Nine players sign NLIs to join Auburn
The Auburn soccer team inked nine players to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday morning. The signees come from five different states and consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and two forwards.
"This class fills some very important positions for us and gives us depth in each line," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. "They are a great group of girls that will represent Auburn University with class on and off the field. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to The Plains.
Signing with Auburn are: goalkeeper Sophie Milich (Katy, Texas/The Village School); defenders Karli Gutsche (Lithia, Fla./Newsome HS), A.J. Peacock (Birmingham, Ala./Mount Brook HS) and Kerry Dunn (Owens Cross Roads, Ala./Hunstville HS); midfielders Ashton Brock (Dade City, Fla./Pasco HS), Melissa Pagoaga (Duluth, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) and Gianna Montini (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines HS); and forwards Abby Meadows (Auburn, Ala./Auburn HS) and Taylor Troutman (Toms River, N.J./Toms River HS South).
2015 Recruiting Class | |||||
No. Player Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown | High School | Club Team |
#5 Abby Meadows | F | 5-7 | Auburn, Ala. | Auburn HS | GSA ECNL 97 |
#10 Ashton Brock | MF | 5-4 | Dade City, Fla. | Pasco HS | Tampa Bay United |
#11 Melissa Pagoaga | MF | 5-3 | Duluth, Ga. | St. Pius X Catholic HS | GSA Phoenix 97 Red |
#17 Taylor Troutman | F | 5-6 | Toms River, N.J. | Toms River HS South | CRUSA FC Bucks Fury ECNL |
#19 Sophie Milich | GK | 6-0 | Katy, Texas | The Village School | AHFC 97 ECNL |
#20 Karli Gutsche | D | 5-9 | Lithia, Fla. | Newsome HS | ECNL West Florida Flames |
#27 A.J. Peacock | D/MF | 5-7 | Birmingham, Ala. | Mountain Brook HS | BUSA 97 ECNL |
#28 Kerry Dunn | D | 5-3 | Owens Cross Roads, Ala. | Huntsville HS | Concorde Fire |
#29 Gianna Montini | MF | 5-7 | San Diego, Calif. | Torrey Pines HS | Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks |
Abby Meadows | |
CLUB: Currently plays for GSA ECNL 97 out of Atlanta, Ga...Played for the Auburn Thunder 97, which was the Division I State Champion in 2012...Moved to Bay United 97 out of Panama City, Fla., in 2014 and was part of Disney College Showcase Qualifying Tournament winning team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Scored 50 goals and 30 assists by end of junior season for Auburn High School...Was named the offensive MVP in 2014 and was the Alabama High School All-Star Game MVP in the same year.
PERSONAL: Daughter ofWilliam and Laura Meadows...Has one sister, Lily and one brother, Billy...Father, William, played football and baseball for Sewanee, University of the South...Uncle, Murray, played football and baseball at Millsaps College...Grandfather, William Sr., played football at Florida State...Abby is currently a member of the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society and the Math Honor Society.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: "We couldn’t be more excited to add this Auburn girl to our team. Abby is a tremendous athlete who can play multiple positions. She has a great work ethic and athleticism."
Ashton Brock | |
ODP: Member of '97 Florida team, the '97 Region III Team, '97 International Pool Team and '97/'98 Region Team.
CLUB:Has played for Tampa Bay United under Jim Cote and Eddie Rodriguez...Was part of the WAGS Championship team during her senior season...Won the Florida State Cup and was a Southern Regional Semi-Finalist in 2013...A Southern Regional Finalist in 2012...Capped her freshman season as a WAGS Champion and Disney Champion for Tampa Bay United 95...
HIGH SCHOOL:Varsity captain for four years under Dan Herndon at Pasco High School...In 2012, was named to the Best of Florida soccer team...Scored 30 goals and notched 13 assists over her sophomore and junior seasons...Nearly quadrupled her season-high during her senior season with 41 goals and 12 assists to boot.
