2007 Signees

THUNDERBIRDS ADD TWO TO LIST OF 2007 SIGNEES

Early signees

CEDAR CITY, Utah – April 4 – Women’s soccer head coach Brian Stock announced the addition of two more players to the list of signees for 2007 today.  The pair includes Jessica Heninger (South Jordan/Bingham HS) and Kelsey Buchanan (San Jose, Calif./West Valley JC).

“We are very excited to add both Jessica and Kelsey to our squad.  They are great players who impact a game whenever they are on the field,” Stock said of the latest additions to Southern Utah women’s soccer.  “They also fit well into the chemistry of this program and will help us achieve our goals.  These two complete the great group we signed in February and I am looking forward to seeing everyone together on the field in August.  We will have depth and athleticism all over the field and will be closer to that championship than ever before.”

The 2007 season will begin on August 24 in Ogden with a match-up with the Weber State Wildcats.

Player profiles:

Jessica Heninger, 5-6, MF/F, South Jordan, Utah/Bingham HS (Tennessee FC/Inter FC)

First-team all-state at Bingham High School along with all-district, all-region and district MVP honors.  Helped the Miners to the 5A state semi-finals, scoring ten goals in the process.  Prior to Bingham, Heninger was a three-year starter for Columbia Academy in Tennessee, scoring 23 goals as a junior.  She was a member of the team that captured district and regional championships from 2003-05 along with a state sub-regional championship and state quarterfinal appearance in 2005.  Two-time TN Cup Champion with Tennessee FC and member of the Tennessee ’89 ODP team.

Coach Stock on Heninger:

“Jessica is a player who just makes things happen on the field.  She has tremendous pace and will never lose a tackle.  She also has a tremendous ability to be in the right place at the right time.  Jessica is comfortable anywhere on the field and will be an exciting player to watch.”

Kelsey Buchanan, 5-7, MF, San Jose, Calif./Santa Clara HS/West Valley JC (DeAnza SC)

Four-year varsity starter and four-time all-league selection while at Santa Clara HS.  Became a two-year starter at West Valley JC and garnered second-team all-conference honors in 2005 and first-team all-conference honors in 2006.  Helped the Vikings to back-to-back Coast Conference Championships in 2005 and 2006 while ranking third in assists among all California community colleges.  Accumulated 16 goals and 24 assists in two years at WVJC and holds the school record for points and assists in a single season.

Coach Stock on Buchanan:

“Kelsey is a subtle player with a huge impact on the game.  She is very capable of the doing the work up and down the flank and produces scoring opportunities.  Athletically, she is very solid and has great endurance.  Kelsey is also very smart defensively and closes space effectively.”