Mercer Women's Soccer Inks Five for 2021 Season
11/12/2020 9:26:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Four of the five signees are from Georgia.
MACON, Ga. – Head coach Tony Economopoulos and the Mercer women's soccer staff inked five signees for the 2021 season, bolstering an already impressive roster which contains a mix of youth and experience.Â
The five newcomers – Lindsay Bell (Marietta, Ga. / Hillgrove HS), Avery Hallam (Lovettsville, Va. / Woodgrove HS), Chandler Lewis-Jenkins (Suwanee, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS), Keelin Pray (Dunwoody, Ga. / Georgia Virtual School) and Lana Whitfield (Johns Creek, Ga. / Johns Creek HS) represent the states of Georgia and Virginia. Four of Economopoulos' five signees are from in-state.
"We're ecstatic about the 2021 class and the quality of the incoming student-athletes," Economopoulos said. "All five come from a high pedigree of club soccer, and we feel that they will make an immediate impact within the program. They address needs on a roster that loses 10 seniors. We feel that all five signees can come in and contribute right away. We're excited to get them on campus this August."
Bell has played three seasons of varsity soccer at Hillgrove High School under the direction of Shannon Center. Bell has led the Hawks to two consecutive GHSA Elite Eight appearances and had the lowest single-season goals against average in program history the past two seasons. Her current goals against per match average of 0.653 is a Hillgrove High record. Bell is a two-time all-region selection. She earned second team all-county honors in 2018 and appeared on the first team a year later. In 2018, she was the Class 6A Region 3 Player of the Year. The Hawks are 37-9-2 since the spring of 2018 and were 7-1 in 2020 before COVID-19 ended the season.
On the club level, Bell competes for the Concorde Fire. She was named to the Georgia Olympic Development Program in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and also earned a spot in the Region III pool in 2017. In 2018, she attended the ODP National Training Camp.
An honor roll student and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Friends Club and the National Honor Society, Bell is undecided about her major.
Coach Economopoulos on Bell: "Lindsay is a terrific shot stopper and has played for some of the top clubs in Atlanta while training with some of the top goalkeeper coaches in the Atlanta area. She will be able to fall in line with our strong history of producing quality goalkeepers at Mercer."
Hallam attends Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Va. An outside back, Hallam played for the Northern Virginia based Metro United and has been a member of the club for four seasons.
She has been a member of both the U-18/19 and U17 clubs for Metro United. In two seasons with the U-17 club, she has started all 12 matches, while also appearing in two with the U-18/19 squad. Prior to her time with Metro United, Hallam played for Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia, playing in 26 matches with 23 starts between the U-15 and U-16/17 teams. She also has experience as a midfielder, logging action in 31 contests (20 starts) with the Virginia Development Academy U-15 club in 2017-18.
An AP Scholar and National Honor Society member, Hallam intends to major in biology.
Coach Economopoulos on Hallam:Â "Avery is a player who will add depth to our back line. Her fitness level and technical ability allows her to get forward and be a dangerous attacking piece from the back line."
Lewis-Jenkins is a native of Suwanee, Ga. and a product of North Gwinnett High School. This spring, Lewis-Jenkins, an outside back and outside mid, will letter for the fourth time as a member of the varsity squad. She led the Bulldogs to the 2019 GHSA Class 7A Championship as the 'Dogs topped Lambert, 2-1. Lewis-Jenkins has earned a pair of team honors – Best Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player – during her time with North Gwinnett. In three seasons, she has scored six goals and tallied eight assists for 20 points. Her best season to-date was 2018 when she scored four goals and added six assists. In three seasons with North Gwinnett, she has helped the Bulldogs to a 34-9-3 record, including a 6-0 mark in 2020 before COVID-19 ended the season.
On the club level, Lewis-Jenkins has spent eight years with Duluth, Ga.-based Atlanta Fire United. Off the field, she is involved with The Nadine Foundation which promotes education and health with a goal of providing a better life for children in Cameroon. The foundation is also involved building schools so that the children of Cameroon can receive a free education. At Mercer, Lewis-Jenkins desires to start her journey towards becoming an athletic trainer.
