RICHMOND, Ky. – Head women’s soccer coach Lindsay Basalyga announced on Tuesday that seven student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for Eastern Kentucky University in the fall. The signing class includes three midfielders, two midfielder/forwards and two goalkeepers.

The seven student-athletes set to join the EKU soccer program in 2012 are midfielders Katie Bright, Mikala Ferguson and Taylor Perkins, midfielder/forwards Dani Cant and Amani Thomas and goalkeepers Sam Melton and Erika Wolfer.

“This is definitely the most complete class we have ever brought in, with every player being capable of stepping in and making an immediate impact in their freshman year,” Basalyga said. “They bring a lot of qualities that we realized we were lacking during our 2012 season, so I think they will complement our current players extremely well.  They all come from competitive club and high school backgrounds, which will help raise our mentality both on and off the field.”



Bright, a center back who could also see time on defense, hails from Fort Mill, S.C. where she helped lead Nation Ford High School to the state tournament the last three seasons. She was named first team all-area as a senior and first team all-region as a junior and senior. Bright played club soccer for the Lake Norman SC, with whom she was a U.S. Club Nationals participant in 2009 and a key member of NCYSA Final Four teams in 2010 and 2011. Bright chose EKU over Campbell, USC Upstate and Catawba College. She plans to major in nursing.







Cant, an outside midfielder/forward from Calgary, Alberta, led St. Francis High School to a Calgary High School Championship in 2009. Cant played club soccer with the Calgary Blizzard Threat SC, winning six Calgary City Championships (2006-11), three Alberta Provincial Championships (2006, 2008, 2010) and a bronze medal at the 2010 Canadian National Club Championships. In all, Cant helped her club team to 15 gold medal finishes in league, provincial, tournament and college showcase events since 2005. On an individual level, Cant led the Blizzard Threat in scoring at the 2008 and 2010 Canadian National Club Championships, and she was selected to represent Calgary  Zone at the 2008 Alberta Summer Games. She also picked up valuable Olympic Development Program (ODP) experience as a 2010 Alberta Provincial Pool player. Cant’s anticipated major is undeclared.




Ferguson, a midfielder from Grove City, Ohio, played soccer at Grove City High School. She also played club soccer for the Ohio Premiere Eagles over the last eight years. As a member of the Ohio Premiere Eagles, Ferguson won an Ohio State Cup Championship in 2007 and reached the Ohio State Cup Finals in 2006 and 2009. Ferguson chose EKU over Duquesne. Her anticipated major at EKU is undeclared.









Melton, a goalkeeper from St. Charles, Mo., led Francis Howell High School to a Gateway Athletic Conference Championship in 2009, asectional championship and an appearance in the state quarterfinals in 2010 and a district championship in 2011. Melton recorded a 0.88 save percentage as a senior in 2011 and ranked fourth in the conference in solo shutouts. She was also named an all-academic team member from 2009-11.  Melton played club soccer with the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite, with whom she played in the Midwest Regional League (MRL) for four years and the Elite Clubs National League (ENCL) for two. Melton chose EKU over Missouri State, Belmont, Luther College and Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech. She plans to major in psychology and business.







Perkins, another defensive-minded midfielder, hails from Elizabethtown, Ky., where she was named all-state, all-region and all-district while leading Elizabethtown High School to a district championship and a region runner-up finish as a senior in 2011. She also helped the Lady Panthers win the SON Cup and the Lexington Catholic Lady Knight’s Challenge Cup in 2011. Perkins was a captain on her club team, the Mockingbird Valley SC, and led the team to a state championship in 2011. Perkins chose EKU over OVC rival Eastern Illinois. She plans to major in biology.









Thomas, an outside midfielder/forward from Pickering, Ontario, was a key member of the Pickering High School team that won the LOSSA Championship in 2010. Thomas played club soccer for the Pickering Power, with whom she experienced great success, winning the OYSL, the OYSL Cup and the Ontario-Quebec Cup Championships in 2010 and 2011 and winning the Club National Championship in 2010. In 2008, she was named an All-Star National Gold Medalist while playing for the Pickering Power. Thomas also brings ODP experience, as she played on the Ontario Provincial Team from 2008-09 and the Durham Regional Team in 2007. She plans to major in pre-physical therapy at EKU.






Wolfer, a goalkeeper from Cincinnati, Ohio, compiled a record of 57-11-9 as a four-year starter at Ursuline Academy. As a senior in 2011, Wolfer, who recorded 13 shutouts and allowed only 10 goals, was named first team All-GGCL while leading Ursuline Academy to a GGCL Championship and a trip to the region finals.  Wolfer played club soccer with the Cincinnati United Premiere, with whom she reached the Ohio State Cup Quarterfinals in 2009. She also played on the ODP regional team and was a state team alternate from 2008-09. Wolfer chose the Colonels over Winthrop, Evansville and Thomas More College. She plans to major in nursing at EKU.







The EKU soccer team tied a program record with five conference wins in 2011, as the Colonels won seven of their last 10 regular season games to earn a No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the OVC Tournament. Second team All-OVC selections Deja Tennon and Lauren Fant return next season to lead a young and talented nucleus of players in search of their first-ever OVC title.


The 2012 Class

Katie Bright - MF
Fort Mill, S.C.
Nation Ford High School
Club Team: Lake Norman SC

Dani Cant – MF/F
Calgary, Alberta
St. Francis High School
Club Team: Calgary Blizzard Threat SC

Mikala Ferguson -MF
Grove City, Ohio
Grove City High School
Club Team: Ohio Premiere Eagles

Sam Melton - GK
St. Charles, Mo.
Francis Howell High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite

Taylor Perkins - MF
Elizabethtown, Ky.
Elizabethtown High School
Club Team: Mockingbird Valley SC

Amani Thomas – MF/F
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering High School
Club Team: Pickering Power

Erika Wolfer - GK
Cincinnati, Ohio
Ursuline Academy
Club Team: Cincinnati United Premier