Clemson Women’s Soccer Program Signs Six for 2012 Season

Feb. 14, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson women’s soccer head coach Eddie Radwanski has announced the signing of six players to national letters of intent for the 2012 season. The six players, who hail from four different states, are: Sydney Branson (Raleigh, NC), Allie Kington (Knoxville, TN), Jenna Polonsky (Winston-Salem, NC), Tina Shakes (Coral Springs, FL), Annie Studdert (Sonoma, CA) and Kylie Tawney (Chapel Hill, NC).

“We are very excited to welcome these young ladies to Clemson and the Tiger family,” said Radwanski. “This is a group that will help us to be successful on and off the field. Each one brings a unique quality. Not only is this a group of good soccer players, but it is also a wonderful group of people and we look forward to their arrival on campus.”

L-R: Sydney Branson, Jenna Polonsky, Kylie Tawney, Allie Kington, Annie Studdert; Not pictured: Tina Shakes

Kylie Tawney is a midfielder from Chapel Hill, NC. She has earned three varsity letters in soccer at Carrboro High School and is a three-time all-conference and all-region selection. She was named to the all-state team and was named her conference’s player of the year as a sophomore and junior. Tawney played for the Region 3 ODP team in 2010 and 2011, and attended national camp in 2011. She played for Triangle Futbol Club 93 Navy and coach Pete Sadin, which finished second in the state cup and was a Super Y National Champion in 2011.

“Kylie is a talented, versatile player who can play anywhere on the field. She is technically good with the ball and has an engine to run all day. She started for this year’s region team at the interregional Boca event. Kylie is really going to enhance our training because of her competitive nature.”

Annie Studdert, a defender/midfielder from Sonoma, CA, attended Sonoma Valley High School where she earned four varsity letters in both soccer and basketball, and one in swimming. She was a three-time All-Sonoma County League selection in soccer and basketball and a two-time North Coast Section Redwood Empire All-Empire honoree in both sports. Studdert played for the San Juan Spirits club team and was a member of the ECNL National Showcase All-Event Team in 2010.

“Annie is a tough, hard-nosed defender and an all-around athlete. She is good in the air, and is a free kick specialist. I like her ability to shoot from distance. She will compete immediately within our group and will bring good depth to our back line.”

Tina Shakes, a midfielder from Coral Springs, FL, has been named a Top Drawer Soccer National Top 100 Player for 2012. She attended Stoneman Douglas High School where she has been a starter on the varsity soccer team since sixth grade. Shakes was a member of the Florida ODP team from 2007-11 and the Region III ODP team from 2008-11, and attended ID National Camp in 2008. She played for Coral Spring United FC club team, which won the U14, U16 and U17 Florida State Cup Championship.

“Tina is an athletic, versatile player. She has been a member and starter on the regional team for several years and has been a part of the international trips to Germany and Spain. Being 5’10”, Tina will bring an aerial presence to our team. She can play in the back or the midfield and will help bring stability to the center of the field for us.”

Jenna Polonsky is a midfielder from Winston-Salem, NC. She earned four varsity letters in soccer from Ronald Wilson Reagan High School. She was a three-time all-conference selection from 2009-11, and two-time all-region and all-state honoree in 2010 and 2011. She was named conference and region player of the year in 2011 and was named to the ODP first team in 2010 and 2011. She was also named to the NSCAA High School All-Region team for the South region in 2012. Polonsky’s club team, Fusion Elite, won the state championship in 2011.

“Jenna is a technically sound player. She likes the ball at her feet. She is someone that we see playing in a wide position and has the ability to run at players off the dribble and break teams down. We feel that Jenna has very good upside and will flourish in our training environment.”

Allie Kington, a midfielder from Knoxville, TN, earned three varsity letters in soccer at Hardin Valley Academy. She played for the Tennessee Olympic Development Program and the Region 3 ODP team from 2009-11 and attended the Region 3 interregional and international events in 2010 and 2011. Kington’s club team, Brentwood 94 Premier, won the state championship in 2011 and was a regional finalist that year.

“Allie is another region team starter and, with Tina, was a member of the regional team that participated in both the Germany and Spain international events. Allie brings an athletic competitive presence to our team. She is tough, covers a lot of ground and has the mentality to compete in the ACC.”

Sydney Branson is a goalkeeper from Raleigh, NC. She has earned three varsity letters in soccer and one in cross country at Cary Academy. She was named all-conference three times and was an all-state selection in 2011. She holds her school’s single season saves record and also holds the record for career saves, despite her senior season of high school having not yet started. Branson plays for Triangle Futbol Club 93 Navy, which was the state runner-up and Super Y National Champion.

“Sydney has great training habits and will bring depth to our goalkeeping position. She is a teammate of Kylie Tawney at TFC. I am pleased that she learned her trade under the auspices of coach Pete Sadin and had the experience of being a part of TFC’s 2011 Super Y National Championship run.”