Lady Flames Reloading for the Defense of their National Title

Last Fall, the Lee University Women's Soccer Team won the school's first ever NAIA national title. during this past Spring, Head Coach Matthew Yelton signed nine players to help the Lady Flames reload and defend their national championship.

“This may be the best class that we have ever signed at Lee, and given the nature of our success the last few years, that is saying something," Head Coach Matthew Yelton said. “This is a very versatile class and all of these players will be able to come in and contribute right away. One of the issues we felt we had to address with this recruiting class was to bring in quality players that can get into our team quickly and by their sophomore season be able to step into the void that we will have after graduating a large senior class.” Yelton continued. The Lady Flames return 8 of 11 starters from last year's championship team, but if Yelton is right about this 2009 class, the Lady flames will be competing year in and year out for national titles for years to come.

The names of the players in this highly touted class of 09 are Darcy Brannen, Kim Conrad, Amy Cochran, Ali Eisnaugle, Missy Shaw, Leah Wilson, Louise Fensome, claire Lanter and Lindsey Muratta. Five of these players are from the state of Tennessee and three are Chattanooga area products. coach Yelton believes that the five in-state players are among the best in Tennessee. “One of our priorities in recruiting has always been to bring in the best local players that we can, and I believe that we have added five of the top players from the state of Tennessee with this year’s class," Coach Yelton said.

Darcy Brannen is a local product from Soddy-Daisey, TN. She actually played club ball for Coach Yelton with the East Ridge Express. For the last three seasons, she led East Ridge in scoring as a forward and attacking midfielder. She helped lead the Express to the 2007 State Cup, and in 08, she played a crucial role in the Express winning the Region Three Premiere League Title and advancing to the Southern Regionals. Having already played for Yelton, Brannen will be able to adjust well to the college game. One other footnote, her sister Nikki plays college soccer at Carson-Newman. While in high school, Brannen was a four year starter at Notre Dame High School, and was named the squad's best midfielder while helping her team to the state semi-finals each of her 4 years.

Amy Cochran comes across the country from Yorba Linda, CA, where she helped Esperanza High School win the Sunset League Championship and advance to the state semis in 07 and the quarterfinals in 08. Cochran was named to the All-League Team as a result of her accomplishments. She also played club ball for Slammers FC, one of the best clubs in the country.

Kim Conrad comes from Murfreesboro, TN, where she played Soccer at Siegel High School and also played club ball for the Stones River Strikers. Conrad is one of the most decorated players from Tennessee in Lee's 09 class. Conrad helped the Strikers to 7 straight State Titles, as well as advancing to the semi-finals of the Southern Regionals in 2005 and 06. The Strikers also reached the quarterfinals in 07. While playing for Siegel High, Conrad was a Team Captain and helped lead Siegel to the Tennessee AAA State Title in 2008 and was named to the Tennessee All-State Team in 07 and 08. Conrad finished her high school career as the third best goal scorer in school history.

Ali Eisnaugle comes to Lee from Franklin, TN and joins her older sister Chelsea Eisnaugle on the squad. “Ali is a very polished player and has the knack for being in the right place at the right time," Yelton said. Coach Yelton went on to say that Eisnaugle impressed him every time he watched her play for the last year and a half and that she was always making the players around her better. Ali Eisnaugle was a teammate of Conrad on the Stones River Strikers.

Louise Fensome comes from across the pond in St. Neots, England, where she started for Bristol Academy for the last two years and was a Team Captain. Bristol Academy is considered the top Academy soccer club in England and has won back-to-back national championships.
Caoch Yelton says that Fensome is a quality defender and can excel across the back line. He also went on to say that her playing experience for the top academy club in England will be very valuable to the Lady Flames.

Claire Lanter is another local player signed by Yelton from Soddy-Daisey, TN. She started at Soddy-Daisey High school under Head Coach Moses Drummond, and was a Team Captain. While at Soddy-Daisey, Lanter was named District 6 MVP and Regional Defensive Player of the Year honors her Junior and Senior seasons. She was also twice named the Times-Free Press Best of Preps Award winner. She also was coached by Matthew Yelton while playing for the East Ridge Express.

Lindsey Muratta is one of two players that Yelton signed from the state of Alabama. Muratta played soccer at Gadsden City High. While as a Freshman at Gadsden City, Muratta led the team to the Alabama state semi-finals and was named the team's MVP the next four seasons. She also was named to several All-district and All-Region teams. Muratta was also a member of the Alabama ODP Team and led her club to two Alabama State Championships.

Missy Shaw is the second of Yelton's Alabama signees. She hales from Birmingham where she had a very successful career at Briarwood Christian. As a starting midfielder, Shaw helped Briarwood to four straight appearances in the State Championship Game, winning it twice in 2005 and 06. Shaw played club ball for Birmingham United Elite and was a part of three straight state championship teams.

The final member of Lee's class of 09 is Leah Wilson. Wilson had a brilliant five year career at Chattanooga Christian, tallying 58 shutouts and being med three years in a row to the Chattanooga Best of Preps Team. Wilson was also named to the Tennessee All-State Team her Sophomore, Junior and Senior seasons. Coach Yelton says that Wilson has the athletic ability seldom found in a goalkeeper and has the skills to be able to step in and play right away in college.

This is truly an outstanding class for the Lee Women's Soccer Program. Some, if not all of the ladies, should see playing time right away. I believe the Lady Flames have an excellent shot at repeating as national champions based on the fact that most of the returning starters are back and the fact that the 2009 class is so strong. This group of players will provide strong depth for the Lady Flames during the 09 season. The success of the Lee Women's Soccer Program could spell trouble for the other college soccer programs in the Chattanooga area in that Lee will seem very attractive for local recruits. It will be interesting and exciting to see if the Lady Flames can 2-peat this Fall. The Lady Flames open the season on Aug. 27 in California where they will have two very tough tests against Azuza Pacific and Cal Baptist on Aug 29 beofre their home opener on Sept. 2 against a solid NCAA Div lll opponent in Emory University and a home game Sept. 12 against Lindsey Wilson. We'll probably see how good this Lee team is in their first four matches. Information on this article was obtained from www.leeuniversity.edu/athletics.