Women's Soccer Adds Two More Signees
May 25, 2016 | Soccer
| Karen Sandrik |
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State soccer head coach Neil McGuire added to his list of spring signees Feb. 13 as Morgan McDonald (Raleigh, N.C./Saint Mary's School) and Karen Sandrik (Orlando, Fla./University HS) inked their names to national letters of intent to continue their playing careers at Mississippi State.
Both McDonald and Sandrik join the club after successful prep, club and Olympic Development careers in their respective home states. The two mark the third and fourth players of an expected eight spring signees for the Bulldogs.
"We are very excited to have such tremendous athletes join our program," McGuire said. "Karen and Morgan are not only wonderful players, but tremendous people and students as well. They will bring a lot to this program."
A two-sport athlete at Saint Mary's, McDonald played and started all 15 matches during her junior season and was an instrumental cog in a 15-2 finish for the Saints. Her efforts in the campaign helped her collect her second-straight all-region accolades, as well as all-conference and all-region honors. Her teammates and coaches also decorated her with its best defensive player award.
As a member of the Spartan Storm club organization under coach Panos Pasculudas, McDonald helped lead her squad to three regional final and five state final appearances, three times capturing the state crown. She is also a member of the state of North Carolina ODP program under coach Kevin Demsy.
| Morgan McDonald |
An academic performer as well, Morgan has been a member of the Saint Mary's honor roll since her freshman year, holding down a 3.90 GPA on a 4.0 scale to rank her 21st in her class of 86. Born Morgan Mitchell McDonald on April 6, 1983, she is the daughter of Charles and Barbara McDonald. Morgan has an older brother, Justin, and an older sister, Raven.
Sandrik, a standout performer for University High School, has played and started every game during her four-year prep career with the Cougars, has already scored 45 points on 12 goals and 21 assists this season and was the third pick for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star team earlier in the year.
As a junior, Sandrik scored 48 points on 17 goals and 14 assists en route to garnering first team all-county and second team all-central Florida accolades. She helped lead her FC America Kumba club team to the 1998 and 2000 Florida state cup championship as a starting defender. A three-year member of the state of Florida ODP program, Sandrik has helped lead her club to the state finals on two separate occasions.
She currently maintains a 4.1 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale at University and is a three-time recipient of the principal's honor roll award. She also garnered the 2000 national merit english award. Born Karen Elizabeth Sandrik on January 31, 1983, she is the daughter of Jan Sandrik-Vescovi. Karen has an older sister, Becky, and a younger sister, Laura.
