CHARLESTON, Ill.  – Eastern Illinois head women's soccer coach Jason Cherry has announced his 2014 recruiting class. A total of seven players have signed with the Panthers during the NCAA's signing period.
 
"I'm excited to add these seven student-athletes to our program next fall," said Cherry. "We have added an athletic, fast and hard-working group that will help us compete for a conference championship." 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown (High School)
Katie Burd	F	5-7	Washington, Ill. (Washington Community HS)
Carrie Caplin	D	5-7	Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Ali Carlson	MF	5-5	Charleston, Ill. (Charleston HS)
Madi Fisher	F	5-2	Charleston, Ill. (Charleston HS)
Chloe Gottschalk	F	5-7	Eldridge, Iowa (North Scott HS)
Gabby Mclaurin	D	5-3	Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Cassie Willhite	D/MF	5-5	Defiance, Mo. (Francis Howell HS)

A complete bio of each player is listed below.

Katie Burd 5-7, F, Washington Ill./Washington Community HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… serves as team captain… also played three years of volleyball, earning one varsity letter… earned all-conference first-team honors in 2013… named to the all-sectional team as a junior… named to the Peoria Journal Star All-Star Team as a junior… earned her high school team's MVP and Golden Boot Award in 2013… eared the IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award in volleyball, soccer and speech… is a member of the honor roll… brother Jacob plays men's soccer at St. Ambrose (NAIA)… played club soccer with the Morton Blaze. PERSONAL: Daughter of Randy and Kim Burd… intended major in undecided.
Carrie Caplin 5-7, D, Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… helped her team to a IHSA Class 3A third-place finish in the state tournament in 2013… also helped her team win a super sectional title in 2013… helped her team to back-to-back regional and sectional titles from 2012-13… helped team win Mid-Suburban Conference Titles as a sophomore and junior… recipient of the Merit Award in 2012… played club soccer on FCX… is a high school teammate with EIU signee Gabby Mclaurin. PERSONAL: Daughter of Rick and Cathy Caplin… intends to major in elementary education.
Ali Carlson 5-5, MF, Charleston, Ill./Charleston HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… also participated in basketball, tennis and cross country… named to the IHSSCA All-Sectional Team in 2013… also helped her team to a regional title as a sophomore and junior… helped lead team to an undefeated regular season in 2013… is a high school teammate with EIU signee Madi Fisher… played club soccer with the Eastern Illinois Futbol Club… is a member of the honor roll and National Honor Society. PERSONAL: Daughter of Steve and Nicole Di Naso… cousin Jessica Carlson played soccer at Illinois State... intends to major in elementary education.
Madi Fisher 5-2, F, Charleston, Ill./Charleston HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… named to the IHSSCA All-State Team in 2013… named to the IHSSCA All-Sectional Team in 2012… earned All-Apollo Conference First Team honors as a sophomore and junior… selected to the Decatur Herald-Review All-Area Team as a sophomore and junior… has led her team in goals and assists the past two seasons… has also been named her team's offensive player of the year twice… helped her team to regional titles in 2012 and 2013… is a high school teammate with EIU signee Ali Carlson… played club soccer with the Eastern Illinois Futbol Club… is an Illinois State Scholar… is a member of the High Honor Roll... is also a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honors Society. PERSONAL: Daughter of Jay and Angie Fisher… intended major is undecided.
Chloe Gottschalk 5-7, F, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott HS Quad City Times Signing Day Article (02/05/14)   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… also participated in volleyball and cheerleading… helped her team to the state tournament as a junior… also led her team to a state runner-up finish as a sophomore… named to the all-conference and all-metro first teams as a junior… also earned all-conference second-team honors as a sophomore… selected to the All-State Tournament Team as a sophomore… scored 22 goals in 2013, the second most in single-season school history… plays for Dion Ayers at North Scott HS… played club soccer with North Scott… is a member of the honor roll… selected to participate in Iowa's Girls State… will graduate Summa Cum Laude. PERSONAL: Daughter of Bill and Amy Hartog… intends to major in communications.
Gabby Mclaurin 5-3, D, Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Has played three years of varsity soccer… plays her senior season this spring… also participates in track… helped her team to a IHSA Class 3A third-place finish in the state tournament in 2013… also helped her team win a super sectional title in 2013… helped her team to back-to-back regional and sectional titles from 2012-13… helped team win Mid-Suburban Conference Titles as a sophomore and junior… played club soccer on FCX… is a high school teammate with EIU signee Carrie Caplin… is a student mentor and an English teaching assistant. PERSONAL: Daughter of Kelvin and Robbie Mclaurin… father played football at Millsaps College… intends to major in pre-physical therapy.
Cassie Willhite 5-5, D/MF, Defiance, Mo./Francis Howell HS   HIGH SCHOOL: Played four years of varsity soccer… earned Gateway Athletic Conference honors three times… served as team captain as a junior and senior… was her team's defensive MVP twice… helped her team win the Gateway Athletic Conference in 2011… played with current Panther Lindsey Marino in high school… earned Gateway Athletic Conference All-Academic honors… played club soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher's Premier's Green Team… participated in the National School of Character. PERSONAL: Daughter of Rick and Penny Willhite… intended major is undecided.