BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Head coach Todd Clark has announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the Campbell University women's soccer team for the 2011 season. Gia Casaburo, Ashley Clark, Kellsey Costello-Mays, Bailee Johnston, Melissa Messier, Vanetta Poppas, Alexis Prada, and Michelle Procaccini have signed national letters of intent to play for the Fighting Camels next fall.

"Going into a new conference and a new schedule is already a time of great change and this class of new players is a sure to be influential during this time," said head coach Todd Clark. "It is a tremendous mix of eight individuals who all have great soccer backgrounds in common and yet are individually unique. Every one of them has the ability to start even though we bring back ten starters and several key reserves from 2010."

The Class of 2015 will be Clark's first class to compete in the Big South Conference; Campbell will join the conference next year. The recruiting class features players from four different states and includes a pair of high school teammates. Prada and Procaccini played together at Maryland's Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, while Johnston and Clark competed together at Cary's Panther Creek High School and with the TFC 93s.

"In Ashley and Gia we will add players who go forward unlike anyone we currently have," said Clark. "They will add a new dimension to our attack and both will doubtlessly give us some goals. Alexis and Vanetta are both hard-working but clever central midfielders who can pick a pass out and can help us control the tempo of a match. Michelle, Melissa and Kellsey are all players who are athletic, tough, and versatile and can play in multiple places in midfield or even defense if needed. We see Bailee as a player who can impact us physically and technically either in the center of defense or a defensive midfield."

Gia Casaburo (Fort Wayne, Ind.) joins the Fighting Camels as a forward from Bishop Dwenger High School, and she plays her club soccer for Fort Wayne Fever Academy as well as the WPSL's Fort Wayne FC. Casaburo racked up 46 goals and 22 assists for Bishop Dwenger while leading the Saints to four consecutive conference championships. She was named All-State twice and All-Conference and All-Region three times. She is a member of the Indiana ODP State team and has been held over for Region II Camp each of the last two years. As a senior Casaburo was honored as Academic All-State and was an NSCAA Regional Scholar All-American. A member of the National Honor Society, Casaburo is the daughter of James-who played soccer at Michigan State-and Shari Casaburo. She also has a younger brother, Thomas, and plans on studying education, psychology, or sports science.

Ashley Jordan Clark (Cary, N.C.) plays her club soccer for Pete Sadin's TFC '93s and Panther Creek High School with fellow 2011 signing Bailee Johnston. Clark is a member of the North Carolina YSA Olympic Development Program (ODP) State team. She was named to the 2010 Super Y National Tournament team and has been to Super Y National Camp several times. With TFC she has played in virtually every major showcase tournament as well as the NCYSA State Cup finals multiple times. A three time All-Conference selection at Panther Creek, Clark also lettered in basketball for the Catamounts. Planning an exercise science major, Clark is the eldest daughter of Scott and Chandra Clark and has two sisters; Ally (14) and Abby (8).

Kellsey Costello-Mays (Woodbridge, Va.) is a midfielder and defender from Woodbridge High School who has played her club ball with BRYC and most recently with the Baltimore Bays - the State Cup Champions in Maryland. Entering 2011, Costello-Mays is a three-time All-District selection for Woodbridge and has helped the Vikings to a three-season record of 46-10-4 record en route to two District titles, a Regional Championship and a trip to the Virginia semi-finals in 2008. She has registered 36 career points entering her senior season. Daughter of Eric Mays and Bernadette Costello, she has two sisters; Devan (19) and Quinn (15). She is planning to major in Biology.

Bailee Elizabeth Johnston (Cary, N.C.) also joins Campbell from Panther Creek HS and TFC, where she competes with fellow signee Ashley Clark. Johnston is a three-year letter winner for the Catamounts, who have yet to play their 2011 season. A midfielder in high school and likely defender at CU, Johnston has helped Panther Creek to three-straight playoff berths. Johnston has helped the TFC 93 team to a 10-0 record in the NC Premier League while also competing in tournaments such as the Disney Showcase, PDA, CASL Shootout, Final IV Showcase, Super Y, Discovery Cup, Jefferson Cup and the NCYSA State Cup multiple times. She received the PCHS Scholar-Athlete award twice, as well asTri-9 Conference Academic recognition. Johnston plans on majoring in Physical Education while at Campbell. The daughter of Brian and Marsha Johnston, she has three siblings; Brianna (19) and twin brothers Chad and Cole (15).

