Women's Soccer Signs Eight for 2009 Season
2/11/2009 5:20:00 AM | Women's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern women’s soccer adds eight student-athletes for the 2009 season. The 2009 signing class comes from six different states including Ohio (1), Florida (1), Georgia (3), Indiana (1), Tennessee (2) and Louisiana (1).
“We have a big class coming in, and it includes girls from all over the United States. Each player has played at a high level and has faced some of the top club teams in the country,” said head coach Ashley Hart. “They should be able to come in and help us compete right away.”
The Lady Eagles added two forwards, four midfielders and two defenders.
Georgia Southern lost five players from last year’s team including first team All-SoCon member Ashley Toussaint (Warner Robbins, Ga.). Toussaint scored 30 goals in her career with 13 of those coming last season.
“Danae Kaimuloa (Escondido, Calif.), Jenny Anderson (Birmingham, Ala.), Sara Oland (Evans, Ga.) are going to have to step up and contribute more in that area,” said Hart. “In this class we have Holly Dyer and Courtney Collins who are both forwards. They should help us balance out our attack.”
The Lady Eagles look to improve on their 4-11-3 (2-8-1) record when they hit the field in the fall.
2009 Women’s Soccer Signing Class
Midfield / Forward
Mason, Ohio
PREP: Played for coach Katie Barnes at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio... Member of the National Honors Society... Received Law and Criminal Justice Award... Team captain three seasons... Earned All-City First Team honors during her senior year... Named to the All-Southwest District and All-State teams... Led Greater Miami Conference in points and selected to the GMC first team... Won GMC Championship her senior season... Played for Ohio Elite and CUP club teams.
PERSONAL: Born Courtney Lee Collins on July 9, 1991 in St. Louis, Mo... Daughter of Sherry and Scott Kane and David Collins... Father David Collins played baseball for a number of Major League Baseball teams... Mother Sherry Kane ran cross country for the Ohio State University... Chose Georgia Southern because, “I felt it is a great atmosphere where I can grow not only as an athlete but also as a student.”
MAJOR: Undecided
Holly Dyer
Forward / Midfield
Auburn, Ga.
PREP: Played for coach Scott Bates at Apalachee High School in Auburn, Ga... Received All-Region honors... Received Northeast Georgia Mountain Cup All-Tournament honors... Set school single season goals scored record... Also lettered in cross country and basketball... Played club soccer for NSA Fury... Led the team in scoring twice.
PERSONAL: Born Holly Megan Dyer on November 8, 1990 in Lawrenceville, Ga... Daughter of William and Jennifer Dyer... Would want Hayden Panettiere to play her in a movie... Craziest ambition is to become an award winning doctor... Wears 24 because it has brought her luck... Chose Georgia Southern because of the team, coaches and the beautiful campus.
MAJOR: Undecided
Cassandra Elrod
Midfield / Forward
Zionsville, Ind.
Prep: Played for head coach Rebecca Parker at Alpharetta High School... Team finished as state runner-up her freshman year... Earned four letters in soccer... Named team captain and offensive MVP... Played for the 2004, 2006, and 2007 state championship Carmel Fire club team in Indianapolis.
Personal: Born Cassandra Louise Elrod on February 14, 1991 in Indianapolis, Indiana... Daughter of Steve and Susan Elrod... Hobbies include: Singing, dancing, playing guitar and piano... Recipient of the Eagle Scholar award for maintaining a 4.0 GPA... Chose to come to Georgia Southern because of the good atmosphere and weather... People would be surprised to know that she enjoys listening to gospel music... Favorite sports figure is Peyton Manning... Favorite sports team is the Indianapolis Colts... Pre game ritual is listening to music.
Major: Nursing
Kaitlynn Heileman
Midfield
Franklin, Tenn.
Prep: Played for coach Jimmy Burchett at Franklin High School... Earned All-State, All-District, All-Region honors her junior and senior seasons... Named offensive MVP... Team Captain her senior year... Ranks fourth in assists with 42 in her career... Ranks second in assists in a single season with 19... Finished her career with 26 goals scored.
