Lesesne Announces Addition of Eleven to Georgia Soccer ATHENS, Ga. --- University of Georgia head soccer coach Billy Lesesne announced the addition of eleven new studentathletes on National Signing Day. The 2017 class looks to add more balance and a new level of depth to the Bulldogs existing roster. Among the signees are four forwards, five midfielders, one defender, and one goalkeeper including, Ashley Anderson (Clifton, Va./Virginia FC), Mollie Belisle (Atlanta, Ga./Concorde Fire), Liz Brucia (Westfield, N.J./PDA O Reilly), Kayla Bruster (Atlanta, Ga./Tophat), Caroline Chipman (Atlanta, Ga./Concorde Fire), Hannah Davis (Suwanee, Ga./Tophat), Delaney Erwin (Marietta, Ga./Tophat), Reagan Glisson (Savannah, Ga./Jacksonville FC), Katie Higgins (Andreas, Pa./PDA O Reilly), Landon Lambert (Canton, Ga./Tophat), and Katie Ralys (Jacksonville, Fla./Jacksonville FC). We re excited about this class, bringing in eleven including the three that are on campus now, Lesesne said. I think that they re going to be able to help in every area of the field. You can see that we have some attack-minded players as well as solid defensive players, and a goalkeeper thrown into this class. I think they re going to bring versatility to our program and the thing our staff really liked about going through this process is seeing that they re soccer junkies. They all really love and enjoy the game. They ask a lot of questions and want to get better. They have been very responsive with our communication through this recruiting process. We re excited that they re coming to the University of Georgia to be a part of the Bulldog family. This year s class consists of players hailing from five states along the east coast, with seven new Bulldogs who already call the Peach State home. The Bulldogs lost just eight seniors to this year s graduating class including Georgia s leading scorer in 2015 and 2016 Marion Crowder, and key defenders Bria Washington and Caroline Waters, who each played over 1,000 minutes of action last season. Three of Georgia s four freshmen saw the field throughout the 2016 season. Katie MacGinnitie, a native of Atlanta, played over 200 minutes and scored two goals for Bulldogs, including the equalizer in her collegiate debut to send Georgia into overtime against Oklahoma State. Augusta native, Daria Stan, appeared in eleven games and finished the season with a.500 shot on goal percentage. The eleven new additions will be the largest class on the Bulldog squad consisting of nine seniors, five juniors and three sophomores for 2017.
Ashley ANDERSEN Mollie BELISLE Clifton, Va. // Centreville HS // FC Virginia // Midfielder CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: started as a freshman for Centreville High School and helped the team to State Cup Runner Up title attended ODP national camp as a freshman attended Puma Elite Camp, Mid Atlantic PDP, and Disney Tournament of Champions as a sophomore named team captain of her high school team as a junior was named First Team All-District, All-Region, All-Met, and All-State her junior year 2016 ECNL Mid Atlantic Division second place PERSONAL: Born on January 14, 1999 daughter of Frank and Andrea Andersen intends to major in business LESESNE ON ANDERSEN: Ashley is a complete player who plays on both sides of the ball and really enjoys the game. She is always asking for feedback on how she can become a better player, so we look forward to having her come into our program, continue to ask questions, and continue to improve as a player. We really like the personality she brings to the field. Liz BRUCIA Westfield, N.J. // Westfield HS // PDA O Reilly // Goalkeeper CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: Westfield HS finished as undefeated conference champions and the sixth team in the state her senior year first player in program history to be named News 12 1st Team All-Metro Area named 1st Team All-State 2016 ECNL Northeast Region Champions on PDA O Reilly PERSONAL: Born on June 18, 1999 daughter of Jim and Judy Brucia intends to major in business Atlanta, Ga. // Holy Innocents Episcopal School // Concorde Fire // Forward CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: ECNL 2016-17 U18 Player to Watch from Concorde Fire ECNL Southeast region champions U15, runner up as U16, Wildcard to National Playoffs as U17 Top scorer U15 ECNL Southeast Region named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 class of 2017 as a freshman broke all-time scoring record at Holy Innocents Episcopal School with 86 goals scored in three seasons named captain and Offensive Player of the Year as a junior selected to the 2014 and 2015 Georgia High School All-Star game PERSONAL: Born on April 1, 1999 daughter of Craig and Cindy Belisle. LESESNE ON BELISLE: She has a good attacking mindset and is her high school s all-time leading scorer. She works hard to get in positions to create scoring opportunities, either for herself or her teammates. She is very unselfish and very hard working. I think that s her greatest attribute- her hard-working inter mentality. Kayla BRUSTER Atlanta, Ga. // Woodward Academy // Tophat // Defender CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: Voted best 11 at USYS Nationals named IMG Top 150 players for four years MVP of high school soccer team as a freshman and junior 3-time USYS State Champion PERSONAL: Born on April 29, 1999 daughter of Sherman and Kathy Bruster intends to major in political science LESESNE ON BRUCIA: Liz is a goalkeeper who is coming into our program with only two other goalkeepers currently on the roster. She is going to come in to compete right away. She has been very successful for the PDA club in New Jersey. She brings an on-field personality that really wants to push and improve. Her best soccer is certainly in her future. LESESNE ON BRUSTER: She is a very composed, central defender. She will bring some steady play defensively. She has a good range of passing and is very strong in the air. Kayla will certainly add to our defensive strength.
