Soccer adds seven in 08-09 recruiting class

March 11, 2009

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt soccer coach Ronnie Coveleskie added seven student-athletes in the spring signing period that will play for the Commodores in the 2009 season.

One of the top members of the group is midfielder Chelsea Stewart who originally signed to play with Vanderbilt last season but did not attend school while playing for the Canadian U-20 team as well as the National Team in the Beijing Olympics.

Coveleskie believes that this group of student-athletes has a wealth of talent, which should provide the Commodores an opportunity to compete at a high level in the Southeastern Conference as well as nationally.

“We believe we have found some of the best talent from six different states, who have all competed at the highest level for their clubs and high schools,” said Coveleskie. “Each player brings a wealth of soccer experience, tremendous athletic abilities and a true passion for the sport of soccer. We are very excited to welcome a group of players that are committed to helping Vanderbilt win championships in the future.”

The group consists of four midfielders, a forward, defender and goalkeeper.

Bio information and a quote on each player are provided below. Some of the student-athletes are currently in their senior seasons:

Jessica Amlaw (Midfielder/Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
High School: Amlaw was an All-County second team selection as a sophomore and junior at Tarpon Springs High … Was the Defensive MVP in the 2006-07 school year and was an honorable mention All-County pick as a freshman … In 2008 she recorded eight shutouts with 67 saves … Served as team captain in 2007-08 and in the ongoing 2008-09 year … Lettered four years in soccer and in track and was also a three-year letterer on the flag football team … Was All-County first team in flag football in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

Club Experience: Played for the Clearwater Soccer Club/Countryside Lightning … Team ranked 12th in the nation, second in Region III and first in the state in 2008. Team was 14-1-3 … Captured the CASL Showcase and attended the US Club National Cup … In 2007 team won Orange Classic Top Division and attended the US Club National Cup … Participated in the Disney Soccer Showcase in 2006 and finished as state runner-up.

Personal: Jessica Kae Amlaw … prefers to be called Jess …Parents are Reed and Sylvia Amlaw … Has a brother, Matthew … Ranked in Top 2% of senior class … National Science Honor Society Officer, National Honor and Spanish Honor Society member … Plans to major in chemistry … Future ambitions professionally include trauma surgery or behavior analysis.

Coveleskie on Amlaw:
“Jessica is very athletic and we look forward to her coming in and challenging Rachel (Bachtel) for minutes in goal.”

Margaux Andrews (Midfielder/Cincinnati, Ohio)
High School: Andrews earned numerous plaudits at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy … Named first-team All-League, All-City and All-Southwest Ohio in 2007-08 … Was also an All-City All-Star (Division 2) by the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2007 … First-team All-League in 2006 … She is the single season goal and assists leader and all-time assists leader at the school. Also second in career goals … Earned four letters and is the senior captain … Also participated in the State Track Championships, finishing eighth in the long jump.

Club Experience: Played for the Cincinnati United Premier.

Personal: Margaux Greer Andrews … Parents are Evan and Terry Andrews … Has two brothers, Tommy and Ted … National Honor Society member … Plans to major in communications … Lists scoring four goals in 2:31 against Clark as one of her best performances in high school … The person(s) she most admires is Martin Luther King Jr. and her mom.

Coveleskie on Andrews:
“Margaux is a very gifted performer that excels as an attacker from the left side. She should be able to help us in the future.”

Madeline Danna (Forward/Sugar Land, Texas)
High School: Danna was the 2007-08 MVP at Kempner High … Earned first-team All-District honors as a forward in 2007-08 and 2006-07 seasons … Earned All-District honors in 2005-06 and was named Newcomer of the Year … A four-year letterer as a starting forward and also served as team captain in the 2007-08 season as well as the ongoing 2008-09 campaign.

Club Experience: Played for the Eclipse’91 Black

Personal: Madeline Danna … Nickname is Sissy … Parents are Gary and Molly Danna … Has three brothers: Mason, Matthew and Max and one sister, Mallory … Serves as Senior Class Vice President … A member of the English Honor Society (2007-2009) and the National Honor Society (2008-09) … Undecided on a major … Used to be a cheerleading captain in middle school.

Coveleskie on Danna:
“Madeline is a diamond in the rough. She is very strong technically with has the ability to score goals.”

Amanda Essay (Defender/Kingwood, Texas)
High School: Essay was a 2008-09 National Soccer Coaches Association of America High School All-American at Kingwood High … Also a NSCAA Scholar All-American and was named the Texas High School Player of the Year by the NSCAA … Serves as the captain of the team … Named MVP of the Humble Cup Soccer Tournament … A first-team All-District and All-Region selection in 2007-08. High school team has been very successful, currently ranked No. 1 in the country with a 25-0 record by ESPN/Rise … Team won district championships in 2006-07 and 2007-08 years and made it to the Regional Finals in both years … Scored 26 goals with 10 assists in junior season … Has earned three varsity letters and also played volleyball for three years, serving as team captain as a senior.

Club Experience: Played for the Challenge 91 … Team won 2007 state championships and made it to semifinals of Disney Showcase … Won 2006 Texas Cup Tourney and was state champs … Was a Olympic Development Program Team member in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and attended ODP camp in Alabama for three years.

