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BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team has signed six incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent and picked up one transfer, as announced by head coach Chugger Adair Thursday.

Kelsey Irwin, Heather Timothy, Alia Abuelhawa, Caroline Kerns, Megan Goudy and Anissa Dadkhah will all join the Hokies this fall. In addition, freshman Gracie DeGooyer joined the team this spring after transferring from the University of Tennessee, where she played in the fall. The group heralds five four-star recruits, as rated by Top Drawer Soccer (TDS), including two TDS Top 150 players.

“I’m excited about the 2015 class,” Adair said. “I think there’s a lot of balance within this group, and we’ve got good athleticism with a good mix of soccer players, which has been key for our success in the past. We’ve got some kids here who could be contributors right at the start as well as continue the growth of the program. We’re excited to get these girls in Virginia Tech jerseys and be part of the Virginia Tech family.”

The incoming Hokies will join a Tech soccer team that has reached two-straight NCAA Sweet 16s and finished last season ranked No. 12. The Hokies lose six players to graduation: Katie Yensen, Shannon Mayrose, Jodie Zelenky, Danielle King, Kelsey Loupee and Ellie Zoepfl.

Prior to the signee’s arrival, Tech will continue to train throughout the spring, participating in five days of competition. On Feb. 18, Tech will compete in the Liberty Indoor Soccer Tournament. On March 21, the Hokies will take on the Washington Spirit, a professional team in the National Women’s Soccer League. A week later on March 28, Tech will host NCAA Elite-Eight participant Penn State at Thompson Field for a rematch of Tech’s Sweet 16 game. The spring competition will conclude with the Southern Soccer Showcase on April 18, where the Hokies will battle Charlotte and North Carolina.

Kelsey Irwin
5-6, Defender, San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic High School)
High School/Club: Four-star defender rated as the No. 51 overall recruit in the country in Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) Top 150 … TDS No. 11 defender in the country … TDS No. 8 player in the Southern California Region … Four-year letter-winner at Cathedral Catholic High School under coach Dawn Lee … San Diego Union-Tribune Athlete of the Month (December 2014) … HS team ranked as high as #1 in nation by Top Drawer Soccer and #2 by MaxPreps … San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team … Played seven years for the San Diego Surf Soccer Club ECNL team … Team captain on club team that finished fifth in the 2014 ECNL national finals, won the 2013 Surf Cup, won the 2010 Blues Cup, won the 2010 Surf Thanksgiving Cup and won the 2010 Cal South National Cup State Champions.
Personal: Daughter of Dina and Mike Irwin … Has one brother, Dillon, and one sister, Hailey … Majoring in Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise … Named CCHS Scholar Athlete in 2014.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Kelsey Irwin is a central-defender from San Diego who plays with a very good San Diego Surf team. She is very well-balanced. I think she’s strong, athletic, a good soccer player who strikes a good ball, and I think she’s going to come in and compete for a starting spot right off the bat.”

Heather Timothy
5-7, Midfielder, Cary, N.C. (Athens Drive High School)
High School/Club: Four-star midfielder rated as the No. 100 overall recruit in the country in TDS Top 150 … TDS No. 43 midfielder in the country … TDS No. 7 player in the Southern Atlantic Region … Played for ’96 CASL ECNL Ladies for eight years … Participated in 2012 and 2013 Player Development Academy … Participated in US Soccer Training Center … Played ODP for coaches John Cullen, Robbie Church and Marty Beall … ODP team captain.
Personal: Daughter of Patrick and Sally Ann Timothy … Has one sister, Grace, and one brother, Jack … Majoring in Engineering … Member of the National Honor Society … Student government president … 2010 Huntington Character Award.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Heather Timothy is a very versatile, attacking, forward/midfield player. She’s a soccer junkie who just trains and loves the game, and you can see that in her play. She’s very technical, good with both feet and has a very good soccer brain. She should fit in well in our midfield role.”

Alia Abuelhawa
5-4, Defender/Midfielder, Vienna, Va. (James Madison High School)
High School/Club: TDS four-star rating … TDS No. 13 player in the Mid-Atlantic Region … Three-year letter-winner at James Madison High School … Named First-Team All-District … Named All-Met Honorable Mention … Played for McLean ECNL under coach Nadir Moumen … Club team captain.
Personal: Daughter of Fadia Alkhazali and Salman Abuelhawa … Has two siblings, Khader and Sheerhan … Majoring in University Studies .., Honor-roll student at James Madison HS.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Alia is a versatile central-defender by trait. I think she could play an outside back spot for as well as a midfield spot. She is a very good soccer player with a very good soccer brain, and we’re looking for her to step in and grow and compete for a starting spot.”

