April 23, 2009

Lamar women's soccer coach Dewi Hardman announced the addition of seven players that will join the third-year program beginning this fall.

Five players from England, one from Canada and one from the Houston-area will be combined with the initial group of five that were announced in early February. The talented group includes Grace Bowman, Julie Niess, Lorna Maudslay, Jennifer Moore, Lisa Topping, Jennifer Torry and Rachel Snellgrove.

"This is definitely our biggest, strongest and deepest class," Hardman said. "This group adds to the one at the start of the (singing period) and collectively, these 12 have the potential to make a strong impact with our program. It's a very skilled group and will continue to make us a stronger starting 11 and much deeper squad."

Bowman is a 5-foot-8 central defender out of Carlisle, England who plays for the Blakburn Rovers of the English Premier League. She has competed for the Rovers in friendlies against the United States U 20 and U-21 National Teams.

"She is more of an attacking midfielder who plays with an ability to go at people and beat defenders," Hardman said. "She is a very good athlete as well."

Niess (pronounced: niece) is a forward from Deer Park, Texas, who has played a key role in the success of the Deer Park girls soccer team, which reached the Class 5A state championship game in 2007 and has won four-consecutive district titles. She plays club ball for the Challenge South, one of the top programs in south Texas, while also competing in volleyball for the Deers.

"Julie is very powerful and strong, and also a good striker of the ball," Hardman said.

Maudslay is a defender from York, England who has played for the Doncaster Belles in the EPL, competing on both the first team and reserve squads.

"Lorna has good pace about her and can play just about any position on the field," Hardman said. "She was recruited as a defender but can score goals as well."

Moore is left/central defender from London, England who plays for the Charlton Athletic Club. CAC is one of the top teams in the English Southern Division. At 5-foot-11, the left-footed Moore will share the title as the tallest player in school history.

"She has good pace at outside midfield and forward," Hardman said. "She is a very, very good student as well."

Topping, who like Moore is a left-footed player, is a forward out of Preston, England who plays for the Liverpool Ladies Football Club. She joined Liverpool in 2007-08 from the Blackburn Rovers and is a very multidimensional athlete who is a British Championship level swimmer.

"Lisa is gifted and intelligent player who can attack from the left side very well," Hardman said.

Torry is a defensive midfielder who can play back as well. The Langley, Canada native is a standout in the classroom as well and will be attending Lamar on a Mirabeau Scholarship.

"Jennifer is a very intelligent player both on and off the field who can play a wide variety of spot for us," Hardman said. "She is very technically gifted and skilled with her feet."

Snellgrove is an attacking midfielder from Liverpool, England. She is a teammate of Topping's with Liverpool and has played with the U-15 England National Squad. She has played with the Liverpool Ladies program for many years and was a member of their Midland/Northern Division 1 (reserves) league title team in 2007.

"Rachel is a technically gifted player who can help us attack from the midfield and keep the game in our opponents' part of the field," Hardman said.