Tammy DeCesare, Catamount Soccer
Sign 12 for 2007 to National Letters of Intent
Western Carolina's 12 signed players represent nine different states
March 8, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head women's soccer coach Tammy
DeCesare today announced the signing of 12 student-athletes for the
2007-08 academic year. The dozen signees represent a myriad of locations
with two from North Carolina, Virginia and Texas, with one each from
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
"We are excited about this year's signing class," said DeCesare. "This
group will add depth, size and physical play to our lineup, especially
along our back line and in the net. They will have to contribute for us
to be successful, but we will not have to rely upon them quite as
heavily as we did last year's freshmen."
Referring to her two recruiting classes as WCU's head coach, DeCesare
concluded, "Last year, we recruited lightning with speed; this year, we
are bringing in the thunder."
The Catamounts have March 17 several dates remaining on their spring
schedule, including hosting a round robin tournament in Cullowhee on
March 17. WCU will also travel to Gardner-Webb (March 22) and East
Tennessee State (March 31) before hosting a seven side tournament and
alumni game at the Catamount Athletic Complex on April 14.
Western Carolina 2007 Signing Class:
Aimee Nieto (Jacksonville, Fla. / Bishop Kenny HS) is a four-year
varsity letter winner that has earned the school's Scholar-Athlete Award
each year and helped guide the Crusaders to three District titles in
2004, '05, and '07. Bishop Kenny HS was also a 4-A State semifinalist in
2004 and '05, advancing to the finals in 2007. Nieto posted 38 career
goals and 56 assists for 132 career points, including 13 goals and 15
assists as a sophomore and 15 goals and 25 assists as a junior. She also
participated in the Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) for three
years. Nieto was also named All-District in the 100-meter and 300-meter
hurdles in track & field.
Erin Andrews (Durham, N.C./ C.E. Jordan HS) is a two-time, All-Piedmont
Athletic Conference (PAC-6) goalkeeper entering her senior year, earning
the honor each of the past two seasons. As a sophomore, she started all
18 matches, playing every minute between the pipes for the Falcons,
recording 90 saves and eight shutouts. Andrews also posted a career-low
0.70 goals against average two seasons ago. Last year as a junior, she
started 18 of the 20 matches, tallying 108 saves and nine shutouts and a
GAA of 0.93. In addition to soccer, Andrews also played volleyball as a
prep. In club soccer, she was a part of the US Club Regional
championship squad in 2005.
Sarah Berginski (Lexington, Ky. / Tates Creek HS) is a four-year varsity
starter that earned All-State accolades both as a junior and senior,
garnering first-team honors in the latter. She is also a two-time
All-City, all-tournament and Fayette County Soccer Spectacular
selection, and was thrice dubbed her team's best defensive player. From
her back-row position, Berginski scored five goals, including a
game-winner, and dished out five assists in her senior season. Of the
pitch, she is a member of the National Honor Society and was on her
student council each of her last two years of high school. Her club team
also finished as the state runner-up in consecutive seasons both in 2004
and '05.
Liz Eichler (Fredericksburg, Va. / Massaponax HS) is a four-year varsity
starter at a variety of positions for both Rio Rancho HS in New Mexico
and Massaponax HS in Virginia. Born in Germany, Eichler also lived in
Belgium and in New Mexico stateside before moving to Virginia. At Rio
Rancho HS, she led the team in scoring as a freshman and helped guide
the Lady Rams to a 5-A District Championship and quarterfinal appearance
in the New Mexico State Championship as a sophomore. At Massaponax HS,
was named All-District as a junior and was elected team captain for her
senior season. Eichler played for the Albuquerque United Soccer Club for
three seasons (2002-05), making it to the finals for the New Mexico
State Cup in 2005, and also for the Braddock Road Fury Soccer Club
helping win back-to-back State Cup Championships (2006 and '07).
Becca Gault (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall HS) enters her senior season
having been listed on the All-District team each of her first three
seasons, garnering honorable mention accolades as a freshman and
sophomore, and first team recognition a year ago. She has also been
dubbed her team's defensive MVP each of the past two seasons and was
voted a team captain for her senior campaign. In club soccer, Gault has
been a part of numerous championship squads, including the Orange
Classic divisional champs in 2004 and a semifinalist at the same event
in 2005.
Caitlin Gill (Newnan, Ga. / Northgate HS) enters her senior season
having garnered both her team's offensive and defensive Most Valuable
Player awards as a four-year varsity letter-winner. As a sophomore, Gill
accumulated 17 goals on 97 shots, while also dishing out eight assists
for 42 points helping Northgate HS to 11 seasonal victories. A year
later, she amassed 149 saves between the pipes while adding 11 goals on
57 shots with a pair of assists to earn the defensive award. For her
career, Gill has 29 goals and 10 assists for 68 points, 162 shots and
174 saves. Her club team was the 2005 Orange Classic runner-up and won
the 2005 Score at the Shore tournament.
