by Andrew Howard (Staff writer)
Looking to build upon his 2013 team that fell in the conference semifinals, KSU soccer coach Rob King signed three recruits Wednesday, adding to the two already on campus.
Three high school seniors signed with the Owls, the athletic department announced Thursday. The 2014 class also includes two international players, both of whom already attend Kennesaw.
Allatoona product Ashtah Das, Heritage goalkeeper Mady Carter, and Abby Roth from Columbus signed Wednesday. The trio of freshmen will arrive on campus for the fall semester.
Norwegian midfielder Ida Hepsoe and goalkeeper Catherine McDuff from Quebec joined this winter, bringing the number of countries represented in the squad to six.
King may rest a bit easier in the fall, knowing his squad finally has relief in the net. Freshman Olivia Sturdivant played every minute of the 2013 season without a backup. Midfielder Nicole Calder was forced into goalkeeping duty in the Wofford scrimmage, but the Owls somehow made it through the regular season without incident.
Adding two goalkeepers to the mix will–at the very least–increase depth, but a bit of competition will help everyone involved.
Mady Carter started for three years at Heritage High School in Columbus, setting the school record for saves with 322. She also has experience in the Olympic Development Program.
Catherine McDuff, coming from Champlain College Saint-Lambert, became the second goalkeeper on campus when she enrolled in January. She has already impressed King with her adjustment and skill in winter sessions.
“She is someone who we can play back to get out of pressure,” King said.
Another impactful signing, King believes, is Ida Hepsoe. The midfielder spent some time with Norway’s youth international team, and she made her top-tier debut at 17 with Kattem KF.
King said the left-footed Norwegian “will have a huge impact in our conference right away.”
As the Owls found out last season, having players who can easily slot in to other positions becomes necessary. King was forced to push midfielder Monica Herrera to forward at times. Forward Iyani Hughes even had to put in some shifts at left-back in response to injury.
Both Ashtah Das and Abby Roth were pointed out by King as players who could do just that for the Owls once they arrive on campus. The coach believes Das can play just about anywhere on the field, including attack, out wide, and in defense.
“It’s anyone’s guess to where we actually utilize [Das] at the moment,” King said. “But we will wait and see when we have our whole squad together in the fall.”
Roth’s position will likely be as a holding midfielder or defender, King said, but the coach is particularly impressed by her composure on the ball.
“We are trying to play a brand of soccer that controls the ball, that does not panic,” King said. “She fits into exactly what we needed.”
The Owls return to the field in the fall semester, King’s 13th at the university.
