Auburn Soccers Signs Seven

February 6, 2002

AUBURN- Auburn soccer team, under the direction of head coach Karen Richter, signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to join the program as freshmen in the 2002 season.

Jessie Allan, a midfielder from Crystal Lake, Ill., Ashley Eason, a defender from Memphis, Tenn., Jacqueline Schwarz, a midfielder/forward from Muskogee, Okla., Jada Stewart, a center midfielder from Lilburn, Ga., Kristen Stewart, a forward from Lilburn, Ga., Ashley Willis, a forward from Winter Haven, Fla., and Jenny Zarzour, a midfielder from Huntsville, Ala., each signed with the Tigers on the first day of the signing period.

“With the experience, ability and speed of this class, the signees will take our program to the next level,” said Richter, who will begin her fourth season at Auburn in the fall. “The high quality of this class is in large part due to recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach Matthew Mott and assistant coach Heather Walker.”

Allen played high school soccer at Prairie Ridge and was a three-time all-area and all-conference selection. She also played for the Campton United club team and was a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) State team in 1997 and 1998.

“Jessie brings speed, quickness and crafty technical ability to our midfield,” Richter said. “She can be very dangerous as a wide mid by getting endline and serving balls into the box.”

Eason, the three-time offensive Player of the Year for Ridgeway High School, was a member of the 2000 Under-16 National team and was named to the 1999 U-15 National Pool and the 1998 U-14 National Pool. She is a member of the ODP State and Regional team and has helped her high school win four state titles and the Memphis Futbol Club team win four state championships.

“Ashley’s experience with the national team will be a great addition to our SEC West leading defense,” Richter added. “Her tactical knowledge and ability to get forward on the attack are strengths that she will bring to Auburn.”

Schwarz, the Oklahoma Most Valuable Player out of Muskogee High School, helped the Tulsa Soccer Club with six straight state championships from 1994 to 2000. She also helped the club team to the 2000 Regional finals, while being a three-time all-district selection and three-time offensive MVP for Muskogee.

“Jacqueline is an extremely explosive player whose commitment to go forward is invaluable both up top and in the midfield,” said Richter. “Her exciting, attacking style will be a great addition to our offense.”

The Stewarts, twins from Parkview High School, were named co-MVPs in 1999 and Jada won the 2001 Defensive MVP, while Kristen was the Offensive MVP in 2000 and 2001. The duo helped the AFC Lightning 84 club team to back-to-back state titles in 2000 and 2001 and to the regional semi-finals in 2000. Jada and Kristen were also members of the ODP State team in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and Adidas/ESP All-Stars in 2001.

“The Stewarts’ athleticism and dynamic abilities will allow them to have an immediate impact on our team,” Richter stated. “Jada’s savvy distribution and tough defensive ability makes her a successful central player in both the midfield and the back. Kristen’s speed and attacking flair makes her a tremendous goal scorer.”

Willis was a member of the 2000 and 2001 ODP Regional team and the 1999, 2000 and 2001 ODP State team. She played for the Blackwatch Sterling club team and for Auburndale High School where she led the team in scoring in each of her seasons.

“Ashley brings blazing speed and a great goal-scoring touch to our front line,” Richter said. “She is also crafty with the ball and has the exciting ability to beat players in one versus one battles.”

Zarzour, whose sister is a senior soccer player at the University of Alabama, was the two-time offensive MVP of her team at Virgil Grissom High School where she also earned first-team all-state honors and was the all-metro Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000. She played on the 2001 ODP Regional team, was a five-year member of the ODP State team and was named to the 1999 and 2000 Regional Pool.

“We feel Jenny is the top player in the state,” said Richter. “She is a tremendous attacking player and is very dynamic going forward. Her versatility allows her to play anywhere in the midfield or up top.”

Auburn adds these seven student-athletes to a Tiger team that won the Southeastern Conference Western Division title in 2001, making it to the SEC Tournament title match and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.