Bulldog Soccer Inks 14 Standouts Wednesday
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Fresh off adding four standouts at the start of the spring semester, Mississippi State bolstered its roster Wednesday with the addition of 14 talented players to Aaron Gordon’s 2014 soccer class.
Wednesday’s signings bring the Bulldogs’ class to 18 after freshmen Ashliegh Badley, Morgan Ferrara and Hannah Smith enrolled in January along with junior college transfer Meme Huff.
Mississippi State landed in-state standouts McKenzie Adams (Madison), AnnHilton Buckner (Flowood), Alex Hammett (Hattiesburg), Khalyn Harmon (Ocean Springs), Kayleigh Henry (Hattiesburg), Peyton Shaffer (Biloxi) and Katelyn Watson (New Albany) Wednesday along with New Hampshire midfielder Jo Cossey; South Carolina goalkeeper Rhylee DeCrane; Alabama native and top-15 South Region defender Kelly Dorney; Kentucky Player of the Year Mallory Eubanks; Texas forward Morgan Mills; Tennessee Player of the Year Kelsey Pearce and New York goalkeeper Ashley Wilson.
“We have been looking forward to this class since I accepted the job here 14 months ago. With 14 signees and the early enrollees, the 2014 class represents our first full recruiting class,” Gordon said. “Our goal with this class was three-fold. First, we wanted to embrace and recruit the top talent in our state, and we accomplished this by signing eight players from the state of Mississippi. Second, we wanted to recruit players that played in the Elite Clubs National League, the top national girls league in the United Sates, and we did that by signing 10 players who had played in the league during their club careers. Finally, we wanted to extend our recruiting areas, and we achieved this by signing the Tennessee and Kentucky High School Players of the Year.
“To sign such a large, talented class really validates the excitement we have received for this program and our University. We are looking forward to the arrival of these young ladies, and we can’t wait to see them compete on the field in the SEC.”
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown (Previous School/Club) |
| McKenzie Adams | MF/D | 5-7 | Madison, Miss. (Madison Central HS/Miss. Fire/FC Dallas) |
| Ashliegh Badley | D | 5-6 | Laurel, Miss. (Laurel Christian HS/Mississippi Fire) |
| AnnHilton Buckner | D | 5-8 | Flowood, Miss. (Jackson Preparatory School/Mississippi Fire) |
| Jo Cossey | MF | 5-5 | Merrimack, N.H. (Merrimack HS/Stars of Mass.) |
| Rhylee DeCrane | GK | 5-6 | Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach HS/Carolina Elite) |
| Kelly Dorney | D | 5-6 | Huntsville, Ala. (Huntsville HS/Concorde Fire) |
| Mallory Eubanks | F | 5-4 | Lexington, Ky. (Tates Creek HS/Lexington FC) |
| Morgan Ferrara | F | 5-10 | Tampa, Fla. (Sickles HS/VSI West Florida Flames) |
| Alex Hammett | D | 5-6 | Hattiesburg, Miss. (Sacred Heart Catholic HS/Gulf Coast Untd.) |
| Khalyn Harmon | D | 5-5 | Ocean Springs, Miss. (Ocean Springs HS/Gulf Coast Untd.) |
| Kayleigh Henry | D | 5-3 | Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS/BUSA) |
| Meme Huff | F | 5-6 | Meridian, Miss. (Meridian CC/Mississippi Fire) |
| Morgan Mills | F | 5-9 | Tyler, Texas (Robert E. Lee HS/Dallas Sting) |
| Kelsey Pearce | MF | 5-4 | Germantown, Tenn. (Houston HS/Collierville Lobos) |
| Peyton Shaffer | D | 5-3 | Biloxi, Miss. (Biloxi HS/Gulf Coast Untd.) |
| Hannah Smith | F | 5-7 | Dallas, Texas (Grace Preparatory Acad./FC Dallas) |
| Katelyn Watson | D/MF/F | 5-7 | New Albany, Miss. (New Albany HS/Mississippi Fire) |
| Ashley Wilson | GK | 5-9 | Glen Head, N.Y. (North Shore HS/Albertson Fury) |
McKenzie Adams – MF/D, Fr., 5-7, Madison, Miss. (Madison Central HS/Mississippi Fire/FC Dallas)
High School/Club: Three-star player by TopDrawerSoccer.com… Standout midfielder and defender for Cecil Hinds’ Madison Central High School squad, helping the squad to a 75-9-7 record as a starter… Currently in the state playoffs with the Jaguars, having compiled a 20-2-2 record to rank 17th in the nation and third in the state… Earned a selection to the 2014 Mississippi High School All-Star Game following her senior season… Helped the Jaguars to three-straight district championships and a state title her freshman season… Having her best season on the pitch in her final year, tallying 42 points on 15 goals and 12 assists… Tallied three goals and eight assists as junior to lead MCHS to the district championship… Compiled