Ferris State Women's Soccer Lands Seven Prep Recruits On National Signing Day
Video Coming Soon!
Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University women's soccer program has landed a talented prep recruiting class as FSU announced the Bulldogs' 2015 recruiting class as part of National Signing Day on Wednesday (Feb. 4). The official addition of seven incoming prep recruits from the state of Michigan was made by head coach Andy McCaslin.
Ferris State inked an impressive group of in-state products, who will all join the FSU program as freshmen in eligibility for the fall 2015 campaign. The contingent includes defender Erica Bartlett (Mason), defender Olivia Brewer (Ada/Forest Hills Central), defender Carley Dubbert (St. Joseph/Stevensville Lakeshore), forward Kathryn Nutter (Lawton/Mattawan), midfielder Mandy Paull (Cheboygan), midfielder Alexis Schodowski (Macomb/Dakota) and goalkeeper Sydney Zablocki (Chesterfield/L'Anse Creuse North).
The addition of the seven prep signees will help further bolster an ever-improving Bulldog lineup and help offset the loss of four seniors from last fall.
I'm very excited about this year's signing class," said McCaslin, who completed his second season at the FSU helm last fall. "It's a group that has been a couple years in the making and it has been well worth the wait. There are some very good players in this group that will help make an impact right away.
"It's a smart group that gets their work done in the classroom, they're always looking to improve on and off of the field, and most importantly to me and our current roster of players, these seven are quality people that are a perfect fit for the culture of our team going forward," he added.
Ferris State advanced to the GLIAC Postseason Tournament for the fifth-straight year in 2014, which represents the best stretch in school history. FSU has reached the league semifinals twice in the last three years and the Bulldogs have also ranked among the nation's top performers academically in the classroom.
"With this group of incoming recruits I think we add goals, we add creativity, we add athleticism and size, and we add players who can defend within a team to make it much more difficult for us to be scored on," said McCaslin. "To me as a coach, that's a very exciting combination. It's always an adjustment for new players to come in and acclimate themselves with a roster who has been around for as many as three or four years, but this is a group of players that has personality and will fit in exceptionally well immediately when they arrive to campus."
The Bulldogs will begin official preparations for the fall campaign when preseason practice begins in August. The 2015 season will represent Ferris State's 17th season of intercollegiate competition.
Below is a look at each of Ferris State's seven incoming recruits:
Erica Bartlett (#3)
5-10, Defender
Mason
Coached by Christine Hursey … Four-year varsity contributor … Plans to major in Biology at FSU … Played club soccer for the TNT Dynamite Club for eight years … Also competed in the Michigan Olympic Development Program (ODP) in 2015 … Has also participated in basketball … Served as team captain … Daughter of Thomas and Deanna Bartlett … Has two sisters … Enjoys snowmobiling and wakeboarding … Her older sister Emily competed on the rowing/crew team at Michigan State … Two-Time all-state recipient … Received All-Capital Area Activities Conference recognition three consecutive years … Twice chosen as team Most Valuable Player Award recipient … Three-Time all-academic pick … Led team to a league championship in 2014 … Helped guide squad to a conference title, district championship and regional semifinal finish in 2013 … Also was a Super Y National Qualifier in the summer of 2013 … Several club teammates have went on to play collegiate soccer, including one with the United States Women's National Team … Three-year captain on her team.
Coach McCaslin on Bartlett:
"Erica is a very good player that we're extremely excited about having with us in the fall. She's played at a high level and will be ready to come in and compete right away. She's got tremendous size and athletic ability, which should help us anchor some things down in the center of the back. Overall, she's smart and technical and has an outstanding work rate. Her vision of the field is good and she'll allow us to build out of the back with good distribution and she can be someone who can help us in the aerial game as well."
Olivia Brewer (#4)
5-7, Defender
Ada/Forest Hills Central
Coached by Jeremy Stacy … Three-year varsity letterwinner to date … Has competed on the club level for the Michigan Fire and the Grand Rapids Crew … Plans to major in Nursing … Daughter of Bill and Allison Brewer … Has two brothers … Competed for Forest Hills Central High School … Helped her team to back-to-back conference championships … The squad reached the district finals two years in a row … One of several teammates to move on to collegiate soccer … Her club team advanced to the state finals as a junior … Four-year starter in club soccer … Squad reached the 2012 and 2014 state cup semifinals.
Coach McCaslin on Brewer:
"Olivia was one of the early commits in this class and we were lucky to get her when we did. She's got good size and has the ability to win the ball in the air, but she also has the ability to connect a pass from the back to help us get out of pressure. She's a good 1v1 defender and has quick feet that help her get to tackles and close people down. All the while she has pace and the stamina that will allow us to attack the way we want to with getting out outside backs into the attack and causing matchup problems for the teams we go up against in each contest.
Carley Dubbert (#14)
5-6, Defender
St. Joseph/Stevensville Lakeshore
Coached by Brian Samuel … Four-year varsity letterwinner … Also has competed in basketball on the prep level … Active in several school organizations such as Key Club, Assets Advisory Committee and Young Life … National Honor Society member … Has played club soccer for the Athletic Jaier Soccer Club … Daughter of Stan and Joni Dubbert … Has a younger brother and sister … Plans to major in either Pre-Pharmacy or Pre-Physical Therapy at FSU … Her first cousin, Lyndsey Mueller, played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Minnesota … Earned Division 2 All-State honors each of the last two years … Three-Time all-conference honoree … Has earned all-district recognition three-straight years … Two-Time all-region choice … Has also earned all-state accolades along with all-conference honors in basketball … Academic All-State recipient … Posted 12 goals and 12 assists as team finished 18-2-1 in 2014 … Netted nine goals and 14 assists as a sophomore after notching four goals and seven assists in her freshman season … Has led team to 15 wins or more each of the last three campaigns … Guided the squad to three-straight district crowns … Helped team win a conference title in 2013 … Once went on a mission trip to Canada.
