ANDERSON, S.C - Anderson University women's soccer second-year head coach Julie Davis Carlson is looking to build off of a 2016 season where the Trojans team advanced to the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons. The Black and Gold finished the season with an overall record of 9-6-2 and advanced to the semifinal round of the South Atlantic Conference Championship. Carlson announced her 2017 signing class on Friday, as eight future Trojans will look to make an immediate impact for the 2017 fall season.

The Black and Gold welcome: Lauren Allan (Newcastle, New South Wales/Butler Community College),Kirsten Armetta (Berlin, Connecticut/Northwest Catholic), Havon Ashy (Greenville, South Carolina/JL Mann High School), Gabbie Fleming (Liberty Township, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame High School), Anna Kwiatkowski (Waxhaw N.C./ Cuthbertson High School), Madison Paige (Linden, Michigan/Linden High School), Cassidy Wheaton (Charlotte, N.C./Community School of Davidson) and Alexis Williams (Fort Mill, South Carolina/Fort Mill High School) to the team for the upcoming campaign.

Carlson on the Signing Class: "I am very excited to announce the Class of 2017. They are not only excellent people and students, but they are coming in with our philosophy in hand to pursue a SAC Title and NCAA Tournament bid. With the loss of several key offensive players to graduation, we had to rebuild the quality of our offense by adding speed, skill and the ability to score goals. I believe we have added some great players to do exactly that."

Name: Lauren Allan
Position: Forward
Hometown: Newcastle, New South Wales
Previous School: Butler Community College
Previous Coach: Adam Hunter
Club: Adamstown Rosebuds

Hunter on Allan: "Lauren Allan is the epitome of a quality student-athlete. She takes stock in all that she does and puts forth an honest effort to be her best. She is a player with good motor and a nose for the goal. She is tireless and will give the Anderson attack another dangerous option. We have been so fortunate to play a part in Lauren's journey to the US and wish her nothing but continued success and happiness."

Allan joins the Trojans after an outstanding stint at Butler Community College. Allan was named twice to the KJCCC Academic All-Conference team, was a First-Team All-Region VI member in 2016 while also being named to the 2016 All-KJCCC East First-Team. The New South Wales native earned KJCCC Player of the Week and a NJCAA Player of the week honors during her play at Butler. Allan's efforts, both on the field and the classroom helped her earn a spot on the NSCAA Women's Junior College Scholar All-American team while being named to the 2015 and 2016 Presidents Honor Roll. While at Butler, the team placed 3rd (2015) and 5th (2016) at the NJCAA Nationals while claiming the Region VI Championship in those same respective years.

Carlson on Allan: "Lauren will be a fantastic addition to our team's offense. She is a great, charismatic person who has a strong determination to win, create goals and score goals. She has proven her ability and her continued growth during her time at Butler CC. She is still coming into her own in and around the goal area. We are looking for her to influence this team from the start and be instrumental in scoring goals. Lauren is also a fantastic student-athlete and has impeccable performance in the classroom."

Name: Kirsten Armetta
Position: Defense/Forward
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut
Previous School: Northwest Catholic
Previous Coach: Toss Sadler
Club: Oakwood SC

Sadler on Armetta: "Kirsten is a high energy player who is versatile and always seems to rise to the occasion. I expect Kirsten to make an immediate impact at the next level"

Armetta finished her high school career with 20 goals and 13 assists and was instrumental in Northwest Catholic's state championship in 2015. Armetta has been honored as team captain, an MVP, All-Currant Team, All-Conference and All-State. In the classroom, Armetta was named a CCC scholar athlete while being named to the honor roll her junior and senior year.

Carlson on Armetta: "Speed and quickness defines Kirsten well. She is also very competitive and clean on the ball off the dribble. She brings with her the ability to get behind defenders 1v1 as a winger and deliver a great service from an outside back position. She will be a key factor for us in our growth improving our wing play."

Name: Havon Ashy
Position: Midfield/Forward
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Previous School: JL Mann
Previous Coach: Tasos (Steve) Georgopolous
Club: Carolina Elite Soccer Association

Georgopolous on Ashy: "Forever relentless"

Ashy was a four year varsity team member for JL Mann High School. The Patriots were State Champion runner-ups Ashy's freshman and junior seasons and State Champions her sophomore year. Ashy was a member of Mann Nation and active participate in Young Life. The native of Greenville, S.C., has totaled 18 goals and 9 assists through her junior season.

Carlson on Ashy: "Havon is someone we see has a talent base that will make huge strides in the collegiate environment. She has great feet and strong athleticism. She has good vision and playmaking ability with various range in her passing. We feel these characteristics will be molded well in our style of play."

