Soccer Inks Four on Signing Day

AUBURN RECEIVED NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT VIA FAX FROM THE FOLLOWING
SIGNEES.   THE OFFICIAL LIST WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE FED-EX
ORIGINALS ARE RECEIVED.

February 4, 2004

AUBURN - The Auburn soccer team has signed four players for the upcoming 2004 season as announced Wednesday by head coach Karen Hoppa. The signing class includes Courtney Crandell, a junior transfer from Charlotte, and three incoming freshman, Kori Hoelscher, Lauren Stewart and Allison Whitworth.
       
Crandell comes to the Plains with outstanding accolades including being named as the 2003 preseason Conference USA Player of the Year at Charlotte, a 2002 NSCAA All-American and became the first-ever C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2002. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Crandell will play the forward position for the Tigers and take direct kicks.
        
"Courtney has a tremendous nose for the goal," Hoppa said. "She is a pure goal scorer and she is a free kick specialist. These are both areas that will compliment our front line immensely."
       
Hoelscher, a defender from Wellington, Fla., comes to Auburn as an incoming freshman with an extensive resume. She was a member of the Florida ODP state team in 2000-02 and was a member of the regional team in 2002. In high school at Wellington High, Hoelscher was awarded the Coach's Award as a sophomore, was named to the All-Area Regional team her freshman and sophomore seasons and was given the Newcomer Award during her freshman year.
       
"Kori has great experience in playing with the Olympic Development Program for many years and that will help her make the transition to our back line right away," Hoppa said. "With graduating three defenders, we are excited that she will be able to contribute right away."
       
Stewart is a familiar face to the Auburn program as she will join her twin sisters Kristin and Jada on the team this Fall. The Lilburn, Ga., native will play at the defender position as a center back. From 1999-2000, Stewart was a member of the Georgia ODP state team and was the captain of her club team, the GSA Phoenix Red '86, from
1998-2002.
       
"Lauren will fill a big need for us at the center back position," Hoppa said. "She has outstanding athleticism and is great at long range free kicks so we are hoping that she can replace Erin Hinson, who graduated, in that respect. Lauren also brings a familiarity to our program after having watched us and her sisters for two years."
       
Auburn's final signee is Whitworth, a native of Birmingham, who comes to Auburn as a highly touted goalkeeper. Whitworth was a Region III Pool Player in 2002-03 and was a member of the Alabama ODP state team from 1999-2003. With her club team, the Alabama Attack, Whitworth helped lead them to the Alabama state title in five straight years -- 1999-2003. Whitworth currently attends Briarwood Christian and was named to the AHSAA first team all-state in 2002-03, first team All-Metro in 2002-03 and the AHSAA North All-Star team in 2003.
       
"Allison is one of the top players in the state of Alabama," Hoppa said. "She has some impressive Olympic Development experience having been in the Regional Pool and will help give us great depth at the goalkeeper position. Allison has strong athletic ability and is very mobile. She is also tremendous with her feet."