March 8, 2000
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer coach Warren Lipka announced thesigning of eight athletes during the spring signing period. Beth Belanger,Allison Haeussler, Kara McCue, Lauren Russell, Heather Saas, Dee Slupski,Jen Wilkinson, and Erin Witchey have signed to play for the Cats in the2000 season.
“We attracted a great deal of talent this season after the success ourteam enjoyed in 1999,” UK coach Warren Lipka said. “This group is going togive us a great deal of depth that we needed last year in the postseason.They will come in and challenge immediately for a starting spot and if notstart, they will contribute immensely by coming off the bench.”
Belanger, a native of Greenville, Del., is a midfielder/midfielder fromAlexis I, DuPont High School and was the 1999 Gatorade State Player of theYear. Belanger plays for the prominent soccer club team, F.C. Delco,coached by Mike McFarland. Former F.C. Delco teammate Keri Boyce is afreshman on the 1999 UK women’s team. She is a 1998 regional All-Americanand helped lead DuPont to the 1997 and 1998 Delaware State Championships.
Haeussler, a midfielder/forward from Fairfield, Ohio and co-captain atFairfield High School, is a first-team all-state selection and is a memberof the U.S. Olympic Development Program Regional Pool Team. Haeussler ledthe GMC in goals and assists last season and was selected to play in theSouthwest Ohio Senior All-Star game.
McCue is a defender from Hamilton, Ohio and helped lead her club team,Hammer F.C., to the 1995, 1997, and 1998 State Championships. In 1998,McCue was the captain for the Ohio South State Team and was selected forthe final pool game. McCue is a two-year captain for the Lakota West HighSchool team and started in the varsity squad as a freshman. She is a memberof the Under-18 National Pool.
Russell, a forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, tallied 45 goals and 30 assistsduring her career as a four-year starter at Summit Country Day High School.Russell, a first-team all-league selection her junior and senior seasons,was the league offensive MVP her junior year and led Summitt Country Day totwo District titles. She was also an All-City selection.
Saas, a native of Dublin, Ohio, is a midfielder from Dublin Coffman HighSchool and a three-year varsity starter, who was selected first-teamAll-Ohio Capital Conference. Saas has played for three years with the OhioPremier club team.
Slupksi is a midfielder from Columbus, Ohio and Saint Francis DeSales HighSchool. Slupski was a team captain in 1998 and helped lead Saint Francis totwo back-to-back state titles in 1997 and 1998. She was selectedsecond-team all-district and was a to-year first-team All-CCL pick.
Wilkinson, a defender from Darien, Ill., was a three-year All-Conferenceselection at Downers Grove South High School and was named to the ChicagoSun Times and Chicago Tribune All-State teams in 1999. As a threeyear-member of the Windy City Pride U-17 Elite club team, Wilkinson helpedlead the team to the State Cup finals in 1998 and 1999. She was a two yearletterwinner in basketball and lettered one season in volleyball.
Witchey led her club team, Ohio Premier Girls Soccer Club, to three StateCup championships and 20 premier division cups. Witchey, a native ofColumbus, Ohio, played a variety of positions in high school at BishopWatterson, but will looked upon primarily as a midfielder for UK. Witcheywas an all-state selection in 1998 and is an accomplished swimmer.
