ABILENE – Wednesday is National Signing Day for both football and fútbol and today the Abilene Christian soccer team announced the signings of four decorated recruits: Alyssia Anuat, Laura Mauldin, Ashley Stamps and Natalie Wodka.
This quartet will help 12th-year head coach
Casey Wilson replace five Wildcats (four starters) lost to graduation. Last year's team finished 8-10-2 but qualified for its fifth consecutive postseason Southland Conference Championship in five years with a 6-5 record.
The Wildcats pitched consecutive shutouts of McNeese and Stephen F. Austin in their first year of tournament eligibility, but it was the Ladyjacks who advanced via penalty kicks following the conclusion of their scoreless semifinal match.
ACU's roster losses include attackers
Megan Baer and
Chloe Fifer and defensive-minded
Chantal Kinsey and
Peyton Bucklew. Baer, Fifer and Kinsey combined for 23 of the team's 88 points and 74 corner kicks, while Bucklew was second on the squad with 1,733 minutes and led a defensive line that pitched four shutouts. Kinsey scored three goals on 12 shots in her final year, which was composed of only 14 matches and 790 minutes.
Anuat, who is the niece of former Wildcat Daktronics All-American and NSCAA All-Region honoree
Ashley Holton, is expected to play up top for the Wildcats in addition to Mauldin. Stamps is a center and outside midfielder who can help fill the void left by Fifer, who totaled 14 assists during her four-year career, while Wodka can play both center midfielder and defender.
This recruiting class joins a team with at least two returning starters along each line. Leading returning scorers
Christina Arteaga (7G, 3A, 17 Pts.) and
Dylan Owens (8G, 2A, 18 pts.) should again lead the attack, while the midfield will feature the versatile
Shay Johnson (5G, 1A, 11 pts.) and
Brooke Lenz. The defensive line has two vacancies to fill with only outside back
Caity Acosta (20 starts, 1161 minutes) and center back
Michelle Mulrooney (18 starts, 1724 minutes) returning.
Sophomore
Erin Smith is the projected starting goalkeeper. She logged more than 1500 minutes last season and pitched three shutouts over her final four starts.
Short biographies of each of head coach
Casey Wilson's recruits are listed below in alphabetical order.
Alyssia Anuat | 5-6 | F | San Diego, Calif. / Santana HS
Athletic Accomplishments
Lead scorer for all four years of high school
Scored two goals in victory vs. rival West Hills
Advanced with team to the 2017 CIF Semifinals and won league championship
Grossmont Conference honorable mention
Rookie of the Year
Two-time Most Valuable Offensive Player
Second team all-league as a sophomore
Played three years for San Diego Surf ECNL prior to joining Albion Developmental Academy
Academic Achievements
Recipient of an all-academic team award
Made school's Honor Roll in five of seven semesters
Intends to major in business management
Coach's Quote
"Alyssia coming in will give us another look up front to add to our diverse group of returning attackers. Her composure in the attacking third as an incoming freshman along with physical play will create a lot of chances for us.
By playing for ECNL & DA in the highly competitive southern California area the last number of years, Alyssia is well conditioned for the next level and we're excited to have her join the team this fall."
Laura Mauldin | 5-6 | F | McKinney, Texas / Boyd HS
Athletic Accomplishments
6A honorable mention as a freshman, scoring seven goals
6A second team all district as a junior
Leading goal scorer for club team during her sophomore and junior seasons
Part of club team that won the Lake Highlands League
Advanced with high school team to third round of playoffs during freshman season
Academic Achievements
Maintained all A's and B's throughout high school
Plans to major in psychology and minor in education
Coach's Quote
"Laura is a very passionate player. Add her speed to that and she'll be a dynamic attacking threat for our program. Laura wants to be on the ball at all times and has a nose for the goal. She hands out as many goals as she scores and attracts a lot of attention from any backline she is going against. Her fun personality will add to an already great team dynamic and we are excited to get her on campus."
Ashley Stamps | 5-1 | M | San Antonio, Texas / Johnson HS
Athletic Accomplishments
Scored 25 goals and dished out 17 assists through her first three high school seasons
Part of three winning high school teams, advancing as far as the third round of playoffs during the 2015-16 season
2015 District 26-6A All-District Girls Soccer Second Team
2015 TASC Region IV-6A All Region Girls Soccer Honorable Mention
2015 I-10 Shootout All Tournament Player
2016 District 26-6A All-District Girls Soccer First Team
2016 TASC Region IV-6A All Region Girls Soccer First Team
2016
San Antonio Express News All-Area Super Team
Academic Achievements
National Honors Society Member
Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALS) Member
2016 All District Athletic Academic Team
Graduating Summa Cum Laude
Intends to major in psychology
Coach's Quote
"Ashley will hit the ground running in the fall and be an immediate threat against any opponent we face. She is a well-rounded player and a tremendous competitor. When we first saw her play we were impressed by how well she played on both sides of the ball, going forward and defending. Her high soccer IQ and awesome personality is a great fit for our program and ACU."
Natalie Wodka | 5-7 | D / M | Allen, Texas / Allen HS
Athletic Accomplishments
Part of a club team has won the last two State Cups and advanced to regionals
Won Premier League with club team and qualified for National League play in 2016-2017.
Won district championship with high school team as a sophomore
Advanced to the third round of high-school playoffs during her sophomore and junior seasons
Team Captain for the 2017-18 season
Voted Defender of the Year as a freshman
Second team all district following her sophomore and junior years
Academic Achievements
Top 25 percent of graduating class
Intends to major in nursing
Coach's Quote
"Natalie is a versatile player. She has been moved all around the pitch, but thrives in the backline or midfield. Her technical and attacking ability in the back gives her a huge upside. Her strong, dominant presence anchors the teams she has been on. We are excited to add her to the mix and even more excited to see her grow at ACU."
