Complete Release
Part One: WKU Soccer Broadening Recruiting Base with 2013 Class
Part Two: Central Indiana Club Has Become Home Turf for WKU Soccer
Part Three: Going South: Ohio Natives Heading South to WKU Soccer
Part Four: WKU Soccer Caps 2013 Class with Homegrown Talent, Transfer
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WKU Soccer head coach Jason Neidell has announced his 2013 signing class, a collection of 12 players who have combined to win more than 20 state championships and eight of whom have made a regional or national championship appearance.
"I am proud and excited to announce the addition of 12 student-athletes to the Lady Topper soccer roster for 2013-2014," said Neidell. "These student-athletes represent some of the best and brightest from seven states plus Ontario, Canada. They are proven winners. They will bring terrific energy to our team and will surely be fantastic ambassadors of WKU both on and off the playing field."
In just over a decade of existence, WKU Soccer has grown into one of the region's elite programs for success on and off the field.
"We have had some amazing individual players don a Lady Topper soccer uniform over the years, but I believe that it is the collective spirit of each recruiting class that truly defines a program," said Neidell. "Our inaugural recruiting class in 2001 built a strong and proud foundation. In 2006, a group of talented soccer players who were even better people came to the Hill and helped elevate the program to an elite status within the Sun Belt Conference landscape. I believe the incoming class of 2013 has the potential to help our team take the next step and realize the program's vision of becoming a consistent NCAA Tournament team. The immediate challenge is how quickly these young ladies adjust to the college game and to college life in general. Our returning players' commitment to model the way will be critical to this adjustment process."
The Lady Topper's 2013 recruiting class includes, in alphabetical order:
Haley Baldridge, a midfielder from Liberty, Missouri, joins WKU as a four-time member of the Missouri Olympic Development Program (ODP) team. While with her club team, Harambe Viati, she helped capture a state championship and was a two-time state finalist while serving as a team captain. With her 2013 high school season still to play, she has already made a major impact for Liberty High School, winning two state championships while earning two All-District honors, two All-Conference honors and being a four-year team captain. Her high school team was ranked number one in the country at one point during the 2011 season and finished among the top 10 nationally. She was also named an ESPN National Player of the Week during the 2011 season. Haley plans to major in nursing.
"Haley is a wonderful young lady and an amazing soccer player," said Neidell. "She is a creative and ball-winning midfielder who is versatile enough to play just about any position on the field. She has a high soccer IQ, which, combined with good size and strength gives her a great presence on the field. The sky is the limit for Haley Baldridge. She has a terrific future ahead in a Lady Topper uniform."
Makenzie Costner, a 5'8" defender, was a four-time State Champion for her club team, the Ohio Premier Eagles. While playing for her club, she helped lead the team to the Region II Championship and a National Title. Makenzie's team currently competes in the "A" flight of the prestigious Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) where, based on her performances, she was selected to participate in the league's id2 player development program. At Dublin Jerome High School, she was a three-time All-District selection and a two-time All-Conference selection, all while leading her team to a state final appearance. As team captain her senior season, she also earned All-State recognition. Makenzie plans to major in veterinary medicine.
"Makenzie is the complete package," said Neidell. "She is a smart and engaging young lady and team leader respected by her peers both on and off the soccer field. Makenzie has played at a very high level with the OP Eagles ECNL team, defending against some of the top forwards in the country. She is a very good defender, a very good passer, and most importantly a great teammate."
Iris Dunn, a 5'6" forward, comes to WKU on the heels of a very successful run with the Olympic Development Program. After being a four-time member of the Florida ODP State Team, Dunn's efforts this past year paid off when she earned a spot in the Region III Pool and onto the Region III ODP Team. Iris played club soccer for Pinecrest Premier where her team was a Florida State Cup Semifinalist. While playing at Coral Shores High School, Dunn was a four-time All-District selection. A tremendous athlete, Iris also lettered for her high school in volleyball and track and field. The athleticism runs in the family. Her father, Gary Dunn, was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers while her grandfather is in the Miami Football Ring of Honor. Iris plans to major in biology and animal science.
"With the addition of Iris Dunn, we filled an enormous need on the attacking side of the ball that we have been trying to find for several recruiting cycles," said Neidell. "Iris is both strong and fast and has an aggressive, never-say-die mentality. As a forward, her relentlessness wears defenses out and creates chances for herself and her teammates. Iris is an intense competitor who demonstrates a true passion for the game by constantly seeking out opportunities to develop her talent."
Madison Franklin, a 5'7" forward from Strongsville, Ohio, was a three-time selectee to the Ohio North ODP State Team. While playing with her club team, Cleveland FC, she won two state championships in 2009 and 2010. Franklin only played two years of high school soccer so that she could focus her development on the club level. As a sophomore at Strongsville High School, Madison helped the Mustangs to a state semi-final appearance.
"We were fortunate to seize on the very quick recruitment of Madison Franklin, who instantly made a connection and fell in love with WKU during a campus visit," said Neidell. "That bond will pay huge dividends for us on the field. Madison is a pacey forward with a great nose for the goal. With a full-fledged commitment to hard work, she has the potential to become a lethal goal-scorer at the college level."
