AUBURN----Auburn head soccer coach Karen Hoppa signed six new players for the 2003 season as announced Wednesday including Ronda Brooks, Anna Fiser, Lindsay Giblin, Kelsey Grossman, Jennifer Lee and Meredith Spink.

"Our staff feels that, as 2002 SEC Champs, we have improved every area of our team with this signing class," assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Matt Mott said. "From our superb defense, to our highly explosive offense, we have added players that will help maintain and improve on our already strong nucleus."

Brooks, a defender from Marietta, Ga., will come to Auburn from Pope High School as a three-time high school state champion. As a member of the GSA 85 Phoenix Red Soccer Club, Brooks helped lead her team to a U-16 national title as a captain and has been a ODP Region III team member.

"Ronda’s experience at a high level will certainly help improve our strong play on defense," Mott said. "She is a fast, tenacious defender, who we expect to be an immediate impact player."

Fiser, a four-year all-state player at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Miss., was a member of the ODP state team and was a Region pool player in 2002. The Jackson Futbol Club member will come to the Plains at the goalkeeper position.

"Anna is an experienced goalkeeper, who is very athletic with great shot-stopping ability," Mott said. "She will be a great addition to our goalkeeping contingent."

Giblin, a forward from Naples, Fla., was named as an ODP Region III player. The Florida Premier club team member was also a U-14 national pool member and was a three-time all-state team member at Barron Collier High School. Giblin was named her high school team’s most valuable player and was honored as the Naples Daily News Player of the Year.

"Lindsay is an extremely explosive player whose ability to link the midfield to the attack is invaluable," Mott said. "Her exciting, attacking style will be a great addition to our offense."

Grossman, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., is a five-year Indiana state ODP team player, who plays for the Dynamo 84 Club team. At North Central High School, Grossman was a 2001-02 team captain and also helped lead her team to the 1999 state championships. In the classroom, Grossman has been named to the academic all-conference team in 1999-2002.

"Kelsey’s versatility allows her to play anywhere in the midfield or up top," assistant coach Heather Welker said. "Her quickness and technical ability offer an exciting option to our already strong attacking style."

Lee comes to Auburn from St. Charles, Ill. and is member of the St. Charles North High School soccer team. As a part of that team, Lee was named team captain and team MVP and earned the honor of state all-conference team. Lee was also part of the state cup championship team with the Soccers FC Chicago Club and was a 2001 WAGS Champion.

"Jennifer’s ability to possess as a defender is a great attribute to her game," Welker said. "Her physical presence and ability to win balls in the air makes her a valuable asset to our team."

Auburn’s final signee is Spink, a Birmingham, Ala., native, who will come to the Tigers from the Alabama Attack club team. The forward/midfielder is a two-time ODP state team player and helped lead Briarwood Christian High School to a state championship.

"Meredith is a tremendous player that will offer a great deal to this team as a speedy goal scorer," Mott said. "We are thrilled to have signed the top player in the state, in our opinion."

Auburn, who claimed its’ best season in history in 2002 with an SEC Championship and second-round NCAA appearance, will now add these six signees to a team that lost just two seniors.