Name: Gabbie Fleming
Position: Forward/Midfield
Hometown: Liberty Township, Ohio
Previous School: Mount Notre Dame High School
Previous Coach: Michael Litvak
Club: Cincinnati United SC

Fleming was a four-year varsity starter at Mount Notre Dame High School winning two GGCL Championships and two Sectional Championships. Fleming was listed in the Top 10 Greater Girls Catholic League in assists and goals with seven and 18, respectively.

Carlson on Fleming: "Gabbie brings a quality of sophistication to our front line. She is a talented target forward with the ability to link us offensively. She has really come into her game, committed to her development and will be instrumental in our possession style of play in our system. She was a missing piece during the recruitment process and will be a key factor playmaking for us in the final third. She is strong and difficult to get the ball off of, as well as has great feet and vision."

Name: Anna Kwiatkowski
Position: Forward/Defense
Hometown: Waxhaw, North Carolina
Previous School: Cuthbertson High School
Previous Coach: Kevin Flynn
Club: Charlotte Soccer Academy

Flynn on Kwiatkowski: "Anna is a very versatile player and can have an impact anywhere on the field. More important, Anna is a fantastic teammate and will do anything required to help the team be successful. Anderson is lucky to have her in their program."

Kwiatkowski joins Anderson after being a four-year starter earning All-Conference, All-Region and Team MVP honors at Cuthbertson High School. The Waxhaw native was very active in FCA and a member of the Student Council. Kwiatkowski earned recognition as a National English Honor Society, National Honor Society and BETA Club member.

Carlson on Kwiatkowski: "Anna brings to our team the versatility to play many positions. She has a strong technical platform and good understanding of the possession game. Her range of passing quality and speed of play ability will be a huge asset to us in our philosophical style.

Name: Madison Paige
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Linden, Michigan
Previous School: Linden High School
Previous Coach: Kevin Fiebernitz (HS Coach), Sam Piraine (Canton Celtic Soccer Club Coach)
Club: Canton Celtic SC

Piraine on Paige: "Maddie is a true definition of a scholar athlete. Her opportunity to play college soccer is a testament of her hard work in the classroom and on the pitch. She is an amazing teammate and an outstanding goalkeeper and for that reason she will improve any team she plays on."

Paige heads to Anderson as an accomplished High School goalie earning All-State, All-Region, All-District and First-Team Metro League honors. In three seasons, Paige has allowed just 22 goals against and has recorded 22 shutouts. Backed by Paige's play in goal, Linden High School won the District Championship (2014), Regional Semi-finals(2014) and made it to the District Finals(2015).

Carlson on Paige: "Madison has huge potential in goal. She has size, strength, athleticism, range and great hands. She brings a level of athletic quality and leadership to continue to make our team even better and stronger defensively. Madison is also an excellent scholar-athlete. Her strong work ethic is a testament of why we feel she fits well in our program's playing style."

Name: Cassidy Wheaton
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Previous School: Community School of Davidson
Previous Coach: Chad Solomonson
Club: Lake Norman SC

Solomonson on Wheaton: "Cassidy is a consistent and dynamic defensive leader. She is confident taking on players and finding the right moments to attack. Her pace, stamina and strength make her an extremely physical presence for both attackers and defenders to contend with. She always brings a strong work ethic to training and matches. Cassidy's communication skills and winning attitude have earned her a captainship on our team and selection on three All-Region teams and one All-State team. Anderson University women's soccer program is getting a fantastic leader, student and teammate!"

Wheaton was an All-Conference, All-Region, All-State and a multiple State Champion while at Community School of Davidson. Wheaton scored 10 goals while being credited with nine assists. The Charlotte, N.C. native also has served as team captain.

Carlson on Wheaton: "Cassidy will be a great addition to our defense. She is a confident mental player with strong physical presence, good technical ability to play out of the back consistently, as well as finds ways to get forward into our attacking third. She is a very hard working player and very coachable. She has a good understanding of the tactical components of the game that we are looking for."

Name: Alexis Williams
Position: Forward
Hometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Previous School: Fort Mill High School
Previous Coach: Danielle Center
Club: Charlotte United FC

Center on Williams: "I have seen Lexi grow as a soccer player from 7th grade to senior year. She started as a girl who got by because she was naturally athletic. As she grew, she learned to take her athleticism and turn into a complete athlete. She is not only one of the fastest and most fit girls on the team, but she is also a game changer and a play maker."

Williams was a four- year varsity starter at Fort Mill High School. The multi-talented athlete also ran two years of track. Off the field, William enjoys art and writing winning numerous art awards.

Carlson on Williams: "Lexi is a fast, tenacious and talented athlete. She has the ability to play make and shows good composure on the ball. Her ability to have creative ideas getting in behind defenders to go to goal give her the ability to change the game. She is an also an excellent scholar-athlete."