HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Five student-athletes signed national letters of intent to play soccer for Northern Kentucky University during the 2015 season, head coach Bob Sheehan announced on Thursday.
 
NKU finished its most successful Division I season with 9-8-3 overall record and 3-3-1 mark in the Atlantic Sun in 2014.  The Norse earned their first berth to the Atlantic Sun Championship and advanced to the semifinals after defeating North Florida, 2-0, in the opening round.  NKU was also honored with a pair of National Soccer Coaches Association of America awards, earning its ninth-consecutive National Team Academic Award in November and fourth-straight National Team Ethics Award in January.
 
"Our program took another step forward today with the signing of these five exceptional young ladies," Sheehan said.  "We would like to welcome our class of 2015 signees to Northern Kentucky University and to our soccer program.   We believe that all five of these young ladies have the talent, desire and work ethic necessary to make strong contributions to the program.  They are all accomplished both in the classroom and on the athletic field, and we look forward to them joining us for the fall season."
 
The five players that will join the Norse for their fourth season as an NCAA Division I program include:

 

--Samantha Duwel, who will graduate from McAuley High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, this spring, helped lead the Mohawks to an 8-5-3 overall record as a senior.  The 5-foot-6 center midfielder scored five goals and assisted on 10 others, which topped the Girls Greater Cincinnati League, for a total of 20 points in her final high school season.  For her efforts on the field and in the classroom, Duwel earned first-team All-GGCL accolades as a senior and also received All-Academic Southwest team honors.
 
"Sam possesses outstanding technical ability as a central midfielder," Sheehan said.   "Sam has excellent awareness and vision, but what separates Sam is her ability to make the final pass.  She consistently plays attacking players the balls that they want, where they want it and at the proper pace.  This playmaking ability is reflected in the fact that Sam led the GGCL in assists by a large margin with 10 assists."

 

--Brianna Frondorf, who will graduate from Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, this year, led the Highlanders to a 42-5-8 overall record over her three-year high school career.  As a senior, the 5-foot-9 midfielder recorded seven goals and four assists for 18 points.  During her career, she scored 16 goals and collected six assists.  Frondorf received the team's Highlander Award and earned All-Academic Southwest honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.
 
"[Brianna] is an extremely versatile player who can play just about anywhere on the field," Sheehan said.  "She is a physical presence in the central midfield, has attacking skills in that she can play on the flank or upfront and can also play in the defense.   [Brianna] is always fit, has a strong work ethic and is a competitor, all attributes which serve her well."

 

--Emily Lohmann, who will graduate from Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, this spring, helped the Highlanders capture 42 victories, including an 18-2 mark in 2014, over her three-year career.  The 5-foot-11 goalkeeper recorded 63 saves as a senior to finish her high school career with 244 saves.  Lohmann earned all-conference honors all three seasons, including a first-team nod as a senior, and she also received all-academic team honors as well.
 
"Emily has great size and range at the goalkeeper position," Sheehan said.  "At 5-foor-11, she is a presence in goal, and she is a skilled goalkeeper with agility and athleticism.  Emily is a dual-sport athlete who also plays basketball, which has helped her to develop into a well-rounded athlete.  As a three-year starter, she has been one of the top goalkeepers in the Greater Cincinnati area for a number of years."

 

--Payton Naylor, who will graduate from Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, this spring, led the Braves to a 13-5-3 overall record as a senior.  The 5-foot-6 outside midfielder and forward scored 15 goals and assisted on 18 others for a total of 48 points in 2014.  She recorded 34 goals and 35 assists over her four-year career, and she received All-Ohio Capital Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.  Naylor was named the OCC Player of the Year in 2014 to go along with first-team all-district and second-team all-state honors.
 
"Payton is a bundle of energy," Sheehan said.  "As an attacking player, Payton brings quickness, pace and enthusiasm to every training session and every game.  She is a proven goal scorer who is also adept at setting others up.  She had an excellent senior year in high school by being named the player of the year in her conference, All-Ohio and leading her team to the Elite 8 in the OHSAA state tournament."
 

--Taylor Spaulding, who will graduate from Strongville (Ohio) High School this year, was a four-year varsity member and helped the Mustangs to 58-11-6 record over her career, including a 12-3-4 mark as a senior.  The 5-foot-8 center defender tallied three goals and six assists for 12 points in 2014.  She was named to the NSCAA 2014 Fall All-American after leading the Strongville defense to 11 shutouts in 19 games and allowed just 10 goals all season as a senior, and Spaulding also received first-team all-conference, all-region and All-Greater Cleveland honors along with All-Greater Cleveland Player of the Year accolades after the 2014 season.
 
"Taylor is an outstanding center back," Sheehan said. "She possesses excellent size, strength and understanding of the game.  She also loves to compete.  She remains calm under pressure and has a high level of technical ability in starting the attack out of the back.  Taylor was named the Greater Cleveland Player of the Year, first-team All-Ohio, All-Region, and she was honored as a high school All-American."