Melissa Anne Messier (Palmyra, Va.) joins the Camels as a midfielder from Fluvanna County High School and the SOCA organization in Virginia. A three-time letter-winner, Messier has helped FCHS to the District and Regional tournaments and an overall record of 41-12-5. With 57 career points, she has earned All-District recognition three times. Messier is also a member of the VYSA ODP State Team and has travelled to Region One camp several times and competed with the squad in Germany in 2006. Messier has earned ten total varsity letters in soccer, track, cross country, and diving. She was a state qualifier in track, cross country, and diving and was the District champion and Runner of the Year in her district for cross country. Messier is a National Merit Scholar, VP Scholar and class valedictorian and plans to major in Biochemistry at Campbell. The daughter of Robert and Anita Messier, she has three siblings; Michelle (20), Madalyn (12), and Mitchell (5).

Vanetta Nicole Poppas (Carmel, Ind.) played in the midfield for Theodore Guerin Catholic in Noblesville, and plays club soccer for Dynamo FC. At Theodore Guerin, she was named second-team All-State as a junior and senior. A four-year letter-winner for the Golden Eagles, Poppas has earned multiple post season accolades in addition to her ISCA and ICGSA All-State nods, including All-Conference, All-District, ISCA Top Team Player, Indianapolis Star All-North, and Noblesville Times All County. She totaled 83 career points, helping the Golden Eagles to the state finals as a senior, and regional titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She also earned varsity letters in both basketball and track. Poppas is the daughter of George and Debbie Poppas and has two siblings; her sister Sara (20), who plays golf at Indiana University, and brother George (16). She is undecided on a major at Campbell but hopes to work in law or marketing after graduation.

Alexis Ann Prada (Olney, Md.) is one of two players to join the Fighting Camels from nationally-ranked Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Prada is a central midfielder who also competes for coach Dave Nolan's Bethesda Dragons and the ODP State Team (Maryland) and Region I squad. Twice named first- team All-State for Good Counsel, Prada has also earned WCAC honors for the past three seasons. Her efforts helped the Falcons earn WCAC championships during her junior and senior campaigns as well as national rankings by ESPN and the NSCAA and the top ranking by the Washington Post each of the past two years. During her career, the Falcons garnered an overall record of 65-16-9. With Bethesda SC she has competed in several State Cup finals and Region One tournaments as well as USYSA Nationals in 2010. As a member of the Maryland ODP squad she has competed in the Rider Cup, Denmark and several ODP Regional events including ID Camp and the Pomona, Cal. Adidas event. Prada is the daughter of Patrick and Kathleen Prada and has an older brother Patrick (18), who wrestles for the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as a younger brother Ben (15).

Michelle Emma Procaccini (Olney, Md.) also joins CU as a midfielder from Our Lady of Good Counsel, and will reunite with Prada and former FC Frederick club mate Jessica Tharpe, who was a freshman defender for the Fighting Camels in 2010. With Good Counsel, Procaccini earned WCAC honors during her sophomore and senior seasons. Her efforts helped the Falcons earn WCAC championships in 2009 and 2010s in addition to national rankings by ESPN and the NSCAA and the top ranking by the Washington Post each of the past two seasons. A four-year letter-winner, Procaccini helped the Falcons to an overall record of 65-16-9 while providing eight goals and 30 assists as a senior. With FC Frederick, Procaccini was a member of the MYSA State Cup finalists in 2010 and champions in 2008 and earned a trip to the USYSA Region I finals. She has also competed with the Maryland ODP program. Procaccini was nominated as an NSCAA Scholar All-American, and is a National Honor Society member, and frequent member of the Principal's Honor Roll. The daughter of Jim and Marilyn Procaccini, she has one sister, Angela (14).

Clark is optimistic about that the recruiting class will only better a program that has made key strides the past two years.

"I think our current group is continuing a tremendous arc of success and many of them have been starting or playing big minutes for a few seasons but these youngsters are certainly all capable of pushing us towards our ultimate goal of a Big South Conference title and NCAA spot," said Clark. "I have no clue who will be in our first eleven in August, but I am excited for the direction we continue to move in with these eight. These young ladies are state champions, volunteers on mission trips, ODP representatives and members of the National Honor Society who collectively will impact us positively for years."