Caroline CHIPMAN Hannah DAVIS Atlanta, Ga. // Marist HS // Concorde Fire // Midfielder CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: started on the ECNL team Marist HS was crowned national champions her freshman year named to the All-Star team and State Runner Up as a sophomore and junior PERSONAL: Born on Nov. 30, 1998 daughter of Billy and Colleen Chipman intends to major in accounting LESESNE ON CHIPMAN: The thing I ve liked about Caroline is her work ethic. She is a kid who just never gives up and continues to work hard. It is reflected in her approach to both academics and soccer. Delaney ERWIN Marietta, Ga. // George Walton HS // Tophat // Midfielder CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: played varsity as a freshman at Walton HS Region RA Champions GHSA 2015 Southern Region MVP/ Golden Boot Award 2015 Top Scorer Region III Championships 2015 Region III Champion 2014-15 National League Champion 2014 RPL Champion 2014 PLE Finalist qualified for USYS National Championship Awarded Scholar-Athlete in recognition of academic excellence while participating a varsity sport at Walton HS qualified for ECNL National Championship PERSONAL: Born on Sept. 15, 1998 daughter of Brad and Laura Erwin LESESNE ON ERWIN: She has a good knack and understanding for movement without the ball as a forward. She often finds herself in good and creative areas where she can be dangerous in front of the goal. Suwanee, Ga. // North Gwinnett HS // Tophat // Forward/Mid CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: Played for TopHat her senior season Lettered in three varsity sports as a freshman- Cross Country, Basketball, Soccer PERSONAL: Born on July, 28, 1999 daughter of Heath and Terry Davis intends to major in biology LESESNE ON DAVIS: Hannah is very technically skillful. I think her best soccer is also ahead of her. She has continued to improve as a player. She can be dynamic and very creative on the ball, so I think she is going to be a great addition. Reagan GLISSON Savannah, Ga. // Greater Atlanta Christian School // Jacksonville FC // Forward HIGH SCHOOL: played 3 seasons of HS soccer... scored 134 goals had 59 assists...named to All County & All Region team 2014, 15, 16...2016 Player of the Year... AA High School State Soccer Champion 2014 & 2015...ODP: Region 3 Team 2012-2016...Boca Interregional Top XI list, Costa Rica, Italy & Brazil roster...odp National Camp...ODP Nike National Camp...CLUB: won several State Cups...Regional Championship...National Championship finalist...id2 chosen Best XI twice...ecnl Southeast Champion 2014, 2015, 2016...ECNL Nike National Camp... US Soccer GNT U14 & U15 pool...2014 and 2015 State Champion at Greater Atlanta Christian School 2016 Player of the Year PERSONAL: daughter of David and Robyn Glisson LESESNE ON GLISSON: It s great to already have her on campus. Reagan is fast, can be powerful, and has a good finishing touch. We look forward to working with Reagan in the spring. By the time the fall rolls around she will be very polished and ready to play at the collegiate and SEC level.
