Carson-Newman Women’s Soccer: Midfield Preview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Part-two of the three-part Carson-Newman women’s soccer position previews focuses on the midfield with junior Chelsea Jordan (Knoxville, Tenn.).
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Part-two of the three-part Carson-Newman women's soccer position previews focuses on the midfield with junior Chelsea Jordan (Knoxville, Tenn.).
A deep position for the Eagles, the midfield features 11 players that includes a senior, two juniors, two sophomores, a redshirt freshman and six incoming freshmen.
The lone senior controlling the middle of the pitch is reigning second-team All-South Atlantic Conference player Mikayla Gregg (Newport, Tenn.). The three-year starter appeared in all 17 games as a junior and tallied five goals and an assist to lead the team in scoring. Gregg has scored 11 goals during her Carson-Newman career and can play in the middle and out wide in the midfield.
Gabrielle Gianeselli (Knoxville, Tenn.) joins Jordan as the Eagles' two juniors. The duo add experience to a young position as they have played in a combined 47 games in the Blue and Orange. Jordan started six games as a defensive midfielder last season and recorded her first career goal with a penalty kick against Mars Hill in Carson-Newman's 4-1 victory. Gianeselli spent some of the 2014 season on the sidelines with an injury, but once she returned to the pitch, she helped kickstart the Eagle offense. The Knoxville-native contributed two assists against Lincoln Memorial and added another assist against Mars Hill from the outside midfield position.
"Experience is definitely a big thing for us three and to show the other girls that we really have to push to get better and to improve and play quick and bring the best we can to the conference this year," Jordan said.
Hannah Schoutko (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Clancy Vaughan (Bradenton, Fla.) are the position's two sophomores. Schoutko played in 11 games at defensive midfield before an injury cut her season short. She recorded four shots and made eight appearances in the Starting XI. Vaughan saw limited action in 2014.
Seven total freshmen are on the midfield roster after Alexandria Goldschmitt (Knoxville, Tenn.) redshirted last year. The six newcomers for the Eagles are Alex Brandan (Knoxville, Tenn.), Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway), Heida Ragney (Akureyi, Iceland), Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England), Averi Williams (Powell, Tenn.) and Sarah Benton (Grand Junction, Colo.).
Brandan mainly played for her club team, FC Alliance, during high school and led the team in goals scored via a header. Ness joins the Eagles after playing in Norway's second division league on a team that finished second. Last season, Ragney played on a team that finished third in the Icelandic Premier League and she has recorded five caps for the U17 Icelandic National Team. Talbut-Smith spent time in the English Premier League Southern Division for Brighton and Hove Albion where she scored two goals and tallied 11 assists in 10 matches. Williams scored 24 career goals and 39 assists for Powell High School. She named District 3-AAA Midfielder of the Year twice during her time with the Panthers. Benton will spend time in the midfield and as a striker for the Eagles. She was Fruita Monument's leading scorer as a sophomore.
"New girls are pushing to make old players to do better and better players coming in makes everything and everyone step up," Jordan said. "They definitely show heart and passion and they love the game, so it making us love the game even more and play even harder."
The last part of the three-part position preview for the Carson-Newman women's soccer team will conclude next week with a look at the forwards.
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