Five more heading to Southern for women’s soccer

Head coach Trevor Wachsman announced today that five more high school soccer standouts have signed with the Missouri Southern State University women’s soccer program.

Brittany Alexander (Bentonville, Ark.), Chrissy Crocker (Nixa, Mo.), Kelsey Thomas (Manhattan, Kan.), Ashley Turner (Columbia, Mo.) and Angela Westphal (Skiatook, Okla.) have signed with the Missouri Southern women’s soccer program, bumping the number of newcomers to 15 for the 2004 Lions.

“We’re very happy to add these five to the solid core that we are putting in place,” Wachsman said. “These are five quality student-athletes that will play a big part of helping move our program to the next level.”

Alexander, 5-foot-9, has been a four-year starter at sweeper for the Bentonville Tigers of coach Kristina Henry. She’s been an all-state and all-conference honoree and has been her team’s defensive player of the year in each of the last three seasons. Alexander has helped her club team, the Arkansas Comets, to the state championship. She’s the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Alexander and hopes to major in nursing.

Crocker is Nixa High School’s all-time leading scorer and is a four-year starter at center midfield for the Eagles of coach Evan Palmer. She’s a three-time team defensive MVP and has twice been an all-district performer. In 2003, the daughter of William and Deanna Crocker was also named to the Southwest All-Region squad. The 5-foot-6 Crocker plans to major in physical therapy at MSSU.

Thomas, 5-foot-2, is a three-time all-conference pick and a two-time honoree on the Central Kansas All-Region squad. In 2003, she was a first-team all-state selection and has been received the “Iron Woman” Award each of the last three years at Manhattan High School, where she has started all four years at a variety of positions under coach Courtney Markle. Thomas, who has helped her team to two state final four appearances, is the daughter of Bart and Cindy Thomas.

The 5-foot-10 Turner, a defender, is another four-year starter, and comes to Southern from Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo. She’s a two-time all-district and all-region selection and was an all-state honoree in 2002. Turner helped the 2003 Kewpies of coach Sandy Paulsen to set the state shutout record and to district championships in 2002 and 2003. She is the daughter of Ed and Diana Turner and plans to study business at Southern.

Westphal has started all four years for the Skiatook High School Bulldogs and coach Steve Mason. She has notched 20 goals in her high school career, including eight thus far on the 2004 campaign. Westphal was an all-district performer in 2003 when she notched eight goals. She is the daughter of Donald and Angel Westphal and intends to major in business.

Wachsman, a 2000 graduate of Fort Lewis (Colo.) College, heads into his second year as head coach of the Lions. Southern opens the 2004 season on Aug. 28 at Wayne State (Neb.).


	May 10, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Five more heading to Southern for women’s soccer Head coach Trevor Wachsman announced today that five more high school soccer standouts have signed with the Missouri Southern State University women’s soccer program. Brittany Alexander (Bentonville, Ark.), Chrissy Crocker (Nixa, Mo.), Kelsey Thomas (Manhattan, Kan.), Ashley Turner (Columbia, Mo.) and Angela Westphal (Skiatook, Okla.) have signed with the Missouri Southern women’s soccer program, bumping the number of newcomers to 15 for the 2004 Lions. “We’re very happy to add these five to the solid core that we are putting in place,” Wachsman said. “These are five quality student-athletes that will play a big part of helping move our program to the next level.” Alexander, 5-foot-9, has been a four-year starter at sweeper for the Bentonville Tigers of coach Kristina Henry. She’s been an all-state and all-conference honoree and has been her team’s defensive player of the year in each of the last three seasons. Alexander has helped her club team, the Arkansas Comets, to the state championship. She’s the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Alexander and hopes to major in nursing. Crocker is Nixa High School’s all-time leading scorer and is a four-year starter at center midfield for the Eagles of coach Evan Palmer. She’s a three-time team defensive MVP and has twice been an all-district performer. In 2003, the daughter of William and Deanna Crocker was also named to the Southwest All-Region squad. The 5-foot-6 Crocker plans to major in physical therapy at MSSU. Thomas, 5-foot-2, is a three-time all-conference pick and a two-time honoree on the Central Kansas All-Region squad. In 2003, she was a first-team all-state selection and has been received the “Iron Woman” Award each of the last three years at Manhattan High School, where she has started all four years at a variety of positions under coach Courtney Markle. Thomas, who has helped her team to two state final four appearances, is the daughter of Bart and Cindy Thomas. The 5-foot-10 Turner, a defender, is another four-year starter, and comes to Southern from Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo. She’s a two-time all-district and all-region selection and was an all-state honoree in 2002. Turner helped the 2003 Kewpies of coach Sandy Paulsen to set the state shutout record and to district championships in 2002 and 2003. She is the daughter of Ed and Diana Turner and plans to study business at Southern. Westphal has started all four years for the Skiatook High School Bulldogs and coach Steve Mason. She has notched 20 goals in her high school career, including eight thus far on the 2004 campaign. Westphal was an all-district performer in 2003 when she notched eight goals. She is the daughter of Donald and Angel Westphal and intends to major in business. Wachsman, a 2000 graduate of Fort Lewis (Colo.) College, heads into his second year as head coach of the Lions. Southern opens the 2004 season on Aug. 28 at Wayne State (Neb.).