Thursday, February 15, 2007

TUSCULUM WOMEN'S SOCCER INKS SIX

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Six student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend Tusculum College and play soccer for the Pioneers announced TC women's coach Mike Joy.

Joining the Pioneers for the 2007-08 season are Megan Kurtz, Melanie Webb, Courtney Turner, Cassy Melnike, Jillian Cunha and Lisa Andriano.

Kurtz, a 5-11 goal keeper from Waunakee, Wis., was an All-Conference selection at Waunakee High School. She also played for the MYSC Premier Club Team. She also participated with the Wisconsin ODP State Team and Regional Pool. Over the last three years at Waunakee, Kurtz has recorded an .827 save percentage and a goals against average of 0.56.

Webb, a 5-5 striker played her prep soccer at Greeneville High School. Webb scored more than 20 goals and had a dozen assists in leading the Lady Devils to a 16-6-1 record and their first ever region championship. She was named to the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association Class AAA All-State Soccer Team and was tabbed Region 1-AAA Offensive Player of the Year. Webb also garnered All-District recognition and was named GHS's team Offensive MVP.

Turner, a 5-4 midfielder/defender from Cocoa Beach, Fla., accounted for 30 goals this past season at Cocoa Beach High School. Turner served as team captain, was a member of the ODP State team and played her club soccer for the Indialantic Force. She has some strong family ties to the Tusculum program as her sister Claudia Turner was an All-Region and All-South Atlantic Conference defender at Tusculum from 2002-05.

Melnike, a 5-8 defender/midfielder, played at Dunbarton High School in her native Pickering, Ontario, Canada. She also played for Club team Ajax and Aurora, as well as Provincial Under 14-17.

Cunha will add to the depth at midfield for Tusculum, coming to Greeneville from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in London, Ontario, Canada. The 5-8 standout played for London Forest United SC and was a member of the Ontario Cup championship squad.

Andriano, a 5-4 midfielder from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was her team's most valuable player at James Cardinal McQuigan High School. She also played for the Vaughan Soccer Club and the Provincial team.

"We had a lot of needs that we were looking for next season as we lost 11 seniors," said Joy. "Each of these players we have signed, we expect will fulfill a specific need and will hopefully come in and compete for us right away. I believe this class of freshmen will be the cornerstone of our program's future."

Tusculum went 14-4-3 this past season, advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for a second consecutive season and the third time in four years. The Pioneers won the Southeast Regional and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history. TC ended the season ranked eighth in the nation, the best in the program's history.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC -

Tusculum Women's Soccer Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Hometown/Previous School

Megan Kurtz GK 5-11 Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee HS

Melanie Webb D 5-5 Greeneville, Tenn./Greeneville HS

Courtney Turner MF/D 5-4 Cocoa Beach, Fla./Cocoa Beach HS

Cassy Melnike D/MF 5-8 Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton HS

Jillian Cunha MF 5-8 London, Ontario, Canada/St. Thomas Aquinas HS

Lisa Andriano MF 5-4 Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Cardinal Mcquigan HS