PERSONAL:Daughter of Hutch and Natalie Brock...Has three brothers, Coleman, Carson and Connor...Her dad, Hutch, played football and baseball at UPenn...Was part of the National Honor Society and Straight A Honor Roll in high school...Also a SAC All-Academic Athlete and graduated Summa Cum Laude, while being a Rotary Outstanding Citizen.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “Ashton is an extremely competitive center mid. She can play attacking or holding and is a tremendous ball winner in the air and on the ground. She is also technical and can score goals.”
Melissa Pagoaga | |
ODP: Georgia ODP from 2009 through 2013...Part of 2013 team that qualified for national championship.
CLUB: Played for GSA Phoenix '97 Red under head coach Campbell Chapman...Won four-straight ECNL South East Championships, qualifying for nationals each season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played under Sara Geiger at St. Pius X Catholic High School...Won 2013 and 2014 state championships and a regional championship in 2012.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Jose and Karen Pagoaga...Has two brothers, Devon and Michael.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: "Melissa come from an extremely successful club team, and she is a tremendous possession oriented center mid who will fit in perfectly with our style. She is composed and can play anywhere in the midfield."
Taylor Troutman | |
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM: Part of U17 national player pool.
ODP: Part of state team from age 12 through 16...Region I team, ages 12 and 15...Played in interregional tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., at age 15...US ODP State Team Nationals tournament at age 15 and 16.
CLUB: Played for Craig Dorman and Dan Mannella on CRUSA FC Bucks Fury...2014 ECNL North American League national champions...Went undefeated in 2013 in NEWSS and WAGS...Won Jefferson Cup, PA State Cup and Region I during freshman year...Scored 10 goals through first three seasons at club level during high school...Selected to ECNL ID2 PDP Camp for Northeast Division in 2013 and 2014.
HIGH SCHOOL: Scored at least 20 goals or more from sophomore through senior seasons at Toms River High School South...Her 29 goals during junior year are a single-season career-high...Notched 22 assists in same season, also a career-high...Set new school record for goals in a career (88) and assists in a career (44)...Was team captain during senior year and was awarded the Senior Academci Excellence Award from The Shore Soccer Officials Association...Made First-Team All-State Group III in 2013, along with First-Team All-Shore and First-Team All-County...Named Ocean County Player of the Year in 2013 and was South Jersey Group III champions...Team MVP in 2013 and set single-season school record for assists (22)...Named First-Team All-County in 2011 and 2012 and First-Team All-Shore in 2013.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Mark and Donna Troutman...Father, Mark, was a wrestler at Wilkes University (PA)...Mother, Donna, played field hockey at Bloomsburg University (PA)...Sister, Paige, played soccer at LaSalle...Cousin Lindsey Wiest, played soccer at Tennessee...Taylor is a member of the National Honor Society.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: "Taylor is a tough, aggressive goal-scoring forward. She is that player that you love to have on your team and that you hate to play against. She is a winner, and we are thrilled to add her to our front line."
Sophie Milich | |
CLUB: Reached the 2014 ECNL National Playoffs with the Albion Hurricanes, while playing under Dylan Glad...Played in the 2013 ECNL National Finals...2012 Disney Showcase finalists and 2012 USYSNC Southern Regional Finals.
HIGH SCHOOL: Team captain for The Village School varsity team from sophomore through senior seasons...Played under head coach Dough Brotherton.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Michael and Keri Milich...Father, Michael played football at Tulane, while mom, Keri, played basketball at Tulane as well...Sopie Milich was a National Merit Scholar in high school and was named to the honor roll each semester...Was also a Hugh O'Brien Leadership Delegate.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “Sophie will bring much needed depth to our goalkeeping group. She has great size and is an excellent shot-stopper. She is strong in the air and will have a great presence when she arrives on campus.”
Karli Gutsche | |
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM: Repeated invitations to U.S. Soccer National Training Centers from 2011 through 2013.