Olivia Fitzgerald, a 5'6" defender, won two Indiana State Championships in 2008 and 2009 with her club team, Carmel United. In 2010, her Carmel team appeared in the Indiana State Cup finals for a third consecutive year while also finishing second in the 2010 MRL Championship. Promoted after winning the ECNL "B" Flight national title in 2011, Olivia's club team currently competes in the ECNL "A" Flight. Fitzgerald was also a three-year letter-winner for Carmel High School, winning the MIC Conference Championship each year from 2009 to 2012 and the State Championship in 2011. The 2011 squad was ranked number one in the nation by ESPN. Fitzgerald was an All-Conference selection and second team All-State selection in 2012. Olivia comes from a notable athletic family. Her grandfather, Patrick Fitzgerald, played basketball at Notre Dame while grandfather Lloyd Jacobs played football at USC, including participation in two Rose Bowls.
"Olivia is a very consistent and steady defender," said Neidell. "She is strong on the ball, great in the air, and reads the game in front of her very well. Olivia will be an important piece of the puzzle in the Lady Topper backline for the next four years. Olivia is also an engaging and thoughtful individual and is the kind of person that lights up a room as soon as she enters it. Both on and off the field, she is a class act who will be a great addition to the Hilltopper athletic family."
Christine Gordon, a 5'6" midfielder, is one of three Lady Topper signees from the Carmel United Elite '95 team, where she was a part of four state cup championships as well as a Region II championship. During her team's 2011 national championship run in the ECNL "B" Flight, Gordon was invited to participate in the US Club Regional id2 camp. In addition, Gordon has played two years with the Indiana ODP State Team. Gordon paired up with club teammate Olivia Fitzgerald on the high school scene for three seasons, earning three letters at Carmel High School enroute to three conference titles and a state championship that culminated in her team earning ESPN's number one national ranking.
"Christine has incredible potential and has just touched the surface of the kind of player she will become in college," said Neidell. "I hope we can help her quickly learn just how good she really is and can be. She is an entertaining player who shows glimpses of brilliance in her play. She is also the kind of player who has the ability take over a game. She is fast and technical and has the versatility to play in the midfield or forward line. As a staff, we can't wait to work with Christine to help maximize her potential."
Caitlin Hesse, a 5'7" midfielder, was a two-time member of the Georgia ODP State Team that participated in the ODP National Championship in 2012. Caitlin has played the past six years for Tophat Soccer Club, winning two Athena A league championships - Georgia's top youth soccer league. She played high school soccer at Whitefield Academy where she was twice named team MVP in 2011 and 2012. As team captain in 2012, she was also honored as an All-Conference selection. Her sister, Danielle, played soccer at Mercer University. Caitlin plans to major in Pre-Med.
"Caitlin is first-class all the way," said Neidell. "She is a model student-athlete who works hard both in the classroom and on the soccer field. She is a wonderfully gifted midfielder with the ability to break down a defense on the dribble or by threading a pass. She is smooth on the ball and has great instincts for the game. Caitlin will be a staple in the Lady Topper midfield and a huge asset in our attack for the next four years."
Alex Lonnemann, a 5'7" defender, played for the Kings Hammer Academy club team. In addition, Alex played high school soccer for Notre Dame Academy in Northern Kentucky, where she helped lead the Pandas to the 2011 State Championship and a second place finish in 2012. She was an All-Region selection and a second-team All-State selection in addition to serving as a senior captain during the 2012 campaign. Lonnemann will rejoin current Lady Toppers Chandler Clark and Torrie Lange on the WKU roster, both of whom also attended Notre Dame Academy. Alex plans to major in Communication Disorders with a focus on Speech Pathology.
"Alex brings an amazing energy to everything that she undertakes both on and off the soccer field," said Neidell. "On the field, Alex is a relentless and blue-collar defender. Off the field, she is a die-hard Hilltopper even before she arrives on campus. Alex's exuberant spirit and pride in self and school will serve as a great example to teammates and coaches and will help make us a better soccer team, in addition to the talent she brings as a player."
Kelly Phipps, a 5'10" forward, split her high school years between Palm Harbor, Florida and Dublin, Ohio. She is a two-time member of the Florida ODP State Team, which competed in the Region III ODP finals. While playing for Palm Harbor University High School in Florida for three seasons, Kelly was a three-time District Champion as well as a regional and state champion. During this stint, she was also a three-time All-Pinellas County selection. After her junior year, Kelly and her family moved back to Dublin, Ohio, where she had spent most of her childhood. Since returning, Kelly has played with the Ohio Premier Eagles club team alongside fellow Lady Topper signee, Makenzie Costner. With the OP Eagles, Phipps has been a State Cup Champion, Region II Champion and National Champion. She and Costner currently compete together on the OP Eagles in the prestigious ECNL "A" Flight. Her grandfather, Jim Phipps, played basketball at Indiana University.