Coach Economopoulos on Lewis-Jenkins: "Chandler is a very strong and athletic player. She is versatile and can play on the back line or be an attacking piece if needed. Her speed will definitely help us in our transition game."
Pray attends Georgia Virtual School and plays club soccer with the Gwinnett Soccer Academy. Pray has spent eight years with GSA and played for coaches Campbell Chapman and Drew Prentice. Prentice has been Pray's head coach for the past two seasons. In 2020, Pray has led GSA to a 5-3-2 record thus far. As a midfielder, she helped her Gwinnett Soccer Academy squad go 3-0 at the 2019 Nike Select Cup.
Pray is the fourth GSA player to sign with the Bears in recent years joining Gabby Zapata (Class of 2020), Washida Blackman (Class of 2011), Mercer's record holder for matches started and played, and Taylor Gates (Class of 2010).
At Mercer, Pray intends to major in business.
Coach Economopoulos on Pray: "Keelin has a very high soccer IQ. Tactically, she reads the game very well and gets herself in position to create scoring opportunities or assist others in scoring. She is very clean and can be a dangerous attacking piece."
Whitfield will arrive in Macon from Johns Creek, Ga. She has attended Northview High School but transferred to Johns Creek where she will graduate this spring. Whitfield spent one season on the varsity team at Northview, leading the Titans to a region runner-up finish and their first state playoff bid in seven years. At the end of the 2019 campaign, she received first team all-region honors. She will play for Johns Creek in the spring of 2021.
Whitfield, a forward, competed at the club level for Concorde Fire ECNL Platinum, helping the squad to a 19-2-3 record in 2019-20 and a region championship. She led the Fire in goals and was second on the team in assists.
Off the field, Whitfield is involved with the Will to Live Foundation. She plans to major in biology.
Coach Economopoulos on Whitfield: "Lana's athleticism and strength will cause fits for other teams in the Southern Conference. She is a handful to deal with from a defensive standpoint. She is a great finisher and her work rate as an attacking player is second to none."
The Bears will play both non-conference and Southern Conference matches in the spring of 2021. The non-conference slate is still being finalized, but Southern Conference play will begin on Mar. 5 at Furman.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Soccer, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWSoccer (Twitter), /MercerWSoccer (Facebook) and @MercerWSoccer (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
The five newcomers – Lindsay Bell (Marietta, Ga. / Hillgrove HS), Avery Hallam (Lovettsville, Va. / Woodgrove HS), Chandler Lewis-Jenkins (Suwanee, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS), Keelin Pray (Dunwoody, Ga. / Georgia Virtual School) and Lana Whitfield (Johns Creek, Ga. / Johns Creek HS) represent the states of Georgia and Virginia. Four of Economopoulos' five signees are from in-state.
"We're ecstatic about the 2021 class and the quality of the incoming student-athletes," Economopoulos said. "All five come from a high pedigree of club soccer, and we feel that they will make an immediate impact within the program. They address needs on a roster that loses 10 seniors. We feel that all five signees can come in and contribute right away. We're excited to get them on campus this August."
Bell has played three seasons of varsity soccer at Hillgrove High School under the direction of Shannon Center. Bell has led the Hawks to two consecutive GHSA Elite Eight appearances and had the lowest single-season goals against average in program history the past two seasons. Her current goals against per match average of 0.653 is a Hillgrove High record. Bell is a two-time all-region selection. She earned second team all-county honors in 2018 and appeared on the first team a year later. In 2018, she was the Class 6A Region 3 Player of the Year. The Hawks are 37-9-2 since the spring of 2018 and were 7-1 in 2020 before COVID-19 ended the season.
On the club level, Bell competes for the Concorde Fire. She was named to the Georgia Olympic Development Program in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and also earned a spot in the Region III pool in 2017. In 2018, she attended the ODP National Training Camp.
An honor roll student and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Friends Club and the National Honor Society, Bell is undecided about her major.
Coach Economopoulos on Bell: "Lindsay is a terrific shot stopper and has played for some of the top clubs in Atlanta while training with some of the top goalkeeper coaches in the Atlanta area. She will be able to fall in line with our strong history of producing quality goalkeepers at Mercer."
