JACKSONVILLE – In his third season with the Jacksonville State soccer program, head coach Neil Macdonald enhanced his 2016 roster with one of the largest signing classes in the program's history as he inked nine incoming Gamecocks during the Spring signing period.

The 2016 class is the largest under Macdonald and the most since JSU brought in 11 new players in the 2011 recruiting class.  Macdonald continued a trend by collecting three athletes from Canada and reaching over in to the state of Georgia for a trio of newcomers.  He also brought in the first soccer player from the state of Alaska.  Macdonald wrapped up the class with one in-state product from the Huntsville area.

Danielle Monroe - Villa Rica, Ga
Jordan Pannell - Kennesaw, Ga
Cheyenne Carden - Huntsville, Ala.
Adrianna Karpa - East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada
Emma Meadows - Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Mia Wilson - Anchorage, Alaska
Rachel Blanding - Snellville, Ga.
Nadia Plawiuk - Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
Ashlyn Shields - Evans, Ga.
 
 
Danielle Monroe – F/MF – 5'4"- Villa Rica, Ga. – Villa Rica HS – Southern Soccer Academy
 
Prepped at Villa Rica High School just across the state line in Villa Rica, Georgia…played for head coach Christina Tidaback…collected 15 goals and 20 assists as a freshman at VRHS…added 18 goals and 25 assists in her sophomore season…active on the club circuit with the Southern Soccer Academy and a member of the Southern SSA Chelsea 98G Elite Team…her club squad ranks No. 1 in the state of Georgia and fifth in Region 3 and among the top-65 squads in the nation…scored a pair of goals and an assist with the Chelsea club…helped Chelsea to the semifinals of the Disney Soccer Showcase last December and was a finalist in the Georgia State Cup…the Chelsea squad win the 2015 Southeast College Soccer Showcase in February of 2015…also a member of the VRHS basketball team…solid in the classroom as a member of the Nation Honors Society and Who's Who Among American High School Students.
 
Personal: Born July 16, 1998…the  daughter of Deantee' Monroe, Sr. and Paula Monroe…has one brother, Deantee', Jr. and a sister, Donye', who is a member of the USC Upstate women's soccer program…her cousin, DeAntoine Beasley, played basketball at Tennessee Tech and is currently an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb.

Macdonald on Monroe: "Danielle is a strong athlete with good technical ability.  Great with her back to goal, and can shoot well with both feet."
 
Jordan Pannell – F – 5'10" – Kennesaw, Ga. – North Cobb HS – North Atlanta Soccer Association
 
Attends North Cobb High School in the Atlanta, Georgia area…played four seasons for the Warriors of NCHS…named the team's most valuable player as a junior…helped NCHA to a third-place finish in the region in her first three seasons on the prep level…led the Warriors in goals scored as a junior…also a member of the girls basketball program at NCHS…helped her North Atlanta Soccer Association club team to an undefeated season.
 
Personal: Born April 15, 1998 in Indiana…the daughter of Henry and Jesse Denson…has a younger brother, Tre'.

Macdonald on Pannell: "Jordan has great physical strength and good speed.  She can play as a target forward in our system."
 
Cheyenne Carden –MF -  5'8" – Huntsville, Ala. – New Market, Ala. – Huntsville Futbal Club
 
The lone state of Alabama signee in the 2016 class…attends Buckhorn High School…played for coaches Jerry Bowman and Adriana Miller…named the Bucks' Team MVP as a freshman and junior…primarily a midfielder on the prep level…compiled 23 goals from 2013 to 2015…registered 10 of BHS's 12 goals during a 13-game schedule as a junior…credited with eight assists through three seasons on the prep level…also a member of the track and field program at BHS…active in the Huntsville Futbal Club since 2008…recently played on the Huntsville FC 98 Girls Blue team, coached by Henry Mpagi…helped the club win a state championship in the spring of 2012…the squad was ranked the best in the state by Got Soccer…won back-to-back Alabama State Cups and claimed the Southern Regional Premier League – Women's U18 in 2015-16…a three-time participant in the U.S. Youth Soccer (Southern) Region III Championships…also developed in the Alabama Olympic Development program and chosen for the Region III Alabama State Team from 2012-15.
 
