By: By Al Barba
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State head women's soccer coach
Benji Walton announced the signing of 12 recruits during National Signing Day on Wednesday (Feb. 1). With the addition of Lauren Berounsky, who joined the program in January, Walton has added 13 players who will join the 2017 roster.
The entire group includes:
Kendall Baker (Marietta, Ga. / The Walker School)
Lauren Berounsky (Woodstock, Ga. / Etowah High School) Enrolled January 2017
Kameron Downs (Duluth, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge High School)
Kelsey Hahn (Marietta, Ga. / Lassiter High School)
Erin Harris (Suwanee, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge High School)
Kendall Hart (Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills High School)
Abi Hunt (Dahlonega, Ga. / Lumpkin County High School)
Sydney Meador (Marietta, Ga. / Pope High School)
Allison Norton (Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth High School)
Kathryn Schreck (Marietta, Ga. / Pope High School)
Gabby Stewart (Dallas, Ga. / Paulding County High School)
Grace Weiner (Marietta, Ga. / Marietta High School)
Deja Wilson (Kathleen, Ga. / Houston County High School)
Walton's 13-person signing class is comprised of 12 Georgia recruits, including six from Cobb County, and one player from California. Each individual has impressive accomplishments as student-athletes, excelling on the field and in the classroom.
"It's an exciting day for our program. We had several goals when we began our journey in putting this 2017 class together," Walton said. "We first wanted to build our roster around improving our athleticism and adding needed depth to every position on the field. I feel like this group addresses those needs extremely well and will really help raise the competitiveness in our training as we prepare for the 2017 season.
"We also wanted to leave no rock unturned both in the state of Georgia and throughout the country. I love the local ties that this class brings with 12 signees hailing from all over the home state," Walton added. "And to top that off we were able to bring another player from California which is known for producing some of the best women's soccer players in the country."
The signing class includes five forwards, five defenders, two midfielders and a goalkeeper.
The following is a capsule on each signee.
Kendall Baker (Forward, 5-8, Marietta, Ga. / The Walker School)
A standout at The Walker School in Marietta, Ga. . . . Earned All-Cobb County honors and tabbed team's best offensive player as a senior . . . Alternate All-Cobb County selection and named the Wolverines' Most Outstanding Player as a sophomore . . . Tabbed 2015 DiVarsity Most Valuable Player . . . Selected The Walker School's Rookie of the Year in 2014 . . . 2016 DiVarsity Player . . . Helped NASA – Tophat 98 Gold club team to the 2016 State Cup finals, 2015 State Cup championship, and State Cup semifinals in 2013 and 2014.
Lauren Berounsky (Forward, 5-2, Woodstock, Ga. / Etowah High School)
Joined the Owls' program in January . . . Prepped at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Ga. . . . Earned all-region honors as a sophomore and junior . . . Named team Freshman of the Year . . . Honored with Etowah HS Golden Ball Award as a sophomore . . . Named All-Cobb County as a junior . . . A four-year Honor Roll member . . . Played club soccer for NASA – Tophat 98 Gold team that won the 2015 State Cup.
Kameron Downs (Forward, 5-5, Duluth, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge High School)
Attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga. . . . Won team's Golden Boot Award for most goals scored and Offensive Player of the Year as a junior . . . Helped the Lions capture region titles during freshman and sophomore seasons . . . Played club soccer for Concorde Fire ECNL U18 . . . A four-year member of Georgia Olympic Development Program (ODP) . . . A scholar-athlete.
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| Kendall Baker |
Lauren Berounsky |
Kameron Downs |
Kelsey Hahn (Forward, 5-7, Marietta, Ga. / Lassiter High School)
Enjoyed solid career at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga. . . . Earned team Most Valuable Player and All-Cobb County honors while helping the Trojans to 6A state championship as a junior . . . Played integral role in helping Lassiter HS to the state playoffs during freshman and sophomore seasons . . . Earned the team's Golden Boot Award following freshman and sophomore campaigns . . . Played club soccer for the NASA – Tophat 98 Gold.
Erin Harris (Forward, 5-6, Suwanee, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge High School)
Prepped at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga. . . . Earned 7A All-Region honors as a junior while helping the Lions to the second round of regional playoffs . . . Competed for the United Futbol Academy '99 Premier club soccer program that won the 2016 State Cup championship.