Hallam attends Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Va. An outside back, Hallam played for the Northern Virginia based Metro United and has been a member of the club for four seasons.
She has been a member of both the U-18/19 and U17 clubs for Metro United. In two seasons with the U-17 club, she has started all 12 matches, while also appearing in two with the U-18/19 squad. Prior to her time with Metro United, Hallam played for Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia, playing in 26 matches with 23 starts between the U-15 and U-16/17 teams. She also has experience as a midfielder, logging action in 31 contests (20 starts) with the Virginia Development Academy U-15 club in 2017-18.
An AP Scholar and National Honor Society member, Hallam intends to major in biology.
Coach Economopoulos on Hallam:Â "Avery is a player who will add depth to our back line. Her fitness level and technical ability allows her to get forward and be a dangerous attacking piece from the back line."
Lewis-Jenkins is a native of Suwanee, Ga. and a product of North Gwinnett High School. This spring, Lewis-Jenkins, an outside back and outside mid, will letter for the fourth time as a member of the varsity squad. She led the Bulldogs to the 2019 GHSA Class 7A Championship as the 'Dogs topped Lambert, 2-1. Lewis-Jenkins has earned a pair of team honors – Best Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player – during her time with North Gwinnett. In three seasons, she has scored six goals and tallied eight assists for 20 points. Her best season to-date was 2018 when she scored four goals and added six assists. In three seasons with North Gwinnett, she has helped the Bulldogs to a 34-9-3 record, including a 6-0 mark in 2020 before COVID-19 ended the season.
On the club level, Lewis-Jenkins has spent eight years with Duluth, Ga.-based Atlanta Fire United. Off the field, she is involved with The Nadine Foundation which promotes education and health with a goal of providing a better life for children in Cameroon. The foundation is also involved building schools so that the children of Cameroon can receive a free education. At Mercer, Lewis-Jenkins desires to start her journey towards becoming an athletic trainer.
Coach Economopoulos on Lewis-Jenkins: "Chandler is a very strong and athletic player. She is versatile and can play on the back line or be an attacking piece if needed. Her speed will definitely help us in our transition game."
Pray attends Georgia Virtual School and plays club soccer with the Gwinnett Soccer Academy. Pray has spent eight years with GSA and played for coaches Campbell Chapman and Drew Prentice. Prentice has been Pray's head coach for the past two seasons. In 2020, Pray has led GSA to a 5-3-2 record thus far. As a midfielder, she helped her Gwinnett Soccer Academy squad go 3-0 at the 2019 Nike Select Cup.
Pray is the fourth GSA player to sign with the Bears in recent years joining Gabby Zapata (Class of 2020), Washida Blackman (Class of 2011), Mercer's record holder for matches started and played, and Taylor Gates (Class of 2010).
At Mercer, Pray intends to major in business.
Coach Economopoulos on Pray: "Keelin has a very high soccer IQ. Tactically, she reads the game very well and gets herself in position to create scoring opportunities or assist others in scoring. She is very clean and can be a dangerous attacking piece."
Whitfield will arrive in Macon from Johns Creek, Ga. She has attended Northview High School but transferred to Johns Creek where she will graduate this spring. Whitfield spent one season on the varsity team at Northview, leading the Titans to a region runner-up finish and their first state playoff bid in seven years. At the end of the 2019 campaign, she received first team all-region honors. She will play for Johns Creek in the spring of 2021.
Whitfield, a forward, competed at the club level for Concorde Fire ECNL Platinum, helping the squad to a 19-2-3 record in 2019-20 and a region championship. She led the Fire in goals and was second on the team in assists.
Off the field, Whitfield is involved with the Will to Live Foundation. She plans to major in biology.
Coach Economopoulos on Whitfield: "Lana's athleticism and strength will cause fits for other teams in the Southern Conference. She is a handful to deal with from a defensive standpoint. She is a great finisher and her work rate as an attacking player is second to none."
The Bears will play both non-conference and Southern Conference matches in the spring of 2021. The non-conference slate is still being finalized, but Southern Conference play will begin on Mar. 5 at Furman.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Soccer, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWSoccer (Twitter), /MercerWSoccer (Facebook) and @MercerWSoccer (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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