Bulldog Soccer Inks Four Standouts
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Canadian national team defender Shannen Jainudeen, along with fellow Canadian Dana Forbes, Texas native Olivia Drapes and Mississippi standout Amy Hoover have all signed letters of intent to join the Mississippi State soccer team beginning with the 2011 season.
“With this class, we needed to add to the attack, and we feel like we did that with some players who have the ability to finish inside the box,” head coach Neil Macdonald said. “Defensively we graduated some great players, but we feel like we have brought in some players who have the ability to step in and replace the likes of a Danielle Kite and Leanna Baldner.”
Olivia Drapes; D; 5-7; Round Rock, Texas (Stony Point HS/Lonestar ’93 Red)
Macdonald on Drapes: “Olivia is a fast, athletic player who can play any position on the back line. She has a ton of potential and upside. She’s an excellent athlete who I see getting stronger and stronger as her career progresses.”
High School: Prepped at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, Texas… Captained Tommy St. John’s squad in 2010, leading the team to the district, bi-district and area championships… Paced the team in goals as a senior, earning her second Offensive MVP award… Earned All-District 16 accolades in 2010 and 2008… Topped SPHS in assists as a sophomore.
Club: Enjoyed a stellar club career playing for Don Cameron’s Lonestar ’93 Red… A five-time South Texas Olympic Development Program member and a four-time Region III Pool selection… Had the opportunity to play a friendly against the Mexican National Team… Earned a three-star rating from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Played central defense for Lonestar’s 2010 squad that won the Premier League championship and the Elite Clubs National Championship in Seattle, Wash… Also helped guide her club team to the Region III championship a year after finishing second in the Region III West Premier League and claiming the Southern Texas state title… Paced the 2008 squad to third place in the National Championship Series and first place in the Region III championships and the Southern Texas State Tournament… Played in the Elite Club National League the past two years and a pair of Disney Showcases in 2008 and 2009… A member of the 2007 Nike Eclipse U14 Tournament championship team.
Personal: Born Oct. 9, 1992, in Nashua, N.H… The daughter of Peter and Marcy Drapes.
Dana Forbes; MF; 5-4; Whitby, Ontario (All Saints Catholic Secondary/Ajax United Magic)
Macdonald on Forbes: “Dana can play midfield or right forward. She is very talented with the ball and reads the game very well. She will bring a lot to our team offensively as an attacking player.”
Club: Played club soccer alongside fellow signee Shannen Jainudeen for coach Richard Hirst’s Ajax United Magic… Invited to the Canadian National Training Centre in 2010… Helped guide Ajax United to the U17 Ontario Cup championship and the U17 Quebec Cup in 2010… Won a Canadian National silver medal with Ajax in 2009 after leading the team to the first of two-straight Ontario Cup titles… Collected 31 points on 15 goals and 16 assists for her club squad two seasons ago, earning the Golden Boot Award… Most recently netted seven goals and nine assists as Ajax finished 23-6-4.
Personal: Born June 5, 1993, in Peterborough, Ontario… The daughter of Harry and Patty Forbes.
Amy Hoover; MF/F; 5-4; Brookhaven, Miss. (Brookhaven HS/Mandeville Lakers ’93)Macdonald on Hoover: “In the 18-yard box, Amy is a great finisher. She has the mentality you need to be successful at this level. She’s very brave in the box, and she’s a very direct player. She works incredibly hard off the ball and will be a great addition to our front line.”
High School: Plays on the prep level for Kevin Bower at Brookhaven (Miss.) High School… Named the team’s Most Valuable Player while also earning the Coaches Award… Finished among the state’s top goal scorers the past two seasons… Capped her career by tallying 78 points on a state second-most 37 goals and four assists… Found the back of the net 33 times as a junior, adding four assists for 70 points… Played in six games as a sophomore, hitting 12 goals while assisting on three more.
Club: Currently plays on the club level for Shane Jeanfreau’s Mandeville (La.) Lakers ’93 after playing a pair of seasons for the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy and coach Jim Rinker… Claimed the U17 Louisiana state championship in 2010 after winning the U16 and U15 titles in 2009 and 2008, respectively… Led the team to a third-straight USYSA Southern Regional berth… Named to the Mississippi ODP state select team in 2010… Also was a guest player on the Alabama ODP select team, going to Argentina for a stint that included games against the country’s U21 national team and the Boca Juniors… Selected to Louisiana’s ODP 1993 team in 2009 after leading the Lakers to the state championship and a southern regional berth… Also claimed a spot on the 2008 Louisiana ODP squad… Was the second-highest scorer in the league as her team won the Premier League Central Division U15 championship… Guided the Carolina Elite’s U14 team to the state finals in 2007, a year after the U13 squad won the championship.
Personal: Born May 2, 1993, in Madisonville, Tenn… The daughter of Alvin and Nancy Hoover… Her sister, Katy, will be a junior forward for the Bulldogs this season.
Shannen Jainudeen; D; 5-11; Scarbrough, Ontario (Birchmount Park/Ajax United Magic)Macdonald on Jainudeen: “Shannen is going to be an impact player for us. She has a ton of experience and is a very good athlete and intelligent soccer player. We think that she will lead our back line for the next few years. We are excited to have a player of her caliber joining our program.”
International: Has been a member of Canada’s national team system since 2008… Selected to the National Training Camp again in 2011 after a stellar 2010 run with the Canadian U17 National Team… Played on the U17 national squad that defeated the United States and Mexico en route to winning the CONCACAF championship and qualifying for the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago… Played for Canada in the 4 Nations Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago… Competed in the Canada Summer Games in 2009 while also playing for Team Ontario for the second-straight year.
Club: Played with fellow Bulldog signee Dana Forbes for Richard Hirst and Ajax United Magic… Guided the defense for the 2010 squad that won the Quebec Cup championship and the Ontario Cup title… Scored the winning goal on a cross as Ajax defeated Markham to win the Ontario Cup… Led Ajax to two-straight Provincial Cup championships and the 2010 OYSL U17 Eastern Division crown… Claimed a silver medal with Ajax at the 2009 Canadian National Tournament.
Personal: Born Sept. 15, 1993, in Scarborough, Ontario… The daughter of Indica and Rohan Jainudeen.