Kendall Hart (Defender, 5-9, Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills High School)
A standout performer at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, Calif. . . . Earned All-Orange County honors as a junior . . . An All-Freeway League selection following sophomore and junior seasons . . . Tabbed Breakout Player of the Year as a junior and one of Orange County's Top Players to Watch for 2017 . . . Helped the Lancers to the 2014 Freeway League title . . . A member of the 2013 Aliso Cup Champion and 2015 SHHS Invitational championship teams . . . Played for Slammers FC Maroon G98 and competed in numerous prestigious tournaments throughout California, Las Vegas and New Jersey . . . Helped FC Slammers to the 2016 West Coast Tournament championship.
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| Kelsey Hahn |
Erin Harris |
Kendall Hart |
Abi Hunt (Defender, 5-7, Dahlonega, Ga. / Lumpkin County High School)
Three-time all-region selection while prepping at Lumpkin County High School . . . Earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors and named All-Area by the
Gainesville Times while helping the Indians to the Elite Eight of the 2015 state playoffs . . . Selected first team all-region and team Defensive Most Valuable Player as a sophomore . . . Helped team to a regional championship and Final Four of state playoffs . . . Tabbed second team all-region and selected team Rookie of the Year during freshman campaign . . . Helped United Futbol Academy '99 Premier club team to the 2015 Georgia state championship.
Sydney Meador (Defender, 5-7, Marietta, Ga. / Pope High School)
Earned second team all-region during junior season at Pope High School in Marietta, Ga. . . . Competed for the NASA – Tophat 98 Gold club team that captured the 2015 State Cup championship and was runner-up in 2016.
Alli Norton (Defender, 5-5, Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth High School)
A four-year letter winner and two-time team captain while attending South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. . . . Twice earned team Defensive Player of the Year honors . . . Earned the Coach's War Eagle Award as a junior, and helped the War Eagles to three state playoff appearances . . . Played club soccer for the United Futbol Academy '00 Premier . . . 2016 USYS Southeast Region Premier League East champion and WAGS Showcase champion . . . Team also won Georgia State Cup championship.
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| Abi Hunt |
Sydney Meador |
Alli Norton |
Kathryn Schreck (Defender, 5-5, Marietta, Ga. / Pope High School)
A four-year letter winner at Pope High School in Marietta, Ga. . . . Team Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior . . . Earned second team all-region in 2015 and was named the Greyhounds' Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2014 . . . Played club soccer for the NASA – Tophat '98 Gold.
Gabby Stewart (Midfielder, 5-5, Dallas, Ga. / Paulding County High School)
A three-year first-team Region 5A All-Region selection while attending Paulding County High School in Dallas, Ga. . . . Received the team Fantastic Freshman Award in 2014 . . . Selected for the Georgia High School All-Star Game following sophomore and junior seasons . . . Named the 2016 Paulding County Player of the Year and team Offensive Most Valuable Player . . . Helped the Patriots to their first playoff appearance as a junior . . . Named a team captain for the 2017 season . . . Attended Region III ODP Camp . . . Played club soccer for the NASA – Tophat '99 Gold club team.
Grace Weiner (Goalkeeper, 5-8, Marrieta, Ga. / Marietta High School)
A four-year letter winner at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga. . . . Three times named
Marietta Daily Journal All-Cobb County . . . Named team Most Valuable Player as a junior . . . 2016 Georgia DiVarsity Student-Athlete of the Year and played in the Georgia DiVarsity All-Star Game . . . Earned the Scholar Athlete Award as a junior . . . Played club soccer for the Southern Soccer Academy Chelsea U19 Elite.
Deja Wilson (Forward/Midfielder, 5-2, Kathleen, Ga. / Houston County High School)
Prepped at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Ga. . . . A three-time first team all-region selection . . . Tabbed Most Dynamic Player as a junior . . . Played in the 2016 Georgia DiVarsity All-Star Game . . . Helped the Bears to the Sweet 16 of the 2013 state playoffs . . . Played club soccer for AFC Lightning U18 team that advanced to the 2016 State Cup finals.
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| Kathryn Schreck |
Gabby Stewart |
Grace Weiner |
Deja Wilson |
"I think these 13 women are going to bring a great amount of energy to our program and I can't wait to have them mesh in with our returning group, and start putting the pieces together for the fall," Walton said.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
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