DeLAND—Stetson women's soccer head coach Manoj Khettry, and assistant coaches Emily Buccilla and Olivia Mills, today announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent to continue their education and playing careers with the Hatters, beginning next fall.
Khettry and his staff put together a recruiting class which features athletes from five states and two countries.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hometown |
High School |
Club Team |
| Lilly Ammon |
F/MF |
Sharpsburg, Ga. |
East Coweta |
Concorde Fire ECNL |
| Betty Anane |
F |
Meppen, Germany |
Poelchau-Oberschule |
SV Meppen |
| Florencia Baldassini |
MF |
Miami, Fla. |
Immaculata LaSalle |
Pinecrest Premier |
| Katie Christenson |
MF |
Bradenton, Fla. |
Manatee |
IMG Academy |
| Ellie Hackett |
MF |
Dublin, Ohio |
Dublin Coffman |
Ohio Premier ECNL |
| Tea Louis |
D |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
Cibola |
New Mexico Rush SC |
| Lindsey Parent |
MF |
Port St. Lucie, Fla. |
West Centennial |
Boca United ECNL |
| Emily Plotz |
GK |
Merritt Island, Fla. |
Merritt Island |
Space Coast United |
| Greta Watkins |
D |
Sutton, Mass. |
Sutton |
FC Stars of MA ECNL |
“Emily, Olivia and I are excited about this class,” Khettry said. “We knew a couple of years ago that we would be losing key starters and an important group of seniors, so we knew we had to recruit players we felt could step in immediately and contribute and compete at a high level. This class has attacking players, central defenders, quality midfielders and a goalkeeper I have seen play for the past 3 years. This group has versatility, speed, size and athleticism and every player is technically proficient and is comfortable with the ball at her feet.
“Coming off the success we had last season, and with our current players working as hard as they are to improve and establish a winning culture and mentality, I am excited that this group will be coming into a team with greater focus, higher ambition and a true desire to create history. Only time will tell how this group will leave their mark on this program, but they have a high level of talent and our job is to help them develop and improve upon their current abilities.”
Khettry continued, “Lastly, since we have been recruiting the majority of these players for many years, we have a familiarity and comfort with them as people, and they with us, and that will make coaching them easier because we have a sense of trust that has strongly been established.”
LILY AMMON
Height: 5-4Position: F/MFHometown: Sharpsburg, Ga.High School: East Coweta HSClub Team: Concorde Fire ECNLClub Coach: Gregg BlasingameParents: Philip and Cynthia AmmonHonor student throughout high school… named to National Honors Society 2015, National Honors Society Vice-President 2016 … ECNL Southeast Conference champions 2013, 2014 and 2015... helped her ECNL club team reach the ECNL National Playoffs four times, including a finals appearance in 2013... played for the Georgia '98 State ODP Team from 2009-14. Chose not to play high school soccer and trained with her Concorde Fire ECNL club instead.Chose Stetson over: Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Mercer and Georgia StateKhettry on Ammon: “Lily was the first player in this class to commit to Stetson in May of 2014. Lily has speed, quickness, is confident taking players on 1v1 but also has an understanding of how to retain individual possession. She will create scoring chances for her teammates as well as score goals herself. She has an 'educated' left-foot and has variety in her passing and shooting ability; she also comes from an excellent environment and has competed in meaningful games and has had high-level training, so her competitiveness will be welcomed. She is also versatile and can play in any of the wide positions: forward, midfield or as an outside back, but we will use her primarily as a forward or a wide midfielder.”
BETTY ANANE
Height: 5-8Position: ForwardHometown: Meppen, GermanyHigh School: Poelchau-Oberschule (Berlin)HS Coach: Jurgen DruschkyClub Team: SV MeppenClub Coach: Tommy StrootParents: Alex Yeboah, Alice KlitscherAnane scored 36 goals in four seasons of club soccer, also compiling 13 assists … played for the German U15, U17 and U19 National Teams … also was a member of the Berlin Region U19 Team … led her various teams to a total of four championships: Berlin Cup (2010, 2012, 2013) and a runner-up finish in the KNVB Bekker (Netherland´s Cup 2015).Khettry on Anane: “Betty has come through the developmental ranks in Germany, having represented her country at the U15, U17 and U19 National Team level. She has played in the Belgium-Netherlands First Division and is a prototypical center-forward in that she has scored goals at every level. She is tall and strong, has excellent feet, is good in the air and will no doubt help us create more goal-scoring opportunities and hopefully score a number of goals herself. Betty also understands how to hold the ball as a target-forward, how to move off the ball and combine with others and I think she adds an athletic dimension at the center-forward position for us.”