Katie HIGGINS Landon LAMBERT Andreas, Pa. // Leighton HS // PDA O Reilly // Midfielder CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: 2014 ECNL national championship runner ups on PDA O Reilly 2016 PDA O Reilly-ECNL U-18 Northeast Conference champions, played in quarterfinals of national playoffs Played varsity volleyball for Leighton High School co-captain her junior and senior year Finished volleyball career with 1,100 digs, 700 kills, 200 aces and over 900 points. PERSONAL: Born on January 8, 1999 daughter of Gary and Trisha Higgins intends to major in physics on a pre-med track LESESNE ON HIGGINS: Katie comes to us from Pennsylvania, but played for the PDA club in New Jersey. Katie is already enrolled and we have seen how tenacious and driven she is on and off the field. She challenges in every situation both academically and on the soccer field. She has already helped make the team better by continually competing. Katie RALYS Jacksonville, Fla. // Episcopal School of Jacksonville // Jacksonville FC // Midfielder CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: won two USYSA national championships in 2014 (U15) and 2015 (U16) crowned Florida state champions in 2013, 2014 traveled to Costa Rica and Holland with ODP Region III Team in 2013 and 2014 named 2014 ODP Best XI at interregional camp attended USYSA ODP 99 National girls camp in 2014 named captain and MVP of high school soccer team as a junior Canton, Ga. // Cherokee HS // Tophat // Forward CLUB/ODP/HIGH SCHOOL: two-year varsity letter-winner at Cherokee High School... Was the team s leading scorer during her junior season after only playing four games and suffering a torn ACL IMG Academy Top 150 Member of successful Tophat 17 ECNL team Disney Showcase Champion Dallas International Cup Champion Jefferson Cup Champion CASL Shootout Champion Multiple Georgia State Cup Champion Multiple USYS Region III Champion National US Soccer Championship Bronze Medalist Multiple ECNL Southeast Championships Multiple-time Champions League Participant Multiple Georgia ODP, Region III ODP, and ODP National Championship team participant and captain Travelled to Netherlands and England with ODP team Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Raleigh Combine Multiple Invitee to National Training Center Events. PERSONAL: Born on October 25, 1998 daughter of Jerry and Lanay Lambert LESESNE ON LAMBERT: Landon is a very talented player with the ball at her feet. She can play an offensive and defensive position. She understands how to get forward from a defensive position, which will allow us the ability to attack out of the back a little bit more as we move forward. PERSONAL: Born on Feb. 25, 1999 daughter of Steve and Tracy Ralys. LESESNE ON RALYS: Katie is a very technical player who can play several positions. She can play an attacking midfield role or she can play in the wide flank areas as an attacking player. She brings the ability to serve balls, is quick on the dribble, and can be quite creative.
Signing Class BREAKDOWN BY POSITION BY HOME STATE Forward 4 Mollie Belisle, Reagan Glisson, Landon Lambert, Katie Ralys Midfielder 5 Ashley Andersen, Caroline Chipman, Hannah Davis, Delaney Erwin, Katie Higgins Defender 1 Kayla Bruster Goalkeeper 1 Liz Brucia BY CLASS Seniors 9 Summer Burnett, Delaney Fechalos, Mariel Gutierrez, Natalie Goodman, Louise Hogrell, Kelsey Killean, Kelsey Nix, Alex Pallo, Carly Settles Juniors 5 Anna Bougas, Maddie Burdick, Maya Cherry, Josie Roebuck, Sydney Shultis Sophomores 3 Jessie Harvey, Katie MacGinnitie, Daria Stan Georgia 7 Mollie Belisle, Kayla Bruster, Caroline Chipman, Hannah Davis, Delaney Erwin, Reagan Glisson, Landon Lambert Florida 1 Katie Ralys New Jersey 1 Liz Brucia Pennsylvania 1 Katie Higgins Virginia 1 Ashley Anderson Returning Roster BREAKDOWN BY POSITION Forward 3 Kelsey Killean, Katie MacGinnitie, Kelsey Nix, Midfielder 5 Maddie Burdick, Mariel Gutierrez, Alex Pallo, Sydney Shultis, Daria Stan Defender 7 Anna Bougas, Summer Burnett, Maya Cherry, Delaney Fechalos, Natalie Goodman, Josie Roebuck, Carly Settles Goalkeeper 2 Jessie Harvey, Louise Hogrell