Joplin, Mo. – Missouri Southern head women’s soccer coach Trevor Wachsman has announced the signing of nine newcomers that will compete on the pitch for the Lions during the upcoming 2010 season. The signees are: Ashley Bechtold, Kayla Bell, Beth Hammons, Megan Jenisch, Latea LaRue, Lindi Spilchen, Kelly White, Dana Wilhelm and Samantha Zoltanski.

Jenisch is a defender that played four years for the Ozark (Mo.) HS Tigers. While at Ozark, Jenisch earned first-team All-Conference, All-Region and All-Ozarks honors. As a sophomore, Jenisch helped the Tigers win a District title. She is the daughter of Andrew and Monica Jenisch and will be a Pre-Dental major at MSSU.

Bechtold is a goalkeeper from Oklahoma City, Okla. and played four seasons for the Putnam City North HS Panthers. She started all four years and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. Bechtold is a two-time All-Conference performer and a two-time All-Big City selection. She was also an All-District pick in 2007. She is the daughter of Linden and Carolyn Bechtold and is undecided on her major at Missouri Southern.

LaRue is a three-time All-Conference and All-District selection that competed as a midfielder for the Camdenton HS Lakers. LaRue earned All-Region honors as a junior and was selected as a team captain during her junior and senior campaigns. She also received the Coach’s Award as a junior and was honored with the Heart and Hustle award during her sophomore season as well as being selected as the team Offensive MVP as a freshman. LaRue will be an Education major at MSSU and is the daughter of Steven and Lauwanna LaRue. NOTE – Larue has been sidelined this season with an ACL injury suffered playing basketball. She was featured in the Lake Sun-Leader for her on-going role with the Lady Laker soccer team recently.

Bell is a junior transfer that comes to Southern after playing two years at Neosho County Community College. While at NCCC, Bell earned a second-team All-Conference mention in 2008 and a second-team All-Conference nod following the 2009 season. Prior to arriving at NCCC, Bell started two seasons for the Fort Gibson (Okla.) HS Tigers as a defender. In 2008, she was given an All-State award. Bell is the daughter of Danny and Laurie Bell and is undecided on a major at MSSU.

Hammons competed four seasons in the net for the Smithville (Mo.) HS Warriors. She has been a three-time first-team All-conference selection and a two-time first-team All-District performer. She earned second-team All-State Class II honors as a junior in 2008-09 and also received first-team nods from the St. Joseph News-Press and The Northland Sun Tribune following the 2008-09 season. Hammons has been selected as Varsity Co-Captain for the past three seasons and has helped lead the Warriors to three straight Conference championships, a District runner-up and a State Class II runner-up finish in 2008-09. While still playing her senior season, Hammons currently owns all-time career goalkeeper records in saves (537), goals allowed (54), minutes (5584) and assists (5). The daughter of David and Jonel Anderson Hammons, she plans on majoring in Secondary Education/Spanish at MSSU.

Spilchen is a transfer to MSSU from Graceland University, an NAIA school located in Lamoni, Iowa. Spilchen was second on the Graceland Jackets in scoring as a sophomore with six goals and also dished out one assist. She helped the Jackets advance to the NAIA National Tournament in 2008. Spilchen plans to major in Dental Hygiene at MSSU and is a native of North Bay, Ontario. She is the daughter of Robert and Charlene Spilchen.

White comes to MSSU after a four-year playing career for the Rogers (Ark.) HS Mounties. White has started three seasons, while seeing time as a forward and a midfielder for the Mounties. She has been named the Rogers HS Offensive Player of the Year and Goal Scorer of the Year. She also earned All-State and Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. She is the daughter of Rick and Tracey White and plans on majoring in Physical Therapy at MSSU.

Wilhelm was a defender for four seasons for the Notre Dame (St. Louis, Mo.) HS Rebels. Wilhelm was an All-Conference and All-State performer all four seasons at Notre Dame, in addition to being a three-time All-Metro selection. She helped the Rebels to a third-place State finish in 2007, a runner-up finish in 2008 and a fourth-place finish in 2009. Wilhelm was teammates at Notre Dame HS with soon-to-be MSSU teammate Michelle Dimza. She is the daughter of Mark and Joan Wilhelm and will major in Education at MSSU.

Zoltanski is a four-year starter as a defender for the Pattonville (Mo.) HS Pirates. Zoltanski was a first-team All-Conference performer in 2009 and earned All-Conference Honorable-Mention honors in 2008. She has helped lead the Pirates to three consecutive Conference championships, along with a District title and a third-place State finish in 2009. She was also a teammate at Pattonville HS of current Lion Candis Clark. The daughter of Tom and Nina Zoltanski, she plans to major in Mass Communication at MSSU.

“MSSU soccer is excited to be adding this group of talented student athletes,” said Wachsman. “As always, our group has high expectations, and I expect these players will bring both experience and depth to our team to help us reach our goals.”