seven points (three goals, one assist) in a sophomore campaign that saw Madison Central win the district with an 18-3-2 record… Scored three goals and assisted four more in her first varsity season, guiding Madison Central to a 20-2-2 record and the Mississippi Class 6A state championship… Currently plays club soccer for David Johnson’s Mississippi Fire and Ben Waldrum’s FC Dallas ’96 squad of the ECNL… Won the Gulf States Premier League and went to the finals of the U.S. Club Soccer National Cup with the Fire in 2012… Part of the Fire’s Mississippi State Cup championship squad in 2011… Member of the Mississippi ODP ’95 Girls program from 2007-12… Named to the ODP regional pool in 2012 and 2010… Selected to the National ODP Development Camp in 2010 and 2011… Earned a place in the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Club id2 in Frisco, Texas… Claimed a spot at the U19 Winter Inter-regional in 2009… Helped Mississippi’s ’95 ODP Team win the 2012 Karen Flannigan Cup, the ODP championship for Region III… Also participated on Madison Central’s bowling squad that took third place at the overall state tournament in 2013… Earned the scholar-athlete award for bowling and soccer.
Personal: Born Sept. 4, 1995, in Jackson, Miss… The daughter of Kevin and Tina Adams… Has two sisters, Mallory and Mollie.
A
shliegh Badley – D, Fr., 5-6, Laurel, Miss. (Laurel Christian HS/Mississippi Fire ’96)
High School/Club: Earned three stars from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Played on Hattiesburg’s 2007 Mississippi Youth Soccer Association state title team and the 2013 Mississippi Fire ‘96 squad that won the state championship, took first in the region and qualified for the semifinals of Region III… Competed on the prep level for Laurel Christian High School, scoring the winning goal to lead her team to the 2013 Mississippi Association Independent Schools state championship… Named to 2013 MAIS All-State and All-District teams after leading her team to the state title… Selected to the MAIS Academy All-Star Game following her senior season, claiming Most Valuable Player honors for the South squad… Won the state championship with Laurel Christian after the team fell in overtime in the 2012 title game… Scored the equalizer and assisted the team’s first goal in the 2012 championship… Tabbed to the 2012 MAIS All-District Team… Played for Mississippi’s ODP team from 2009-13… Also ran track for Laurel Christian, claiming state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes her junior and senior seasons… Ran on the school’s 400- and 800-meter relay teams that took first place in the 2012 state championship meet.
Personal: Born June 10, 1996, in Laurel, Miss… The daughter of John and Lisa Badley, and has a sister, Evan, who is a manger for the Bulldog soccer team, and a brother, John Thomas.
AnnHilton Buckner – D, Fr., 5-8, Flowood, Miss. (Jackson Preparatory School/Mississippi Fire)
High School/Club: Played for Jon Marcus Duncan’s Jackson Preparatory School squad since 2008, starting the past five seasons… Guided Jackson Prep to MAIS state championships two of the last three seasons… Earned all-conference accolades each of the last three seasons… Named Jackson Prep’s Wendy’s Heisman Award winner for the 2013-14 year… Selected to the second team defense on The Clarion-Ledger All-State Team and the MAIS All-Star Game following a stellar senior campaign… Named team MVP and Best Defensive Player Award winner as a senior after scoring three goals and assisting four more to lead her team to the state championship with an 18-1-1 record… Anchored a defense this season that surrendered seven goals in 20 games… Tallied nine points and claimed the Best Defense Award as a junior after guiding Jackson Prep to a 16-2-3 record and state runner-up honors… Tallied two goals and three assists during a sophomore campaign that saw her claim the award for best defense after winning the state championship… Played club soccer for Kenny White’s Mississippi Fire, helping the 2013 team to the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III semifinals, the Mississippi Youth Soccer state finals, the Region III Invitational Showcase championship, the Gulf States Premier League finals and the USYSA Open Cup finals… Also excelled on the basketball court, earning all-conference honors in 2012-13 and MVP this season… Joined Jackson Prep’s prestigious 1,000-point club this season.
