Pair of Signees to Join Women's Soccer Team for 2015 Season

MARS HILL, N.C. – Mars Hill women's soccer coach Ken Miller has announced the signing of two additional student-athletes for the 2015 season. Nicole Benzrihem (Sanibel, Fla.) and Kanani Thomas (Swansboro, N.C.) will join the Lions this fall.

Benzrihem, a forward or center mid, was the team captain and MVP of the Cypress Lake High School  team her senior season. Benzrihem, a member of the National Honor Society with a 3.5 GPA, was selected to play in the Florida High School Class vs. Class All-Star Girls Soccer Game and was invited to the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. She has chosen to major in Zoology.

"Nicole is an athletic attacking center midfielder who can also play as a forward," Miller stated. "She has good awareness of spacing and combines well as a forward.  Nicole has good technical ability and uses her passing ability to combine and get behind defenders.  We look for Nicole to compete for playing time as a forward or attacking midfielder.  We are excited about her ability to help increasing our attacking options and ability to score."

Thomas, an outside back, was a member of the 2013 NCHSAA 2A state championship team and 2015 NCHSAA 3A runner-up at Swansboro High School and has earned All-Conference and All-Region honors. She earned All-Conference honors in 2013 and 2015 as a member of the golf team and is an Honor Roll student. Thomas will major in Biology.

"I and our team are extremely excited about Kanani Thomas deciding to continue her collegiate soccer career at Mars Hill University," Miller commented. "Kanani is an extremely athletic, attacking minded outside back.  She is a tenacious 1 v 1 defender, who can shut done attackers and loves to get forward in the attack.  Technically, Kanani is very solid.  She has great touch and a very good crosser of the ball from a wide position.  These attributes will help make are defense more stingy and give us an attacking mindset from the defensive half of the field. "

Mars Hill opens the 2015 season on Thursday, September 3 against King in Meares Stadium at 6:30 p.m.