Soccer Adds Seven to Recruiting Class

Feb. 15, 2008

	Chelsea Stewart

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie announced the addition of seven student-athletes in the spring signing period.

“We are very excited about our 2008 recruiting class,” said Coveleskie. “I feel that we have added not only good athletes and great students, but we also added quality soccer players to help us achieve our goals of winning championships at Vanderbilt.”

The class mainly focused on the back and in the midfield with the players able to fit into a variety of positions.

“In the incoming class, it was very important to find some players capable of playing more than one position for us, that they were versatile,” added Coveleskie. “They need to have the ability to potentially play as a midfielder and a forward in our system in addition to solidifying our back line.”

Below is the list of signees with brief highlights along with quotes from Coach Coveleskie.

Kate Goldin
Goldin was a second-team all-district selection in 2006 and 2007 at Herndon High … Her club team was RFC United and she helped them to the 2007 Virginia State Cup Finals. The Team finished ranked No. 2 in the state, No. 7 in Region 1 and No. 21 in the National Rankings …. She was named the 2006 Footballer of the Year.

Coveleskie on Goldin: “Kate is a tenacious, athletic, and solid, technical outside back. I believe her tenacity and her willingness in battle is going to provide some quality minutes and make us a better back line.

Emily Grant
Grant was a 2006 all-state performer at Tuscarora High … She also earned first-team all-conference and all-area honors … In 2005 she picked up second-team all-conference and all-area honors … Also played for RFC United with Kate Goldin and served as the team captain in 2007 -08 … Named a National High School Distinguished Scholar from 2004-06.

Coveleskie on Grant: “Emily plays in the center-midfield and was a teammate of Kate Goldin in club soccer. She is incredibly tactical and solid technically. She has the ability to break a game down with her passing and vision.

Elizabeth Lillie
Lillie was an all-district and all-league performer as a junior and the team MVP at Rochester High … She suffered a knee injury during the state playoffs that caused her to miss her senior year … She picked up all-district, all-league, and all-region honors as a sophomore as well as honorable mention all-state recognition … Played for the MI Gators club team helping lead the squad to a state finalist spot in 2006 … She also played varsity tennis and was a regional doubles champ.

Coveleskie on Lillie: “Elizabeth is coming off of knee surgery and we are looking forward to seeing her at full strength after her injury. She is the grandchild of a Vanderbilt alum and has a great amount of desire. I fully expect her to provide depth in many positions for us.”

Bridget Lohmuller
Helped lead St. Joseph’s Academy to third place showing in State Championships … A Region II ODP Pool player … Earned first-team all-conference honors in 2007 and second-team honors in 2006 … Played for the St. Louis Soccer Club that won the 2005 national championship … Served as one of the team captains … Team won the Region II Championships in 2003.

Coveleskie on Lohmuller: “Bridget comes from a very good club team, so she is used to playing at an extremely high level. She won a national championship in 2005, and I fully expect her to use her intangible qualities to compete for time on the field.”

Chelsea Stewart
Stewart is a highly decorated player and National Soccer Coaches Association Youth All-American from Highlands Ranch, Colo. … Played at Mountain Vista High in Colorado from 2004-07 and is now attending 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 … 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 … High Honor Roll student at Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

Coveleskie on Stewart: “Chelsea is a central midfielder who has played at a very high level. She’s been a member of the Olympic national pool for several years. She is gifted not only athletically but also technically and tactically. I believe her work rate is something we will find extremely beneficial in the center of our midfield. She is going to make an immediate impact in this program.”

Candace West
West is a 2008 NSCAA All-American at Lakeside High … She has significant experience in Region III ODP (2005-07) as well as playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks club team … She was at the ODP National Camp in 2004 and on the SYL ODP National Camp Select Team in 2006 … Club team won U17 State Cup in 2007 … Also earned All-Area honors in 2008 … Top Drawer Soccer lists her as a player to watch and a Top 11 performer in the South Region.

Coveleskie on West: “Candace has been a member of the Olympic regional team for many years. She’s naturally left sided and is going to bring a new creativity and craftiness to our attack. I’m expecting big things out of Candace.”

Lyndsey Wilcox
Wilcox is the sister of Amy Wilcox, a rising senior at Vanderbilt … She was a first-team all-district and second-team all-region selection at Yorktown High … A three-time Northern Region Athletic Honor Roll selection and team captain and MVP as a junior in 2007 … Played for the Reston Football Club … Also an all-district, all-region selection in cross country … Serves as President of the Executive Board at her high school.

Coveleskie on Wilcox: “Lyndsey is similar in tenacity to her sister (Amy). She is one of the most tenacious, hard working players that I’ve ever seen. There’s never been a battle that she hasn’t wanted to be a part of. She doesn’t shy away from any type of challenge and I believe she will prove to be a very versatile player for us on the field.