May 4, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team added midfielder Caroline Baxter to its 2006 signing class on Thursday as Bulldogs' head coach Todd Yelton announced that the Dallas, Texas standout will be the sixth addition to his three-time Ohio Valley Conference championship squad.

Baxter comes to Samford after playing for one of the perennial girls clubs in the Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, the D'feeters Soccer Club. In high school, she also competed for the Episcopal School of Dallas in the Southwest Preparatory Conference where she has been a four-year starter.

"Caroline will bring added depth and goal-scoring ability to an already talented front line," said Yelton. "She has a great ability to score goals and create service, both of which will allow her to compete right away for playing time."

During her junior and senior seasons, Baxter not only led her team in scoring, but also paced the entire conference in goals as well. She was named first-team All-SPC in both 2005 and 2006, and was named the team's Most Valuable Player following each of her final two seasons.

With the addition of Baxter, Samford's 2006 recruiting class totals six highly-touted prep athletes. In next season's freshman class, she will also join midfielders Paige Lanter and Cindy Spiker, as well as forwards Amber Cress, Natalie Fleming and Rachel Titus.

"This is arguably one of the most talented recruiting classes in the program's history," Yelton said. "All six of these players have played at a tremendously high level of soccer, whether it was with their high school, club team, state team or at the regional level. I am looking forward to this group's arrival on campus as they are not only great players but also a great group in terms of character."

All three of Samford's most recent recruiting classes have been ranked among the top-20 teams in the talent-laden Southeast Region.

Soccer Buzz Magazine tabbed the Bulldogs' 2005 recruits as the No. 16-ranked squad a year ago, while Samford's previous classes came in at No. 14 and No. 19 in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

This season's rankings will be announced after the various magazines and web sites are able to evaluate each team's talent.

The Bulldogs are coming off their most successful season in school history in 2005.

Samford finished the campaign with a school-record 15-4-4 overall mark and secured both the OVC's regular-season and tournament titles. The regular-season conference championship was the Bulldogs' third in a row and Yelton was named the 2005 OVC Coach of the Year.

The accolade was his second in three seasons.

Samford outlasted Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament last season and advanced to the second round of the event for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs also became the first team in the OVC to accomplish the feat.

Samford's six incoming freshmen will join all 11 players that started for the team in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

"These freshmen are an exciting group to watch play and I have a feeling they will be equally as fun to train and work with on a regular basis," said Yelton. "We are coming off the best season in the program's history and I believe by adding these players to our returnees we will once again be one of the top teams in our region and in the future on the national level."

2006 Samford Soccer Recruiting Class

Player, Pos., Hometown, High School, Club Team
Caroline Baxter, MF, Dallas, Texas, Episcopal School of Dallas, D'feeters Soccer Club
Amber Cress, F, Zionsville, Ind., Zionsville High School, Carmel United Heat
Natalie Fleming, F, Evansville, Ind., Mater Dei High School, Carmel United Cyclones
Paige Lanter, MF, Hixson, Tenn., Baylor High School, Redoubt Lady Generals
Cindy Spiker, MF, Birmingham, Ala., Oak Mountain High School, Vestavia Attack
Rachel Titus, F, Indianapolis, Ind., Lawrence North High School, Carmel United Heat