2013 SOU soccer recruits (from left to right, top row first): Lauren Aldana, Haylee Eckart, Lisa Elledge, Brook Gaddy, Presley Lambert, Kylie Moltzen and Megan Smith
SOU Soccer Inks Seven for 2013 Recruiting Class
ASHLAND – As the Southern Oregon women’s soccer team prepares for the spring season, head coach Jon Clement announced a class of seven high school seniors who will join the program in the fall.
Oregon native Haylee Eckart joins California natives Lauren Aldana, Lisa Elledge, Brook Gaddy, Presley Lambert, Kylie Moltzen and Megan Smith to form the 2013 recruiting class.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of young women to our campus and soccer program this fall,” Clement said. “They’re all terrific people and versatile, athletic players so it’s going to be exciting to see what sorts of contributions they can make right away and in the years to come.”
A forward from Eugene, Eckert is a three-year letterwinner at Willamette High School. After scoring 29 goals in 12 games as a freshman, Eckert helped lead the Wolverines to league championships and state semifinal finishes in each of her junior and senior seasons. She earned first-team all-league and second-team all-state recognition this past season.
“Haylee has terrific attacking instincts,” Clement said. “We’re thrilled to add her into our mix and will look forward to seeing what contributions she can make as we try to score more goals in the upcoming seasons.”
Aldana comes to SOU from Elk Grove, Calif., where she was a three-year letterwinner at Franklin High School. A three-time scholar-athlete award winner, she helped the Wildcats claim a Delta Valley Championship as a junior midfielder.
“Lauren’s athleticism and work rate are first class,” Clement said. “She has the ability to play in a variety of roles and systems. She also has ‘teammate’ written all over her, so I’d expect she’ll quickly gain the respect of our entire program when she arrives in the fall.”
Elledge will graduate from Bella Vista in Fair Oaks, Calif., this spring after earning a pair of varsity letters as a center midfielder for the Broncos. As a junior she led her team in assists as the Broncos went undefeated in league play during each of her first three seasons
“Lisa may well be one of the best competitors we saw in the last couple of years,” Clement said. “We knew right away when we first saw her play that we wanted her here. She simply loves to play and is driven to win.”
Gaddy will be making the short trip from her hometown of Redding, Calif., to play for the Raiders after three years as a varsity letterwinner at Foothill High School. As a forward, Gaddy earned Most Valuable Player and all-league honors after leading the team in scoring in each of her junior and senior seasons. She also spent competed in track and field for two seasons for the Cougars.
“Brook may well be the diamond in the rough in the northern California scene,” Clement said. “She’s hyper athletic, speedy and has the requisite nose for the goal that’s key for attacking college players. It will be great to have another dynamic attacking personality on the team.”
Lambert is a native of Santa Clarita, Calif., and will graduate from Hart High School in the spring. A four-year soccer and track and field letterwinner, she has played the center midfield position for the Indians.
“Presley is an effervescent person whose personality just leaks out onto the field in a really great way,” Clement said. “She has huge range and great connecting ability and a competitive streak that’s second to none. We see her playing somewhere in the spine and adding flair to our midfield.”
Moltzen comes to SOU from Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, Calif. A goalkeeper for the Warriors, she is a four-year letterwinner and two-year team captain and all-league honoree. She will major in biology at SOU.
“Kylie is a first-rate person and has the almost perfect concert of ambition and humility that’s needed from top goalkeepers,” Clement said. “She’s a wonderful shot stopper, is really clean with her feet and has a great mind for the game. We’re excited to add her to what should be a really competitive goalkeeping mix this fall.”
Smith is another Elk Grove, Calif., native and a four-year soccer letterwinner at Sheldon High School. She played center defender for the Huskies and was a two-year all-league honoree. She plans to major in biochemistry at SOU.
“Megan’s a commanding defending presence,” Clement said. “Her ability in the air and couter-passing ideas are great, and she’s very speedy and versatile. While she’s primarily a back, we wouldn’t be surprised to see her play higher up the field in a targeting sort of role.”
For Clement and the Raiders, this group of seven recruits will help form the next generation of a team that is looking to continue its most successful three-year stretch going forward. The Raiders will have some tough holes to fill replacing a successful senior class led by all-time leading scorer Stephanie Carr. The SOU head coach believes this group will play a key role in doing that and also raising the already-strong academic profile of the program.
“They’re all fantastic students with a grade point average hovering around a 3.5,” Clement said. “That’s every bit as important as their soccer acumen. After all, the real goal here doesn’t end at the play on the pitch.”