"Kelly is a Topdrawersoccer.com four-star recruit," said Neidell. "She is a strong target forward who is also very skillful on the ball. Kelly has the ability to be both a set up person and goal-scorer. Kelly came to us very late in the 2013 recruiting process, and we felt honored that WKU became the perfect fit for her to pursue her academic and soccer ambitions. She has a great passion for the game and a bright future with the Lady Toppers."
Abbi Schopper, a 5'5" defender, is a member of Carmel United where she plays alongside fellow WKU signees Olivia Fitzgerald and Christine Gordon. As a regular starter on this squad for five years, Schopper has been an integral part of the team's rise to national recognition, including two Indiana state championships and the ECNL "B" Flight National Championship. Abbi also played at Cathedral High School for Coach Marc Behnnger, a former NCAA Champion at Indiana. During her senior campaign, Abbi earned All-City, All-District and All-State Honorable Mention. In addition, she was named the Irish's Most Valuable Player while achieving her second Academic All-State selection. Abbi intends to major in mechanical engineering.
"Abbi reads the game well and is a very good 1v1 defender who has the quickness and strength to mark any kind of forward," said Neidell. "She reminds me of former Lady Topper great Lindsey Passaglia. Like Passaglia, Abbi has the ability to play out of the back with both feet and likes to get forward into the attack. One thing I love about Abbi is that she is always seeking feedback to improve her game. Above all else, Abbi is an absolute model student-athlete."
Shelby Todd, a 5'7" forward from Brentwood, Tennessee, was a three-time selection to the Tennessee ODP State Team and has also been a part of the ODP Region III Pool. While playing for the Brentwood '94 Premier Club team, Todd helped lead the team a State Championship, a Region II Championship, and was a National Finalist. She currently plays for FC Alliance '95, where she helped lead the team to the 2013 Disney Championship. As a student-athlete at Ravenwood High School, Shelby earned All-District and All-Region honors.
"Shelby is a strong and pacey player who we recruited as a forward but who has played as a defender for the past year and a half," said Neidell. "She is a strong ball-winner who loves the individual battles of the game and who hates to lose. Shelby will immediately fuel the competitive spirit on the team. We look forward to working with Shelby to hone her strong-willed personality which, if focused in the right direction, can enhance our environment and help both her and the team thrive."
In addition to 11 individuals who are joining the WKU program following their high school careers, WKU will also add a transfer for the 2013 season.
Nora Abolins joins the WKU roster after a successful stint at the University of Detroit-Mercy. The 2012 Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, Abolins posted shutouts in five of seven conference games last season on her way to earning All-Conference First Team honors. As a junior, she tied the Detroit record for shutouts in a season with nine. In all, she allowed just nine goals, compiled 60 saves, posted a 0.55 GAA and a .870 save percentage during the 2012 campaign. In 52 career games, she has compiled a 0.90 GAA mark and has 26 career wins to her credit. As a prep, Abolins earned letters in volleyball, track and field, rugby and badminton at Centennial Secondary School. She played club soccer for the Toronto Jr. Lady Lynx and the Kingston Football Club, winning several championships with the Lady Lynx including competing in the North American Finals of the 2009 USL Super-Y League. Nora was also part of the Super-Y Olympic Development Program in 2007, where she was selected to participate in the camp's all-star final four competition.
Abolins is the second player from Canada to join the Lady Topper Soccer program, joining WKU's current all-time leading scorer, Mallory Outerbridge.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Nora Abolins to the Lady Topper soccer family," said Neidell. "With three years of college soccer already under her belt, Nora brings a wealth of experience, maturity, and leadership to our program. She is a very capable and seasoned goalkeeper with tons of credentials. As last season's Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, Nora joins SBC All-Conference net-minder Nikki Hall to form perhaps the strongest goalkeeping duo in the history of our program."
As previously mentioned, the 2013 class includes two sets of current club teammates. Makenzie Costner and Kelly Phipps play together for the Ohio Premier Eagles, while Olivia Fitzgerald, Christine Gordon and Abbi Schopper all lace up for Carmel United Elite. The Carmel United club has proven to be an important recruiting niche for the Lady Toppers. With the addition of the three Carmel United signees, the Lady Toppers will boast a 2013 roster with seven players - more than a quarter of the team - who played youth soccer in the Carmel United system. Junior Chrissy Tchoula, sophomore Allie Auscherman, and freshmen Alanna Clancey and Haley Haffner all enjoyed successful youth soccer stints with Carmel United.
WKU finished the 2012 season with a 12-5-3 record and a 7-2-3 record against league opponents. WKU was unbeaten in seven of their final eight matches of the season. WKU has registered 48 wins over the last four years, including a 2011 Sun Belt Conference Championship game appearance. The Lady Toppers have won at least nine games each of the last seven seasons and finished with at least six conference wins each of the last seven years. The 2013 squad will be looking to replace five graduating seniors, including Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Ali Stahlke and one of the top scorers in program history, Amanda Buechel.
For complete coverage of WKU Soccer, visit the official website of WKU Athletics atwww.wkusports.com.
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