West Virginia women's soccer adds nine

by Shannon McNamara
February 9, 2015

West Virginia University women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2015 season.

The signees are: Laurel Carpenter (McMurray, Pennsylvania), Patricia Fernandez (Pearland, Texas), Vanessa Flores (Baytown, Texas), Sh’nia Gordon (Ocklawaha, Florida), Amanda Saymon (Bridgeport, West Virginia) and Bianca St. Georges (St. Felix de Valois, Quebec).

“We’re really excited about this class,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “They bring so many different experiences with them. This class exudes diversity, as we have players that have seen time with national teams and others that have played for regional squads – they all have played at a very high level. It’s a well-rounded class, and I’m excited to see them come together in Morgantown.

“I really feel that the wealth of experience this class brings will help push our team further in 2015. Each of these student-athletes wants to work hard and impact the future of the WVU women’s soccer program. I’m looking forward to developing each player and making her the best she can be at WVU, and beyond.”

Laurel Carpenter, 5-8, Midfielder, McMurray, Pennsylvania

Two-year member of the Beadling Soccer Club … 2014 Pennsylvania West State champions … 2014 Director’s League semifinalist … eight-year member and co-captain of Century United Soccer Club ’95, two-time Pennsylvania West State champions and two-time Pennsylvania West finalist … played defensive center-midfield for four seasons at Peters Township High and helped the Lady Indians win two state championships and one WPIAL title, while scoring 47 career goals … owns school career assists record (104) … three-time all-section and All-WPIAL honoree … 2014 team captain … scored 13 goals in 2014 and helped team post 11 shutouts … 2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Preseason Player of the Year and PPG All-Star Team, South Hills Almanac Player of the Year and Tribune Review All-Star Team … 2014 All-State … 2014 regional All-America … 2013 WPIAL Championship finalist … 2013 South Hills Almanac Elite 8 Team and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Star Team … 2012 PIAA and WPIAL champion … 2012 South Hills Almanac Elite 8 Team and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette honorable mention … 2011 PIAA champion and WPIAL Championship finalist … 2011 South Hills Almanac Rookie of the Year … daughter of Brad Carpenter and Linda Carpenter … has two sisters … birthday is September 9.

Patricia Fernandez, 5-1, Midfielder, Pearland, Texas

Four-year captain of Houston’s Albion Hurricanes … two-time state champion with Hurricanes … three-year member of Region 3 ODP state team … played three years with Lonestar SC in Austin … attended multiple Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) events and named to the All-ECNL Event Team in Sanford, Florida, and the Dallas ECNL Player Development Program … team captain at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Academy … 2011 District Newcomer of the Year and Dawson High MVP … daughter of Arthur Criswell and Liza Criswell … has one brother … birthday is December 29.

Vanessa Flores, 5-7, Defender, Baytown, Texas

Member of the Mexican Women’s National U17 Team … captained 2013 the national team at the 4 Nations Tournament Costa Rica … defeated the United States and Canada at the 2013 CONCACAF U17 Championship Jamaica … only member of squad named to the CONCACAF All-Star Team … competed at the 2014 U17 World Cup Costa Rica … attended several Mexican U20 camps … Girls IMG Academy Top 150 (No. 152) … six-year member of Albion Hurricanes FC and multi-year team captain … captured 2011 and 2012 state championships with Hurricanes … transitioned to Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and finished seventh in the nation in 2013 … 2014 captain of AHFC 97G ECNL Team … team captain at Ross S. Sterling High … first team all-district … 21-5A Newcomer of the Year … two-time Defensive and Team MVP … daughter of Jose Flores and Gloria Flores … has one brother … birthday is May 26.

Sh'nia Gordon, 5-6, Forward, Ocklawaha, Florida

Girls IMG Academy Top 150 (No. 52) … No. 5-ranked forward in Texas region … No. 22-ranked forward nationally … plays club for GSA … previously a three-year member of ECNL Soccer … Costal Empire All-Star Game MVP … tallied 34 goals in 13 games at Richmond Hill High … 2014 Savannah Magazine Most Athletic … also a member of high school track team and competed in the Texas Relays as a sophomore … ran the Texas 5AAAAA regional in the 200 meter … played soccer in multiple states, including Texas and Georgia … daughter of Joseph Schwendemann and Porsche Schwendemann … has two brothers and one sister … birthday is April 9.