Personal: Born June 18, 1998 in Huntsville, Ala…the daughter of Richard and Toya Carden…has one sister, Britney…Her father played soccer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, while her mother, Tonya participated in crew and women's tennis at UAH.

Macdonald on Carden: "Cheyenne is very competitive athlete.  Has an incredible engine, and can cover ground quickly.  Has the versatility to play in a number of different roles for us."
 
Adrianna Karpa – MF – 5'4" - East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada – Glenlawn Collegiate – FC Northwest
 
One of three Canadians in the signing class of 2016…prepped at Glenlawn Collegiate…a four-year starter for the Manitoba Provincial Soccer Team…was a member of the Canadian Soccer Association's U14 All-Star Team in 2012…played in a tournament in Barcelona, Spain with the Chico's Soccer School of Excellence in 2012…played with the U16 FC Northwest team that was a finalist for the 2013 Winnipeg City Championship and claiming the Manitoba Soccer Association Cup…the club also represented Manitoba at the National Club Championships that same year…helped FCN claim a second Winnipeg City Championship in 2014 along with collecting the Manitoba Soccer Association Cup and was a silver medalist at the Canadian U16 National Club Championship…named caption of the FCN women's club in 2015…has trained in the Canadian National Development Centre Program since 2012…participated in Ukrainian dancing from 2004-13 and ballet from 2004-09…a member of the Glenlawn badminton team and competed in a volleyball and basketball…active with the track and field program on the prep level from 2007-12 and claimed three gold medals , three silver medals and a bronze over those five seasons…solid in the classroom and other school activities as an honor roll student since the fifth grade and was selected as her class president in the eighth grade…active in student council since the seventh grade…awarded the Pride of Glenlawn honor as a junior.
 
Personal: Born July 13, 1998 in Winnipeg, Canada…the daughter of Mark and Shelley Karpa…has a brother, Alexander and a sister, Orycia.

Macdonald on Karpa: "Adrianna can anchor our midfield.  Has very good technical ability and reads the game really well.  Super competitive player, and a future leader."
 
Emma Meadows – F/MF – 5'4" - Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada – Bowmanville HS – Darlington Fusion
 
Played for Kelly Sims at Bowmenville High School…a former club teammate with current Gamecock Madison Carruthers…a stellar performer on the club circuit with the Darlington Destroyers (2006-11) and the Darlington Fusion (2012-16)…coached by Kerry Pallister and Dave Staley on the club level...awarded the Man of the Match honor in the finals of the 2015 Norway Cup, an international soccer tournament in Oslo, Norway…was the leading scorer for the club in the St. John's NFLDA Canada National Championship in 2014…the club team was ranked No. 1 in Ontario and in the entire country in 2014 for U16 girls.
 
Personal: Born January 26, 1998 in Toronto, Canada…the daughter of Thomas and Kimberley Meadows…has one older brother, Logan.

Macdonald on Meadows: "Emma has a fantastic mentality to take on a beat players 1v1.  Really exciting player with the ball at her feet, another player who can make and take goals."
 
Mia Wilson – D/MF – 5'5" – Anchorage, Alaska – A.J. Diamond HS – AK Rush Soccer Club
 
Prepped at A.J. Diamond High School in Anchorage, Alaska…a four-year member of the Lynx soccer program under the direction of Tim Valesko…was named the Most Valuable Player in 2014-15 and earned First Team All- State accolades in 2014-15…also selected First Team All-District and All-Region in 2014-15…earned the Subway Player of the Game in the 2014-15 State Tournament…helped guide the Lynx to a state championship in 2014-15…a seven-year participant with the AK Rush Soccer Club…coached by Michael Montgomery…selected to play with the Rush Select National Team from 2013-16…helped the club win the 2015 President's Day Tournament along with state championships in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015…earned a spot on the Alaska Olympic Development Team from 2013-15…camped at the 2014 and 2015 Regional ODP.
 
