RICHMOND, Ky. - Head women’s soccer coach Lindsay Basalyga announced today that six student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play soccer for Eastern Kentucky University in the fall. The incoming class focuses on offense, as it includes four forwards, one central midfielder and one defender.

“Deb [assistant coach Deb Benakis] and I are extremely excited about the 2009 recruiting class,” Basalyga said. “We worked very hard over the last two years to bring in players who fit specific needs for us in terms of personality, speed, work rate and soccer ability. This class will continue to take our program to the next level, complementing our current roster very well and allowing us to build on our success from last season.”

Katie Collar is a defender from Calgary, Alberta who comes to EKU in the wake of an ultra-successful club career with the Calgary Foothills Colts. From 2007-08, Collar won back-to-back Canadian National Championships (U16 and U18) with the Colts. In 2007, the Colts won the Toronto Dixie Showcase Tournament and the Dallas Spring Classic Showcase Tournament. They also competed in the Super Y North American Finals. Collar was named a Calgary Minor Soccer Association Indoor All-Star that same year. A member of the Alberta Provincial Select program since 2003, Collar currently attends the National Sports Academy, whose curriculum includes daily soccer and athletic training. Her intended major at EKU is psychology. Collar chose EKU over Stony Brook, Stephen F. Austin and Grand Valley State.

Katie Edwards, out of North Hardin High School in Radcliff, Ky., is the only in-state signee of the class and the first Kentucky product to arrive in Richmond since 2007. Edwards is a four-year starter at midfielder and a three-year captain for the Trojans. She was honorable mention all-area her sophomore year and first team all-area and honorable mention all-region her junior year. Edwards led North Hardin in goals and assists her freshman (five goals, three assists), sophomore (11 goals, 11 assists) and junior (14 goals, six assists) seasons and was named the team’s Offensive MVP all three of those years. She also displayed her versatility by playing goalkeeper during the last six games of the 2008 season, making 58 saves and recording two shutouts. Edwards currently plays for the Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club. She also played for the Kentucky Olympic Development Program State Pool in 2004. Edwards will most likely play at the forward position at EKU. She plans on majoring in homeland security at EKU. Edwards chose the Colonels over Lindsey Wilson and Campbellsville. 

Lauren Fant is a forward from Rochester Hills, Mich. She has been a winner on multiple levels. Her club team, Vardar, was a 2007 State Cup Semifinalist. She is also a three-year starter for the Rochester High soccer team. The Falcons were 2006 district champions and a 2007 state finalist. Fant was named all-league, all-district, all-county and honorable mention all-state in 2008. Her major at EKU will be accounting. Fant chose EKU over Oakland and Detroit Mercy. 

Alex Hess comes to Richmond from Overland Park, Kansas. The central midfielder is the second player from Blue Valley North High School to join the Colonel soccer program in the past three years (junior Alex Raich is the other). Her club team, the Dynamos, won back-to-back Kansas State Cup Championships in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, the Dynamos advanced even further to the Region II final. On the high school level, Hess has been just as successful, earning second team all-league honors at Blue Valley North for three consecutive seasons, 2006-08, while winning a state title with the team in 2007. Her major at EKU is undeclared. Hess chose EKU over the likes of Drake, Loyola-Chicago and Kansas. 

Deja Tennon is a forward from Centerville, Ohio with a varied resume of club, ODP and high school playing experience. She has been a member of Cincinnati United Premiere for the last four years. Tennon has scored 24 goals during her career with CUP and recorded 17 assists. Her Cincinnati United team was an Ohio State Cup Semifinalist from 2006-07. Tennon has played for the Ohio South Olympic Development Program since 2004. In 2008, she was a member of the Ohio South ODP England Tour and scored two goals on the trip. Her Centerville High team was sectional, district and GWOC league champions in 2007 and 2008. The Elks were also region finalists both years and finished ninth in the final state poll in 2007. Tennon led the team in 2006 with 11 goals and 13 assists and in 2005 with 15 goals and 10 assists. She has scored eight goals in 2008 and recorded six assists. Tennon’s intended major at EKU is graphic communications management. She chose EKU over Purdue, IUPUI, Cincinnati, Dayton and Centre.

Chelsea Walter comes to EKU from South Riding, Va. The forward plays club soccer for the BRYC Blue Thunder, who were State Cup Semifinalists in 2007 and 2008. She played for DC United Super Y League from 2004-05 (U14 and U15) and went to nationals with the team in 2004. She also played for the Virginia Olympic Development Program Northern District from 2002-04. At Freedom High School in South Riding, Walter was a second team all-district performer and her team’s MVP in 2006. In 2007, she was named second team all-district for the second straight year after leading her team in scoring and being named a team captain. Walter expects to major in physical education at EKU. She chose EKU over East Tennessee State, Campbell, Longwood and Western Carolina.

“All six signees come from diverse playing backgrounds, and all of them have competed at high levels with their club teams at the state, regional and national levels,” Basalyga said. “We feel that several of them will certainly fight for starting positions right away.”

The 2009 Signees

#4 Katie Collar – Defender
Alberta, Calgary
National Sports Academy (Central Memorial High School)
Club Team: Calgary Foothills Colts

#25 Katie Edwards – Forward
Radcliff, Ky.
North Hardin High School
Club Team: Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club

#8 Lauren Fant - Forward
Rochester Hills, Mich.
Rochester High School
Club Team: Vardar

#2 Alex Hess – Central Midfielder
Overland Park, Kan.
Blue Valley North High School
Club Team: KC Dynamos

#20 Deja Tennon - Forward
Centerville, Ohio
Centerville High School
Club Team: Cincinnati United Premiere

#6 Chelsea Walter – Forward
South Riding, Va.
Freedom High School
Club Team: BRYC Blue Thunder