Personal: Born Aug. 24, 1995, in Flowood, Miss… The daughter of Steve and Misty Buckner… Has one sister, Massey.
Jo Cossey – MF, Fr., 5-5, Merrimack, N.H. (Merrimack HS/Stars of Massachusetts)
High School/Club: Standout playing on the right wing for Eleni Floras at Merrimack High School in Merrimack, N.H… Earned three stars from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Scored eight goals and assisted two more so far in her senior season for Merrimack… Notched 15 goals and five assists as a junior, earning honorable mention all-star accolades from The Telegraph… Played in over 90 percent of the team’s games as a sophomore, tallying 34 points behind 12 goals and 10 assists… Named Merrimack Most Valuable Player in her first varsity season, compiling 56 points on 18 goals and 20 assists… Played the past few seasons on the club level for Stars of Massachusetts and head coach Jason Dewhurst… Previously competed for Lenny Webb’s COE Granite squad… Helped the Stars of Massachusetts U16 squad to ninth place in the ECNL… Went with the U15 squad to a Top-11 finish at the ECNL national tournament and a second-place showing in the ECNL Northeast Division… Tallied eight goals and 11 assists in 2013 for Stars of Massachusetts, a year after she scored five goals and dished eight assists in her first season with the club… Scored 18 goals and assisted nine more in her final season with COE… Made New Hampshire’s ODP team at age 13… Played on the ODP squad until U15 when she joined Stars of Massachusetts.
Personal: Born Aug. 22, 1996, in Shawnee Mission, Kan… The daughter of Mark and Martha Cossey… Has one brother, Will.
Rhylee DeCrane – GK, Fr., 5-6, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach HS/Carolina Elite)
High School/Club: Played 46 games in goal over her freshman and sophomore seasons for Coach Curtis Freeman at Myrtle Beach High School … Earned four stars from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Posted a 0.6 goals against average in the 3,960 minutes she played in her high school career… Named to All-Region 8 team, Toast of the Coast and all-state teams during her freshman and sophomore seasons…. Played for team that won the Region 3A high school title in 2010 and 2011… Allowed only eight goals in 1,800 minutes between the posts her freshman year… Helped her Carolina Elite team to the ECNL National Playoffs in Denver in the 2012-13 season with a 0.6 goals against average in 25 games she played in that campaign… Anchored the team that ranked 21st in the Southeast Region in 2013-14 season… Made South Carolina’s ODP team in all three years she tried out in 2009, 2010 and 2012…
Personal: Born Feb. 16, 1996, in Myrtle Beach, S.C… The daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth DeCrane, and has a sister, Laura.
Kelly Dorney – D, Fr., 5-6, Huntsville, Ala. (Huntsville HS/Concorde Fire)
High School/Club: Four-star defender from TopDrawerSoccer.com … Named to TopDrawerSoccer.com IMG Academy 150 list… Ranked the No. 12 overall recruit in South Atlantic Region and the 27th-best defender in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com… Captained the team her junior year at Huntsville High School and scored a team-best 19 goals and 43 points in leading the team to the 6A state semifinals with an 18-4 record… Named to NSCAA All-State Overall First Team, All-State 6A First Team and Huntsville Times Elite Soccer First Team in 2013… Voted by her team as the Best First Year Player and Most Valuable Defensive Player… Played the past two seasons with Brian Moore’s Concorde Fire before after previously playing for Jason Lockhart and Jay Howell at BUSA… Anchored the defense of the Concorde Fire that has produced 25 wins over last two seasons… Helped her team win the ECNL U18 Southeast Conference Championship this past fall to earn a spot in the U18 ECNL National Championship in the summer of 2014… Pitched in on the offensive end with a goal and three assists for five points in the fall… While at BUSA in 2011, helped her team win the USYS Region III Premier League Central Division championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the USYS Region III Championship… Started all 26 games for BUSA in 2011, scoring a goal and setting up three as a defender… Helped her team win the State Cup in Alabama DI in 2010… Represented Alabama on its ODP teams from 2006-09 and was invited to Region camp each season… Selected to the ECNL Performance Development Program in Greenville, S.C., in 2012… Invited to the U.S. Soccer Federation Training Center in Atlanta, Ga., that same year.
