Women's Soccer Announces 2010 Incoming Class
3/25/2010 5:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern women’s soccer head coach Ashley Hart recently announced the addition of nine players to the 2010 roster. The incoming freshman class is comprised of student-athletes from Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon.
“I’m excited about the group of players we are adding not only for their talent, but for their competitiveness as well,” said Hart. “We have a good mix of players from all over the country that have played with some of the best club teams and are ready to come in and compete in the fall. They have the ability to help lead this team to the next level and I will be looking for them to make an immediate impact on and off the field for us.”
Paige Grant (Albuquerque, New Mexico/Eldorado)
A two-year letterwinner at Eldorado High School, Paige Grant helped lead the Eagles to a 5A District Championship her junior and senior campaigns and a 5A State Championship her senior year. For her accomplishments in 2009, Grant earned All-District Honorable Mention and All-State Second Team as a defender. Grant has been a member of four club teams since 2000 playing for United FC ’92 for three seasons before joining the Rio Vista FC ’92 squad for two years. From 2006-07, Grant was a member of Clash FC ’92 and since 2008 has played for Elite FC ’92 helping lead them to two state runner-up finishes.
Lindsay Hammer (Augusta, Ga./Greenbrier)
Regional champion Lindsay Hammer joins Georgia Southern from Greenbrier High School. Hammer led the Wolfpack to three Region Championships from 2007-09, while earning All-Region honors in 2008 and 2009. Hammer led the Columbia County Patriots and Augusta Arsenal club teams to second place finishes in Athena A in 2007 and 2008 before taking Columbia United to a 2009 South Carolina State finalist appearance.
Elena Karakizis (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview)
A member of the 2009 AFU 92 Elite GA Athena Championship team, Elena Karakizis led the club team to an undefeated season. In addition to the GA Athena Championship, Karakizis helped lead the club team to a GA State Cup semifinal appearance, CASL Showcase Championship, and Disney Showcase semifinal. Before 2009, Karakizis picked up numerous honors as a member of the GSA ‘92 Phoenix Red. For five years, Karakizis was a member of the Georgia ODP program with Region III Championship and camp appearances. At Parkview High School, Karakizis received three NCSAA Team Academic awards and team national rankings. As a four-year starter, the Panthers won three Georgia AAAAA Championships.
Sydney Keer (Gambrills, Md./Arundel)
A member of the Laurel Lightning and three-year letterwinner at Arundel High School, Sydney Keer was a three-time All-Anne Arundel County, while leading her club team to a top ranking in the state. Keer helped lead her MD ’92 ODP team to a Region I Championship in 2008-09 while being a regional finalist with the Wildcats. Keer earned team MVP honors twice, most recently her senior campaign while also being recognized as All-State Second Team, All DC-Metro Second Team, and All Baltimore Metro Second Team.
Katie Merson (Albuquerque, New Mexico/Eldorado)
The second newcomer from Eldorado High School, Katie Merson is a three-time District 5-5A All-District goalkeeper that won a three consecutive District 5-5A Championships. Her junior season, Merson received First Team All-State recognition. She capped her senior year with a state championship and was named First Team All-State for the second year. Merson was a two-time member of the New Mexico ODP team and has been a member of the Rio Vista FC 92G club team the past two years, leading the team to state championships in as many years.
Alexandra Murphy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Finneytown)
Alexandra Murphy has been a member of the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy team since 2006 and has had stints with the Ohio State Girls 2007 ODP state team and Ohio State ODP England Tour. The forward played four years at Finneytown High School, earning First Team All-CHL three seasons. Murphy holds school records in career goals (63), career assists (21), season goals (24) and ties for the most goals in a game record with four. The ‘Varsity Forward of the Year’ in 2009, Murphy also earned All-City/All-District Southwest honors and was a Cincinnati Enquirer Honorable Mention.
Samantha Norman (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck)
A defender from Broadneck High School, Samantha Norman earned four letters as a Bruin and has played for the BSU Shoot Stars, Severna Park White Lightening, Freestate Sharks and Freestate Phoenix club teams. She took two club teams to final cup appearances and helped lead the Freestate Phoenix to a 2009 US Club Soccer Regional Championship. As a Bruin, Norman earned First Team All-County the past two seasons in addition to being named Defender of the Year by her team. A co-captain during her senior year, Norman also earned Second Team All-State in 2009.
Katherine Phillips (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic)
A two-time ODP Florida State team member and four-time District Champion at Trinity Catholic High School, Katherine Phillips joins the team as a midfielder. Phillips garnered Marion County/Ocala Star Banner “Player of the Year” her junior season and Florida 3A All-State two years. As a member of the First Coast Kicks, Phillips helped the team to a Final Four appearance in the Florida Premier State Cup and a Disney Soccer Showcase championship. On the U16 squad, Phillips took the team to a third-place finish in the Region III Premier League and a Region C championship and National semifinalist at the US Club National Cup.
McKenna Storey (Medford, Oregon/North Medford)
McKenna Storey recently took the Lake Oswego Dynasty club team to a Portland Winter College Showcase tournament championship. As a defensive midfielder at North Medford High School, Storey was team captain her past two seasons and led the Black Tornado to a fourth-place conference finish her senior season. She was voted Most Inspirational player her junior campaign after helping the team to a conference championship. A four-year letterwinner in both soccer and softball, Storey helped lead the softball team to a 2009 State Championship and was named First Team All-State centerfielder.
Name Pos. Hometown/High School
Paige Grant D Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado
Lindsay Hammer MF, D Augusta, Ga./Greenbrier
Elena Karakizis D, M Lilburn, Ga./Parkview
Sydney Keer D Gambrills, Md./Arundel
Katie Merson G Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado
Alexandra Murphy F Cincinnati, Ohio/Finneytown
Samantha Norman D Annapolis, Md./Broadneck
Katherine Phillips M Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic
McKenna Storey M Medford, Or./North Medford
