BOILING SPRINGS, NC- The Gardner-Webb athletics department, in conjunction with Head Women's Soccer Coach Kevin Mounce are pleased to announce the signing of eight student-athletes that will continue their academic and athletic careers at Gardner-Webb University.

Gardner-Webb has added Megan Loftin, Meagan Reynolds, Shaylyn Poppe, Jordan Hodge, Arielle McCarthy-Crum-Ewing, Erkia Lenns, Ele Margelos, and Jessica Casper to the roster for the upcoming 2010 season.

Loftin, a 5-2 midfielder from Kings Mountain, NC, comes to Gardner-Webb after playing at Kings Mountain High School under former GWU player Dara Goldstein.  During her time at Kings Mountain, she has name to the All-Region team twice, leading her team to the state finals last season.

Loftin also plays for the 91 Lady Cobras club team, coached by another former GWU standout in Kristen Setzer.  She has led her team to two Adidas Cup championships, as well as to the finals of the Charleston Select Shootout.

Reynolds, a 5-6 forward/midfielder from Kings Mountain, NC, is a teammate of Loftin at Kings Mountain High School, as well as the 91 Lady Cobras club team.  She has been named to the All-Gazette, All-Region, and All-State teams twice.  Last season, she recorded 23 goals and 27 assists, setting the single season record in assists for the Mounaineers.

Academically, Reynolds is a member of the National Honors Society.

Poppe, a 5-5 defender from Youngsville, NC, joins the Bulldogs by way of Franklinton High School, where she played under coach Deran Coe.  Heading into her senior season this spring, Poppe has scored 34 goals and recorded 31 assists thus far in her high school career.  She has also been named team defensive MVP, as well as being named to the All-Conference team all three years.

Academically, Poppe, who is also a member of the '92 Carolina Select club team under coach Godfrey Miller, is a member of the National Honor Society and has been named to the Academic All-Conference team following her sophomore and junior years.

Hodge, who hails from Louisville, Kentucky, is a midfielder from Mercy Academy where she played for coach Samuel G. Hayward.  She led her team in assists in her first three years, while also leading the team in goals her junior season, as well as being a the team captain her senior season. 

A current member of the Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club team, Hodge was part of the squad that has won the state championship for the past four years consecutively and is ranked 19^th in the nation.  She has led the team in assists during each of her first three seasons.

Academically, Hodge has received honors all four years, and is a member of the National Honor Society.  She also has an older sister, Samantha, who plays soccer for Western Carolina.

McCarthy-Crum-Ewing joins the Bulldogs from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada where she played at Eastdale C.V.I., as well as the North Mississauga Panthers club team.    A team captain for her high school team for the last two seasons, she also participates in field hockey and wrestling for her high school, becoming the first female wrestler from her school to win a regional championship.

Lenns, a goalkeeper from Raleigh, NC, joins Gardner-Webb from Leesville Road High School, where she played for coach Paul Dinkenor.  As the starting goalkeeper for her team, she led Leesville Road to the 2009 NCHSAA 4-A State Championship, being named the 2009 NCHSAA 4-A Women's State Final Most Valuable Player.

Lenns is also a member of the 92 CASL Spartan Elite club team, coached by Sean Nahas.  She has been the starting goalkeeper for the team during the past for seasons, winning the USYS North Carolina State Cup for three of those seasons.

Academically, Lenns was awarded with her school's PAC Club Award, which is given for academic and athletic excellence.

Margelos, who hails from North Potomac, Maryland, where she played at Quince Orchard High School for coach Peg Keiller.  Playing at the forward position, she has led her team to regional championships each of her four years, as well as a state championship during her sophomore year.  For her career she had 32 goals and 16 assists, putting her and second on her school's all time scorers list.

Margelos also played for the Bethesda Freedom club team, leading the team to a state championship during her time.

Casper, a 5-10 defender from Perkasie, Pa., comes to Gardner-Webb by way of Pennridge High School where she played under coach Jorge Rodriguez.  Casper has led her team to a district championship during her time, being named the team's most improved player following her sophomore year.

Casper also plays for the AC Perugia Grifos club team for coach Hector Uribe, serving as captain of the team for the past two seasons, leading the team to the USL National Tournament in 2008.

In addition to this stellar recruiting class, the Bulldogs will be returning nine starters from the 2009 season, in which the team went 12-9-0.  With this mix, Gardner-Webb will look to add to last year's success and make a run at its first Big South Conference championship.