ODP:Member of ODP Inter-Regional camp in 2014...2013 Region III camp for Germany...2012 Region III team camp for Costa Rica...2012 Florida ODP state team captain.
CLUB:Played for ECNL West Florida Flames under head coach Jorge Zavala...Part of Florida State Cup runner-up team and Disney Showcase champion teams in 2011 and 2012...Became a Florida State Cup champion in 2013, while also qualifying for the ECNL National Championship in Richmond, Va...An ECNL playoff contender in 2014...Was team captain for 2013-14.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played for Newsome High School under head coach Kelly Townsend...Currently still in high school playoffs, reaching regional championships for senior season...Has scored 14 goals and nine assists so far this year...2014 Tampa Tribune Hillsborough County Player of the Year...2014 Tampa Bay Times First-Team All-Star......Scored team-leading 21 goals and notched 10 assists during the 2013 season, new career-highs that led the team to the regional semi-finals...2013 Hillsborough County First-Team All-Star...Positioned as a sweeper during freshman and sophomore seasons, finding the back of the net a combined 25 times with 13 assists, 15 coming in 2012...Reached the regional quarterfinals in 2011 and 2012...2012 Hillsborough County First-Team All-Star.
PERSONAL:Daughter ofPeter and Dawn Gutsche...Has one sister, Karina, and one brother, Josef...Her father, Peter, played professional soccer in Mexico and the United States...Her mother, Dawn, played soccer at the University of Tampa...Sister, Karina, played soccer at the University of Florida.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “Karli brings a wealth of experience to Auburn. She is a true center back who is great in the air, good with the ball, and hard in the tackle. She is a leader and will be an invaluable addition to our already strong back line.”
A.J. Peacock | |
CLUB: Has been the starting outside defender/forward for BUSA 97'ECNL since 2013 under coaches Andrew Brower and Joel Person...Played the 2013 club season for the Murfreesboro Strikers Club out of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
HIGH SCHOOL:Has played on the varsity team for Mountain Brook under coach Scott Flowers since freshman year...Part of the Alabama State 6A championship winning tream...Was state runner-up in 2014.
PERSONAL: Daughter of David and Jill Peacock...Has one sibling, Bailey...Her dad, David, ran track and cross country for Auburn...Two cousins, Sarah and Megan Strand, played soccer at VMI...A.J. is currently a member of the National Honor Society and also was on the track team in high school.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “AJ comes from an Auburn family as her dad ran track here. She brings athleticism, work rate and versatility to the plains. She is a team first player who will be a great addition on and off the field.”
Kerry Dunn | |
CLUB: Played for James Harris of the Concorde Fire.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played under Chris Crump at Huntsville High School...Scored the most goals in North Alabama during her freshman season, en route to being named best newcomer...Was named All-State during her freshman and sophomore seasons and All-City during first three high school seasons...Named most valuable offensive player in 2012 and 2013 seasons, while leading the team in goals.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Laurie Patrick.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “Kerry is a left back who can also play several other positions. She is great going forward and can strike a quality ball. She will bring depth to our wide positions along with a superb mentality.”
Gianna Montini | |
CLUB: Played for Felicia Kappes of Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks...Has been a team captain since U9's...Has been National League Champions for two-straight years and currently going for a three-peat.
HIGH SCHOOL: Has scored 23 goals in her high school career for Torrey Pines, with four coming already this season...Notched a career-high 17 assists during her junior season (2013-14) and has had 10 or more assists each year...Named to U-T San Diego All-Academic Team (2011-2015)...2014 First-Team All-CIF...2014 Falcon Award winner...2014 Avocado League Player of the Year.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Sam and Wendy Montini...Has one sister, Mia.
COACH HOPPA SAYS: “Gianna is a strong holding center mid who will do whatever the team needs to be successful. She is great in possession and is a beast in the air. She fits our style perfectly both defensively and offensively.”
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