VIDEO: Simon Duffy Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's soccer coach Simon Duffy has added three new names to the roster of the two-time defending South Atlantic Conference champions, it was announced on Tuesday.
Emilee Futrell, Ajah Liggin and Madison Huffstetler have all signed on with coach Duffy's squad and will be members of C-N's roster starting in the fall of 2017. Huffstetler and Liggin are both Tennessee natives while Futrell will be making the trek over from North Carolina.
Emilee Futrell – Wilson, N.C. – Ralph L. Fike High School – Forward - @emileefutrell
Emilee Futrell is a forward who comes to Mossy Creek by way of Ralph L. Fike High School in Wilson, N.C. In four years with the Golden Demons, Futrell totaled 33 goals and added 24 assists. She was an all-conference selection three times during her high school career and also earned all-region recognition as a junior. Her performance helped lead her team to three conference championships. She also competed in swimming as a high schooler.
Futrell is the daughter of Debby and Jeff Futrell and she is set to major in Exercise Science at C-N. Her mother is a former collegiate student-athlete who ran track at Campbell Univeristy. The North Carolina native chose Carson-Newman over Belmont Abbey, Queens (N.C.), Concord University and Barton College. She is also member of the National Honor Society. Futrell was born on January 21st 2000.
Duffy on Futrell: "Emily Futrell is a North Carolina kid. She was at our I.D. camp in January. Emily is a pacey forward who plays in the seven or 11 positions. She's a winger and can play center forward as well. She's very athletic and good on the ball. She can take people on one-on-one. She's definitely going to add to our team in that respect."
Ajah Liggin – Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Oakland High School – Defender
Ajah Liggin joins coach Duffy's crew from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Liggin collected three goals and two assists during her career as a Patriot and played both fullback and midfielder for coach Jeff Boynton. She was a first-team all-district selection as both a junior and a senior and also earned first-team all-region and first-team all-Daily News journal and Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association All-State honors. Liggin helped lead Oakland to three District 7-AAA regular season championships and a pair of 7-AAA tournament championships.
Liggin's parents are Terry and Lori Liggin and she intendeds to major in Psychology at Carson-Newman. Her father, Terry, is a former football player, who played collegiately at Eastern Kentucky. She was also recruited by Brevard, Berea College and Alabama State before choosing C-N. During her time in high school, Liggin became a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club. Liggin was born on May 15, 1999.
Duffy on Liggin: "She's from Middle Tennessee and she's a very athletic player. I see her as an outside back. I've seen her play in the midfield. She was also at our I.D. camp and she really stood out, stood out to me, stood out to our current players. She's athletic, good on the ball, comfortable on the ball, good in a tackle and can get forward. In that No. 2 position, we're going to rely on our players to get up the field and get into the midfield and attacking third. She's a player who can play a few different positions for us and we're excited to add a player of that level into our team."
Madison Huffstetler – Maryville, Tenn. – Maryville High School – Midfielder - @mad_huff
Following four standout seasons at Maryville High School in Maryville, Tenn., Madison Huffstetler signed on to join Carson-Newman's program. During her time as a Rebel, Huffstetler played both midfielder and fullback and totaled ten goals to go along with five assists. She twice led Oakland High to the state tournament, the first two appearances in the school's history. She helped Maryville to a 21-3-1 record during a senior campaign in which she was selected as team captain and the Rebels totaled 16 shutouts. Huffstetler collected a laundry list of accolades that included being named first-team all-district, district defender of the year, first-team all-region, all-county, all-state and also becoming a member of the All-East Tennessee all-star team. She was also a member of her school's basketball team as a freshman.
Huffstetler is the daughter of Heidi and Scott Huffstetler and is planning on studying Nursing during her time in college. Her mother, Heidi, was a member of the diving team at the University of Tennessee. Huffstetler came to Carson-Newman despite overtures from Tennessee Tech and the University of Montevallo. For the last four years, she has been a leader in the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was born on September 3rd, 1998.
Duffy on Huffstetler: "Madison was another player I saw at the I.D. camp and she really stood out to me and our current players. Straight after the camp, she approached me and expressed her interest in Carson-Newman and her desire to play at Carson-Newman. It was a good fit for both. Fortunately, I was able to see her play in tournament shortly after with her FC Alliance team, which is a very good team. I think she's flown under the radar. I think she's going to do great things."
-CN-
