Stephen F. Austin

Feb. 2, 2005

NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team signed seven players to a National Letter of Intent announced SFA head coach Nicole Nelson Wednesday afternoon. Amanda Alders (Colleyville, Texas), Summer Bradfield (Spring, Texas), Jessica Cotton (Pearland, Texas), Alisen Jackson (Austin, Texas), Amanda Lackey (Humble, Texas), Megan Spitzmueller (Houston, Texas) and Jenna Turner (Round Rock, Texas) announced their intentions to continue their education at SFA.

"We're very excited about this class," said Nelson. "Not only is this a great group of individuals that we are singing, but this group has the talent to come in and contribute immediately to our team. It is a unique class in that there are a number of accomplished goal scorers as well as a couple great defensive players. Our staff has worked hard to get this quality of players into our program and we're looking forward to what this group is going accomplish."

The Ladyjacks 2005 signing class includes 13 all-district honors, four seasons where a player recorded at least 20 goals, four seasons where one of the signees led their team in scoring, two school scoring records and one season of at least 50 goals scored. Five of the Ladyjacks' signees have recorded at least 23 goals in their high school careers.

Alders is a 5-7 forward who played for Peter Weinburgh at the Oakridge School. She has scored 66 goals to this point in her career despite sitting out two seasons with an injury. The all-district performer has set a school record with 50 goals this year. Alders has guided her Sting club team to four state, two regional crowns as well as helping her squad advance to the national tournament. She was also selected to her Olympic Development Program's state team.

"Amanda is a strong, tenacious, goal scorer," said Nelson. "On the ball she creates problems for any defense. She has a confidence in front of goal that is hard to find and we expect her to have a tremendous career here at SFA."

Bradfield is a 5-6 forward who can also play the midfield position. She earned first-team all-district honors as a sophomore, while leading her prep squad to the bi-district title. Bradfield led Klein High School in goals and assists that season. Bradfield also guided her high school to the regional semi-finals as a freshman. Bradfield is a member of the Challenge club team.

"Summer is a hard working striker that will create opportunities for the players around her," said Nelson. "She also has the potential to put the ball in the back of the net."

Cotton is a three-time all-district selection that has been named to many all-tournament teams. She was named team defensive MVP as a sophomore, while guiding her team to the second-straight district title. She has scored 37 goals and dished out 26 assists from her midfield position. Cotton currently plays for Eclipse Soccer Club and brings nine years of club experience to Nacogdoches.

"Jessica has is a true utility player that has the ability to contribute significantly to both our offense and defense," said Nelson. "She's physical, great in the air and plays big in the center of the field. Mac McCallum, her coach with Eclipse, has done a great job developing Jessica over the past couple of years."

Jackson is a 5-5 midfielder that comes to SFA after a standout career at McNeil High School. Jackson is a two-time all-district selection who was named district MVP as a junior. She has played for the Warriors club team for the past eight years and guided her squad to seven-straight district titles and the 2004 state championship. She also participated in the Texas Olympic Development Program State Pool in 2000-01.

"Alie is a very athletic, hard working player that will add a lot of pace to our outside game," said Nelson. "She has the ability to move the ball forward and will put in the work on the defensive end; she is a very complete player. Hue Menzies, and the Lonestar Soccer club do a phenomenal job developing players and have, through their willingness to send us players, greatly contributed to our success."

Lackey is a first-team all-district selection who proved her offensive prowess as a freshman. She set a school record during her rookie season, leading the varsity team by scoring 23 goals. She was a teammate with Bradfield and Spitzmueller on the Challenge club team that won a state title. She has been a member of the Olympic Development Program for the past five seasons.

"Amanda Lackey is a strong, agile and athletic attacking midfield player that reads the game extremely well," said Nelson. "Lackey is very tenacious in front of goal and a player that we expect to have an immediate impact in both the scoring and assist categories. Pat O'Toole and Challenge have sent us players like Kim Gray, Jaime Ronca, Lauren Cummings, Camren Norris, Alicia Reese, Mary Surkein and Caitlin O'Brien who have without question helped create a winning tradition with our program."

Spitzmueller is another offensive weapon that coach Nelson has signed in the 2005 class. Spitzmueller was named district MVP as a freshman and sophomore after recording 64 goals in her first two seasons. She is a three-time all-district selection that guided her Challenge club team to back-to-back state titles. Spitzmueller played on the Olympic Development Program state team in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

"Megan is another Challenge player that adds significantly to our outside attacking game," said Nelson. "She is creative and confident on the ball and has the pace to get in behind defenses. She has a fantastic personality on and off the field. She is another great addition to our attack for this coming year. Along with Lackey and Summer, Megan continues our tradition of success with Challenge players."

Turner is the lone defender in the Ladyjacks 2005 signing class. She is a two-time first-team all-district selection who has played nine years of club soccer. Despite her defensive position, Turner is still a threat to score, having led Round Rock High School in goals and assist as a junior. She has spent four years with the Warriors club team.

"Jenna is a great addition to our back line for next year," said Nelson. "She is a strong defender with athleticism and pace that will challenge strikers from opposing teams. Jenna's speed allows her to be an attacking threat out of the back. Jenna and Alie Jackson add to our current Warriors players like Andrea Ramirez, Sarah Butler, and Venessa Callaway who have each aided in our success.

The Ladyjacks have compiled a 26-10-5 (.695) record over the last two seasons, winning the 2003 SLC Tournament title and the 2004 SLC regular-season championship. In 2003, SFA made its first appearance in the NCAA Championships.

-SFA-