Personal: Born Apr. 21, 1996, in Kalamazoo, Mich… The daughter of Daniel and Suzanne Dorney, and has a brother, Sean.
Mallory Eubanks – F, Fr., 5-4, Lexington, Ky. (Tates Creek HS/Lexington FC)
High School/Club: Played two seasons for Bo Lankster at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Ky., following her move back to the United States from Geneva, Switzerland… Scored 37 goals and set up 22 more in 26 games in leading the team to a 21-5-3 record and the KHSAA state semifinals her senior year… Named the NSCAA Kentucky High School Player of the Year, Miss Kentucky Soccer, first team all-state, District 43 MVP, Region 11 MVP, Tates Creek MVP and Tates Creek Most Offensive Player in 2013… Received more accolades with her fabulous season by being named an NSCAA All-American and being invited to the inaugural girls high school All-Star Game… Posted seven goals and 12 assists in guiding her team to a 23-1-4 record, the KHSAA State Championship and the first of two-straight Region 11 titles as a junior … Selected as the Tates Creek Most Offensive Player and MVP of the state tournament after helping her team to the title and the iHigh championship… Prior to coming back to the United States, played for Pierre Quilez at College du Leman… Captained her squad in 2011 and was named the varsity all-sports captain in 2010 and 2011… Also captained her squad’s volleyball team… led College du Leman to the 2011 Tournoi Scolaire championship… Also won championships in track, volleyball, field hockey and basketball… Played club soccer for Brad Turpin’s Lexington FC leading the squad to the Kentucky state title five times in six seasons… Helped Lexington FC to the Disney Showcase championship during the 2012-13 season and the finals of the event the following year… Played for F.C. Collex-Bossy in Switzerland from 2010-12, playing on the squads that won two-straight Genevoise Cantonale championships.
Personal: Born June 4, 1996, in Greenville, Miss… The daughter of Shawn and Miriam Eubanks, and has three siblings: Madison, Todd and Ty.
Morgan Ferrara – F, Fr., 5-10, Tampa, Fla. (Sickles HS/VSI West Florida Flames)
High School/Club: Four-star forward by TopDrawerSoccer.com… Led the VSI West Florida Flames in goals scored and assists in 2013-14 season… Finished as one of the top scorers in the 2012-13 Elite Clubs National League season, scoring 14 goals and nine assists for 37 points… Helped her team to a third-place finish in the ECNL U17 Nationals/Champions League… Member of three USYSA Florida State Cup championship teams with the Flames… Helped her Flames’ U17 team to the U.S. Club Florida Cup Championship and the Super Y national championship… Led the VSI West Florida Flames to the U16 Southern Premier League championship and the Southern Regional quarterfinal… Was a U.S. National League participant at the U15 and U16 levels… Took the Flames’ U14 squad to the Region III Premier League East title… Named to Florida’s ’95 ODP team in 2009 and the state pool in 2010… Captained her high school team, Sickles High School, her freshman and sophomore years before shifting her focus to club soccer… Claimed all-county honors both seasons.
Personal: Born Oct. 5, 1995, in Tampa, Fla… The daughter of Skip and Sheila Ferrara and has two sisters, Megan and Ashley.
Alex Hammett – D, Fr., 5-6, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Sacred Heart Catholic HS/Gulf Coast United FC)
High School/Club: Play five years at Sacred Heart while also lettering in tennis and track … Earned three stars from TopDrawerSoccer.com … Started all 50 games of her three-year prep career, deciding not to play her senior season… Tallied 61 points on 24 goals and 13 assists… Scored 14 goals and assisted eight more as team captain her junior season, leading the team to the 1A/2A/3A State crown and a perfect 13-0 record… Collected all-district honors for the third-straight season following her junior campaign… Named team MVP after posting seven goals and three assists in her sophomore season, helping Sacred Heart to a 16-2 ledger… Named Sacred Heart’s Most Improved Player in 2010… Won the team’s Best Defender Award as a freshman after anchoring a defensive line that allowed just two goals en route to claiming an 18-1 record… Played two stints of club soccer for Shane Kowalski’s Gulf Coast United FC from 2010-12 and 2014, and with Joel Persons and Andrew Brower at BUSA from 2012-14… Played for Mississippi’s ODP team for three years, earning an invitation to the Region III Camp each year.
