MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama soccer head coach Mike Varga announced the addition of four student-athletes for the 2011 roster Thursday morning.

“Last year, we needed to add depth to our roster and we were fortunate enough to bring in a big class with a lot of talented players,” said Varga. “This year’s class is smaller, but of high quality.  All of the student-athletes in the class of 2011 have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program.”

Ashley Hammons, Defender, Cincinnati, Ohio (Finneytown HS)

Hammons is a four-year varsity starter at FHS, where she tied the school record for goals in a single game (4) and finished her prep career with 36 goals and 19 assists. As a senior, she led FHS in scoring and was voted team captain. During her prep career, she was a two-time Cincinnati Hills League first-team recipient, two-time Cincinnati Enquirer division II all-star team recipient and a member of the 2010 all-southwest district team. Hammons participated in the Ohio South Olympic Development Program from 2004-08, where she made the 2007 state ODP team and helped lead her team to an appearance at the regional championship. She was also a member of the Ohio Elite U-18 Team.

“Ashley Hammons is a smart defender who has a good feel for the game.  She is a fearless ball-winner who can play in the back, and also has the ability to play in the midfield.  She has been trained by one time South Alabama assistant coach Doug Bracken and plays for one of the top club teams in the country in Ohio Elite,” Varga commented.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native is a three-time Cincinnati Hills League all-academic award recipient and has been recognized on the honor-roll all four years of her prep career. Hammons chose USA over Western Carolina, Morehead State and Georgia Southern.

“Ashley is a very hard worker, who always puts the team first,” FHS head coach John Volker said. “She was my leading scorer, as well as one of my top defenders, and she never complained when I put her into different positions. She is a great team leader, voted by her teammates as a captain, and led by example both on and off the field. She was first-team all-league, first team all-city and played in the city-wide all-star game.”

Taylor Morgan Defender, Charleston, West Virginia (The Pendleton School at IMG Academies, Bradenton, Fla.)

Morgan is a two-year starter at the IMG Girls Academy. She played club soccer for the U-19 IMG Soccer Academy for two years. Prior to playing club soccer for IMG, she played for the West Virginia state U-16 team. She helped lead her team to a 2009 league championship and 2009 indoor state championship. Morgan was the starting defender on the 2008 Virginia Beach Open Cup championship team.

The Charleston, W.V., native chose USA over Coastal Carolina.“Taylor Morgan is an athletic defender who can play both centrally and wide.  She has trained at the IMG soccer academy for the past couple years, which will aid in her transition to the college game,” Varga said.  

Madison Rodwell, Midfield/Forward, Navarre, Fla. (Navarre HS)

Rodwell is a four-year starter at NHS, where she finished her prep career with 66 goals and 35 assists. During her prep career, she was named first-team all-state and all-region her junior season. The Navarre, Fla., native was named first-team all-area by the Florida Daily News and the Pensacola News Journal as a sophomore and junior. Rodwell was voted the team’s most valuable player as a sophomore and junior. She played club soccer for the Dallas Texans of Florida.

“Madison Rodwell is creative on the dribble and also has the ability to score at any level.”  She can play any position in the midfield as well as playing as a forward,” Varga stated.

She chose USA over Samford, Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Virginia Wesleyan.
“Madison is a technically-gifted player who is dangerous when playing one-on-one,” Dallas Texans of Florida Club Director David Kemp said.

Shawna Trunca, Midfield, Litchfield New, Hamshire (Campbell HS)

Trunca is a four-year letterwinner at CHS, where she recorded 104 career goals and 59 assists. She finished her prep career as the all-time leading scorer and holds the school record for goals in a single season. As a senior, she was named the New Hampshire athlete of the month (September), New Hampshire soccer athlete of the year, received first team all-state and first-team all-New England honors.  During her prep career, she was named second-team all-state as a freshman, and first-team all-state as a sophomore and junior.

The Litchfield, N.H., native played three years of club soccer for the Granite FC COE in Merimack, N.H. She helped lead her team to back-to-back state cup finals in 2008 and ’09. In 2010, she led her team to the state cup, where she recorded four goals during the tournament.

Trunca was a four-year starter for the New Hampshire Olympic Development team. She chose USA over Connecticut, Boston University, Elon, St. Michaels and Central Connecticut.

“Shawna Trunca was the leading goal scorer in the state of New Hampshire and has a nose for the goal.  She can score many different ways and will cause a lot of problems for our opponents.  Not only can she score, but she is an unselfish player who makes her teammates better as well,” Varga said.


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For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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