JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's soccer coach Richard Moodie announced the addition of four players to his 2015 signing class as Jessica Fratiure, Varin Ness, Holly Talbut-Smith and Heida Ragney Vidarsdottir join the Eagles.
A goalkeeper and three midfielders are comprised of this group of signees that join the six Eagles that joined the Carson-Newman family in February. In total, the 2015 signing class will feature three strikers, five midfielders, a defender and a goalkeeper.
Jessica Fratiure (Hebron, Ky.): Fratiure, the daughter of Melissa McLane, is a goalkepper from Hebron, Ky. She will graduate from Conner High School this semester. Fratiure was All-District as a sophomore and senior. She was named first team All-Region and All-Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. She guided Conner High School to a state championship appearance in 2012. Her grandfather, Guy Fratiure, played professional soccer in Belguim. She was born on January 20th, 1997. Fratiure chose Carson-Newman over the University of Pikeville, Campbellsville University, Cincinnati State, University of Rio Grande, IUPU Fort Wayne, Sewanne Univerity and Reinhardt University. She is undecided on her major.
Moodie on Fratiure: "She is a goalkeeper that we recruited late in this process out of Kentucky. She is actually a player that played for one of my former coaches and a very bright future for this girl. Great physical appearance in the goal, she's tall, strong and fearless and those are characteristics that you would like for any goalkeeper to have. She's got a bright future here at Carson-Newman and I think she is one that is going to compete for the starting spot next year even as a freshman."
Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway): Ness, the daughter of Siv Laila Eriksen and Tom Ness, is an attacking midfielder from Norway. She played in the second division in Norway and was on the team that finished in second. Ness was born on April 19th, 1994. She is undecided on a major.
Moodie on Ness: "Varin Ness is one of our top players that I believe we've signed. A bit like Heida. She is actually going to come to us as a transfer student, a little bit older, more mature in the middle of the park and not one defensive bone in her body. She is a straight out number 10 and loves to work hard and loves to create goals and certainly loves to score goals. And again, moving forward as a team, that is what I think that is one of the things we need to capitalize the 27 chances a game into goals and I think she is someone who will do that."
Holly Talbut-Smith (England): Talbut-Smith, the daughter of Hayley Talbut-Smith and David Talbut, is a midfielder from the United Kingdom. She spent time in the Women's Premier League Southern Division and played for Brighton and Hove Albion; she recorded two goals and 11 assists in 10 games. Talbut-Smith chose Carson-Newman over offers from West Alabama, Louisiana Tech, the University of Bridgeport and Salem International. Talbut-Smith was born on Decemer 19, 1996 and will major in Exercise Science.
Moodie on Talbut-Smith: "Holly is actually someone who is going to come here as a two-sport athlete. She is very, very athletic and has all types of records in track and competed in that area. I think she will adjust to the athleticism of the American game very easily. She is definitely going to come in quick. She is a very technical player and one that loves to run at people. She will play out in the flanks for us but also can play in the middle of the park as a left mid and a right mid. She is pretty tall herself, five-foot-eight. She loves to get on the ball and run at people and that's where she's very, very dangerous. As we push forward, I think she is someone who will help us, give us a little bit more speed in the attacking third."
Heida Ragney Vidarsdottir (Akureyri, Eyjafjardasysla, Iceland): Vidarsdottir, the daughter of Vidar Olason and Olina Freysteinsdottir, is a midfielder from Iceland. She played with a team in the Icelandic Premier League that finished third in the table last season. She has played five games with the U17 Icelandic National Team. Vidarsdottir was born on October 10th, 1005. She will major in Sociology.
Moodie on Ragney: "Heida Ragney is a freshman from Iceland. She will be perhaps our first Icelandic player that we've had on the girl's side. Played at a top-level in Iceland, even in and around the national team as she was a bit younger. She's a player that will play in the middle of the park. We are a team this is very mature in that area and is definitely someone that is going to contribute either in the creating of goals or even on the score sheet herself and that is something this team definitely lacked last year."
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CNWS Signee Pictures II
