FAIRFAX, Va. – Seven newcomers will join the George Mason women's soccer team for the fall 2015 season, as announced by first-year head coach Todd Bramble. Five freshmen will join the Patriots in addition to two transfers.
“We are excited about the potential of this group of new players,” stated Bramble. “There is a nice blend of athleticism, soccer skill and position specific needs being met that will allow the class to positively impact the program.”
Nia Elbeck (Hanover, Md./Howard High School)
Forward
A four-year letterwinner at Howard High School, Elbeck earned multiple honors in 2014 including First Team All-County, Baltimore Sun's All-Metro Girls Soccer First Team and Howard County Fans Choice for Player of the Year. Additionally, Elbeck was a 2014 MACS 2nd Team All-State honoree and the leading goal scorer for Howard County with17 goals, finishing second in the county in overall points with 38. She helped the Lions to the MPSSAA 4A Regional Championship. Elbeck also played for Club Futsal, helping the team to a Regional Championship while being named the 2014 Futsal Regional MVP. In 2013, Elbeck was named Second Team All-County after leading Howard County as the top goal scorer. She has been named to the Atlantic Soccer League (ASL) All-Event teams for four-straight years (2011-14) and finished second in the ASL U17 division and won the ASL U17 division championship. Also a strong student-athlete in the classroom, Elbeck was an Honor Roll recipient and Scholar Athlete Award winner.
“Nia has a great pace and a tremendous work ethic,” noted Kevin Flynn, Coach for Soccer Association of Columbia on Elbeck. “She is equally happy scoring goals as she is setting up teammates and is a fierce competitor. She works hard without the ball and is as good a defensive forward as anyone you'll see.”
Emma Lark (Centreville, Va./Westfield High School)
Defender
Lark played four years of soccer at Westfield High School where she earned Honorable Mention in 2013 and First Team All-District this past season. She has participated in the Jefferson Cup five times in addition to Region I (2011), PDA (2010-12), ECNL Colorado (2013), ECNL Phoenix (2013), ECNL Sanford (2013), ECNL Texas (2014) and ECNL Seattle (2014). While at Westfield, Lark was a member of the National Juniors Honor Society.
“Emma Lark is a very versatile player who can help George Mason and can play in multiple positions,” noted Terry Foley, Club President of FC Virginia. “Emma has tremendous pace and has good technical ability and will help contribute to the Mason team.”
Allison Littell (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County High School)
Defense
A First Team All-Conference selection in 2014, Littell played soccer for four years at Loudoun County High School and helped guide the Raiders to a 2014 District Championship. She received the Coaches Award in 2013 and was a three-time National Honor Society and four-time Honor Roll recipient. Littell has played club soccer for Loudoun Soccer Leagues including WAGS, CCL and Region 1, Colonial League and participated in Virginia State ODP for three years.
“Allison is a fierce competitor, fantastic ball winner and strong in winning tackles,” said Dave Bucciero, Director of College Placement for Loudoun Soccer. “She is hard-working and passionate about the game of soccer.”
Emily Littell (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County High School)
Midfield/Forward
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Loudoun County High School, Littell was tabbed First Team All-Conference, All-Region, All-State and Washington Post First Team All-Met in 2014. She helped lead the Raiders to a 2014 District Championship and has served as co-captain for three years. In 2013, Littell was tabbed First Team All-District and All-Region in addition to Second Team All-Met and being named the Dulles District Player of the Year. Littell rounded out 2013 being named the Team MVP. Littell has been a member of Virginia State ODP teams from 2009-14, winning Region I Championships in 2011 and 2013 and was ODP National Finalist in 2012. She has played club soccer for Loudoun Soccer Leagues. A member of the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society, Littell is a repeat Honor Roll student and winner of the LCPS 2013 Regional Science & Engineering Fair Award.
“Emily has great vision on the field, is technically very clean and can play a number of different positions,” Bucciero stated. “She is very hard-working and has a passion for the game.”
Alex Myers (Centreville, Va./University of South Florida/Centreville High School)
Center Mid
Myers transferred to Mason in the spring from the University of South Florida and will have two years of eligibility remaining starting this fall. Myers played 10 games at USF including nine her freshman season. She scored one goal and two assists while taking seven shots on the year. Prior to joining USF, Myers was a First team All-Met, All-Region, All-District, Second team All-State and 2011 player of the year at Centreville High School. She played club soccer for FC Virginia Hotspur (ECNL National Championship Finalist 2010-12) and participated in ODP National Development Camp in 2011. Additionally, Myers was selected for the U.S. Soccer Training Center in 2010 and 2011 and was a Super Y-League ODP National Select Pool in 2011. In 2009, Myers participated in the US Soccer National ID Camp and was a member of Region I ODP Team from 2008-10.
Daniela Neves (Springfield, Va./West Virginia/Robert E. Lee High School)
Forward
A transfer this spring from West Virginia, Neves will have three years of eligibility remaining. A three-time MVP at Robert E. Lee High School, Neves led the district in scoring for three-straight years and was tabbed an All-District first team selection. Neves played club ball for VSA Heat for 10 years and was the leading scorer in the 2012 Youth Regional while helping guide VSA Heat to a national championship.
Morgan Symmers (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna County High School)
Goalkeeper
A multi-sport athlete at Fluvanna County High School, Symmers competed in both soccer and basketball. In her junior season, Symmers was named First team All-District and Second team All-Conference. Following her sophomore year, Symmers was named the FCHS Soccer MVP and tabbed Second team All-Conference in basketball. She began her high school career earning Second team All-District honors in addition to being named Scrimmage Play Magazine's Newcomer of the Year. Symmers played club soccer for FYSA Rec Soccer (three years), FYSA Travel Soccer (four years) and SOCA (five years). She was a member of the BETA Club and Interact Club for two years.
“Morgan has been a strong and steady influence in goal for her elite team for the past five years,” stated Fran Lavine, staff coach for Soccer Organization of Charlottesville Area (SOCA). “Morgan has cat like qualities as a shot stopper, and she is a brick wall on break away stops. When Morgan joined SOCA's elite program at U14, there was never a question of her potential to become a DI prospect as a goalkeeper. Morgan has worked hard, both on the pitch and in the classroom to achieve her goal of playing in college for a high quality D1 program.”
