|
For Immediate Release 29 April 2003
Southwest
Baptist’s Head Women’s Soccer Coach Peter McGovern
announced the signing of six players to National Letters-of-Intent
on Monday. The signings come one week after the announcement
of the transfer by the reigning Mid-America Intercollegiate
Athletics Association Player of the Year, Ashley Munnelly,
from Missouri Southern.
Signing letters-of-intent were Kendall Mims from Albuquerque,
N.M.; Kelsey Lueckenhoff from Albuquerque, N.M.; Jessica Mitchell
from Brisbane, Australia; Pip Meo from Auckland, New Zealand;
Ashley Tanner from Lee’s Summit; and Abby Aycock from
Tulsa, Okla.
“This caps off a great recruiting class for us,”
McGovern said. “We are still actively pursuing a couple
of players to join our program for the fall season. This class
takes us where we want to be, which is closer to the top of
the MIAA. We have added more depth, talent, speed and just
an overall tremendous work ethic with this class.”
Mims is a 5-8 central defender who will graduate this spring
from La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M. She was first
team all-state, all-district and all-conference in the fall
and was the public school’s most valuable player. Mims
was named district player of the year and led her team to
a AAAAA state championship. She was also the New Mexico Defensive
Player of the Year in 2002. Mims also helped lead her club
team, Albuquerque United Futbol Club (AUFC), to a state cup
championship. She is the president of Business Professionals
of America and is in the Spanish Honor Society.
“Kendall is definitely an impact player,” McGovern
said. “She has the desire to want to be a very good soccer
player, and that is her best attribute. She is a natural leader
and a good communicator. She talks and demands from others
which will be a huge asset to our program. She is very athletic,
and we can count on her to attack and win balls. Kendall can
step right in and bring us a winning attitude and ability.
She spurned several Division I programs to become a part of
the SBU team.”
Lueckenhoff is a 5-7 goalkeeper from Cibola High School in
Albuquerque, N.M. She was the junior class president and senior
class senator. She started all four years in high school at
goal keeper and was the team’s most valuable player for
three consecutive seasons. As a freshman, Lueckenhoff was
named second team all-state and as a junior she was the New
Mexico Defensive Player of the Year. She was a team captain
and was named first team all-district, all-conference and
all-state as a junior. Her senior season, she was named first
team all-district, first team
all-conference and second team all-state. In 1999-00, her
club team, Pfusion, won back-to-back state championships and
she was a four-year captain for her team. In 2001, she played
with future fellow Bearcat Mims when AUFC won the state cup
championship. From 1998-00, Lueckenhoff played in the New
Mexico Olympic Development Pool.
“Kelsey is a very athletic and confident goal keeper
with a tremendous desire, passion and work-ethic,” McGovern
said. “She has so much more to give over the course of
four years. She could turn out to be very special. Kelsey
is good with her feet and is able to talk with her defenders
which will be invaluable to us. Her confidence will bring
to us a whole other dimension to our team. Having her and
Kendall play on the same club team is a massive advantage.
She is another player who could have been Division I, but
was enthralled with the opportunity to play for a championship
winning team. “
Mitchell, a 5-3 forward who will transfer from the Australian
Institute of Applied Psychology, will start the season with
sophomore status. She was a starter on the Under-19 Women’s
World Cup in Canada in 2003 for Australia. She played against
the United States and Brazil. Mitchell played for the Queensland
Sting Soccer Club, who was the National League champion in
2002. At age 16, the new Bearcat won a scholarship to the
Australian Institute of Sport.
“Jessica is a great student and a very good player,”
McGovern said. “We expect great things out of her. She
has the ability to play after college if she chooses. I am
looking forward to working with her to develop her as a player
and a person. She is a potential All-American. Jessica is
very fast and has amazing speed and quickness. She can play
the left, midfield or upfront. Her ability to beat players
and get behind the defense is invaluable to our level.”
Meo is a 5-0 freshman forward/striker who started classes
on the SBU campus in January after transferring from the University
of Auckland. She played on the Under-19 New Zealand national
team that played in Tonga in 2002. She was a teammate of current
Bearcat Priscilla Duncan. She is a 2001 graduate of St. Matthew’s
High School in New Zealand In addition, she played for the
Ellerslie Club. She helped lead her team to the New Zealand
National title. She represented Auckland in National League
play.
“Pip’s ability to run at players and beat players
is an excellent asset,” McGovern said. “Her attitude
towards players, and toward life, will make her very successful
here. She is raw, but I expect great things because she has
an enormous amount for potential.”
Tanner, a 5-5 central midfielder from Lee’s Summit North
High School, played on three Final Four teams for the Bronchos.
She serves as the team captain in 2003 after captaining her
junior season as well. In 1999, she helped the team to the
4A state championship. She plays for the Kansas City Futbol
Club Revolution, which is the reigning Kansas state club champions.
Her team made it to the semifinal game in the regional championships.
“An argument can be made that Ashley’s club team
is one of the best three club teams in the nation,” McGovern
said. “She will definitely be an impact player for our
program. She has an awesome, calming presence. She is team-oriented
and has a great work ethic. She knows how to win and wants
to win. She is a diamond in the rough, and we think very much
of her ability to fit right in and become part of the equation.
That is something we will benefit from. Above all else, she
is a great kid.”
Aycock is a 5-8 midfielder/defender from Union High School
in Tulsa, Okla. She plays for the Tulsa Hurricanes Futbol
Club, which is the six-time state champion. She helped to
lead her team to the 2000 Club Team Region 3 championship
game. In 1999, the team reached the semifinals and in 1998,
she helped her team to the
championship of the USA Cup. Aycock helped lead her team to
the 2000 and 2001 state high school titles. In 2002, the team
reached the semifinal.
“Abby’s strength and ability to battle for the ball
will be a great addition to our program,” McGovern said.
“She has a very positive personality. Once she adapts
to the speed and quickness of the college game, she will be
very effective at SBU. Abby comes from a very successful club
team. She understands winning and is a hard
worker that knows what it takes to win. We are very excited
about Abby joining us and she gives us a much-needed presence.”
McGovern received verbal commitments for the 2003 season from
Stephanie Lusardi, a central midfielder, and Megan Zinchuck,
a defensive midfielder. Both players will graduate from Blue
Springs High School later
this spring.
“This is a great day for the SBU soccer program,”
McGovern said. “With the addition of these girls to our
already saturated squad, we will be able to at least compete
for a conference title and continue to build on the solid
foundation we set in 2002.”
|
