Women's Soccer | July 25, 2023

MORROW, Ga. – Third-year head Clayton State University women's soccer coach Ross Henderson announces his incoming class of players for the 2023 season.  The incoming class includes five transfers and four true freshmen. 
 
"After being quite a young team last year, we learned a lot as a group both on the field and off," said Coach Henderson. "This incoming class has been targeted for some time and are student-athletes that will help build a strong, competitive, winning mentality. These student-athletes have incredible quality and potential.   I am very much looking forward to coaching these ladies, helping them grow with our program and really start to push forward in our performances."
 
TRANSFERS
Coach Henderson welcomes five transfers to this year's class.  Zariya Holt, who arrived at Clayton State in the Spring, headlines the transfers.  The Alabama State transfer knocked in a goal and added an assist in 27 matches.  In addition, Holt logged 893 minutes and sent in five shots.  In high school, Holt was a two-time captain, All-County selection, and All-Division selection at Berks Catholic HS in Pennsylvania.  Following Holt is Lydia Madrid.  Madrid, who transferred from Heartland CC, played in 17 matches, and notched a pair of assists in 17 matches.  Madrid was a member of the Heartland Community College team in 2021 who won the NJCCA National Championship and went 20-0 on the season.  In the 2022 season, Madrid earned All-Conference and All-Region honors.
 
Madison Nicolas follows Holt and Madrid.  Nicolas, who is a graduate transfer from Oakland City University, started in 54 matches over four seasons.  In addition, Nicolas knocked in 11 goals, added eight assists, sent in 143 shots, and logged 3676 minutes.  In 2021, Madison broke the Might Oaks school record for the most points in a single match with 10.  She was also a member of the Oakland City team who advanced to the 2022 NCCAA Division I National Championship game.  The Greenville, Ind. native is a two-time All-Conference selection and was a NCCAA All-Region selection last season.  Madison also earned All-Conference accolades on the track & field team in 2021. 
 
The next transfer is Carrie Consolino.  Consolino, who transferred from Reinhardt University, led the Eagles to a NAIA National Tournament and an AAC Championship appearance last season.  In 2022, Carrie gathered NAIA All-America Honorable Mention, Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year, and first-team All-Conference accolades.  On the soccer pitch, Consolino led the team with 30 goals, 10 assists, and with 70 points.  Rounding out the transfers is Chloe Flannaghan.  Flannaghan, who transferred from North Country CC, totaled 18 goals, 28 assists, and 64 points in 25 career matches.  Last season, Chloe led the nation with 19 assists.  In her two seasons at North Country, Flannaghan was a two-time United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region and First-Team All-Conference selection and earned USC second-team All-America accolades last season. 
 
TRUE FRESHMEN
Coach Henderson rounds out his recruiting class with four incoming freshmen. Serwaah Danso highlights this incoling freshmen class.  Danso, who is a Berlin, Germany native, played her club ball for FC Hertha 03 Zehlendorf on the first team where she was playing with and against some of the best competition in Germany.  Serwaah is described to have a strong soccer IQ, can play several positions, and is very technically sound.  Following Danso is Jessica Fuentes.  In three years at Berkmar HS, Fuentes was a three-time All-County selection while receiving All-State and All-Region honors as a senior. Clayton State Athletics Hall of Famer and women's soccer legend Judith Chime coached Fuentes at Berkmar HS.  Chime, who played for the Lakers from 2002-05, is the all-time program record-holder in goalkeeping minutes, saves, matches played, and shutouts.
 
 Following Fuentes is Lily Goldsmith.  Goldsmith, who graduated from Luella HS, was a three-time All-State honoree and was the MVP of her team as a senior.  Goldsmith also swam and played flag football in high school and was a two-time Athlete of the Month recipient.  Page Kohl rounds out the freshmen newcomers.  Kohl, who graduated from Hickory Ridge HS in Charlotte, N.C., was the captain of the team as a senior.  Kohl played three seasons of soccer in high school and played club at the Charlotte Independence.
 
RETURNERS
Coach Henderson brings back some key players from the 2022 team.  He returns second-team All-PBC selection Amiah Sprunger Hightower.  Amiah led the team with seven goals in 14 matches.  She was instrumental in pulling off the 3-0 upset of nationally ranked Flagler College last season.  Henderson also retains Nyeemah Lucky and Julia Hasenecz, Last season, Lucky knocked in three goals while Hasenecz added a goal and a pair of assists.  Both Lucky and Hasenecz played in all 15 matches in 2022. 
 
Coach Henderson also retains goalkeepers Trinity Chastain and Lisa Kelm.  Chastain led the team with 70 saves and three victories while Kelm notched 22 saves in five matches. Chastain also tallied three shutouts, allowed 1.30 goals a match, and saved 85.4% of shots faced. Aubrey Harrison also returns to the team after playing in three matches last season.  In those three matches, Harrison made nine saves and allowed six goals. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers open their 2023 season welcoming the Blazers of Valdosta State to Laker Field on Thursday, August 31^st.  The match is slated to start at 2 p.m.
 
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