club
Sarah Caldwell GK Todd, N.C. Watauga High School Greensboro Twisters
Megan Dougherty F/MF Rogers, Ark. Rogers High School Mississippi Fire
Katya Gokhman F/MF Alpharetta, Ga. Milton High School Atlanta Fire United
Martha Hall F Knoxville, Tenn. Edison Academic Center IMG Academy
Alexa Jones MF Lawrenceville, Ga. Collins Hill High School Atlanta Fire United
Rachel Shelnutt F/MF St. Simons Island, Ga. Frederica Academy Tophat `08 Gold
Jessica Smith GK Franklin, Tenn. Battle Ground Academy Brentwood Real Madrid
Laura White MF Atlanta, Ga. The Lovett School Tophat `08 Gold
Western Carolina Women's Soccer Signs Eleven on National Signing Day
WCU Women's Soccer Head Coach Tammy DeCesare today announced the signing of 11 new student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2008 Season.
Seven of the 11 new players came from outside North Carolina, to compliment the four in-state products for the Lady Cats. The out-of-state commitments come to Cullowhee from Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, and South Carolina.
Coach DeCesare said about the newest Lady Catamounts, "I'm very excited about our 2008 class. As a group they add a high degree of talent and versatility to our team. There are several dynamic players who will look to make an immediate impact on our program. This class also adds a tremendous amount of depth to our current squad, allowing us to reach a higher level as a program."
The WCU Women's Soccer team finished 2007 with a 9-8-3 overall record, and fell on penalty kicks in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament. Their 2008 schedule is highlighted by a trip to the Yale University Tournament, as well as matchups with SEC foes Tennessee and South Carolina, to compliment the always-tough Southern Conference slate.
Ashley Huhn
5-5, Midfielder/Forward
Aledo, Texas (Aledo High School/Sting West)
Jaycee Patton
5-6, Forward/Midfielder
Clayton, N.C. (West Johnston High School/Triangle FC Navy)
Kayla Beauday
5-3, Midfielder/Defender
Jackson, N.J. (Jackson Memorial High School/New Jersey Wildcats)
Samantha Hodge
5-6, Midfielder
Louisville, Ky. (Mercy Academy/Javanon 90 Girls)
Taylor Lee
5-5, Midfielder/Defender
Henry County, Ga. (Eagle's Landing High School/Condcorde Fire Elite)
Emily Lynn
5-4, Forward/Midfielder
North Royalton, Ohio (North Royalton High School/Ohio Premier)