JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn – Part three of the four-part Carson-Newman women's soccer position preview highlights the midfielders for the Eagles with sophomore midfielder Chelsea Jordan.
As in the last two position previews, there are less returning midfielders than there are newcomers. Coach Richard Moodie returns five players from the 2013 season and welcomes six freshmen to the squad.
Out of the five returners, there are: two seniors, a junior and two sophomores.
Malaeya Garrison is the most-tenured returner. The senior has appeared in 51 games during her Carson-Newman career, making 50 starts. She has seven career goals, but Garrison will be seeing her first live action in two yeas after redshirting during the 2013 season.
Jefferson County native Bailee Wilson is the other senior for the Eagles. The defensive midfielder has started 26 of the 41 games she has played.
The lone junior for the Eagles' midfielder is Mikayla Gregg. The Newport, Tenn. native has the versatility to play from anywhere on the field. In her three years on Mossy Creek, she has made 28 starts and scored seven goals while adding four assists. She was the 2012 Freshman of the Year for the team.
Sophomore Chelsea Jordan made an impact during her freshman campaign at Carson-Newman. The holding midfielder appeared in 16 games making 14 starts.
Gabrielle Gianeselli's freshman impact was felt on the win-loss record. Gianeselli scored the overtime game-winning goal against Lincoln Memorial last October. The Knoxville, Tenn. native totaled four goals during the 2013 and added three assists.
While the returners have a leg up on the system, Jordan said that the freshman have added a lot of competition during the 2014 preseason camp.
"The returners have really had to step it up this year to make sure they can keep their position or fight for their position because the new girls can take it from them," Jordan said.
The six freshmen come from four states and add quickness and potential to the roster.
Hannah Schoutko is from Knoxville, Tenn. and plays center-mid. While at Christian Academy of Knoxville, Schoutko was a member of the 2012 state champion soccer team and was a three-time state runner-up.
Briana Hooker is a right-winger from Greenville, S.C. During her senior season of high school, Hooker scored 11 goals for her squad.
Pinkerington, Ohio native Casidy Simonis is a center midfielder. Simonis garnered All-Conference honors her junior and senior season at Pinkerington Central High School and she was named the MVP her senior year.
The last three center midfielders are Powell, Tenn. native Alli Goldschmitt, Gatlinburg, Tenn. native Haley Hooker and Clancy Vaughn, who comes to Mossy Creek from Bradenton, Fla.
Jordan says that this group of freshmen have the ability to take the program to the top of the South Atlantic Conference with their ability.
"They are a great group of girls. They came in here to work hard and they are helping us rebuild the program. We expect them to perform like they have been here four years and they are ready to play and compete with us."
The last installment of the Carson-Newman women's soccer position preview comes Friday and will feature the forwards and strikers with coach Richard Moodie.