Caroline Kerns
5-10, Forward/Midfielder, Ashburn, Va. (Broad Run High School)
High School/Club: TDS four-star rating … TDS No. 24 player in the Mid-Atlantic Region … Four-year letter-winner and team captain at Broad Run High School … Earned All-Met, All-State, All-Region, All-Conference and All-District honors … Led team to state finals, region championship and district championship … Played for Mclean ECNL ’96 for two years … Played for PWSI Courage ’96 for four years … State Cup champions, ECNL Nationals participant … Four-year ODP participant and state team captain.
Personal: Daughter of Kelley and Darren Kerns … Has one sister, Emma, and one brother, Zach, who runs track at Mary Washington … Mother played women’s soccer at NC State and appeared in an NCAA semifinal … Majoring in University Studies … Honor-roll student at Broad Run … AP Scholar Award winner … DECA Fashion-merchandising national qualifier.
Coach Adair’s take: “Caroline Kerns is a strong athletic player with versatility. I think she can play up top or in the midfield for us. We’re looking for her to come in and compete for a starting spot. We’re excited she’ll be a Hokie.”

Megan Goudy
5-9, Defender, Raleigh, N.C. (Cardinal Gibbons High School)
High School/Club: TDS four-star rating … Four-year letter-winner at Cardinal Gibbons High School under coach Michele Miller … Earned All-Conference, All-District, All-Region and All-State honors during her junior year … Played for CASL ECNL under coach Sean Nahas … Participated in the ECNL Player Development Program in May 2014 … Played three years of ODP.
Personal: Daughter of Scott and Christy Goudy … Has two sisters, Kate and Caroline … Grandfather and father played baseball at Missouri … Mother was a figure skater at Miami (Ohio) … Member of the National Honors Society … Honor-roll student.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Megan Goudy is a very athletic outside back who comes from a strong club, the CASL group in Raleigh, North Carolina. She can play outside back, right or left, and she has a really good engine and good pace. She should help us with some depth at the outside back position.”

Anissa Dadkhah
5-3, Midfielder, San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines High School)
High School/Club: Four-year letter-winner at Torrey Pines HS under coach Martyn Hasford … Three-year team captain … Named to Palomer All-League Team … Named to CIF Second Team … Played for the San Diego Surf Soccer Club for 10 years under coach Pauly Dolinsky … Captained club team … Played for CalSouth ODP Team for coach Ali Khosroshahin.
Personal: Daughter of Terry and Mahyar Dadkhah … Has two siblings, Ariana and Ashlyn … Ashlyn ran track and cross country at UC Berkeley … Majoring in Electrical Engineering.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Anissa Dadkhah is a strong midfield player who is extremely technical with tons of personality and a good soccer brain. She is also going to be a player who comes in and competes for time in the midfield. She really could play anywhere in the midfield. Whether we’re playing a three midfield or a four, she can come in and connect passes and do a good job for us.”

TRANSFER:

Gracie DeGooyer
6’0, Defender, Herndon, Va. (Stone Bridge High School)
Previous School: As a freshman at Tennessee, played in 20 games and logged 544 minutes … Scored one goal against Milwaukee … Recorded an assist against Mississippi State.
High School/Club: Four-year letter-winner at Stone Bridge under coach Joan Windows … Earned All-District and All-Region honors … Played on McLean ECNL for coach Nadir Moumen … Played for Virginia State ODP team under coach Ann Germain where they appeared in the national final.
Personal: Daughter of Pana and John DeGooyer … Has one sister, Dani … Majoring in Business … High School honor roll.
Coach Adair’s Take: “Gracie DeGooyer is a Virginia native who comes from a very good McLean Club we’ve been able to recruit from in the past. She played at Tennessee in the fall and has transferred here. I think she’s a very athletic, dangerous outside back who can cover ground. She’s got good size and a good engine. We’ve been able to work with her already this spring and she’s done a great job fitting in and her fitness is great. We’re looking for her to step in and compete for that starting spot.”

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