Pirates Boast Deep Midfield Corps

GREENVILLE, N.C. – With 12 players vying for time on the field, the midfield will be the deepest position group for the 2018 ECU soccer team. Debut head coach Jason Hamilton will be tasked with mixing together a group of center and wide midfielders who have a balance of experience and youth.

"We believe the midfield is the most wide-open part of the team this year, and not in a bad way," said Hamilton. "We have a lot of players that can play in this area of the field. How this group comes in to pre-season could determine what shape our team is best suited to play. We could see three, four, or even five players in the midfield."

The most experienced Pirate in the middle of the park is junior Marianna Shurina. Shurina, a native of Celebration, Fla., has appeared in 36 games, starting 33 of those matches. Shurina has tallied eight points in her ECU career, with three of those coming in 2017. She opened her sophomore campaign with the game-winning goal in a 3-2 overtime win over Dayton and assisted on the tying goal in ECU's 1-1 tie against No. 5 Virginia.

"Mari is an extremely hard worker in the midfield and covers a lot of ground," said Hamilton. "She is very eager to learn and had a great spring with us raising her soccer IQ. She is by far our most experienced player in the midfield this season."

Ashley Kendrot, a redshirt junior, had her most successful season in Greenville in 2017, appearing in 14 games with one start. The Raleigh native bagged a pair of goals during the season, including ECU's first goal of the season. She also added an assist to give her a career high five points.

"Ashley is coming off an injury, so we did not get to see her play this past spring," Hamilton said. "From the video we have watched on her, Ashley is a technical player that can keep the ball. She has worked tremendously off the field to get back to being healthy, so we are excited to see that work rate in training sessions."

Returning after a successful rookie campaign is sophomore Cashlin Copley. Copley started all 18 games and was second among the Pirates in shots on goal (12), goals (2) and points (6). The Lancaster, Pa., product found the back of the net against Towson and Charlotte and tallied assists in wins over Campbell and UNC Wilmington.

"Also coming off an injury, Cashlin missed the spring season," added Hamilton. "We expect her to be in full form by the time the season starts and eager to get back out on the field. She is a player that could also see time up top for us."

Sophomore Anna Fish appeared in 16 games during her freshman season and will move back into the midfield after spending the spring playing in the center of the defense. During her prep career at Wake Christian Academy, Fish led her team with 27 goals and 12 assists from the center midfielder position.

"This past spring, Anna was needed as a center back and accepted the challenge," said Hamilton. "A more natural midfielder, she should be much more comfortable this fall back where she belongs. She is one of the most competitive players on the team and a constant communicator."

The final returner in the central midfield role is sophomore Madie Knaggs. Knaggs appeared in eight games last year, earning one start against Connecticut.

"Madie is a technical player who likes to find the ball and keep it moving," said Hamilton. "She is a good aerial ball winner and willing to get in the mix to battle for the ball."

Joining the Pirates from Mississippi State is redshirt freshman Grace Doran. Doran had appeared in the first four games of Mississippi State's season before an injury cut her season short.

"Grace is a player that I recruited at two previous schools, so we have a relationship that goes back a while," commented Hamilton. "She is a very technical player, has great vision and passing ability, and an extremely high soccer IQ."

The first freshman to arrive on campus was Addison Salz and she comes to Greenville after competing at a high level for Middle Creek as well as the North Carolina Courage Academy. Salz helped the Courage finish first in the Southeast Division and second nationally in ECNL play and she also played in the 2016 ODP national championship in Arizona.

"Addi joined us in January as an early enrollee and did fantastic," said Hamilton. "Addi played for one of the best club teams in the country and her transition was very easy. The experience she was able to get over the spring semester was great, and she will have a great career ahead of her."

A 2017 North Carolina 4A State Champion, Erin Blevins joins the Pirates from Lewisville. Blevins led West Forsythe to that state title with 26 goals and 23 assists in her senior season. She also competed for the USSDA U19 team with the Charlotte Soccer Academy.

"Erin is a player that may be used in multiple positions so find where she best fits in the college game," said Hamilton. "She is a technical player and her biggest strength is as a passer of the ball. Being able to play though the midfield and break teams down we will need players that can connect passes."

Leading the group of ECU's wingers will be junior Daria Draovitch. Draovitch played all 18 matches and started 14 of them last year after transferring from NC State. The Cary product recorded an assist in ECU's win over UNC Wilmington.

"Daria has good pace to get up and down the flank, and her range of passes and ability to serve a ball are very good," added Hamilton. "She is the type of player that is going to work very hard to try to find her way on to the field, and someone we could see being used in multiple positions."

Sophomore Tori Riggs appears primed for a bigger role after making 14 appearances with one start during her freshman season. She tallied her lone assist of the season on the game-winning goal in ECU's 3-2 overtime win over Dayton to kick off the season.

"Tori is probably the most improved player since we have arrived last January," said Hamilton. "Our style of play has really allowed her to grow as a player and everyone can see the confidence she now has. We really like her speed to get at players out wide 1 v 1, but also know she can be dangerous against teams as a forward in certain match ups. We are excited to see if she can continue to develop from the spring."

Arriving from Oviedo, Fla., is Carmel Oliveira. Oliveira found success at both the high school and club levels, as she helped Dr. Phillips High School win a metro championship for the first time in 32 years and was the top scorer for the Jacksonville Armada who won the 2016 ECNL conference championship. Oliveira has also gained experience at the national level, competing for Brazilian Youth National teams, including being invited to play with the U20 Brazilian National team in 2017.

"Carmel's Brazilian heritage shows when she plays the game," said Hamilton. "Having spent time with the Brazilian Youth National teams this past year, she is what you would expect from a Brazilian player. She plays with confidence and flare, wanting to take players on and beat them. We believe that once she gets in our program and we are able to coach her a little bit to adjust to the college game, she can be a dangerous player."

Rounding out the midfield is Catherine Holbrook, from Cary. Holbrook was selected to the East West All-Star game as a senior and also earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-State accolades.

"Catherine was a very late signee for us going in to the 2018 season, but we saw a lot of potential in her," said Hamilton. "We think she is nowhere near her ceiling as a player and will only get better each and every year. She has the ability to play out wide and we think once she adjusts to the college game, she may find herself in the middle of the field."

The Pirates will make their debut under coach Hamilton Aug. 7 when they host VCU for an exhibition match. The regular season will get underway Aug. 17 with a trip to Old Dominion.

Players Mentioned

Erin Blevins

Cashlin Copley

Grace Doran

Daria Draovitch

Anna Fish

Catherine Holbrook

Ashley Kendrot

Madie Knaggs

Carmel Oliveira

Tori Riggs

Addison Salz

Marianna Shurina

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