Bulldogs Land Five Standouts Wednesday
Aaron Gordon compiled one of the top classes in Mississippi State soccer history Wednesday with the signing of five standouts that join four mid-year enrollees.
State inked Texas standouts Lauryn “Red” Bruffett, Kiley Martens and Carly English, as well as Courtney Robicheaux, one of the top players in Louisiana, and Florida standout goalkeeper Courtney Tompkins.
The trio joins mid-year enrollees Kennadi Carbin (Louisville, Ky.), Ariana Holmes (Fresno State), Jen Huckaby (Frisco, Texas) and Carly Mauldin (Laurel, Miss.) in the Bulldogs’ 2015 class.
“Typical recruiting in our league begins with verbal commitments almost two years before they sign their NLI,” Gordon said. “When early recruiting is the norm, it is so important that we as a staff recruit players who project to the level of our league. In 2015, we are thrilled with the class we have put together to join us at Mississippi State.
“We have added depth at the goalkeeping position and improved our overall team speed with the addition of two forwards, two midfielders and three defenders. In every position we have depth, speed and really good soccer players.”
Lauryn “Red” Bruffett - F, Fr., 5-9, Rockwall, Texas (Community HS/D’Feeters ECNL Soccer Club)
Gordon On Bruffett: “We needed forwards in this class, and Lauryn (Red) Bruffett from D’Feeters Soccer Club addressed that for us along with Kennadi Carbin, who joined us in January. Lauryn is a great goal scorer who has great size and great athleticism. She has the ability to play with her back to goal and take people one-on-one. At 5-9, she should give us some physicality up front that we have not had. I think she will make an immediate impact for our team.”
High School/Club: Four-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.com, rating 88th nationally, seventh in the region and 31st at her position… Three-sport athlete out of Rockwall, Texas, claiming letters in soccer, basketball and track… A forward for Lonnie Pollard’s newly formed team at Community High School… Placed on the Preseason Princeton Tournament All-Tournament Team in 2015, her first season playing for Community High School… 4x400 regional qualifier on the track and Offensive MVP for basketball her junior year… Offensive MVP in basketball and Newcomer of the Year for the UIL District 3A during her sophomore season… Spent her freshman season at Plano East High School… MVP of the varsity soccer squad at Plano after scoring 18 goals and assisting 12 more … Earned freshman of the year in District 5A and first team all-district honors her inaugural varsity season… Leading scorer for Don McIwee’s D’Feeters Soccer Club… Led the club in scoring for the U16, U17 and U18 teams… Had the most assists on the teams as well… Guided her U17 squad to a top-three ranking in the region… Participated in the national tournament with D’Feeters and was a 2014-2015 Portland Nike National Camp participant… Scored 51 goals in 86 games… Also added 34 assists in four seasons… Ranked number two in her high school class of 160… Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Aug. 12, 1996… Daughter of John and Lynda Bruffett… Has a sister, Logan, and a brother, Ben… Plans to pursue pre-med.
Courtney Robicheaux - D, Fr., 5-5, Mandeville, La. (St. Scholastica Academy/Mandeville Lakers FC)
Gordon On Robicheaux: “Courtney Robicheaux, we think, is a real find for us out of the state of Louisiana. She played for a very good Mandeville Lakers team. She is a very fast player who strikes a great ball. Her quickness and speed will be a real asset.”
High School/Club: Played with Mike Ortner’s varsity team at St. Scholastica Academy for her high school career… Transitioned to offense her senior and junior seasons after starting her career on defense… Has her team off to a 15-1-2 record this season, scoring 24 goals while assisting six more… Named to the LHSCA All-Star Team in her final prep campaign… Tabbed LHSAA Player of the Year and first team all-state in 2014 after notching 43 goals and 32 assists in leading her squad to the state title… Also added district co-MVP and St. Scholastica Offensive MVP accolades to her junior resume… Awarded first team all-state, first team all-district and Metro Defensive Player of the Year to cap a sophomore season that saw her team claim state runner-up honors with a 20-1-1 record… Also named team MVP as a sophomore… Tabbed to the freshman all-state and all-district squads following her freshman soccer season… Scored seven goals and assisted 11 more as St. Scholastica won the district and finished runner-up in state… Three-year captain of Jonathan King’s Mandeville Lakers club team… Reached the regional quarterfinals and won the state championship with the Lakers… Captained the Lakers three of four years, compiling 77 goals and 72 assists… Helped her club squad to a 70-4-7 overall record.
