Columbus State Women’s Soccer Signs Six Student-Athletes

Columbus – Columbus State University head women's soccer coach Jay Entlich announced the signing of six players set to join the squad beginning in the fall season.

The signees boast experience in positions in every third of the field and represent the southeast with two out-of-state players from Florida joining with four Georgia natives.  These ladies look to have an immediate impact by helping CSU replace the most decorated graduating class in the program's history. 

"We are very excited about the incoming class," said Entlich.  "They have some big shoes to fill, and we anticipate seeing great contributions from each player on and off the field.  All these ladies are talented, hard workers who will have potential to see significant minutes from the start of the season."

Kiana Nicholson, a forward from Marietta, Georgia, is a four-year letter winner from Walton High School where she was a member of the 2009 and 2010 Region Championship team.  She was honored as a member of the 2009 and 2010 Marietta Daily Journal Cobb All-County Girls Soccer Team as well as a 2008 Athlete of the Week.  In addition to her high school prowess, Nicholson plays for Concord Fire soccer club out of Atlanta and has been honored as a member of the Elite Clubs National League Final Four All-Tournament Team.

A teammate to Nicholson at Concord Fire, Chelsea Person of Decatur, Georgia, looks to join her club teammate up top at the forward position for CSU.  Person attends the Atlanta Girls' School where she has earned five varsity athletic letters and led her team to two Region Championships in 2008 and 2010.  Serving as team captain in 2009 and 2010, Person has also been honored as a member of the All-Region team in 2008-2010 and All-State team in 2009 and 2010.  She was also runner-up for Area Player of the Year in 2010. 

Kelsey Pelletier from Duluth, Georgia, will also compete for minutes at the forward position next season.  A four-year athletic letter winner at Greater Atlanta Christian School, Pelletier has also been a four-year starter for the Spartans.  She helped lead her team to two Region Championships in 2009 and 2010 and two State Final Four appearances in those same years.  Pelletier was awarded the Coach's Award for GACS in 2010 and plays club soccer at Norcross Soccer Association. 

Amanda Jones from Dade County, Georgia, will look to fill in a spot in the backline for the Lady Cougars this fall.  Jones has received six varsity letters during her time at Dade County High School and has been awarded the Regional Most Athletic Award three times.  Jones once led her team to the state semifinals.  She plays club soccer out of ERSA Express in East Ridge, Tennessee.

A Florida native, Casey Davis comes to Columbus State from Boca Raton.  A true defender, Casey plays club soccer for Team Boca.  Davis attends Boca Raton Community High School where she has earned four varsity letters for her soccer achievements.  At BRCHS, Davis has helped her team win four District Championships; reach the regional finals in 2009 and a state runner-up in 2010.  Davis was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and awarded the Iron Bobcat in 2010 in addition to being named to the First Team All-County in 2010. 

Another Florida signee, Jessica Dent from Niceville, Florida, will be an addition to the CSU midfield in the fall.  A three-year letter athlete at Niceville High School, Dent has won three District Championships in 2007, 2008, and 2010, and one Region Championship in 2007.  In her time playing for the Birmingham United Soccer Association, Dent has won four Alabama State Championships (2008-2011) and participated as a member of the Alabama State ODP team in 2008 and 2009.

The signees join a CSU team ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation a year ago and recorded a 19-2 record which included a Peach Belt Conference regular season co-championship and Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship.