Jacksonville State University

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State Head Coach Julie Davis announced on Wednesday that Eli Arthur, Katelyn Geddings, Ali Koenig, Ariel Jones, Nathalee Lariviere, Kaitlin Manns, Dani Miller, Melanie Rigo, Myla Senff, Austen Stoelting and Nicole Vickery have signed national letters of intent to play soccer for the Gamecocks in 2009.

“We are very excited about this group of young ladies,” said Davis. “We have been able to bring in a group of talent that not only improves our starting line-up, but improves the quality of our depth. They are enthusiastic and athletic and we have gained a more technical and tactical higher level of player that brings speed, creativity and poise. They are also academically sound student-athletes.”

“I would like to credit Coach Andy Swift for his contributions to our recruiting since his arrival here,” added Davis. “As our recruiting coordinator, he has been instrumental in the work of talent identification and the organization of the recruiting administration.”

Arthur played for Creekview High School in Canton, Ga., where she was a three time letterwinner in soccer and was a three-time captain of the girls basketball team. Arthur was voted the team’s 2007-08 MVP and was selected the SCORE Atlanta Player of the Week with 17 goals and 11 assists. The three-time Coaches Award winner also played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United Elite.
“Eli has been our most improved recruit,” Davis said. “She will give us depth and improve her speed of play at this level. She primarily plays the wing and has been developing late in the process, which gives us great optimism to see how well she adapts to the college game.”

Geddings is a goalkeeper out of Corner High School in Warrior, Ala. She played two seasons for the Alabama Olympic Development squad and played her club soccer for Birmingham United. Geddings also kicked two seasons for the football team and was voted the 2007 Most Valuable Special Teams Player. She earned six letters for the track team and was selected the Jefferson County Most Valuable Runner for small schools.

“Katelyn is a gifted athlete, who has played multiple sports during her high school career including kicker for her high school football team,” said Davis. “She presents very good qualities that a goalkeeper requires such as size, good footwork, distribution ability and communication skills.”

Koenig signs with JSU out of Colleyville High School in Colleyville, Texas, where she help lead her squad to the 2008 District Championship. The 5-8 goalkeeper was named to the 5A Texas All-Region team by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches and First-Team All-District for CHS while leading the area in shutouts.

“Ali brings the ability to lead both vocally and by example,” Davis added. “She is a hard worker and has good goalkeeping skills. Ali moves effectively and efficiently in the goal area. She has proven her value by making key saves to keep her team in games. Ali will be a strong contender for the starting goalkeeping role this fall.”

Jones is a highly decorated forward/midfielder out of Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, Ky. She was a 2006 KHSAA All-State and 4th Region All-Tournament selection and was selected to the All-Region squad three times. Jones was tabbed to the 8th District All-Tournament team in 2008 and to KHSAA State Final Four All-Tournament team in 2005 and 2008. She played club soccer for Brentwood Real Madrid club team and was named to the Olympic Development State team two times. Jones helped her club team capture the 2008 Tennessee State Cup title as well as a berth in the USYSA Southern Regional Championship. She was named to the 2005-06 Olympic Development team. For her work in the off the field, Jones was a 2005 First-Team Academic All-State and a three-time Honorable Mention All-State selection.

“Ariel is a dynamic midfield player, who moves the ball well in possession and has shown the ability to finish her opportunities,” Davis said. “Her work ethic brings her success. She has seen great success on the field with her teams. Like all of these players, she loves to win.”

Lariviere will make her way to JSU from Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. The forward/midfielder played club soccer for Erin Mills, helping the team to the 3rd Provincial Indoor Championship and was selected to the Ontario Youth Soccer League All-Star team. Lariviere was selected the Player of the Game at the 2006 Gothia Cup in Gothenburg Sweden with Erin Mills and was a Toronto City Athlete of the Week in 2003.

“Nathalee is an aggressive and tenacious attacker, who has been an impact player for Erin Mills,” said Davis. “She causes all kinds of havoc for defenses with her desire to go to goal and has shown quick, technical quality ball skills. She will be an integral part in our offense."

Manns is a defender from Palos Verdes High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. She earned three varsity letters at PVHS and is a member of the National and Spanish Honor Societies and was a CSF Gold Sealbearer. Manns played her club soccer for the PVSC Breakers.

“Katie brings speed and leadership to the back line,” Davis added. “She is good at anticipating the attack coming at her and organizing players around her to keep good defensive shape. Katie is fast, technically sound and has very good distribution. She will be an instrumental part of our defense this fall.”

Miller is a three-year letterwinner at Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind. She played club soccer for Carmel United, where she was the 2007 Player of the Year, and is a member of the Indiana ODP squad. Miller is a member of the National Honor Society and the DECA National Contenders in 2007 and 2008.

“Dani is a good possessor of the ball and has shown her ability to identify combinations through midfield,” Davis said. “She identifies how to cut through a defensive line and transfer the ball into the attack out of midfield. "

Rigo was a four-year letterwinner for John Glenn High School in East Northport, N.Y. She was the voted Team Captain, the Coaches Choice Award and All-County in 2008 and was a 2005 All-League performer. She played club soccer for Coldspring Harbor ISA United and attended the Super Y ODP National Camp.

“Melanie plays the solid holding midfield role well and has a good first touch and good vision,” Davis said. “She shuts down opponents attacking through the midfield with her defensive mentality and she is good on the ball in possession which matches our style of play.”

Senff is a forward from South Torrance High School in Paolo Verdes Estates, Calif., lettering four-years. She also played for the PVSC Breakers club team and was a two-time CIF All-League selection.

“Myla is a very good target player,” Davis added. “She has a creative mind, size, strength and quality technical ability to play make around the final 1/3 area. She has proved herself to be a key role player in the success of her team’s offense and has shown she can finish, assist and link the midfield with the forward attack.”

Stoelting is a defender from Avon, Ind., prepping at Avon High School, where she earned three varsity letters and was a the Team Captain and a 2008 ICSA Second-Team All-District selection. In 2007, she was named Hoosier Crossroads Second-Team All-Conference. Off the court field, Stoelting was named to the 2008 ISCA All-Academic and Academic Honorable Mention All-State teams and she is a member of the National and Spanish Honor Societies. Stoelting was selected to the West First-Team in 2007. She played her club soccer for the Westside United ’91 Green Fury.

“Austen has a strong work ethic,” Davis said. “She is a tenacious player in the back yet does well when her team is in possession. We are looking for Austen to make an impact in our defensive line as a freshman.”

Vickery is a forward from Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala. She played for the Alabama ODP team from 2002-2008 and was a five-year Region 3 ODP camp participant. Vickery played club soccer for Birmingham United in Birmingham, Ala., where she helped lead the team to two Alabama State club titles.

“Nicole brings to JSU height, speed and the ability to finish,” Davis added. “She will be learning new roles on this team as an attacking presence. She has a feistiness about her and she is very dedicated to anything she commits to.”