JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn - Part two of a three part series previewing the 2016 Carson-Newman women's soccer team will focus on the midfielders returning for the upcoming season. One of those midfielders is sophomore Heida Ragney(Akureyri, Iceland), who stopped by to discuss the unit.
The defending South Atlantic Conference champions did lose two of their number to graduation at this position, but they bring back a talented group that includes two seniors and the 2015 SAC Freshman of the Year.
"Our expectations are really high," Ragney said. "We're aiming for the top. We need to build off last year and hopefully do even better this year."
The team's two veterans in the midfield spot are seniors Gabrielle Gianeselli(Knoxville, Tenn.) and Chelsea Jordan(Knoxville, Tenn.). Gianeselli saw action in fifteen games last year, with one start, and was a valuable presence off the bench for Coach Richard Moodie. She tallied three goals on the season, including the game-winner on 9/3 against Alabama-Huntsville. Jordan played in nine games, making three starts and has a goal and an assist to her credit during her career as an Eagle.
"They're quality players," Ragney said, "they have a lot of experience. Their mindset is great and they're really encouraging. It's really good to have players like that on our team."
The Eagles' midfield will also see the return of three of the SAC's best underclassmen in sophomores Varin Ness(Sogndal, Norway) and Holly Talbut-Smith(Crawley, England), as well as Ragney. Ness garnered recognition as the league's Freshman of the Year in 2015 after posting 12 goals, which was good enough for fifth in the conference. Her five assists also tied her for fifth in the SAC. Ragney started every game in her first collegiate season and led the conference with eight assists. Her season included a three-assist performance against Catawba on 10/10. Both players were named First Team All-SAC and earned spots on the NSCAA All-Southeast Regions teams, Ness on the second team, Ragney on the third team.
Talbut-Smith took full advantage of her first year of eligibility, seeing the field in every game but one and starting 18 times. Her four assists tied her for 10th in the SAC and that, combined with three goals, made her one of four Eagles with double digit points last year. Two of her goals were game-winners, one of them coming in her first game against Trevecca Nazarene.
The newcomers at midfield for the Eagles are sophomore Magda Mosengo(London, England) and freshmen Sydney Spadafora(Collierville, Tenn.), Jaidyn Zapf(St. Bonifacius, Minn.), Katelynn Hadjopoulos(Greeneville, Tenn.) and Lindsey Williams(Wilmington, N.C.). Mosengo transferred to C-N from St. Leo University in Florida, where she played in 15 games as a freshman with a goal and an assist.
Spadafora joins the team from St. George's Independent School in Collierville, Tennessee, whose soccer team she helped lead to a state championship in 2013. Williams was a four year starter at Eugene Ashley High School, led her team in assists twice and played club soccer for the Jacksonville Area Soccer Association 97 Coastal Surge, a top-10 U18 team in North Carolina. Hadjopoulos put together a star-studded high school career that also included a state championship in 2012 with her club team, the Greenville Lady Galaxy. Zapf holds the Waconia High School record for points and was named All-Conference three times.
"The freshman have come in and looked really good," Ragney said. "I'm really excited and I hope they get a lot of playing time this year. Also Magda [Mosengo], who transferred here, is a magnificent player and I can't wait to see her play."
This three part preview will conclude next week with a look at the players who will occupy the role of forwards in the 2016.
-CN-
