Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raider Soccer Inks Seven on National Signing Day
2/8/2018 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Head Coach Aston Rhoden and the Middle Tennessee soccer program has added seven new Blue Raiders to the roster as the 2018 signees submitted National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
The Blue Raiders added two defenders, three midfielders and two forwards from the prep ranks, many of which have also represented their respective states in the Olympic Development Programs (ODP). Two signees hail from Tennessee while one each come from Alabama, Florida, Indiana and North Dakota. The Raiders also signed one international student-athlete, from New Zealand.
"With the help of my staff, and support personnel, and our players we were able to secure a very talented and versatile recruiting class. The versatility and talent in this class will increase the depth of our team and allow us to maintain a good level of play for longer periods. All members of our 2018 recruiting class have a good work ethic, are used to playing in big games, and are extremely competitive."
The two Tennesseans are set to blend in well in the midfield; Gwen Breslin (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Olivia Hansen (Lakeland, Tenn.) are prep standouts in the state. Breslin was a 2017 All-State and a three-time All-Region and All-District selection. She accumulated 54 goals and 26 assists in her career at Hardin Valley Academy.
"Gwen is a very athletic and pacey forward," said Rhoden. "She has a strong work ethic and is a good finisher. Her ability to score goals from outside the box will be an asset for us."
Hansen was a Best of Preps performer in 2016 and as a member of the Lady Lobos Rush Premier club team helped her squad to the 2017 Division I State Championships. She has also been a four-year member of the Tennessee ODP team.
"Liv is a very balanced midfielder," Rhoden said. "She's a box to box player with great vision and passing ability. Her composure and on the ball ability to get forward in the attack will make us more dangerous from the midfield area."
Miya Lennon hails from Minot, N.D. but has spent the last two years at Shattuck St. Mary's in Fairbault, Minn. where she has been enrolled in the Soccer Center for Excellence program. While in North Dakota, Lennon was a First Team All-State and Western Dakota Association All-Conference selection, while also playing with the Dakota ODP team.
"Miya is a very versatile player," Rhoden shared. "Her goal scoring ability and pace makes her a competent forward, while her ball wining abilities, passing range and vision make her a strong midfielder as well. Her versatility will help us play different ways in the attack."
Katherine Thomas signs with the Blue Raiders from Huntsville, Ala. but she is familiar to Tennessee, having been born in Knoxville, Tenn. Thomas has represented both Tennessee and Alabama at the ODP level and amongst the prep ranks was an All-District selection at Hardin Valley Academy before making the transition to Huntsville.
"Katie is another versatile player in our recruiting class," said Rhoden. "She's a very strong defender who manages the ball like an attacking midfielder. She has a great engine and is strong on both sides of the ball. Katie will allow us to play different ways in the back and in midfield."
Hannah Tillett comes to Middle having been coached in her club career by previous Blue Raider standout Claire Ward. In her prep career, Tillett accumulated 107 goals and 98 assists at Huntington North High School in Huntington, Ind. In her senior season, she amassed 45 goals and a national-best 40 assists. She is a two-time All-State selection as well as a two-time Fort Wayne area Player of the Year. She is also a finalist for the Female Soccer Player of the Year in Indiana this year, to be announced in April. Tillett has also been a five-year member of the Indiana ODP team, a three-year member of the Regional ODP team and attended the ODP National Training camp in 2015.
"Hannah is a creative and technical midfielder," Rhoden said. "She is very composed on the ball and is a good finisher. Her awareness and vision allows her to bring others into the game while creating scoring opportunities of her own. Hannah will allow us to play out of several different shapes in the midfield."
Amber Whitley is the lone international player in the 2018 signing class, hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. The strong forward, she helped her high school to a National Championship in 2017 and was named the National Tournament MVP in 2016.
"Amber is a talented and powerful forward," said Rhoden. "She can play in a central and wide position and has great vision and composure on the ball. She plays well back to goal but is also a creative attacker. Her experience playing at high levels will be beneficial to our team."
Nicole Wynn wraps up the Blue Raiders recruiting class, hailing from St. Johns, Fla. The defender helped Bartram Trails HS to back-to-back District Championships in 2016 and 2017. She also played 10 years of club soccer with Florida Elite Soccer Academy.
"Nicole is a hard-nosed defender who likes to get forward in the attack," Rhoden said. "She has great passing range, vision and is a threat from distance. Her versatility will give us some balance in the backline."
"I can hardly wait to blend our new talent with our very experienced and very capable group of returning players."
