MOREHEAD, Ky. – After losing three seniors from last year's 6-11-2 (3-6-1 Ohio Valley Conference) squad to graduation, Morehead State soccer welcomes seven new players to the program in preparation for the 2017 season.
"Each and every year, what we try to do is bolster depth within our program," said head coach
Warren Lipka. "In this class, I made a point to get (assistant coach)
Trip Rogers involved. He's really helped build this class for us. He's done an outstanding job on the recruiting side."
Meghan Arnett, Caitlyn Burdine, Katie Kiolbassa, Lauryn Kunz, Holly Logsdon, Taylor Malucky, and Tia Williams will add to an Eagles roster that allotted 79 percent of its total minutes played to underclassmen in 2016.
Arnett, a 5-foot-9 goalkeeper, is one of two incoming freshmen from St. Louis, Mo. She played under head coach Joe Muskovic for Kolping Kicks, and head coach Gary Schneider at Eureka High School. Under Schneider, the Wildcats were twice named conference champions, and reached the state quarterfinals two times.
After making the ODP State Team two years in a row, Arnett decided to enroll at Morehead State for the second semester of 2016-17.
"Meghan comes from a very competitive environment in St. Louis," Lipka said. "She has been high within the national club scene. We're excited we could get her here in the spring, so she has the full semester to train with us. Our goalkeeping core is very, very solid. She just adds to that."
Burdine, a 5-foot-6 native of Frankfort, Ky., arrives at MSU with a decorated career under Woodford County High School and Lexington Futbol Club head coach Brad Turpin, Jr. Burdine once scored a school record seven goals in one game for the Yellow Jackets, earning second team all-state, back-to-back first team all-region, 11th Region all-tournament team selection, a district tournament most valuable player distinction, and consecutive all-district honors over her final two seasons.
"(Burdine's) upside is her athleticism, and how she competes," Lipka said. "Once we get her in this environment, her technical skills will improve. You can't teach toughness and competing."
Burdine helped lead Lexington FC to two Kentucky State Cup finals appearances, a Crossroads of America top 10 finish, a Jefferson Cup, and Midwest Regional League, Southeast College Showcase, Disney Soccer Showcase, and Kentucky Premier League championships.
"The Morehead State coaches are going to be extremely happy," said Turpin, Jr. "She is hyper competitive and loves to win. She will play with energy and will to win like no other."
Kiolbassa comes to Morehead by way of Hoffman Estates, Ill. and William Fremd High School. Kiolbassa, 5-foot-6, played four years of varsity soccer under head coach Steve Keller. She also qualified for the North American Cup with Sockers FC Chicago under head coach Trey Bradberry.
"Kiolbassa is a very steady, technical player," Lipka said. "I'm looking for her to give us depth where we've been shallow the last couple years. She's a great competitor that can bring calmness to our game."
Kunz joins Arnett as the other St. Louis transplant, playing at Windsor High School under head coach Mike Hutchinson. She was named Conference Player of the Year in 2016 and boasts a three-time all-conference resume. As an upperclassman, Kunz was named all-state and all-district, and named all-region twice.
The 5-foot-3 defender won three Missouri state championships and the 2014 Disney Soccer Showcase with Lou Fusz Soccer Club, under the direction of head coach Jim Wipke.
"She is an extremely fast player who can play a couple different areas," Lipka said. "She's hard to get past, tenacious, and has great recovery speed."
At 5-foot-2, Logsdon strung together an illustrious career at Owensboro Catholic High School (Ky.). Under head coach Durand Engineer, Logsdon garnered back-to-back first team all-state honors, both first team all-region and first team all-district distinctions three times, three All-A state tournament team appearances, and was among the top five assist leaders in the state as both a junior and senior.
"Holly's a very, very technical player," said Lipka. "She's great on the ball and a great distributor. She's somebody you can play through."
Over Logsdon's career, the Aces finished state runners-up, appeared in three state Final Fours, four Elite 8s, and four Sweet 16s. Owensboro Catholic was crowned regional champion four times, and were named three-time district champs.
"Holly is one of the hardest working players I've ever coached in 25 years," Stauffer said. "Her mentality and desire to improve, as well as her work rate, are fantastic. She's an overall great kid."
Malucky, team captain and MVP of head coach Mat Grau's Glen Este High School Trojans, was named second team all-conference as a junior. The three-time scholar athlete also earned the Trojan Award and Senior Showcase honors in her final season.
A native of Batavia, Ohio, Malucky also suited up for the newly formed Alliance Cincinnati Elite under head coach Greg Hirschauer. The club was named Crossroads champions in 2016.
"She comes from a good, solid club environment," said Lipka. "She's a tough defender, somebody who is physical when she plays. She's somebody who can destroy attacks and win balls."
Williams, who hails from Toronto, Ontario, is the only incoming freshman immigrating from outside the United States. The 5-foot-2 midfielder last played for Lisa D'Aguanno at Blessed Cardinal Newman Catholic High School.
"You can't look over her physique," Lipka said. "She's a small, technical player, but very athletic and very quick. She's very good on the ball. She's afraid of nothing. We're looking forward to getting her some space and room to run."
The Knights finished as OFSAA finalists in 2015, and TDCAA finalists in 2014 and 2016. Williams was dubbed MVP as a junior, earning her the second of consecutive team captain titles the next season. The three-time honor roll student also finished an SAAC Senior Girls Academy Cup champion and OWSL U21 Regional Central-East League runner-up with FC Durham Academy under head coach Rich Hirst.
"It is exciting for Tia and her family to be joining the Morehead State University family," Hirst said. "Tia has been in our academy program for four years and has taken many strides forward on the field, in the classroom, and as a person. She will be a tremendous asset to the women's soccer program and the university culture."
After missing the OVC Tournament last year for the first time since 2012, the Eagles look to utilize what is now an experienced core in 2017. The last time Morehead State did not compete in postseason action, the Eagles were crowned OVC Tournament champions the following season.