Personal: Born August 23, 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska…the daughter of Marcus and Dora Wilson…has an older brother, Marcus, and a pair of younger sisters…brother Marcus plays soccer at Edmonds Community College in Washington.

Macdonald on Wilson: "Mia is a very quick and athletic center back. She is a good 1v1 defender. Has the added bonus of being able to play out of the back because of strong technical ability."
 
Rachel Blanding – F/D - 5'6" – Snellville, Ga. – Brookwood HS – United Futbol Academy
 
One of three signees from the state of Georgia…attends Brookwood High School…did not participate in soccer on the prep level, trained on the club level with the Georgia Futbol Club from U6-U9 and then moved to the Norcross Soccer Academy before competing with the United Futbol Academy U10-U18…coached by Greg Munro from U15-U18…turned in 11 goals as a U18 participant…club team ranked among the best in the Peach State and top-60 in the country…won the U18-U19 Athena A bracket with UFA…participated in track at BHS, competing in the 4x100, 4x200 and the 4x400 meter events…the quartet holds schools records in each relay event…was a member of the Broncos volleyball program that claimed six consecutive region titles…was an honor student at BHS.
 
Personal: Born January 30, 1998 in Lawrenceville, Georgia…the daughter of Vincent and Nancy Blanding…has two older siblings – a brother, David and sister, Nicole.

Macdonald on Blanding: "Rachel again can play a number of different positions.  She is very fast, and powerful, and will be a real threat in both boxes with her heading ability."
 
Nadia Plawiuk – F – 5'7" - Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada – Emily Carr Secondary School – Bradford Soccer Club
 
Attends Emily Carr Secondary School in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada…coached by Marco Sirianni…a four-year member of the Thunder Birds' soccer program and an honor student on the prep level…trained with three different soccer clubs since 2010…participated with the Kleinburg Nobelton Soccer Club from 2010-12 before joining the Vaughan Soccer Club for one season…has been a member of the Bradford Soccer Club since 2013…coached by Greg Beauchamp of the BSC…named team captain with the KNSC and a two-time Most Valuable Player for the TFC Tournament while playing with VSC…helped BSC claim the Ontario Cup in 2015 and guided the club to the OYSL 2015 East Side Championship and the 2015 National Soccer Championship…turned in over 30 goals during the 2015 club season.
 
Personal: Born June 15, 1998 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada…the daughter of Nestor and Mari Plawiuk…has one brother, Alex.

Macdonald on Plawiuk: "Nadia has good speed and great technical ability.  Really strong 1v1 attacker, attitude and desire to score and make goals."
 
Ashlyn Shields – F/MF - 5'4" – Evans, Ga. – Aquinas HS – Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club
 
Preps at Aquinas High School in the Augusta, Georgia area…coached by James Leonard at AHS…two-time AHS Offensive Most Valuable Player as a freshman and sophomore…also tabbed the squad's overall MVP as a sophomore and junior…claimed All-region status in her first three years for the Fighting Irish…through three years at AHS she has accumulated 60 goals and 38 assists…tallied 30 goals and 10 assists as a junior in 2015…named a DI Varsity All-Star and selected as the Student Athlete of the Year by DI Varsity for the Georgia High School Class 1A in 2013…nominated for the Vincent J. Dooley Award, which is awarded for the athlete's character and accomplishments on and off the field for their entire high school career…named the AHS Female Senior Athlete of the Year.
 
Personal: Born October 7, 1997 in Shawnee Mission, Kansas…the daughter of John and Michelle Shields…has one sister, Emilee…father played golf at Kansas State University.

Macdonald on Shields: "Ashlyn is technically a very good player.  She reads the game well, and has a good range of passing along with the ability to score goals with either foot."