Personal: Born Feb. 22, 1996, in New Orleans, La… The daughter of Michael and Christy Hammett, and has two siblings, Hunter and Addison.
Khalyn Harmon– D, Fr., 5-5, Ocean Springs, Miss. (Ocean Springs HS/Gulf Coast United FC)
High School/Club: Standout at multiple positions throughout her high school career at Ocean Springs High School and, prior to that, Meridian High School… Has led Patrick Hayes’ Ocean Springs club to an 18-0-2 record in her final campaign… Selected to the South squad for the 2014 MHSAA All-Star Game… Scored three goals and assisted four others from her center back position as a junior to help Ocean Springs win its first state championship in a girls sport… Named The Clarion-Ledger First Team All-State and All-Coast Sun Herald following her junior campaign… Earned all-region honors each year of high school career from 7th grade up to her senior year… Posted her highest point total at Ocean Springs, 15, her sophomore season with five goals and five assists as a defender… While playing forward as a freshman at Meridian High School, totaled 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists in 17 games… Notched eight points in 14 games for Shane Kowalski’s State Cup-champion Gulf Coast United club squad in the 2012-13 season… Helped GCU to two-straight Gulf State Premier League titles (2012, 2013) and the 2012 Region 3 Invitational Showcase championship… Participated in the Adidas International Training Program in conjunction with 2011 Women’s World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, traveling to Germany for 10 days and competing against international competition… Produced her best club season in 2011 with 42 points on 12 goals and 18 assists in 14 games… Mississippi ODP participant from 2008-2010… Member of Ocean Springs’ South State championship 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay teams in 2012.
Personal: Born April 17, 1996, in Hattiesburg, Miss… The daughter of Gene and Alita Harmon, and has two siblings, Chase and Kinsley.
Kayleigh Henry – D, 5-3, Fr., Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS/BUSA)
High School/Club: Prepped for Clay Smith at Oak Grove High School… Guided Oak Grove to 38 wins in her three seasons, scoring 37 goals and 23 assists… Earned three stars from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Lead Oak Grove’s squad goals and assists all three years of her prep career… Claimed all-state, all-region, all-area and all-district accolades during her heralded prep career with Oak Grove… Scored 12 goals and assisted nine more in leading Oak Grove to a 12-6-4 record… Earned second team all-state accolades from The Clarion-Ledger and her school’s Golden Boot Award following her junior campaign… Deposited 13 goals and tallied seven assists as a sophomore, lifting her prep squad to a 12-6-3 record… Started all 21 games as a freshman for Oak Grove’s 14-3-4 squad, 31 points on 12 goals and seven assists… Claimed Oak Grove’s Most Assists Award the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons… Picked to play in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Adidas Futbol Academy, traveling to Germany for 10 days and competing against international competition… Played for BUSA ’96 in the ECNL…Competing under coaches Joel Persons and Andrew Brower, guided her squad to the playoffs and the U18 finals in 2012-13… Made Mississippi’s ODP Team in 2009, 2010 and 2012… Helped Mississippi’s ’95 ODP Team win the 2012 Karen Flannigan Cup, the ODP championship for Region III… Selected for the Region III ODP Team in 2012 and received the opportunity to play at the interregional camp in Boca Raton, Fla.
Personal: Born Dec. 19, 1995, in Hattiesburg, Miss.… The daughter of Ralph and Carla Abraham, and has two brothers, Ryan and Thomas.
Meme Huff – F, 5-6, So., Meridian, Miss. (Meridian Community College/Meridian HS/Mississippi Fire)
Junior College: Scored 29 goals and dished two assists for 60 points in her lone season playing for her high school coach, Mike Smith, at Meridian Community College… Set a new single-season goals record with her 29 strikes for the Lady Eagles… Guided MCC to an 11-5 record and a Top-20 national ranking after starting the year with seven-straight wins… Named an NJCAA Third Team All-American and selected to the NJCAA All-Region XXIII Team after scoring at least three goals in five different games… Set the single-season record with five goals in an 8-1 win against Southwest Mississippi Community College.