Coach McCaslin on Dubbert:
"We spotted Carley at first in our camp system and knew she was going to be a special kid. From one camp to the next she improved a number of areas in her game that made her extremely desirable for us to commit and sign. She has played her club soccer in the center of the midfield but likely will be an outside back or up front for us. Carley has good pace and can run for days, giving us more options to play out of the back. Her technical ability that she's honed will serve her well as she makes the step to the college game."
Kathryn Nutter (#13)
5-1, Forward
Lawton/Mattawan
Coached by Kurt Brown … Three-Time all-conference and all-district honoree … Plans to major in Forensic Science … Played club level soccer for the Green Team along with the TKO and Kingdom organizations … Daughter of Harold and Shelly Nutter … Claimed the team's Top Gun Award last spring as a junior … Tallied 12 goals and seven assists in the 2014 season … Had four goals and an assist as a sophomore … Produced 26 goals with 17 assists on the junior varsity level as a freshman while claiming all-league laurels after leading the squad to a 14-1-1 mark … Twice played in a national tournament in Florida … Once biked 270 miles from Portage to Ludington … Has a younger sister and a brother … Enjoys reading and volunteering among her other interests … Was born in Fort Hood, Texas.
Coach McCaslin on Nutter:
"Kathryn was an under the radar type player for us that came to us late in the process. She has played her club soccer at a high level and for quality coaching and she can really help us on the outside. She has pace and gets herself into really good spots to score sneaky goals. Kathryn helped lead her club team to a 3rd place finish in the national tournament last summer and scored a number of goals in qualifying and the final tournament. It's always nice to add a player with a natural knack for goals to your roster and I'm happy she's with us."
Mandy Paull (#8)
5-6, Midfielder
Cheboygan
Coached by Mark Stormzand … Four-year letterwinner … Also participated in hockey and cross country during her prep career … Served as team captain … Three-Time All-Northern Michigan Soccer League selection … Earned all-state first team laurels as a junior last spring … Three-Time all-region choice … Also has earned all-district accolades three-straight years to date … Led team to a 19-1-1 overall record a year ago … Has helped team to three-straight conference and district championships … Guided team to at least 17 wins in each of the past three campaigns … Tallied 16 goals and 39 assists as a junior … Scored 15 goals with 14 assists in her sophomore season after totaling 18 goals with 13 helpers as a freshman … Holds school marks for most career points and assists … Her 39 assists last year ranks as the second-most assists in a season in MHSAA history … Placed among the top 50 performers at the state cross country meet for four-straight years … Played on the boys varsity hockey team as a sophomore … Active in several organizations including serving on the MHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Council … Has been a DECA State Champion and national qualifier … National Honor Society member … All-Academic recipient … Played club soccer for the Breakers … Served on the student council … Daughter of Dennis and Margaret Paull.
Coach McCaslin on Paull:
"Mandy is another player who we saw develop through our camp system. She first came to camp in the summer of 2013 and was a standout in a very good group and then showed much improvement in the next year and a half. Her work rate is second to none, she battles for every ball and is a tireless worker. Couple that with the ability to be composed and technical on the ball and you have a player who will fit in with us right away."
Alexis Schodowski (#19)
5-3, Midfielder
Macomb/Dakota
Coached by Chris Corteg and Stefano Morraccini … Four-year varsity player on the prep level … Plans to major in nursing at Ferris State … Competed for Dakota High School … Daughter of Gary and Debbie Schodowski … Likes to play the guitar and read books … Totaled 10 goals and 19 assists during the 2014 campaign … Had 16 assists to go with seven goals in her sophomore season … Netted five goals and 12 assists as a freshman in 2012 … Led Dakota to back-to-back district championships in 2013 and 2014 … Has coached youth kids in the Kickstart program … Enjoys traveling and has been to Italy and Hawaii.
Coach McCaslin on Schodowski:
"Lexi is a central player who is very good in tight spaces and loves to get forward. When she looks to combine with the forwards and get herself forward, she strikes a very heavy ball that makes goalkeepers struggle to make saves. Though small, Lexi looks to play quickly and combine with her teammates in a way that allows them to attack with composure and purpose. "
Sydney Zablocki (#30)
5-1, Goalkeeper
Chesterfield/L'Anse Creuse North
Coached by Scott Boice … Also played club soccer for the Michigan Burn and the Detroit Waza FC 98' Juniors … Two-year varsity player … Also competed in volleyball during her prep career … Plans to major in Pharmacy at FSU … Her sister, Taylor, competes in diving at the University of Alabama … Daughter of Ty and Julie Zablocki … Tallied a 0.62 goals against average with 11 shutout victories during the 2014 season as a junior on the high school level … Serves as the team captain … Earned first team all-conference accolades last year … Was also an all-county choice … Claimed a State Cup Championship in 2014 … Also reached the state cup finals in 2011, 2013 and 2015 … Was a finalist at the Disney Soccer Showcase from 2013-15 … Finished as a regional qualifier in 2013-14 … Several teammates have competed in the collegiate ranks … Established new records for shutouts and goals against average in her junior season.
Coach McCaslin on Zablocki:
"Sydney is a player that really materialized to us late in the recruiting process. She's a goalkeeper that, despite her size, has tremendous presence on the field and leadership of her teammates. She is always looking to improve areas of her game that need work. Sydney plays within herself and to her strengths and is going to turn out to be a very good goalkeeper for us going forward."