FLORENCIA BALDASSINI
Height: 5-7Position: MFHometown: Miami, Fla.High School: Immaculata LaSalle HSHS Coach: Gammy LozanoClub Team: Pinecrest PremierClub Coach: Ramiro VengoecheaParents: Gabriel and Veronica BaldassiniA 2015 All-Dade County selection, Baldassini helped lead her high school team to a 14-5-1 record and an appearance in the district semifinals … she scored 12 goals and registered 12 assists during her senior season … she is a 2-time Region A State ODP selection and was picked for the Region B pool once … she has helped lead her club team to the Disney Showcase finals twice, winning the championship in 2014 … she also helped guide her club team to the 2015 FSPL championship and the 2014 WAGS Showcase title … has two sisters who play college soccer – Sol at Georgia College, and Nicole at A-Sun member NJIT.Chose Stetson over: FGCU, Alabama State, FIUKhettry on Baldassini: “Flor is a skillful, smooth, central midfielder who can play any position. She has experience playing for her country (Argentina) at the U17 level and has been in their National pool since 2013. She is a player who will help set the rhythm and tempo of the game for us and has good athleticism and a good range of passing ability and vision. I can see her playing possibly as a holding central midfielder or higher up the field as an attacking central midfielder, but she also has the ability to play as a central defender (which we have seen her do with her club team), or possibly as a center-forward; she is that versatile and a complete soccer player.”
KATIE CHRISTENSON
Height: 5-4Position: MFHometown: Bradenton, Fla.High School: Manatee HSHS Coach: George AmeresClub Team: IMG AcademyClub Coach: Matt PatonParents: James and Maria ChristensonCaptain of her team in 2016, leading the squad to a 14-3-1 overall record and a regional quarterfinal appearance … was an all-district selection … scored 16 goals with 28 assists during her high school career … helped her club team reach the final eight in the Florida State Cup in 2015 … named to the National Honor Society. Her team were IMG Cup Champions in 2013, 2014, and 2015, Disney Cup Runner-Up in 2013 and Katie earned the IMG Coach's Award in 2013.Khettry on Christenson: “Katie is an extremely hard worker, and is also very versatile. She can play as a center-forward as well as both attacking and holding central midfield. I love her competitive attitude and I know she will add something to our training mentality daily. Players like Katie give other players energy and help lift a group competitively. I think she will add depth to our central midfielders but I can also see her possibly playing in other positions, because once again, she has a good soccer-mind and understands how to play multiple positions. She also comes from an excellent training environment having been at IMG for a number of years, so I'm confident she will adjust to the college game quickly.”
ELLIE HACKETT
Height: 5-8Position: MFHometown: Dublin, OhioHigh School: Dublin Coffman HSHS Coach: Marc D'AuteuilClub Team: Ohio Premier ECNLClub Coach: William GageParents: Kevin and Betsy HackettHas helped her high school team to a pair of district runner-up finishes and regional runner-up finish … has led her ECNL club teams to four straight Top 25 finishes, including a sixth place finish at the 2012 ECNL Nationals and a top five finish in the ECNL U17 North American League …USYSA Ohio South State Cup Champions 2009, 2010, 2011. USYSA 2011 Region II Semi Finalist. 2012 US Club Ohio State Cup Champions. ODP State Team 2012, ODP Regional Camp Member 2012. Honor Roll, AP Scholar. Father played football at Dartmouth College, brother plays football at Butler.Chose Stetson over: Youngstown State, Elon, Davidson, EKU, Eastern WashingtonKhettry on Hackett: “Ellie is another player with ECNL level experience and who comes from a competitive training environment at Ohio Premier. Ellie's best qualities are that she has great task-discipline and understanding of how to be an effective holding midfielder. She changes the point of attack well, she links the backs and forwards through midfield and makes the game simple for others by passing the ball consistently. Ellie is also very good in the air and a good individual defender. I think she is another player who can play multiple positions and is versatile, but we hope she can help us as a holding midfielder moving forward.”
TEA LOUIS
Height: 5-5Position: DHometown: Albuquerque, N.M.High School: Cibola HSHS Coach: Gary ZinkClub Team: New Mexico Rush SCClub Coach: Richie LouisParents: Richie and Pala LouisHelped Cibola HS to a cumulative record of 27-13-2 record in the last two seasons … second-team all-district selection in 2014 … scored nine goals and added eight assists in her career … selected to the NM Region IV ODP team from 2012 to 2014 … helped lead her club team to the 2014 November Nights championship and a runner-up finish at the 2015 President's Day Cup … father played collegiately at UNLV and professionally in MLS (Major League Soccer).Chose Stetson over: Cal State Bakersfield, Houston, Grand Canyon and UNLVKhettry on Louis: “Tea is primarily a central defender but has the athleticism and technical ability to play as a holding midfielder. She is an organizer in the center of defense and we feel she will help us continue to build and retain possession out of the back. Coming from a soccer-family and being around the game from a young age, she has a high soccer-IQ and understands some of the little things that it takes players years to learn. Tea also has great character and isn't your typical teenager. She is a hard worker who appreciates being able to play and compete at a high level and I know that she will add something different and positive to our team from a personality standpoint.”