High School/Club: Played soccer and tennis all four years at Meridian High School… Scored 81 goals for Smith’s squads during her high school career, including 25 her senior season and 23 as a junior… Awarded the 2013 Betty Kimbrell Top Female Athlete Award and the team’s Top Offensive Player Award… Named to All-Region 6-5A teams for soccer and softball… Played for Chicago Fire Juniors of MS from 2008-2011… Claimed state runner-up honors in tennis in 2008… Also excelled in the classroom, finishing in the Top 10 of her class and earning a place on the WTOK All-Scholastic Sports Team following her senior year.
Personal: Born Oct. 10, 1994, in Meridian, Miss… The daughter of Brad and Clair Huff, and has three siblings: Sarah Margaret, Laura and Miles.
Morgan Mills – F, Fr., 5-9, Tyler, Texas (Robert E. Lee HS/Dallas Sting)
High School/Club: Spent the previous three seasons focusing on club soccer, playing for Tatu Pecorari’s Dallas Sting ’96 from 2008-11 and the Sting’s ECNL squad from 2011-present… Helped the Sting rate as one of the premier club teams in the nation, guiding the squad to ECNL national championship finalist honors in 2012 and again in 2013… Claimed the Lake Highlands Girls Classic League Division I championship during the 2010-11 season… Played her freshman season for Chris Woodard at Robert E. Lee High School… Had a successful lone prep season, helping her high school squad to the area and district championships… Selected All-District Honorable Mention in that prep season… Named Newcomer of the Year by her teammates… Selected as an ODP Pool player from 2009-2010.
Personal: Born Aug. 21, 1995, in Tyler, Texas… The daughter of James and Amy Mills, and has a sister, Jamie.
Kelsey Pearce – M, Fr., 5-4, Germantown, Tenn. (Houston HS/Collierville Lobos)
High School/Club: Three-star midfielder by TopDrawerSoccer.com… Played all four years for David Wolff at Houston High School, helping the program to a 78-7-6 four-year record… Tallied 186 points on 61 goals and 64 assists during a prep career that includes two Tennessee AAA state championships and a pair of semifinal appearances… Earned NSCAA All-America and All-South Region accolades following a banner senior year that saw her record 69 points on 21 goals and 27 assists in leading Houston to the state title… Selected as the 2013 NSCAA Tennessee Player of the Year after guiding her team to the state championship by assisting or scoring on the last eight goals in the semifinals and finals. Notched the game-winning assist in each game and assisted on all three goals in championship match… Finalist for the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year… In addition to all-America and all-region honors, earned THSCAA TNSWA All-State honors in 2013… Tallied 51 points from 17 goals and assists respectively her junior season while being named to THSCAA All-State and TNSWA All-State squads… Hit the golden goal in the 2012 state quarterfinals to send her squad the semifinals… Tallied 13 goals, 10 assists as a sophomore, leading Houston to the state semifinals… Scored the tying goal in the overtime setback… Had the winning assist in the quarterfinals, the game-winning goal in the semis and the wining assist in the state championship game as a freshman… Compiled 10 goals and 10 assists in her freshman campaign… Holds four West Tennessee “Best of Preps” awards and has been named a finalist for West Tennessee Player of the Year for the second-straight season after being tabbed to the first team her freshman and sophomore seasons… Three-time team and offensive MVP for Houston… Captains Clint Browne’s Collierville Lobos and has been part of three state semifinal squads and the state’s No. 4-ranked club team… Represented Illinois’ ODP team from 2007-09 and the Tennessee team from 2010-12.
Personal: Born March 13, 1996, in Chesapeake, Va… The daughter of Kevin and Lisa Pearce.
Peyton Shaffer – D, Fr., 5-3, Biloxi, Miss. (Biloxi HS/Gulf Coast United FC)
High School/Club: Three-sport athlete at Biloxi High School in soccer, track and cross-country… Competed on the soccer pitch for Teresa Martin, playing defender for the MHSAA South State soccer champions in 2011 and 2012 … Also anchored the defensive line that helped guide Biloxi to the district soccer titles in 2012 and 2011… Played four seasons for Shane Kowalski and Gulf Coast United FC… Helped guide Gulf Coast United to the Mississippi Soccer Association’s state championship in 2013 and 2010… Also part of the 2011 squad that finished one win shy of giving the club three-straight state titles… Led the defense for Gulf Coast United’s 2012 and 2013 teams that won the Gulf States Premier League championship… Named to the 2013 Mississippi ODP team … Was a key member of Biloxi High’s track and field squad that claimed the 2011 MHSAA district title before going on to win the South State crown.
