Georgia State women’s soccer head coach Domenic Martelli has announced the signing of seven players to National Letters-of-Intent who will begin play for the Panthers in the fall of 2009.

Six of the seven signees come from in-state, including three from St. Pius X high school.

This class figures to help the Panthers build on a 2008 campaign that included the best start in school history.

Sarah Bennett/D/F/MF/Centennial, Colorado/Cherry Creek HS

Bennett joins the Panthers as a member of her U23 State Select team in 2007 and 2008... High school finished state runner-up in 2007 and made the state semi-finals in 2008... Member of the ODP state pool from 2004-2008... Graduates with 10 letters, three in varsity soccer, five in varsity academics, and two in DECA... Received high academic honors with a 4.2 GPA... Named Scholar Athlete... Finished in top 15% of graduating class...

Bennett was born July 12, 1991 in Littleton, Colorado... Her mother Rita Bennett, and father Larry Bennett, both graduated from University of Wyoming... Bennett’s major is currently undecided.

Haley Holderfield/F/Atlanta, Georgia/Buford HS

Holderfield comes to Georgia State as a team captain and four-year starter at forward... Entering her senior season, Holderfield ranked third on her high school’s career scoring and assists lists... Has scored 55 goals and notched 26 assists in 60 games... Helped her team reach the state semi-finals two consecutive years, compiling a record of 36-6-1... Selected All-Area first team and first team in the North Georgia Cup... Played club soccer with the Gwinnett Soccer Association, Lanier Soccer Association, and one year with the Atlanta Silverbacks Super-Y team...

Holderfield was born November 10, 1990 in Buford, Georgia... Her parents are Hank and Cathy Holderfield... Has two brothers and three sisters... Rides horses competitively in Western Reining and Horsemanship... Holderfield also breeds Championship AKC Golden Retrievers... Plans to major in Biology and pursue a career in Veterinary medicine...

Megan Geiger/MF/F/Lawrenceville, Georgia/Parkview HS

Geiger joins the Panthers as a four-year varsity letterwinner from back-to-back state champions Parkview high school... Named to the all-county team... Set the season record for assists... Member of the U-14 state champs and U-16 Disney COPA champions, Club Soccer Norcross Soccer Association... Played varsity basketball at Parkview, where she was a three-year letterwinner for the back-to-back region champions...

Geiger was born February 25, 1991 in Lawrenceville, Georgia... Class president during her freshman year... Member of the Future Educators Association... Named scholar athlete in both basketball and soccer... Major is undecided...

Carly Lafferty/MF/Tucker, Georgia/St. Pius X HS

Lafferty comes to Georgia State as a senior captain from St. Pius X, the top-ranked high school program in the nation according to the NSCAA High School poll... In her junior season, was named team MVP after recording 28 goals and 38 assists, leading St. Pius X to the state championship game... Played club soccer for Norcross Soccer Academy where she was team captain for six years... Norcross Soccer Academy won three straight state cup championships, and made the final four each of the other three years... Made her school’s honor roll in 2008, carrying a cumulative GPA of 3.9...

Lafferty was born October 1, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia... She is the daughter of Jim and Jennifer Lafferty... Has one half-sister, Tanya... Ran AAU track prior to high school... Won the female junior golf championship at Northwood CC in 2001 and 2002... Major is undecided.

Bridget Gilmore/D/Woodstock, Georgia/Etowah HS

Gilmore joins the Panthers as a two-year team captain at Etowah... Named All-County first team her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons... Played club soccer for the Georgia State Champions in 2008... Her GA Region III Premier level team ranked 28th nationally in 2009, and was Region III Premier League Finalist in 2007... Club team won the 2006 Disney Showcase and the 2006 Super Y National championship...

Gilmore was born December 22, 1990 in Woodstock, Georgia... Member of the leadership council from 2006-2009... Academic Award Winner in 2006 and 2007... Worked with a variety of programs including Athletes in Action, Boston Elementary Readers’ Program, and Top Soccer/Challenged Kid’s Program...

Erin Hill/D/Snellville, Georgia/St. Pius X HS

Hill comes to Georgia State as a senior co-captain from nationally top-ranked St. Pius X high school... Three-year letterman... Played in the state championship game in 2008... Named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year for her junior season... Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s All-City team as a junior... Played with the Norcross Fury Gold R3PL team...

Hill was born October 7, 1990 in Dallas, Texas... She is the daughter of Steve and Bridget Hill... Has two older brothers, Steven and Taylor... Member of the National Honor Society... Editor of the Carpe Diem Magazine... Has worked as a trainer with NST Soccer Camps... Major is undecided...

Jocelyn Baker/MF/Winder, Georgia/St. Pius X HS

Baker joins the Panthers as a four-year varsity starter for nationally-top ranked St. Pius X... Named best offensive player on the team for her sophomore season... In the Georgia ODP pool for 2006-2007 and a member of the ODP state team in 2007... Played Super Y for three years and played on the South Atlantic Division Championship team in 2004, 2005, and 2006... Named to the Red Bull U-17 National League All Event Team by Top Drawer Soccer in 2007... Plays club soccer for Norcross Fury Gold 91... Received the Dr. Cindy Schafer Scholarship to benefit outstanding student achievement this year and the Jesse Griffin scholarship her sophomore year...

Baker was born November 7, 1990 in Lawrenceville, Georgia... Daughter of David and Leslie Baker... Has two brothers Jordan and Justin, and one sister Kylie... Major is undecided...