Vodicka Announces Signing of Six

AIKEN, S.C. - University of South Carolina Aiken head women's soccer coach Sue Vodicka announced the signing of six players to a National Letter of Intent on Friday, Feb. 5.

The 2010 USC Aiken women's soccer signing class features four players from the Palmetto state, one from the state of Georgia and one continued lineage from the commonwealth of Virginia.

"We expect this class to blend in very nicely with the strong nucleus we have returning," said Vodicka. "Not only is this class strong on the pitch, but in addition to their ability as players they are also strong in the classroom. We take great pride in that in our program."

Vodicka kept it in the family literally in plucking Melissa Westphal from the state of Virginia. Melissa is the sister of three-year starting Pacer goalkeeper Nicole Westphal.

A goalkeeper herself, Melissa Westphal joins the Pacers out of Paul VI Catholic High School in Springfield, Va. Melissa Westphal has been a member of the varsity team for the last four years and is a three-year starter between the pipes. She is also a two-year starter on the Paul VI Catholic High School women's basketball team.

"Melissa is a terrific athlete," noted Vodicka. "She is a technically sound and tough goalkeeper. I look forward to having another great four years of goalkeeping."

Katie Bevacqua comes to USC Aiken from Stratford High School. A native of Summerville, S.C., Bevacqua is the co-captain of her club team in Mount Pleasant, S.C. A midfielder, Bevacqua is her club team's leader in total points. She is tops on her squad in assists, while she is her team's second leading scorer.

"Katie is a strong, physical ball-winner who loves to go forward," remarked Vodicka. "She is a great competitor who will add some feistiness to our lineup."

Alex Cohen is a forward/midfielder. A product of Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga., Cohen is a four-year varsity starter for Greenbrier. She is a three-time (2007, 2008 and 2009) All-Area and All-Region selection. She is in the top five in Georgia High School Women's Soccer history in two offensive categories. She is currently fourth in Georgia history in goals with 58, while she is second all-time in assists with 40. She scored eight goals in a single game.

Cohen plays in the Region 3 Premier League for Columbia United.

"Alex is an exciting player to watch," mused Vodicka. "She is a passionate player, who makes things happen every time she touches the ball. I love how hard she plays and her commitment to excellence. Alex is fiercely competitive and she will certainly make a difference in our team."

A product of Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C., Aubrey Danielson will suit up as either a midfielder or forward for the Pacers. A Wendy's High School Heisman winner, Danielson is a four-year varsity starter for Dorman. Entering her senior season, Danielson is already a two-time All-Region performer (2008 and 2009). She will serve as team captain this season after finishing her junior campaign as Dorman's second leading scorer.

Danielson plays her club soccer in the Region 3 Premier League for Carolina FC.

"Aubrey has great vision and touch," said Vodicka. "She is a very focused and determined young lady. I look for her to immediately make an impact for us in the midfield.

Kyle Maguire joins the USC Aiken women's soccer program as a defender. A product of Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C., Maguire has been a member of the varsity soccer team at Dutch Fork for three years.  Maguire graduated early and is already on campus.

An All-Region performer at Dutch Fork, Maguire played her club soccer for Columbia United of the Region 3 Premier League. She was chosen Columbia United's Most Valuable Player.

"Kyle is a tenacious defender, who also happens to be very aggressive as well as a great tackler," noted Vodicka. "She is an intelligent player with the ability to possess the ball out of the back. She can also provide support offensively with accurate service from her usual outside back position."

Brittany Moores is USC Aiken's third product from the Columbia United FC squad. A two-time All-Region selection, Moores is a midfielder/forward who makes her way to Aiken from Blythewood High School in Blythewood, S.C. She is Blythewood's all-time leading scorer.

"Brittany has the ability to play out wide or up front," remarked Vodicka. "She has terrific composure with the ball. She also uses her vision well to connect with others. She has shown a sincere knack for finishing and the proof is easy to see as she is her high school's all-time leading scorer."

The six new Pacers will join a USC Aiken women's soccer program that is on the upswing. In fact,  the USC Aiken women's soccer team was honored as one of the top 20 most improved NCAA Division II women's soccer team on Wednesday, Jan. 27 by Somis Sports.

The rankings, which are available on the Somis Sports website at www.somissports.com, are done by calculating a team's improvement by comparing its final 2009 rating to an adjusted 2008 rating. A team's rating roughly equates to net goals (goals scored minus goals against).

The criteria allowed the Pacers to obtain a 1.34 rating to leave them with the 15^th-best improvement in all of Division II women's soccer. USC Aiken improved its win total by three games in 2009.

The 2009 USC Aiken women's soccer campaign ended with the Pacers owning a 6-11 record overall. USC Aiken finished the season winning four of its final five games. The Pacers concluded the 2009 Peach Belt Conference season with a 2-8 record.

In a season full of close contests for the Pacer women, USC Aiken ended its 2009 Peach Belt Conference slate having been on the losing side of three overtime games in PBC action. In total, USC Aiken finished its 2009 season with nine one-goal losses. The Pacers lost six of their eight games in PBC play by just one goal.

USC Aiken's defensive unit had a tremendous season-ending stretch of not allowing a goal. The Pacer defense had not given up a goal in just over 501 minutes before surrendering the first goal of the match to GCSU in their season finale. The Pacers had played the entire 90 minutes of the previous four matches without surrendering a goal.