Tiger Women’s Soccer Announces Recruits In Class of 2018

Head Coach Matt Fannon will welcome 10 new student-athletes into the Wittenberg women's soccer program in August 2014.

Wittenberg will welcome eight new student-athletes to the roster in preparation for another run at an NCAA Tournament berth in 2013. File Photo | Erin Pence
Wittenberg will welcome eight new student-athletes to the roster in preparation for another run at an NCAA Tournament berth in 2013. File Photo | Erin Pence
June 19, 2014

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University Women’s Soccer Head Coach Matt Fannon has announced that 10 student-athletes will be joining the Tiger program in August 2014. 

The new recruits join a team that compiled records of 9-7-5 overall and 5-1-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), good for a share of the third regular season title in program history. The Tigers are expected to return 14 letterwinners from a squad that reached the NCAC Tournament championship game in Fannon’s first season at the helm. 

Wittenberg opens the 2014 season with a home game against Thomas More at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. The NCAC portion of the campaign will begin with a game at Oberlin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. 

The new recruits are: 

  • Rachel Billman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) – Midfielder; two-year team captain and two-year team MVP; two-time all-conference award-winner; played club soccer for Freedom Soccer Club.
  • Emma Hawthorn (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne) – Forward; first-team all-conference and second-team All-Miami Valley in 2013; played club soccer for Butler United.
  • Lauren Hofer (Avon, Ind./Cardinal Ritter) – Midfielder; All-city and all-conference player three straight years; school and state record-holder for assists in a season (34); holds school record and ranks third in Indiana history for assists in a career (80); played club soccer for ZYSA 96 Girls Select I.
  • Morgan Jones (Louisville, Ky./Atherton) – Midfielder/Forward; Transfer from Berea College, where she was the team’s leading scorer in 2013.
  • Nicole Karavakis (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Pickerington Central) – Defender; three-time all-conference performer; team MVP and captain as a senior; played club soccer for Crew Juniors Gold.
  • Alexa Murrietta (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) – Goalkeeper; played club soccer for Players Soccer Club; Nevada Olympic Development Region IV camp invitee 2012 and 2013; team won state championship and will play in regional tournament in June 2014.
  • Allison Ruman (Westerville, Ohio/Central) – Defender; two-time all-conference player; played club soccer for New Albany Freedom.
  • Julia Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) – Midfielder; played club soccer for Crew Juniors.
  • Leah Soutar (Troy, Ohio) – Midfielder/Forward.
  • Hannah Wilson (Pickerington, Ohio/North) – Goalkeeper; first-team all-district honoree on state runner-up team in 2013; played club soccer for Ohio Premier; club team finished 11th out of 72 team in national tournament. 

“I am pleased to welcome this outstanding group of young women to the Wittenberg women’s soccer program,” Fannon said. “I look forward to working with them over the next four years and helping them succeed both academically and athletically.”

Written By: Ryan Maurer