MSU Soccer Adds Lowdon, Henderson To 2008 Signing Class
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State soccer coach Neil Macdonald has added to his spring signing class as Tarah Henderson (Martinez, Ga./Evans HS) and Sarah Lowdon (Whickham, Newcastle, England) have inked national letters of intent to continue their playing careers with the Bulldogs.
The duo are the eighth and ninth additions to the program this spring, and both come to Starkville following heralded prep and club soccer careers.
"We are excited to add Tarah and Sarah to our roster this fall," Macdonald said. "Tarah is a physically strong and quick striker who will love the challenges of the SEC. Sarah is a very technical and savvy midfielder who will be a great addition to our attack options."
Henderson joins the Maroon & White following an outstanding prep career for Rich Davis at Evans HS in which she earned team Most Valuable Player honors the last three seasons. She has been named All-Columbia County three times after helping guide EHS to a 40-8-8 record. Henderson tallied a career-best 73 points on 30 goals and 13 assists as a junior to garner all-area and all-region honors. She also earned all-area as a sophomore after collecting 27 goals, 17 assists and 65 points.
On the club level, Henderson has paced the Augusta Arsenal and the club’s league in scoring each of the past three seasons. A team captain the past three years, Henderson notched 47 points last fall as she netted 18 goals and assisted in 11 more to help the team to a 17-5-6 record. In 2006 she tallied 43 points on 19 goals and five assists over a 16-game span.
Lowdon comes to MSU after claiming championships with Newcastle United and Gateshead College Preparatory School. Scouted to play for Newcastle United at age 12, Lowdon scored the game-winning goal of open play to help the U14 squad to the President’s Cup. She moved up to the U21 squad and the developmental team at age 15, becoming the youngest player selected to the squad, which reached the quarterfinals of the Umbro Cup.
After claiming Most Improved Player accolades for Northrumbria in 2006, Lowdown returned to the United this season and helped the squad to an NFA Cup and a top three league finish.
In addition to her play with Newcastle United, Lowdon has notched five goals and four assists for Melanie Reay’s Gateshead squad while guiding the team to a second straight league championship. During the 2006-07 season she chipped in four goals and assisted in six others as Gateshead won the league and advanced to the finals of the League Cup and the semifinals of the Champions’ Cup.
Prior to Gateshead, Lowdon attended Whickham School and captained Joanne Suddes’ team four years while earning Best Sportswoman and Best Soccer Player honors in 2006. She also played basketball, tennis cross country and hockey for the school.