ASU Women's Soccer adds five for 2013 - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

From Arkansas State University

Arkansas State head women's soccer coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge announced the signing of five newcomers to the Red Wolves squad in 2013 on Wednesday.

Michaela Supple (Albuquerque, N.M.), Summer Sheppard (Collierville, Tenn.), Katherine Padgett (Carlsbad, Calif.), Casey Wesley (Saugus, Calif.) and Crystal Zeledon (Pacifica, Calif.), will join A-State for the fall of 2013.

"I am very excited to add five new players to our 2013 class," Ziyenge said. "The success achieved by last year's squad set the bar at a very high level for future Red Wolves generations. Our goal is to maintain this winning tradition and take Arkansas State to new heights. The addition of these new players is a definite step in the right direction."

Supple is a 5'8 goalkeeper from Albuquerque Academy where she helped lead her team to four state consecutive state championships in New Mexico. She had a 0.2302 goals against average during her junior season and was a second team all-district selection. During her sophomore season she garnered first team all-state honors after finishing the year with a 0.7164 goals against average.

"Michaela strengthens our goalkeeping position," Ziyenege said. "She is a hardworking player that is expected to adjust right away to the challenge of Division I soccer."

Sheppard joins ASU after playing as a defender/forward for Briarcrest Christian High School in Tennessee for the last four seasons where her team finished second in its division in each of the four seasons Sheppard played. She was named a captain of the team her senior season and was an all-regional team selection. She played club soccer for the 95 Lady Lobos which won state championships in 2010 and 2012. Sheppard also participated in the Disney Cup where her team won a gold medal competing against talent from across the world.

"Summer was our first 2013 commit and comes to us from a highly regarded Lobos club team," Ziyenege said. "She is an extremely fit player that can play both defense and midfield positions."

Padgett is a 5'11 defender from Carlsbad High School in California where she played two years of varsity soccer. She helped her team compile a 19-5-1 record across two seasons and won one state championship during that time. She was named a team captain during her senior season and won the Carlsbad High School Newcomer of the Year award during her junior season.

"Katherine is a very steady central defender whose height makes us more competitive in the air," Ziyenege said. "As a former team captain she comes in with proven leadership qualities and discipline."

Wesley comes to the Red Wolves from the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., where she helped lead the Cougars to an 18-1-4 record and the program's fifth Western State Conference championship in 2012. During her freshman season, the 5'6 defender helped the Cougars record nine shutouts and anchored a defense that allowed just 19 goals on the year.

"Casey brings veteran leadership to our young squad," Ziyenege said. "Her success at the junior college level is something we are excited to benefit from."

Zeledon spent the previous two seasons at City College of San Francisco where she helped lead the squad to a 37-4-4 record. She was a two-time all-conference selection, earning second team honors as a freshman and first team honors this past season. She scored three goals and had eight assists in 2012 and finished sixth on the team with 14 points.

"Crystal brings a veteran presence to our midfield," Ziyenege said. "Her tenacity and time spent in the junior college ranks is something we expect to benefit from."