Tuesday, May 6, 2008

TUSCULUM WOMEN’S SOCCER SIGNS RACHELLE LUSTER

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Rachelle Luster has indicated she will attend Tusculum College and play soccer for the Pioneers announced TC women’s coach Mike Joy.

Luster, a striker from Lenexa, Kan., comes to Tusculum from Johnson County Community College. Luster earned NSCAA and NJCAA All-America honors in 2006 and 2007.

In 2006, she led the nation in scoring with 34 goals and 35 assists for her 103 total points. She was named the Kansas Jayhawk Conference (KJCCC) Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, while becoming the first player in school history to score over 100 points. She was also named Region Most Valuable Player.

As a rookie, she had 11 multiple-goal matches, including a six-goal performance in one outing. She also had a dozen multiple-assist contests, including four with three or more. Her 35 assists were a new school record and was named the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 25, 2006 after tallying seven goals and six assists in wins over Hutchison and Allen County. Her 2006 squad posted an 18-1-2 record, finishing runner-up in the District.

“We are very fortunate to have signed Rachelle,” said Joy. “She was recruited by a number of top level programs and she is definitely an impact player. We didn’t have much depth in the striker position and her addition to the team will hopefully provide an additional threat to our squad.”

In 2007, she finished seventh in the country with 69 points (24 goals, 21 assists) recorded a 19-3-1 worksheet, including a perfect 10-0 conference mark. She accounted for seven match-winning goals in her final season at the Overland Park, Kan. school. Luster had seven multi-goal matches, including four tallies against Oakton. She also dished out multiple assists on five occasions, including four helpers against Hesston College.

She finished her career at JCCC as the program’s all-time leader in goals (58), assists (56) and points (172). Her teams combined for two conference and region titles, while posting a combining for an impressive 37-4-3 record. She accounted for 15 match-winners during her JUCO career.

Luster was a 6A All-State selection at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Lenexa playing for prep coach Todd Boren. She earned three varsity letters in soccer, earning All-Sunflower League honors in each season.

Tusculum finished the 2007 season with a 15-7 overall record, while advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet 16.  The Pioneers were making their third consecutive NCAA postseason appearance and fourth in the last five years.  TC also recorded its 10^th straight winning season under the tutelage of Coach Joy.

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 -