Conway – Central Arkansas women's head soccer coach Jeremy Bishop announced the newest members of his roster on Wednesday. The Bears are adding ten players to make up for the graduation of seven seniors.
The class covers the entire field, as Central Arkansas is adding four midfielders, three defenders, two forwards, and a keeper.
"I am extremely excited about this recruiting class," said Bishop. "They all come from a solid club background with high-level, top clubs. Six of the 10 are coming to us from ECNL teams. The group has a little bit of everything: solid defensive players, speed, size, and strength. We have added depth to our team in every position, and there is no doubt that some of these players will be starters from day one as long as they continue to work between now and August. I'm extremely excited to add this group to our current team and start working together in the preseason."
Camille Bassett, from Vista, California, will serve as a forward for the Bears. The four-year varsity starter was a first-team All-Avocado League selection and was named to the San Diego County Top 20 Players to Watch list. She helped lead her club team, San Diego Surf ECNL, to a runner-up finish at the 2012 National Finals, a third-place finish at the 2014 National Finals, and a Surf Cup Championship in both 2013 and 2014.
Lauryn Gamache, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, will bolster the midfield ranks for Central Arkansas. She was a member of the Midwest Region ECNL Player Development Program and attended the Midwest Regional Camp. With club team St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite, she was a 2011 Club Soccer State Champion and a U15 National Futsal Champion. Topdrawersoccer.com ranked her as a four-star recruit.
Kelly McLaughlin, also a native of St. Louis, will also be making the jump from the St. Louis Scott Gallagher elite midfield to the Central Arkansas midfield. She played varsity for all four of her years at St. Joseph Academy helping the team to third place finishes in Missouri's Class 3 in 2012 and 2013 and a Missouri Class 3 state championship in 2014. During the first three years of her career she scored 12 goals and assisted on 15 others.
Lauren Mercuri, from Gig Harbor, Washington, will add depth at the keeper position. She is a three-time SPSL Conference 3A second-team selection for Peninsula High School, where she carries a 3.8 GPA and has made the school's honor roll for four years. For her club team, Washington Premier ECNL U18, she is a Nike Crossfire Challenge Cup finalist, a ECNL B Flight National Champion, and a two-time ECNL Northwest Conference Champion.
Kelsey Quick, a native of Maize, Kansas, will work on the back line for the Bears. She is a three-time 6A All-League first-team selection, a two-time 6A All-Region first-team selection, a two-time 6A All-State first-team selection, and in 2013 was named the 6A All-Regional Defensive Player of the Year. She carries a 4.017 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, and ranks in the top 10% of the her class in the Kansas Honors Program.
Kristen Ricks, of Keller, Texas, will work on the left side of the field for UCA, both as a midfielder and at forward. During the 2014 season, she helped lead Keller High School to the 5A Regional semifinals and earned 5A All-District first-team honors. She helped her club team, Fort Worth FC 97G White, to win the 2014 Real Colorado Cup, and to finals appearances in the 2014 Plano Labor Day Tournament and the 2013 North Texas State Cup.
Autum Schwartz, from Midlothian, Texas will join the midfield for the Bears. She helped lead Midlothian High School to district championships in 2012 and 2014 and an area championship in 2014, earning All-District first-team honors in 2014.
Ashely Smith, from Plano, Texas, will see time in both the midfield and at forward. She is a two time 5A Texas state champion, and a member of the Plano West squad that finished 2013 as the top-ranked high school team in the nation. In 2014 she was named the Forward of the Year and the winner of the First Team Award and had the highest
goal/assist combination for the squad.
Carly Taphorn, from Aurora, Colorado, will strengthen the Central Arkansas back line. She is a four-year varsity starter for Range View High School, earning Most Improved and EMAC Honorable Mentions honors her freshman year, EMAC All-Conference first-team honors her sophomore and junior years, and capataining the team her senior year.
Savannah Tidd, a native of Peoria, Arizona, will see action on the back line and in the midfield. She is the Sandra Day O'Connor High School team captain for the 2015 season, and served as the U15 and U16 team captains for the SC del Sol 97 ECNL club teams. In 2009, 2010, and 2011 she was named to the Arizona Region IV ODP Team.
