MACON, Ga. –
The long overnight trips are over, the politicking and jockeying are done and with a strike of a pen National Signing Day finalized many decisions for high school senior student-athletes on Wednesday. However, for Mercer head coach Grant Serafy it comes as a subtle reminder that the work is never done.
Serafy welcomed the signature of seven new student-athletes to the Mercer community, many of whom he thinks will compete early for playing time and bolster a team that qualified for their fourth consecutive Atlantic Sun tournament in 2009.
Nikki Atkinson from Peachtree City, Ga.; Nicole Young from Conyers, Ga.; Taylor Gates from Conyers , Ga.; Lauren Barlow from Griffin, Ga.; Casey Barrett from Dublin, Ohio; Nadja Kolliesuah, from Columbus, Ohio and Kristen Hagaman from Bradenton, Fla. all signed on Wednesday.
“I am very pleased with this group we are bringing in,” Serafy said. “With graduating only three players and bringing in so many new players, competition for playing time will be increased and that is always a good thing.”
In all this may be one of Serafy’s more intriguing groups in recent history after losing only three seniors to graduation. The seven players all have extensive high school and club level experience and will look to compete right away.
“This group has played for the some of the finest clubs in their respective states and should be well-prepared for the rigors of Atlantic Sun play,” Serafy said. “I like the combination of speed and toughness we have in this class.”
NIKKI ATKINSON
Nikki Atkinson, the group’s lone goalkeeper was a member of the Atlanta Fire United and AFC Lightning soccer clubs playing at the highest level of girls’ soccer in the state of Georgia. She has won a State Cup title at the U16 level and a Region III Premier League regular season championship at the U18 level this past fall. She led the Region III Premier League in goals against average at the U14 level and she has been a member of the Georgia Olympic Development Program for five years. In addition to her club experience, Atkinson was a four-year player at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Ga. the same high school as current Mercer players Olivia Tucker, Kaelyn Horton and Meghan O’Rourke. She was the Region II AAAA Keeper of the Year as a sophomore and had a .91 goals against average and nine shutouts in 2008. In 2009 she recorded a 1.26 goals against average and three assists.
Serafy about Atkinson:
“Nikki is another player from McIntosh High School in Georgia,” Serafy Said “Most all of the players from that school have done very well here. She has very good hands and is exceptional with the ball at her feet and coming off her line and those are strong qualities for a keeper with the style of defense we play.”
LAUREN BARLOW
Lauren Barlow is a center midfielder from Griffin, Ga. who played for the Georgia Futbol Club and has been a member of the Georgia Olympic Development Program. She also lettered five times in soccer at Spalding High School in addition to receiving a letter in basketball and tennis. She has served as her team’s captain the past two seasons and was a 2008 and 2009 All-Region AAA player. Her Spalding team was a state AAA finalist in 2008 when she posted 20 goals and 14 assists as a sophomore. As a junior she led the Jaguars with 26 goals and 10 assists as the team was a semi-finalist in 2009. Barlow played for Monroe Academy as a freshman in 2007 and delivered the ball that won Monroe the state title over Frederica (3-2).
Serafy about Barlow:
“Lauren is a good central midfielder. She can win balls and she can hold the ball in tight spaces and distribute the ball to her teammates effectively. She is another player that works very hard and we are pleased to have her as part of our program.”
CASEY BARRETT
Casey Barrett is the all-time leading point scorer in Dublin Scioto school history. She received an Honorable Mention Award from the Ohio Capital Conference in 2007. She was a second-team All-OCC member in 2008, was an OCC Scholar Athlete in 2009 and served as the team captain both her junior and senior seasons. Her career stats at Dublin Scioto include 31 goals, 19 assists and 81 points. Her club experience comes from playing for the Ohio Premier Eagles where she has recorded 11 career hat tricks. Her team was runner-up in the prestigious Disney Soccer Showcase in 2009 and has been an Ohio State Cup Semi-finalist. Currently, the team is ranked first in the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association and Barrett has also been a member of the Ohio South State Team as part of the Olympic Development Program.
Serafy about Barret:
“Casey is quick forward with a lot of pace,” Serafy said. “She has the ability to get forward and score goals and can play up top in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3. She is a hard worker and will battle to get the ball and will also work get back defensively.”
NADJA KOLLIESUAH
Nadja Kolliesuah is also from Ohio and is a teammate of Barrett’s on the number one ranked Ohio Premier Eagles team. She has lettered twice in soccer and once in basketball at Pickerington North High School in Columbus, Ohio. She was a second team All-Ohio Capital Conference selection in 2009 when her team won the district championship. In 2008, she was a member of the Pickerington North team that won the Ohio Capital Conference as she scored six goals and nine assists.
Serafy about Kolliesuah:
“Nadja is a striker with very good pace,” Serafy said. “She is a player that really wants the ball, which is always a good sign for a forward or for any player. Nadja is adept at taking defenders on and scoring goals.”
TAYLOR GATES
Taylor Gates has played club soccer for Georgia Futbol Club and most recently with the Gwinnett Soccer Assocation (GSA). She won a State Championship with GSA this past year and went on to win the U.S. Youth Soccer Region Championships and captured a third place finish at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. Her team is ranked third in the country. Gates also has experience with the Georgia Olympic Development Program. She is a four-year varsity player at Salem High School in Conyers, Ga. She was named to the Georgia All-Region Team her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. Gates was also named the Offensive Player of the Year at Salem twice (’07-’08, ’08-’09). The Seminoles were three-time Region 8 AAAA Champions during Gates time there and a state semi-finalist in 2008.
Serafy about Gates
“Taylor is a ball-winner and that is the type of player that typically does well here,” Serafy said. “She is also good technically and can hold the ball well in the central midfield. She is a versatile player and capable of playing up top or in the back.”
NICOLE YOUNG
Nicole Young played club soccer for the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association Sporting FC ’92 Blue team and spent time with Atlanta Fire United ’92 Gold squad. Young was a two-sport athlete at Rockdale Magnet School of Science and Technology lettering all four years as a varsity soccer player and three times as a swimmer. As a freshman she was named Rookie of the Year and an All-Area team member at Rockdale. She was the leading scorer on the team while picking up All-Area First Team honors as a sophomore. Young, as a junior, was named the Player of the Year posting 15 goals and six assists while garnering All-Area First-Team honors again. Young also served as captain of her team at Rockdale. Her brother, Ryan Young, is a sophomore defender on the men’s soccer team at Mercer.
Serafy about Young:
“Nicole is a great kid who has demonstrated fine abilities as a player,” Serafy said. “She works very hard. She wins balls in the air and she shows good composure with the ball, both of which are successful traits for players in the center of the field.”
KRISTEN HAGAMAN
Kristen Hagaman is a member of the Clearwater Chargers 91/92 club team out of Bradenton, Fla. The Chargers, a highly successful club team in Florida, were a finalist in the 2009 Disney Soccer Showcase, which is widely regarded as the top youth soccer tournament in the country. Her team was a Florida State Cup quarter finalist in 2009. At Lakewood Ranch High School, Hagaman has been a four-year varsity soccer player and two-year captain. She is a three-time All-Area selection and named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09. Her team won the District Championship as a freshman, sophomore and senior. This season, Kristen netted seven goals and four assists while leading her team from the center back position. Lakewood is competing in the Regional Final on Friday.
Serafy about Hagaman:
“Kristen is a tough, hard-working central defender. She is very competitive and has a strong drive to improve and compete and those attributes will serve her well here. She is a very good individual defender.”