May 8, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Preseason accolades for Samford's 2007 soccer recruits continued to pile up Tuesday as the Bulldogs' eight-player incoming freshman class was ranked No. 68 in the nation by Soccer Buzz Magazine. The ranking was Samford's highest in school history.

Samford's No. 68 national ranking proved to be its best in Samford history, surpassing its No. 79 ranking achieved in 2004.

On April 26, the Bulldogs' 2007 recruiting class was named the best in the Ohio Valley Conference for a fifth-consecutive season and it was also ranked 15th in the talent-laden Southeast Region on Thursday.

All four of Samford's most recent recruiting classes have been ranked among the top-100 teams in the nation.

Last season, Soccer Buzz Magazine tabbed the Bulldogs' 2006 recruits as the No. 85-ranked squad in the nation, while Samford's previous two classes came in at No. 91 and No. 79, respectively.

Samford's highly-touted 2007 recruiting class consists of Lauren Cook, Leah Leppert, Lindsay Matern, Melissa Miller, Colette Nammour, Hilary Samuels, Kelly Shaffer and Sarah Wilkinson.

All eight of the talented prep stars have signed to play for the Bulldogs during the 2007 season and will be expected to contribute to Samford's four-time OVC championship team.

On Tuesday, the Bulldogs' recruiting class was ranked higher than Clemson (71), Kentucky (74), Purdue (75), Texas Tech (78), Indiana (79), Memphis (83), LSU (84) and Alabama (86).

Samford finished the 2006 campaign with an 11-4-3 overall record and secured the OVC's regular-season for a fourth year in a row.

Samford's Most Recent Recruiting Classes

Year, Regional Ranking, National Ranking
2003, #19, N/A
2004, #14, #79
2005, #16, #91
2006, #18, #85
2007, #15, #68

2007 Samford Soccer Recruiting Class

Player, Pos., Hometown, High School, Club Team
Lauren Cook, F, Conyers, Ga., Heritage HS, Gwinnett Soccer Association Phoenix Red
Leah Leppert, F, Germantown, Tenn., Evangelical Christian School, Lady Dragons 89
Lindsay Matern, MF, Lakeland, Fla., Lakeland Christian HS, Countryside Lightning
Melissa Miller, D, Bradenton, Fla., Lakewood Ranch HS, Countryside Lightning
Colette Nammour, MF, Spring, Texas, Klein Oak HS, TSC Challenge
Hilary Samuels, MF, Carrolton, Texas, Creekview HS, D'Feeters Soccer Club
Kelly Shaffer, MF, Auburn, Ala., Auburn HS, Concorde Fire South 90 Elite
Sarah Wilkinson, F, Euless, Texas, Birdville HS, DFW Tejanos 89s