BATON ROUGE — The LSU soccer program signed six players for the 2005 season, LSU head coach Brian Lee announced on Monday.
Melissa Clarke, Veronica Godbolt, Leeza Iver, Roslyn Jones, Jackie Moseley and Sammy Sanderson will join the squad in 2005. The class is the first signed by Lee at LSU.
“I am very excited about our incoming class,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “All six have the ability to contribute immediately, and each can make an impact on the field next fall. This class is a great combination of kids with National/Regional ODP experience and backgrounds in some of the top club programs in America. Most importantly, all six are winners. Each person is coming off of a current club state champion.”
Coach Lee has had some great classes sign while coaching at Furman. In the past five years Lee has brought in four top 50 recruiting classes peaking at #12 in the nation in 2002. This year’s signing class includes two Louisiana players as well as a national team player.
“I am happy we are bringing in some of the top players from around the country while also bringing in two of the top seniors in Louisiana,” said Lee. “This is the highest profile recruiting class in the history of LSU soccer, and it is a wonderful opportunity for these six student-athletes to lay a strong foundation for the bright future of Tiger soccer.”
Clarke is a center midfielder out of Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga. Clarke was a member of the U17 National team. She was also a member of the Region III (South) ODP team as well as the Georgia State team. Clarke is a member of the Peachtree City Lazers club team who were Georgia state champions.
“Melissa headlines the class and is clearly one of the top seniors in America and arguably the number one recruit in the south,” said Lee. “Her extensive experience with the national team and region III sets her up for a great freshman campaign in 2005. I am excited about her future as a Tiger and the immediate impact she will make next fall. She is a wonderfully well rounded student-athlete and will be a great addition to the program on and off the field.”
Godbolt, a defender and midfielder, attends William B Travis High School in Austin, Texas. Godbolt was a member of the South Texas State ODP team. She is also a member of the Austin Warriors club soccer team that won the Texas state championship in 2004. Godbolt was a member of the varsity volleyball team and the 2004 district MVP. She also played on the Junior Olympic volleyball team from 2001-2004.
“We think Veronica is a sleeper recruit,” said Lee. “She is a big time athlete who was a Division I recruit in volleyball as well as soccer. We need athletic defenders and she fits the mold to match up against some of the athletic front lines we will see in the SEC next fall.”
Iver, a center midfielder, is from Central Lafourche High School in Raceland, La. Iver was a Louisiana State ODP team member and a Region III (South) ODP pool member. She is a member of the Baton Rouge soccer club who were Louisiana state champions in 2004. Iver was all-state three years in a row and the 2002-2003 Bayou Region MVP.
“Leeza joins us after an outstanding prep career with the Baton Rouge Soccer Club and Central Lafourche High School,” said Lee. “A technically gifted playmaker, she will compete for playing time from day one of preseason.”
Jones is a defender/forward out of Fountainbleau High School in Mandeville, La. Jones was a Louisiana State ODP team member as well as a Region III (South) pool selection. She is teammates with Iver on the Baton Rouge Soccer Club team that won the Louisiana state championship in 2004. Jones’ high school is also ranked #1 in the state. Jones has 113 career goals in high school.
“Roslyn is a top class athlete, and has a chance to step into our lineup early next fall. She is having a great senior season at Fountainbleau, who is number one in the state heading into the state playoffs. She is versatile where she was successful as a back with her club team and ODP, and a proven big time goal scorer in her high school,” said Lee.
Mosley, a goalkeeper, is from McKinney High School in McKinney, Texas. Mosley was a member of the Region III (South) ODP team, the North Texas State ODP team and the Region III (South) ODP pool. She is a member of the Dallas Texans Red 87 team, which is the fourth ranked club team in the nation. Her club team made it to the national final four and was the Region III champions and the North Texas state champions. Mosley was named First-Team All-Dallas County by the Dallas Morning News and First-Team All-District. She is also student body president at McKinney High School.
“The addition of Jackie gives us one of the strongest goalkeeper units in the SEC,” said Lee. “She and returning sophomore Valerie Vogler are both capable of manning the nets at a championship level. Her Dallas Texans club ranks among the very best in the USA and in combination with her ODP experience with Region III and North Texas, she will arrive on campus as a polished as a freshman can be. She is another well rounded student-athlete, combining her soccer exploits with being student body president at McKinney High School.”
Sanderson is a forward out of the Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, Ohio. Sanderson was a member of the Region II (North) ODP team as well as the Ohio State ODP team. She is member of the Ohio Premier Soccer Club who were the Ohio State champions in 2004. Sanderson was also a member of the Ohio State South team from 1999-2003.
“Sammy joins us with Region II ODP team experience and with pedigree from another of the top clubs in the country in Ohio Premier,” said Lee. “She has a great chance to immediately impact our front line and score goals next fall. The first email I received after accepting the job at LSU in December was from Sammy. She was chomping at the bit to be a Tiger from moment one, and I am excited to have her in the fold for next fall.”
2005 Signing Class
Melissa Clarke, M, Norcross High School, Norcross, Ga.
Veronica Godbolt, D/M, William B. Travis High School, Austin, Texas
Leeza Iver, M, Central Lafourche High School, Raceland, La.
Roslyn Jones, D/F, Fountainbleau High School, Mandeville, La.
Jackie Moseley, GK, McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
Sammy Sanderson, F, Columbus School for Girls, Columbus, Ohio