Women’s Soccer Signs Three for Fall 2012

MARS HILL, N.C.-The Mars Hill women's soccer team has signed three student-athletes who will join the program in fall of 2012.

Hannah Russell (Knoxville, Tenn.), Tori Stajduhar (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Aerial Ellis (Gastonia, N.C.) have all signed NLI's to play with the Lions beginning this fall.

Russell comes to Mars Hill from Knoxville Central High School, where she scored a school-record 84 goals and assisted on 20 others in her career. She was named All-District MVP and was also named to the All-Region team. Russell also played club soccer with the Soccer Club of Oak Ridge Mavericks.

Coach Ken Miller's comments on Russell: "Hannah is a forward with good pace and athletic ability. She was one of the leading goal scorers in the Knoxville, TN area for High School soccer. Hannah has great technical ability and a knack for scoring goals. She is a dynamic forward who has the ability to get in behind the defense and be a target player when needed. We are excited about her potential to come in and be an integral part of our attack with the hopes of being our leading goal scorer."

Stajduhar comes to Mars Hill from Milton High School, where she was a goalkeeper. Stajduhar also played with the Atlanta Fire United ECNL '94 girls team.

Coach Miller's comments on Stajduhar: "Tori is a goalkeeper for the Atlanta Fire United ECNL 94 team. She has tremendous quickness and footwork. We are excited about her potential to come in as a Freshman and challenge for the starting goalkeeping position. She is a hard working player who brings great leadership to a position that requires a lot of concentration. Tori is a great shot stopper and has great distribution awareness. She will be an integral part of helping our team keep shut outs."

Ellis comes to Mars Hill having played high school soccer at Forestview High School and club soccer with the Strikers of Gaston County Soccer Association. Ellis started all four years of her high school playing career, was a team captain, and recorded the most goals from a defender at the school.

Coach Miller's comments on Ellis: "Aerial is an outside back who can potentially play in an outside midfield position. She has good pace and a very solid defender. Aerial is technically sound and will look to get forward from a defensive position. We are excited about Aerial's potential to challenge for a starting position as an outside back and help solidify our defense. Aerial is also a Bonner Award Scholar for Mars Hill College."