ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University women's soccer first-year head
coach Julie Davis Carlson is looking to build off of a 2015 season
where the Trojans team advanced to the postseason for the fourth
time in five seasons. Carlson announced her 2016 signing class on
Wednesday, as five future Trojans will look to make an immediate
impact for the 2016 fall season.
The Black and Gold welcome: Kristrun Antonsdottir (Hveragerdi,
Iceland/Pepperdine University), Melanie Maddox (Midlothian,
Virginia/Veritas School), Taylor Engle (Westchester, Ohio/Bishop
Fenwick H.S.), Stephany Rose Diaz (Miami Palmetto Senior H.S.) and
Bethany Morgan (Anderson, S.C./TL Hanna H.S.), to the team for the
upcoming campaign.
Carlson on the signing class: "We are delighted to add the ladies to our team this fall. They will be instrumental in the continued success of AU Women's Soccer and their quest for a SAC Championship and berth in the NCAA tournament. Each of them brings an element of quality that will enable us to be a more well-balanced unit on the field. We expect all of them to see time this fall on the field. They are all excellent students as well which our team GPA is another accomplishment that we are always seeking to be one of the best."
Name: Kristrun Antonsdottir
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Hveragerdi, Iceland
Previous School: Fjolbrautaskoli
Suourlands/Potomac Senior HS (Maryland)/Pepperdine University
Club: Selfoss
Transferring from Pepperdine University, Antonsdottir saw action in three games. The Waves finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 8-9-2. The Hveragerdi, Iceland native was a member of the 2010-11 U16 Icelandic championship team while being named most improved player after scoring her first three career goals in the premium league division. Antonsdotti's team finished second in the Icelandic Cup finals. As an exchange student at Potomac Senior High School in Maryland, Antonsdotti earned Team MVP and received All-District Second Team honors.
Carlson on Antonsdottir: "Kristrun will be an excellent addition to our attacking threat next fall. She has started off strong this spring and shown us her quality technical platform, strong work ethic, speed and quickness. She brings a high knowledge of the game with her. We look forward to seeing her do great things in the future."
Name: Melanie Maddox
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Midlothian, Virginia
Previous School: Veritas School
Club: Richmond Kickers Soccer Club
Maddox comes to Anderson as a 2014 Capital City All-Conference
Team member and All-Conference MVP while also being named Team MVP
and Co-Captain the past two seasons at Veritas School. Maddox has
played for Chesterfield United and, most recently, for the six time
VCCL champions Richmond Kickers winning the 2014 Jefferson Cup and
Ultimate Cup. The Midlothian, Va. native also excelled at
basketball earning All-Conference and Team MVP her senior year. In
the classroom, Maddox earned the 2015 Gold Key Award (Scholastic
Art and Writing) and was a member of the National Arts Society.
Carlson on Maddox: "Melanie is a very creative and technically polished player. She will be instrumental in the playmaking ability of our central midfield. She is versatile and can be instrumental in several position. She is dangerous on the dribble and has excellent vision."
Name: Taylor Engle
Position: Forward
Hometown: Westchester, Ohio
Previous School: Bishop Fenwick High School
Club: Ohio Elite Soccer Club
Engle joins the Black and Gold from Bishop Fenwick High School.
As a high school prep, Engle started all four years earning Second
Team GCL All League honors her sophomore, junior and senior
seasons. Engle was also recognized as a Second Team All Miami
Valley member her junior year while being named a First Team All
Miami Valley honoree after her senior campaign. Engle participated
in the All-District Senior All-Star game. Off the pitch, Engle was
a four year honor student, member of the Ambassador's Club, the
Spanish Club and volunteered with the Down Syndrome
Association.
Carlson on Engle: "Taylor will be instrumental
in our front line. She is good back to goal and hard to defend. She
is a quality athlete that brings an element of deceptiveness to the
field."
Name: Stephany Rose Diaz
Position: Defender
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Previous School: Miami Palmetto Senior High
School
Club: Weston FC
Diaz comes to the Trojans as both a four year starter and four
year honorable mention high school prep player. Diaz was named team
captain her senior season. The Miami, Florida native was a member
of Weston FC club team winning the 2015 Disney tournament and
Weston Cup while finishing second in the Florida state premier
league. Away from the soccer field, Diaz was a senior
representative for Cambridge Capstone Program and a National Honor
Society Member.
Carlson on Diaz: "Stephany is very hard working
player. She has a sound range of passing ability to allow us to
play out of the back. She is able to control temp and speed the
game up when we need to. She plays with a tenacity and skillful
foundation that we are looking for in our defenders."
Name: Bethany Morgan
Position: Wing/Forward
Hometown: Anderson, South Carolina
Previous School: TL Hanna High School
Club: CESA Premier and Clemson Anderson Soccer
Morgan comes to Anderson as a four year starter after earning All-Region and Offensive MVP her senior year at TL Hanna High School. As a Yellow Jacket, Morgan was also a two-year starter on the volleyball team earning All-Region accolades her freshman and sophomore seasons. The three-sport athlete lettered in golf during her senior year. As a student, Morgan was a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club.
Carlson on Morgan: "Bethany is a talented athlete. She has great touch and the ability to be creative running at defenders. We see great things from her in the future and she will be instrumental in our attack out wide. She has great versatility and tremendous work ethic."
