Tulsa Women’s Soccer Team Inks Nine to National Letters-of-Intent
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Tulsa Head Women’s Soccer Coach Kyle Cussen announced today the signing of nine players to National Letters-of-Intent. Signees include Bradi Hinch, Brooke Hinch, Kelsey Killion, Shelby Martin, Claire Nicholson, Jordan O’Brien, Camille Pelley, Chelsea Smith and Miranda Zoller.
“We are very pleased with our signing class,” Cussen said. “This is probably one of the best classes we’ve had in the last 10 years. Not only did we meet our needs, but we were able to recruit some of the top regional and national talent. All nine players come from successful club and high school teams, and are bringing a winning mentality and work ethic to The University of Tulsa.”
Bradi and Brooke Hinch are twin midfielders from Tulsa’s Jenks High School. Bradi and Brooke are both three-year letterwinners, and have led their team to a three-year, 39-3 overall record. The tandem also helped their team finish as the 2009 Class 6A State Champions, and as quarterfinalists as freshmen and sophomores. Bradi has tallied 15 goals in her career, and in 2009, was a Tulsa World Player of the Week, earned ESPN Spring Girls Soccer All-America honorable mention accolades and was named to the all-metro team. Brooke has netted four career goals.
“Both Bradi and Brooke were unanimously voted co-captains at Jenks, one of the top high school girls soccer teams in the state,” Cussen said. “Bradi is more of an attacking player and Brooke is more of a distributor. Bradi will score some goals for us next year and her versatility will allow us to play her at multiple positions, while Brooke brings a lot of enthusiasm and attitude, and the team will feed off of her leadership.”
Miranda Zoller, a 5’8” forward from Sapulpa, Okla., is also a three-year letterwinner at Jenks High School and earned four letters as a member of the cross country team.
“Miranda is a very athletic, attacking player,” Cussen said. “She will be able to come in and play at multiple positions.”
A 5’2” forward from Broken Arrow, Okla., Kelsey Killion is a three-year letterwinner at Broken Arrow High School.
“Kelsey is good with the ball and very attack minded,” Cussen said. “We expect her to score goals for us next year and help other players set up goals.”
Shelby Martin, a 5’5” midfielder, is a three-year letterwinner at Tulsa’s Union High School. Martin has helped her team post a three-year, 54-7-3 overall record, claim back-to-back Class 6A State Championships as a freshman and sophomore, and advance to the quarterfinals of the state championship in 2009. She has recorded 25 goals and 47 assists for 97 career points, and is a three-time all-Frontier Conference performer. As a freshman, Martin was named as the Rookie of the Year, picked up honorable mention all-district accolades and was selected as the Junior Varsity MVP.
“Shelby is a left-footed, versatile player,” Cussen said. “She understands the game and reads the game very well.”
A 5’8” forward from Overland, Park, Kan., Claire Nicholson is a three-time letterwinner at Olathe East High School. She has guided her team to a three-year, 58-3-2 overall record, a Class 6A State Championship as a sophomore, and runner-up performances as a freshman and junior. As a junior, Nicholson set the OEHS single-season scoring record with 38 goals, earned ESPN Rise All-America honorable mention honors, was an NSCAA All-America finalist, and picked up all-KC Metro first team, all-state first team, all-Northeast Kansas Regional Team and all-Sunflower League accolades. She was also selected as the Sunflower League Offensive Player of the Year and the Olathe News Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Nicholson tallied 17 goals as a sophomore and earned multiple accolades, and knocked in seven goals as a freshman.
“Claire is a natural goal scorer,” Cussen said. “She is athletic and we expect her to come in and compete for playing time right away.”
Jordan O’Brien, a 5’7” midfielder from Garden Grove, Calif., is a three-year letterwinner at Marina High School. She earned first-team all-CIF honors and was named as the Sunset League MVP during her junior campaign, and as a freshman, picked up second-team all-Sunset League honors. With the Slammers FC, O’Brien has been a part of a combined 14 state and national championships, was a National League Participant for two years and was named as one of the top-20 Top Drawer Soccer Players to Watch.
“Jordan is one of our top-three recruits,” Cussen said. “Se was recruited by some of the best teams in the country. She is attack minded and will be an asset to our midfield.”
A 5’6” midfielder from Arlington, Texas, Camille Pelley competes with the Polaris ’92 club team. She has competed in the Lake Highlands Girls Classic League from 2003-09, and the USYS Region III Premier League West from 2005-09. Last year, Polaris advanced to the finals of the NTX State Cup, and in 2008, she helped capture the Disney Soccer Showcase Championship and Spring Classic at Dallas Cup Championship, and finish as semifinalists in the North Texas State Cup and Region III.
“Camille is also one of our top-three recruits,” Cussen said. She has an extreme work ethic, a hard worker and a soccer junkie.”
A 5’9” goalkeeper from Ellisville, Mo., Chelsea Smith is a three-year letterwinner at Marquette High School. She has helped post a 38-16-3 overall record and finish as Co-Champions for the Suburban West Conference as a junior. Smith posted a .7 GAA and a .813 saves percentage, recorded 97 saves and was named to the first-team all conference as a junior. During her sophomore campaign, she had a .8 GAA, a .83 saves percentage, 87 saves and picked up second-team all-conference honors.
“Chelsea helps fill one of our biggest needs from last season, goalkeeper,” Cussen said. “We went through the 2009 season with just one goalkeeper on our roster and to be able to have some depth at that position on our roster for next year will be a great asset.”
2010 Tulsa Women’s Soccer Signees
Name Position Height Hometown (Previous School)
Bradi Hinch MF/F 5-4 Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks)
Brooke Hinch MF 5-3 Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks)
Kelsey Killion F 5-2 Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow)
Shelby Martin MF/F 5-5 Tulsa, Okla. (Union)
Claire Nicholson F 5-8 Overland Park, Kan. (Olathe East)
Jordan O’Brien MF 5-7 Garden Grove, Calif. (Marina)
Camille Pelley MF 5-6 Arlington, Texas (Grace Preparatory Academy)
Chelsea Smith GK 5-9 Ellisville, Mo. (Marquette)
Miranda Zoller F 5-8 Sapulpa, Okla. (Jenks)
Updated 02-08-2010
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