LINDSEY PARENT
Height: 5-4Position: MFHometown: Port St. Lucie, Fla.High School: St. Lucie West Centennial HSHS Coach: Doug BlackClub Team: Boca United ECNLClub Coach: Jason SardisParents: Glenn and Wendy ParentScored 64 goals and registered 25 assists in three high school seasons, earning all-area recognition each year … named Best Offensive Player and Team MVP … served as team captain during her senior year … team posted 31 wins in three seasons, reached the district semifinals twice, and the regional quarterfinals during her senior year … member of the Florida '98 Girls State ODP Team in 2013 and 2014 and played in the US Youth Soccer Interregional with Region IV (West)… helped Boca United FC to a No. 1 state ranking and a No. 17 national rank … Boca United ECNL won the 2015 Disney Showcase.Chose Stetson over: North Florida, Louisiana Tech and CampbellKhettry on Parent: “Lindsey is a very dynamic player with a great deal of potential. She, very much like Lily and current freshman Riana Metzger, can take people on 1v1 and be dangerous with the ball at her feet. Lindsey will play primarily on the flank as a forward, but could also play as a wide-midfielder if need be. She has great speed and quickness and wants to get in behind defenders, both with and without the ball. I also like how hard she works defensively and is competitive and doesn't back down from physical challenges. She is going to help us create and score more goals next year and on her club team (which is one of the best in her ECNL Division) she is one of their most dangerous attacking players.”
EMILY PLOTZ
Height: 5-10Position: GKHometown: Merritt Island, Fla.High School: Merritt Island HS Coach: Scott CarswellClub Team: Space Coast UnitedClub Coach: Mike LordParents: Craig and Ann PlotzJust completed an outstanding senior season … has helped lead Merritt Island to a 28-1-2 record and a state semifinal appearance … she has allowed just six total goals while making 71 saves as a senior … member of the Florida ODP State Team from 2010-2014 … helped lead her club team to the FYSA State Cup Final Four in four consecutive seasons, with a finalist appearance in 2013.Chose Stetson over: Columbia, FGCUKhettry on Plotz: “I first saw Emily as a freshman playing up a year in the Florida State Cup. We knew from the time she first came to a Prospect ID Clinic that we wanted Emily to become a Hatter. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and has excellent distribution skills, she is also a good organizer of her defense, good at handling crosses and flighted balls, but also has the confidence to play high off her line and be a support player for our defenders in the build-up. I think she will compete immediately to play and I know she can continue to improve and that Olivia, our goalkeeper coach, will help her to keep getting better.”
GRETA WATKINS
Height: 5-10Position: DHometown: Sutton, Mass.High School: Sutton HSHS Coach: David PayneClub Team: FC Stars of MA ECNLClub Coach: Tom PhillipsParents: James and Christine WatkinsA four-sport standout at Sutton High School, lettering in soccer, volleyball, swimming and track … earned multiple honors in each sport, including conference athlete of the year for indoor track in 2015 … helped lead Sutton to a State Championship in 2013 … reached the state semi-finals in volleyball in 2015 … played for club teams which placed 2nd in the ECNL Nationals in 2015, and 4th in 2013 … an outstanding student, Watkins has been a member of the Honor Roll every year since 2012 … both parents were college athletes … her dad played basketball at Springfield College, while her mom was a field hockey student-athlete at Bentley.Chose Stetson over: Bryant, Northeastern, Purdue, Iowa and RutgersKhettry on Watkins: “Greta is one of the best athletes in this group of players. She has played multiple sports and received numerous honors in each of them. She is fast, very good in the air, strong physically and can strike a ball with both feet. I think she will add a dimension of size and athleticism in our defense that we need. She plays for one of the most successful club teams (FC Stars of Mass ECNL) and her team has competed for National Championships the past 2 years. So, once again, we have a player coming from not only a winning program, but one that regularly plays meaningful games and has a competitive training environment. I think as Greta improves technically, and particularly within our system, that she will become an outstanding college central defender. But having said that, she also has the speed to be able to play as an outside back.”
