Feb. 6, 2008

AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn soccer team signed four players to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period. Auburn, which is coming off of its sixth NCAA Tournament in its last seven seasons, signed two midfielders, a defender and a goalkeeper.

"This class, although small, improves our team and makes us better in every position. They are an extremely talented group with a wealth of athleticism, experience, and soccer knowledge that all come from teams with winning traditions," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said.

Katy Frierson is a midfielder from Homewood where she plays for the Birmingham United 90 coached by Eric Dade. Last month she participated in the U20 National Team Camp, one of only a handful of 1990 birth-year players to do so. She has also played extensively for the U16 and U17 National Teams, which included a trip to Argentina last year, starting as the center-mid in two victories over the host country. Having been a member of BUSA since 1999, she has helped the club team to nine state championships, two regional quarterfinal appearances and two Region 3 League Championships, captaining the team since 2004. A two-time NSCAA All-American, she has also played on the Alabama ODP Team from 2001-07, making the Dana Cup trip to Holland in 2007. A multi-sport athlete, she also played basketball and ran cross country at Homewood High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and the Spanish Club. She is the daughter of Chamele Frierson Walker and Herb Frierson.

"Katy is clearly one of the top 2008 recruits in the country, having played on the youth national teams for several years," Hoppa said. "The international experience she brings to the Plains will impact our midfield immediately. She is an incredibly technical player that can control the tempo of the attack, play a perfect final ball, and is a goal-scoring threat in the run of play as well as from free-kicks."

Aimee Golightly is a goalkeeper from Northport, N.Y., where she plays for the East Meadow Dynamite and coach Chris Smith. An Eastern New York ODP participant since 2003, she played for the Region 1 Team from 2003-05. Having led Dynamite to the State Cup Championship in 2007 and the finals in 2006, she has also played in the Disney Classic semifinals in 2006 and 2007, the Eastern New York Surf Cup quarterfinals in 2006 and semifinals in 2004, the Jefferson Cup semifinals in 2005 and 2006 the MAPS Premier Invitational finals and the Score at the Shore quarterfinals. The daughter of Wayne and Laura Golightly, she is a honor roll student at Northport High School.

"We are thrilled to add this New Yorker to our team. Aimee will give us tremendous depth in our goalkeeper position. She is an athletic, quick keeper that is extremely competitive. She has great range to cover the goal and is very proficient with her feet," Hoppa said.

Julie King is a midfielder from St. Louis and the younger sister of current Auburn star Caitlin King. A wing-midfielder for Gary Miller's St. Louis Soccer Club, she has been named First Team All-Metro, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State in 2007 as well as an All-Midwest honorable mention. In 2005 she helped SLSC to the USYS National Championship. She had also previously been named a 2006 Second Team All-Metro and a 2005 All-Metro honorable mention. An honor roll student at Nerinx Hall where she was also a second team All-Conference selection in basketball in 2007, she is the daughter of Kevin and Julie King.

"We are so excited that Julie decided to join her sister Caitlin at Auburn! Julie has tremendous athletic ability to go along with her great possession skills. She will be able to play a variety of positions for us and brings a winning mentality as evidenced by her significant role in her club team's national championship. With a vertical jump of over 30 inches, she is also a goal-scoring threat in the air," Hoppa said.

Mary Nicholson comes to Auburn as a centerback from Eric Dade's Birmingham United 90 that was the Alabama State Champion this past year and the 2007 Region 3 Central Premier League Champion. Having participated on the Alabama ODP State Team since 2004, she is a former member of Vestavia Hills Soccer Club and helped coach Jason Lockhart's Vestavia Attack '89 Blue to the 2006 and 2007 state championships and the 2007 Region 3 quarterfinals. She also played for the Mountain Brook Angels '90 that won the state cup and advanced to the Region 3 quarterfinals twice. A two-time State Champion at Vestavia Hills High School where she has been named All-State (2005), All-Metro (2005) and Lakeshore MVP (2007), she is the daughter of David (Auburn class of '75) and Tammy Nicholson.

"Mary is a strong, skillful center back who will impact our defense right away," Hoppa said. "She is also a great scoring threat on corners and set plays due to an unbelievable heading ability. A natural lefty, she is great in possession and can serve a tremendous long ball with both feet. She has won with every team she has played for and we expect that to continue at Auburn."