Vanderspiegel Adds Four Freshmen for 2011
6/23/2011 3:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern's Women's Soccer will be bolstered by the addition of four freshmen to the 2011 squad as announced by Head Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. Nicole Heiser (Strongsville, Ohio), McKenzie Stanford (Norcross, Ga.), Lindsey Vasher (Richmond Hill, Ga.) and Sydnie Van Curen (Rincon, Ga.) embark on their collegiate careers beginning this fall.
"We are excited to add such young and versatile talent to our 2011 team," said Head Coach Vanderspiegel. "All four freshmen have the ability to compete for playing time right away."
Heiser is a defender out of national powerhouse Strongsville High School in Ohio under Head Coach Jon Felton. Her high school twice reached the state final four and finished runners-up in 2008. For Strongsville, Heiser was a Greater Cleveland All-Star as well as a first team all-district and second-team all-conference selection. She played club soccer for the Cleveland Internationals under Zdravko Popovic and reached the state finals six times in seven tries. The Internationals won the 2009 Super Y National Championship and reached the championship game in 2010.
Stanford joins the Eagle defense following a standout prep career at the Wesleyan School in Norcross, Ga., under head coach Lacy Gilbert. The Wolves reached the state final four in 2009 as Stanford was selected all-county twice and the team MVP as a junior and sophomore. She was named team captain as a junior and senior. Stanford played club soccer with Roswell Santos Blue U-17 under Manny Sanchez, serving as captain for two seasons and was a Super Y ODP selection in 2009.
"Both Nicole (Heiser) and McKenzie (Stanford) are solid defenders who will add some athleticism and physicality to our backline," said Vanderspiegel. "They join us with accomplished backgrounds at the high school and club levels."
Vasher is an attacker from Richmond Hill High School outside of Savannah, Ga., and played for Head Coach Steve Kollman. She was selected recently as the Savannah Morning News Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons. She scored 38 goals as a senior with 20 assists to lead Richmond Hill to the Class AAAA Sweet 16 and finished her career with more than 100 career goals, earning all-region honors twice. She played at the Coastal Georgia Soccer Association for Coach Darren Spong.
"We are excited about bringing Lindsey (Vasher) on board. She has pace that will cause problems for defenders and a knack for finding the back of the net," said Vanderspiegel.
Another local product, Van Curen from Effingham County High School in Rincon, Ga., gives the Eagles a local addition. The captain at Effingham County as a senior under first-year Head Coach Natalie Pippin, Van Curen was an All-Greater Savannah selection by the Savannah Morning News. As a senior, she scored 18 goals with six assists including nine goals in a 12-1 win for the Rebels. She was a four-time school offensive player of the year and four-time all-region selection as well as earning Effingham County's scholar athlete award, leading the team in GPA for two seasons.
"Sydnie (Van Curen) was a late pick-up that we were fortunate enough to come across during our winter clinic," said Vanderspiegel. "She is an incredible athlete with savvy game awareness and a work ethic that will push her fellow teammates right away."
Georgia Southern opens the 2011 campaign on Friday, August 12th, with an exhibition game against North Florida at Eagle Field. The regular season begins on Friday, August 19th at Winthrop.