Personal: Born Sept. 26, 1997… Daughter of Cliff and Rhonda Robicheaux… Has three siblings, sisters, Kayla and Brittany Bosarge, and a brother, Mason.
Courtney Tompkins - GK, Fr., 5-7, Palm City, Fla. (American Heritage School/Magicjack FC)
Gordon On Tompkins: “Courtney Tompkins is a goalkeeper from South Florida that we are really excited about. She has a great attitude, mentality and shot-stopping ability. She made a lot of big saves in big moments for her club and high school. We added an excellent player in Courtney, who will come to our program looking to make her mark.”
High School/Club: Four-star goalkeeper and one of the top players to watch in Florida by TopDrawerSoccer.com… Dual-sport athlete at American Heritage for coaches Steve Burgess and Paul Gregory… Top 10 in the ESPN Top 63 in both soccer and softball… Set a record with 890 minutes without surrendering a goal… Captained the American Heritage squad for two years… Has tended the nets for two American Heritage state championship squads, helping the school to the third-most state championships in Florida history… Led American Heritage to four-straight district championships and a pair of regional crowns… Set a high school record with no goals allowed in two state tournaments… 2014 team MVP and state championship player of the game… Allowed just two goals through 520 minutes of her senior season, helping her team to a 14-3-3 record… Led her team to a 19-2 mark as a junior, surrendering five goals in 1,440 minutes… Named a Bright House top goalkeeper and the Palm Beach Post MVP… Tabbed all-county goalkeeper all four high school seasons… A two-time State Cup Champion for Jayson Chung’s Magicjack club that has won multiple national championships and was ranked No. 1 in 2012 and 2013.
Personal: Born December 12, 1996… Daughter of Scott and Gail Tompkins, and has one older sister, Jordan.
Carly English - D/MF, Fr., 5-6, Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak High School/Solar Chelsea Soccer Club)
Gordon On English: “Carly English from Solar Soccer Club in Dallas has grown up in a good club environment with good coaching. She is an all-around good soccer player, playing outside back for her club team and defensive mid in high school. Carly has good feet and a great mentality. We’re excited about what she brings in terms of soccer playing ability.”
High School/Club: A four-year varsity starter at Red Oak High School for Matt Loafman… Selected to wear the captain’s band her senior season… Claimed 30 goals and 24 assists through 55 career games… Has scored six goals and assisted two more to help her squad to a 4-3-1 record early in her senior season… Ranked No. 21 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area by dallasnews.com for goals and assists as a junior after scoring 17 goals and assisting 13 more in leading Red Oak to a 19-3-3 record and the 2014 Region 4A semifinals… First team all-district and utility player of the year as a junior after helping Red Oak rank No. 6 in offense and No. 9 in defense in the DFW area… Also earned the team’s MVP and offensive player of the year honors… Took second team all-district honors as a sophomore after scoring seven goals and adding nine assists as her team went 21-0-5 and advanced to the UIL playoffs 4A sectionals… Helped her prep squad to the Region 4A semifinals in her first varsity campaign (2012)… Also lettered in cross country… Member of the Solar Chelsea Soccer Club since age seven… Starter and team captain for Nick Stavrou… Selected to participate in Texas’ ECNL Player Development Program in 2014… Invited to the North Texas and Region III Olympic Development Program camp from 2008-12.
Personal: Born October 24, 1996… Daughter of Jason and Mary English… Has an older sister, Courtney, who played soccer for Northwood University.
Kiley Martens - MF, Fr., 5-4, Midlothian, Texas (Midlothian High School/Dallas FC ECNL)
Gordon On Martens: “Kylie Martens comes from a very good FC Dallas club. Her technical ability coupled with her athleticism makes her so valuable to every team has played for. Her versatility will be a welcome addition for our program.”
High School/Club: A standout midfielder for Sid Danner’s Midlothian High squad… Named varsity captain her senior and junior seasons… Helped Midlothian to a 9-1-1 pre-district record this season, accounting for 25 points with 10 goals and five assists… Named MVP midfielder as a junior after scoring 11 goals and 15 assists to lead the Panthers to a 22-2-5 record and the area and district titles … Earned first team all-district as a sophomore, tallying six goals and 12 assists to lead Midlothian to the district and bi-district championships… Member of Matt Grubb’s U17 FC Dallas ECNL team… Helped the club to an eighth-place finish in the 2014 ECNL Champions League finals, a year after the club claimed third place in the nation.
Personal: Born August 17, 1997… Daughter of Barry and Chris Martens… Has one sister, Megan.
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