Personal: Born March 22, 1996, in Biloxi, Miss… The daughter of Todd and Michele Shaffer, and has two brothers, Trey and Cody.
Hannah Smith – F, Fr., 5-7, Dallas, Texas (Grace Preparatory Academy/FC Dallas)
High School/Club: A three-star selection from TopDrawerSoccer.com… Played for the FC Dallas Youth Soccer Club from 2011-14 in Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, Premier League and Elite Club National League… Selected a team captain for FC Dallas… Scored 27 goals and notched 20 assists the past two seasons… Named to the North Texas ’96 ODP team in 2007 and Region III pool from 2008-11… Ran track at Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas… Named the school’s Most Valuable Performer in 2013 after winning the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state championship in the 800 meters… Named the Grace Prep’s 2012 Most Outstanding Female Athlete and Most Dominant Athlete following a TAPPS regional championship in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs… Took the Most Outstanding Performance Award in 2011 after she captured the state championship in 3200 meters and 1600 meters.
Personal: Born March 12, 1996, in Dallas, TX… The daughter of Mark and Wendy Smith, and has three siblings: Jessica, Allison and Lance.
Katelyn Watson – D/M/F, Fr., 5-7, New Albany, Miss. (New Albany HS/Mississippi Fire)
High School/Club: Played two seasons at Northwest Rankin High School and Brandon High School before moving to New Albany High School to play under the guidance of Caryl Vogel… Captained New Albany High the 2012-13 season, earning First Team All-Division 1-4A midfield honors after helping her squad to the division title… Named district Player of the Year and Most Valuable Defender after guiding Brandon High to the 2012 Mississippi Class 6A state championship… Earned all-district accolades and Most Valuable Midfielder honors at Brandon during the 2010-11 season… Named Most Valuable Midfielder and Best Newcomer in two seasons at Northwest Rankin… Plays her club ball for Kenney White’s Mississippi Fire, where she won three Mississippi state club titles in 2007, 2009 and 2011 … Earned MSA state runner-up medals with the Fire in 2008 and 2012 … Claimed Gulf States Premier League runner-up honors with the Fire in 2012… Represented the Mississippi ODP team in 2010 and 2012, and was picked to the Region III ODP pool in 2012 after teaming with some of her fellow MSU rookies to guide the Mississippi squad to the Karen Flannigan Cup as the Region III champion.
Personal: Born Oct. 18, 1995, in Starkville, Miss… The daughter of Michael and Teri Watson, and has two siblings, Jon Michael and Randi.
Ashley Wilson – GK, Fr., 5-9, Glen Head, N.Y. (North Shore HS/Albertson Fury)
High School/Club: Protected the nets at the high school level for Clifton Schultz at North Shore High School in Glen Head, N.Y… Played goal in the club ranks for the Albertson Fury… Learned under Paul Riley, head coach of the NWSL Portland Thorns and current Mississippi State assistant Phil Casella… Was between the posts in leading the Fury to the 2013 Elite Clubs National League National Championship… Selected by the Fury coaching staff as the Goalkeeper of the Year for 2013… Guided North Shore High School to the playoffs all four years… Helped the team host its first ever playoff game her freshman season and make it further than any other team in its history… Claimed the first of two-straight All-Class awards her sophomore year, becoming the youngest team captain in team history… Decided to play forward her junior year and led the team with 17 points, seven goals and 10 assists, earning All-Class honors after guiding the team to the second round of the playoffs… Capped her prep career by making 75 saves against just four goals before an injury ended her senior campaign… Named All-County following her final high school season… Presented the North Shore MVP award all four seasons… Traveled to Germany and Italy with the Long Island Rough Riders in 2010, receiving the opportunity to train with Germany’s women’s national team goalkeeper coach.
Personal: Born March 5, 1996, in Glen Cove, N.Y… The daughter of Thomas and Antonietta Wilson, and has a brother, Tommy.