Personal: Born Kaitlynn Evan Heileman on March 19,1991 in Gainesville, Florida... Daughter of Steve and Sherri Helleman... Hobbies include reading and painting... Moment in history she would like to have seen is “the Miracle on Ice”... Craziest ambition is to travel to every continent... Favorite sports figure is Michelle Akers... Pre-game meal is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Major: Undeclared
Sydney Pietrykowski
Defender
Jacksonville, Fla.
Prep: Played for head coach Ashleigh Nossee at Mandarin High School... Earned 1st team All-Gateway Conference honors her junior season... Named to the Ultimate High School Sports Top 24... Received the Coaches award her last two seasons... Team was Gateway Conference Champions in 2006 and 2007... Named captain her senior year... State cup Finalist for J.Y.S. Fury club team.
Personal: Born Sydney Louise Pietrykowski in Madison, Ind. on April 24, 1991... Daughter of David and Edith Pietrykowski... Hobbies include: drawing, eating, and hanging out with friends... Moment in history she would have liked to have seen would be a Beatles concert... Chose Georgia Southern because of the soccer program and small-town feel... Father played football for Hanover College... Craziest ambition is to go skydiving... Favorite pro Sports team is the Carolina Panthers... Pregame ritual is singing and dancing crazy.
Major: Chemistry
Caroline Scales
Midfield
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Prep: Played for head coach Jimmy Weekley at Baylor High Schoool... Four-year letter winner... Voted team MVP her senior year... Team was ranked #11 in the nation by ESPN... Received All-Region honors... Team went 18-2-2 and advanced to the state semi-finals her sophomore season... Named All-State 1st team and All-Region her junior season and senior season... Three- year team captain of club team... Won Region 3 Premier League her junior year.
Personal: Born Caroline Shelby Scales on October 12, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia... Daughter of Tony and Coleen Scales... Sister Allie plays soccer for Chattanooga... Named to the National Honor Society... A Red Circle Member... Hobbies include art, tennis and shopping... If she could play against any team, it would be UTC because she would get the opportunity to play against her sister ... Chose Georgia Southern because the campus is pretty and everyone is nice... Favorite sports figure is Roger Federer... Favorite sports team is the Tennessee Titans.
Major: Pre-Law
Ashley Sepaniak
Defender
Alpharetta, Ga.
PREP: Played for coach Rachel Wadley at Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga... Received GHSA All-State Award... Named team captain her senior season... Played club soccer for Norcross Fury Gold... Named team captain of her club team... Club team finished 1st in Georgia and 2nd in RIIIPL.
PERSONAL: Born Ashley Sepaniak on March 21, 1991 in Alpharetta, Georgia... Daughter of Susan and Mitch Sepaniak... Father played collegiate hockey for Denver... Hobbies include Camping, Sports and surfing... Craziest ambition is to go sky diving... The biggest influence on her life as an athlete is her dad.
MAJOR: Marketing
Morgan Springer
Midfield
Mandeville, La.
PREP: Played for coach Nick Chetta at Northlake Christian School in Covington, La... Named offensive MVP of Northlake Christian School three times... Led the team in scoring three out of four seasons... Named All-District and All-State 1st team... Named team captain... Selected as the Female Wendy’s High School Heisman for Northlake Christian... Played club soccer for the MSC Lakers... Club highlights include, four state championships and a USYSA Region III semifinals appearance... Also received letters in Track & Field and Tennis.
PERSONAL: Born Morgan Lane Springer on May 11, 1991 in Covington, La... Daughter of Rick and Lisa Springer... Served as Student Senate Treasurer... Father played soccer at Morrisville State... Grandfather played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals organization... Lists hobbies as running, wakeboarding and being outside... One word that describes her is “Adventurous”... The biggest influence on her life has been her coaches.
MAJOR: Exercise Science
