Seven players sign with Bearkat soccer
2/4/2015 10:45:00 AM | Soccer
Sam Houston State soccer head coach Tom Brown has announced the signing of seven high school players that will join the program in 2015.
The class consists of four players from the state of Texas and two from Oklahoma. There are two forwards, two midfielders, two defenders and one goalkeeper.
“These seven players are a fantastic group that I think will help keep our team at the top of the Southland Conference. It is a very balanced recruiting class with us signing a goalkeeper and two players at each position group,” Brown said. "All of these players have played for some of the top clubs in Texas and Oklahoma. Their contributions to their teams have been very important in the success the teams have had on the field. I believe that they can have that same type of impact here.”
“I really appreciate the efforts of my staff, Miss Payne and Mrs. Thompson in the recruiting of these players. Their efforts in providing information and making these players feel that Sam Houston State is a great place to be in this next stage of their lives has been fantastic.”
Last week the Bearkats announced the addition of two transfers, goalkeeper Taylor Erwin (Arkansas) and midfielder Alexis Riggs (Arkansas State) as well.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Lindsey Bienski FW Spring / Klein High School
Micaela Birt FW Fort Worth / Timber Creek High School
Meredith Carlson MF Tulsa, Okla. / Jenks High School
Lauren Ledbetter DF Rockwall / Rockwall Heath High School
Bailey Strong MF Jenks, Okla. / Jenks High School
Bailey Swain GK Mabank / Mabank High School
Whitney Woodward DF Pflugerville / Hendrickson High School
TRANSFERS
Taylor Erwin GK The Colony / The Colony High School (Arkansas)
Alexis Riggs MF Fort Worth / Fossil Ridge High School (Arkansas State)
LINDSEY BIENSKI
Forward – Spring / Klein High School
Four-year starter and two-time first team all-district player for coach Adrian Ramirez at Klein High School … played in the playoffs in her first three seasons … helped her team to the third round during her freshman year … named the team's Offensive MVP during her sophomore year … named the Houston Chronicle Player of the Week in July 2013 … plays club soccer for the Challenge 97 ECNL team … her club coaches have been Chris Maravalli, Pat O'Toole and Stuart Self … considered a three star player from TopDrawerSoccer and is ranked no. 53 in the region … honor student and National Honor Society member will major in education … daughter of John and Karen Bienski
“Soccer, family, and teaching are my passions,” Bienski said. “I found that passion with Sam Houston and the Bearkats. On my official visit, I truly felt like a member of the Bearkat family. I am excited to be a part of Coach Brown's team and make long time friendships. Sam Houston will provide me with a perfect mix of academics and athletics.”
“I am very excited that Lindsey will be playing with us for the next four years,” said Brown. “She is a very technical player who does a great job running at defenders and is a very good finisher of the ball. She will be able to play as a wide forward for us and she can get herself isolated with the other teams outside defender.”
MICAELA BIRT
Forward – Fort Worth / Timber Creek High School
Four-year starter and first team all-district player for coach Mike King … helped team play to Area Finalis in 2012 and a Regional Quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014 … in 2014, she lead the team with 14 goals and 6 assists and was the team's Offensive MVP … named second team All-Region by TASCO … as a freshman in 2012, she was named the Offensive Newcomer of the Year for District 11-4A and led the team in goals and assists … played her club soccer for Solar Chelsea ECNL from 2011-2013 … from 2013 to present played for FC Dallas ECNL and coach Chris Ring … considered a three star player from TopDrawerSoccer … daughter of Bill and Lanna Birt
“I fell in love with the campus the first time I visited and I feel that Sam can help me meet and exceed my goals both academically and athletically,” said Birt. “I knew immediately after meeting the coaching staff and the members of the soccer program that SHSU was the perfect place for me. I already feel at home.”
“Micaela is a very versatile attacker who can play central or out wide,” Brown said. “She has good height and is great in the air. She is also very skillful and can put the ball in the net. She will be a very difficult player for defenders to handle.”