Personal: Amanda Michelle Essay … Parents are William and DeAnn Essay … Has two sisters, Christy and Alison … National Honor Society (2007-09) and Link Crew (2008-09) member … Plans to major in a science related field … Future ambition is to attend medical school … Lists beating Austin Lonestars 3-2 in the last 20 seconds to advance to regionals as greatest moment in her sporting career.

Coveleskie on Essay:
“Amanda is a very accomplished player and plays on one of the best club teams in the country. She should make an immediate impact for our team next season.”

CJ Rhoades (Midfielder/Danville, Indiana)
High School: 2005 All-conference and Mid-State team member … Earned first-team All-District honors in 2005-06 and was the team MVP … Earned four letters … Leading scorer in conference, scored high of 31 points in a game.

Club Experience: Played for Carmel United and Shattuck St. Mary’s … Team finished in 1st place at the US Club regionals and second place in US Club Nationals … Carmel won 2006 State Cup … Earned 2008 Sabre Leadership Award and 2007 Newcomer of the Year.

Personal: CJ Rhoades … Nicknames are C or Ceej … Parents are Lance and Karen Rhoades … Has five brothers: Chance, Dusty, TJ, Arsen and Craig and one sister, Casey … Served as Junior and Senior Class rep … Honor Roll member … played with fellow signee Chelsea Stewart at Shattuck St. Mary’s … Favorite Soccer player is Ryan Griggs … Plans to pursue a degree in the medical or law fields … Lists watching her own ankle surgery as a fact people may not know about her.

Coveleskie on Rhoades:
“C.J. is a complete player who will see significant action in the central midfield due to the graduation of Katie Schulz. We look forward to her coming to Vanderbilt.”

Dana Schwartz (Midfielder/Nashville, Tennessee)
High School: Schwartz helped lead Brentwood High to state runner-up finish in 2008 … Team won district championship in 2008 and was a district semifinalist in 2006-07 … National Soccer Coaches’ Association All Region III/South Team … An All-District and All-Region selection all four years of high school … An All-State and All-Mid State honoree her sophomore, junior and senior years … District Player of the Year in 2008-09 and Region Defensive Player of the Year … Serves as senior team captain … Named Rookie of the Year on team as a freshman and their Player of the Year her last three seasons … Scored 28 goals with 15 assists as a senior and has career numbers of 75 goals and 44 assists, both team bests … A four-year letter winner in the central midfield … Also started for the basketball team at guard … Named Best Female Athlete of senior class.

Club Experience: Played for the Stones River Lady Strikers ’91 … Team won the state championship from 2006-08 and was a region quarterfinalist in 2008 and 2006 … Selected to play for the USA Women’s Soccer Team at the Maccabiah Games … Also an Olympic Development Program (ODP) Regional Pool member for two years and on the National Pool State team the last four years … has been a part of seven consecutive state titles on club team.

Personal: Dana Rebecca Schwartz … Nickname is Schwartzy … Parents are Herb and Susan Schwartz … Has a brother, Scott, and a sister, Jessica … In Top 5% of senior class, a National Honor Society member and a 2008 Princeton Book Award recipient … plans to major in a business related field … Person she most admires athletically is Michael Phelps … Serves as a Hebrew tutor … Lists scoring the winning goal against the Texas state champs in the regional quarterfinals as her greatest sports moment to date.

Coveleskie on Schwartz:
“Dana was one of the best players in Tennessee and we are excited that we got her to come to school here. She is very technically sound and should be able to compete for time in the center midfield.”

Chelsea Stewart (Midfielder/Highlands Ranch, Colorado)
Canadian National/U-20 Team (2008-09): Stewart had 15 caps for the U-20 team and scored two goals with them in a year that culminated with them participating the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup … Was added to the National Team over the summer and played in the Beijing Olympics in August … Playing for the National Team that is currently in the Cypress Cup Finals … Has three caps with the National Team.

High School: Stewart is a highly decorated player and 2007-08 National Soccer Coaches Association Youth All-American … Played at Mountain Vista High in Colorado from 2004-07 and is attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota … Considered as a player to watch and a Top 11 player in the Rocky Mountain Region by Top Drawer Soccer.

Club Experience: She has been a prominent player on the Region IV ODP squad, serving as team captain. Selected for U14, U15 and U16 National Camps and Region IV teams … Played for Real Colorado (2006-07) and Colorado Rush (2004-05) … Played on the USYSA U16 National Championship team in 2006 … 2005 and 2006 NSCAA All-Region … Selected for U14, U15 and U16 National Camps and Region IV teams.

Personal: Chelsea Blaine Stewart … Parents are Bill and Carla Stewart … Has a brother, Trevor, and a sister, Emily … High Honor Roll student at Shattuck-St. Mary’s … plans to major in a business related field … Father, Bill, played for the Canadian National Ice Hockey Team in 1983 … Favorite soccer player is Fernando Torres of Spain … She is enrolled in school in the spring semester.

Coveleskie on Stewart:
“Chelsea is one of the top players we have brought in during my time here and we are glad to get her in after spending the last year playing for Canada Soccer.”