Amanda Saymon, 5-6, Midfielder, Bridgeport, West Virginia

Member of the nation’s sixth-ranked West Virginia MUSC Shox U19 team, who finished in third place, 2014 Region 1 Premier League … 2013 Region 1 Colonial League Champs … four-year member of the West Virginia ODP and part of the 2011 Region 1 Pool … attended the 2012 Inter-Regional Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada … member of the 2014 Thanksgiving Inter-Regional U17 roster … member of the U16/17 International Croatia roster … 2014 Girls Soccer Player of the Year as a forward for Bridgeport High … led Lady Indians to 2014 West Virginia State Championship second-place finish … 2014 All-State First Team, all-conference and all-county (coaches) … 2014 captain of the Sportswriters’ All-State Team … 2014 All-State First Team (sportswriters) … 2014 Big 10 Conference Player and Forward of the Year … 2014 Bridgeport High MVP and BB&T Athlete of the Week … led Lady Indians to 2012 West Virginia state title … 2012 All-State First Team, all-conference and all-county (coaches) … 2012 All-State First Team (sportswriters) … 2012 BHS MVP … 2012 BB&T Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Athlete of the Week … tallied 65 goals in three seasons at BHS, including 32 goals and 11 assists in 2014 … daughter of George Saymon and Beth Saymon … has one brother … birthday is March 17.

Bianca St. Georges, 5-6, Defender, St. Felix de Valois, Quebec

Two-year member of the Canadian Women’s National U17 Team … competed at the 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica and won Silver at the 2013 CONCACAF U17 Championship Jamaica … started eight games for the U17 squad and helped the team compile a 4-3-1 mark in two tournaments … made Canadian Youth debut in 2012 under coach David Benning … attended multiple women’s EXCEL identification camps … competed in back-to-back Canadian Championships (2012 and 2013) with her provincial team … also competed at 2013 Canada Games with provincial team … saw time at 2011 Canadian Championship with club team … attended Georges-Vanier Secondary … fluent in English and French … daughter of Michel St. Georges and Denis Doody … has two brothers and one half-sister … birthday is July 28.

Earlier signings:

Three student-athletes have enrolled at West Virginia University and will join the Big 12 champion women’s soccer team this spring.

Kayla Saager, a freshman forward, transferred from NC State and is available immediately with three years of eligibility remaining. She is joined by freshman defender Easther Mayi Kith and freshman forward Hannah Abraham. The duo are early enrollees and have four years of eligibility.

“I’m looking forward to working with Kayla to further her career as a true goal scorer,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “She gained great experience playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a freshman, and she impacted the NC State program in just one season with her scoring ability.

“Easther and Hannah are two players who are committed to winning at the highest level. Their early enrollment shows their commitment to making sure they are in top form for the 2015 season. Both have accomplished so much throughout their youth careers, including a World Cup appearance for Easther and regional experience for Hannah.”

Saager, a native of East Islip, New York, played in 13 matches with the Wolfpack in 2014 and earned 12 starts. She led the squad in goals (5) and points (11), with her first career score coming against Portland on August 24. Saager recorded a three-point game against Coastal Carolina on September 4, scoring one goal and adding an assist. She placed 13 of her 32 shots on-goal.
A six-year member of the New York East ODP and a four-year member of USYSA Region I ODP, Saager played club soccer for Albertson SC, ISA and East Islip Soccer Club. She claimed Gold with her ODP squad at the 2013 International Kuban Spring Champions in Sochi, Russia, and won the 2012 NEWSS Championship and 2013 Region 1 Championship with her ISA Club team. During Saager’s three years with the East Islip High squad, the team posted a 34-7-2 record and was the 2013 outright league champion and the 2011 co-champion. She scored 27 goals and added 12 assists at East Islip and earned 2013 all-county, all-conference and all-league honors, and 2012 all-state, all-Long Island, all-county and all-league honors.

Saager will major in communications studies.

Mayi Kith, a native of Quebec City, Quebec, is a member of the Canada U17 National Team. She has made seven appearances with the squad and played the full 90 minutes in six. Mayi Kith represented Canada at the 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica, and she won Silver with the squad at the 2013 CONCACAF Women’s U17 Championship in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Mayi Kith made her Canadian youth debut at the age of 15 and has trained at the National Training Centre in Quebec. Additionally, she has been invited to multiple Women’s Excel Identification Camps. Fluent in French, Mayi Kith attended from Ecole Secondaire George-Vanier Laval. Her major at WVU is undecided.
Abraham, a native of Fairchance, Pennsylvania, is a six-year member of the ODP Region 1 Pool and the U14 National Pool. She claimed the Bronze medal with the US Junior National Soccer Team at the 2014 Kuban Spring Tournament in Sochi, Russia.

A member of the Mountaineer United Soccer Club, Abraham played for the Shox U18 Team under former WVU assistant coach Nikki Goodenow. Additionally, she was a member of the Region I Interregional Team in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Abraham is an early graduate from Albert Gallatin High, and her major at WVU is undecided.

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