MEREDITH CARLSON
Midfielder – Tulsa, Okla. / Jenks High School
Member of district championship and state finalist team under head coach Amanda Jo Johnson … three-year varsity player … district champions and state finalists as a sophomore … state semifinalists last season … senior year begins this March … played her club soccer for Tulsa Soccer Club 97 ECNL the past four years … team placed seventh in the ECNL National Tournament in 2012 and won the ECNL North American League National Championship in 2013 … club coaches were Kerry Shubert and Jesse Williams … considered a three star soccer player from TopDrawerSoccer … daughter of Jeff and Nan Carlson
“I felt comfortable on the campus, with Coach Brown and the soccer team,” Carlson said. “I also was impressed by the strong Business program Sam Houston offers. An added bonus was the location because it is away from home but close enough that I can get home with a day's drive.”
“Meredith is a very quick player with the ball who can play in the midfield or as a wide forward,” Brown said. “She is very crafty working the ball with her teammates and can score great goals from distance.”
LAUREN LEDBETTER
Defender – Rockwall / Rockwall Heath High School
She will begin her first year of high school soccer for coach Marco Duran at Heath High School … plays her club soccer for the Dallas Sting and her coaches have been Jeremy Halverson and Trini Borunda … member of team that claimed the North Texas State Cup Championship in 2013 and played in the Region 3 quarterfinals the same year
“I love the atmosphere and size of the campus and I like Coach Brown's coaching philosophy,” Ledbetter said.
“Lauren mainly plays as a central defender. She has very good height and is very strong defending in the air or going forward on corner kicks,” said Brown. “She looks very relaxed when controlling the ball in the back and building the attack.”
BAILEY STRONG
Midfielder – Jenks, Okla. / Jenks High School
Four-year player for coach Amanda Jo Johnson … member of teams that have advanced to the state quarterfinals twice and the state finals once … senior year begins this March … played her club soccer for Tulsa Soccer Club 97 ECNL the past four years … team placed seventh in the ECNL National Tournament in 2012 and won the ECNL North American League National Championship in 2013 … club coaches were Kerry Shubert and Jesse Williams … daughter of Andy and Lisa Strong
“I chose to go to Sam Houston State because the coaches and players were welcoming and I loved the campus,” Strong said.
“Bailey is a very well rounded midfielder who is skillful on the ball but is also a very tenacious defender,” said Brown. “I will look for her to play a little deeper in the midfield and help to win balls back for our team. She is good at helping the team keep the ball and getting forward to score the occasional goal.”
BAILEY SWAIN
Goalkeeper – Mabank / Mabank High School
Two-time first team All-District player for head coach Mari Miller … district Most Valuable Player in 2014 … named first-team All-East Texas … member of three-time district championship team … regional semifinalists in 2013 and regional quarterfinalists in 2014 … district goalkeeper of the year as a freshman … academic All-District all three seasons … also a three-time first team All-District volleyball player … district Player of the Year … honorable mention all-state … played one season of varsity basketball and was named district defensive MVP
“Sam Houston State University offers me excellent academic opportunities and the chance to be a part of a great soccer program. I am very excited to be a part of the Bearkat family,” Swain said.
“Bailey has proven to be the top female athlete at her high school with all the awards she has won in volleyball and soccer,” Brown said. “She will easily be one of the top athletes we have had. The early part of her career here we will be working with her to improve her technique and work on decision making. However, I think that she has the potential to have a real impact on our success in the future.”
WHITNEY WOODWARD
Defender – Pflugerville / Hendrickson High School
Three-time all-district and academic all-district player for coach Frank Hense … has been a varsity starter for four years … member of team that was a regional finalist during her freshman year and district champions during her freshman and sophomore years … selected as the team's Most Valuable Player in her junior year … plays club soccer for Lonestar 97 ECNL and is coached by Alex Tapp … the team was an ECNL Champions League Finalist the past three years … daughter of Russell and D'Lyn Woodward
“I chose Sam Houston because I love the dynamic of the team along with the competitive environment and the family atmosphere the program creates,” said Woodward.
“Whitney is a very strong attacking wide defender. She is very difficult to get by when she is defending and can fly forward to join in the attack,” Brown said. “She will do a great job of serving dangerous crosses in when we attack.”