Erin Hamilton (Greensboro, N.C. / Ragsdale HS) is a two-time All-Region
and All-Mid-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection who helped guide
Ragsdale to the 3-A North Carolina State Championship as a sophomore
(2005) with a 20-3-1 overall record. Entering her senior season,
Hamilton has led the Tigers in scoring each of the past two years,
tallying a team-best 27 goals during the championship season and 23 last
season as a junior. For her prep career, she has 53 goals. Playing for
the Greensboro Twisters club team, she has helped guide the squad to the
2006 State Championship, as well as Orange Classic and Nike Labor Day
Shootout titles in `04. Off the pitch, Hamilton was also invited to the
Massachusetts 2004 State Final track meet in the 800-meter run.
Courtney Mallon (Round Rock, Texas / Stony Point HS) is a two-time
All-District selection who garnered All-County and first team Region II
accolades last season. In 38 games as a junior, Mallon tallied 21 goals
and 15 assists for 57 total points, helping to guide the Tigers to a
both a district and area championship and a quarterfinal appearance in
the regionals. Playing for the Lonestars club soccer team, she was a
part of the state finalist squads each of the past three seasons. In
addition to soccer, Mallon also was an All-District honorable mention
and offensive MVP in girls' basketball, as well as a four-year varsity
letter winner in cross country.
Kellie Oberholtzer (Nashua, N.H. / Nashua HS) earned second team
All-State as a junior before garnering first team accolades as a senior
as a team captain. She was also named a scholar athlete in her final
season. As a sophomore, Oberholtzer ranked second on her high school
team in scoring. In club soccer, she was a team captain for the
Massachusetts Maple League Aztecs, as well as a member of the U17
Olympic Development Program (ODP) select team member. A three-year
varsity letter-winner in track & field, Oberholtzer also placed sixth in
the state championships with a time of 5:24 in the mile run. She was
also a letter-winner in girls' basketball.
Andrea Williams (Woodridge, Va. / Woodbridge HS) is a two-sports
standout at Woodbridge HS, playing both soccer and girls' basketball.
She also received the Athletic Scholastics Award. In club soccer,
Williams was a part of the 2004, '05 and '06 Super Y League Olympic
Development Program (ODP) National Champions. She was also on the 2005
U19 Super Y League ODP National Championship squad.
Caitlin Williams (Pendleton, S.C. / Pendleton HS) enters her senior
season as a two-time All-Region selection, as well as a two-time
All-Golden Corners honoree. As a sophomore, Williams was also dubbed the
Region Player of the Year and named All-Area by the Anderson
Independent, helping Pendleton HS to the region championship. This year,
she is a candidate for the Wendy's High School Heisman award. Williams
is also a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club.
Jennah Yunger (Annapolis, Md. / Archbishop Spalding HS) helped guide her
high school to back-to-back "A" Conference season championships, winning
the tournament title with a 20-0-2 overall record in her senior season.
A four-year varsity starter, Yunger was a two-time first team
Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) selection and
was the team captain of her prep squad, which was ranked third
nationally, as a senior. In addition, she was named All-County each of
her final two seasons, as well as first team All-Metro by the Baltimore
Examiner and Baltimore Sun and second team All-Metro by the Washington
Post in her final season. She tallied 21 career goals and 17 assists for
59 total career points. Playing for the Bethesda Extreme club team, she
was a part of three-consecutive Maryland state championships in 2004
through '06. In addition to soccer, Yunger also ran track & field.
Name Pos. Ht Hometown (Previous School)
Erin Andrews GK 5-4 Durham, N.C. (C.E. Jordan HS)
Sara Berginski D 5-6 Lexington, Ky. (Tates Creek HS)
Liz Eichler MF/F 5-7 Fredericksburg, Va. (Massaponax HS)
Becca Gault D 5-10 Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall HS)
Caitlin Gill GK 5-4 Newnan, Ga. (Northgate HS)
Erin Hamilton MF/D 5-6 Greensboro, N.C. (Ragsdale HS)
Courtney Mallon GK 5-10 Round Rock, Texas (Stony Point HS)
Aimee Nieto F/MF 5-5 Jacksonville, Fla. (Bishop Kenny HS)
Kellie Oberholtzer MF/D 5-3 Nashua, N.H. (Nashua HS)
Andrea Williams D/MF 5-5 Woodbridge, Va. (Woodbridge Senior HS)
Caitlin Williams GK 5-8 Pendleton, S.C. (Pendleton HS)
Jennah Yunger D/MF 5-6 Annapolis, Md. (Archbishop Spalding HS)
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