Feb. 5, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer head coach Shelley Smith announced Wednesday afternoon the signing of six student-athletes for 2014. The class includes four four-star prospects, three players who have attended national ID camps and two players who have won multiple youth national championships.

“Unique to this class than in the past is that we have three players from the same club program, and two others from another team, PDA in New Jersey, and three from CASL in North Carolina, and one locally from South Carolina” Smith said.

“They already have great relationships with each other, but we’re bringing that into the team and I think they’ll really complement what we have returning in our group.”

The 2013 team proved to be one of the best in South Carolina history. After being unranked to start the season, the Gamecocks were ranked in the Top 20 the majority of the year and rose to as high as No. 7 (Oct. 15, 2013) in the NSCAA rankings before finishing the season at No. 15.

This season also marked the first time since 2009 that the team had not only reached the Top 10 in the coaches’ poll, but also remained there in consecutive weeks (Oct. 29-Nov. 5). After finishing the regular season 14-2-2, the Gamecocks found themselves ranked No. 9, becoming the first team in program history to be in the Top 10 following the regular season.

South Carolina’s final record of 17-4-2 was the second-best mark in school history, while the team put together the program’s only undefeated season at home at 11-0-0.

This year’s class will fill needs going forward as they step in and look to build on the success that’s come before them.

Dominique Babbitt
Defender/Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs/’95 CASL ECNL

Pre-College: A four-star recruit … Ranked as No. 41 prospect nationally by Top Drawer Soccer … No. 10 defender nationally and No. 3 overall player in the South Atlantic region according to Top Drawer Soccer … Participated in 2009 and 2013 National ID ECNL Camp … Attended 2009 US Club Soccer id2 camp … 2012 and 2013 ECNL PDP invitee … 2009 ODP 95’Thanksgiving Interregional Region III Team … Club team won 2009 and 2011 North Carolina State Cup Championship … Reached 2010 State Cup semifinals … 2010 Region III Premier League East Champions … Reached USYS Region III semifinals in 2011 … Named to North Carolina All-State Team in 2012 and 2013 … Three-time Tri-9 All-Conference and All-Region.

Personal: Dominique Gabrielle Babbitt … Born December 15, 1995 … Daughter of Mary and Howard Babbitt … Plans on majoring in retail fashion merchandising … Hobbies include snowboarding, sewing and skeet shooting … Chose South Carolina over Clemson, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and Georgia.

Anna Conklin
Midfielder/Randolph, N.J./Randolph/PDA Slammers

Pre-College: A three-star recruit according to Top Drawer Soccer … Won US National Championship, Region I championship and New Jersey State Cup championship in 2011 with PDA Slammers … Won 2013 ECNL National Championship … Reached 2012 ECNL semifinals … Region I ODP Team in 2009 and 2010 … Member of New Jersey ODP team from 2008-2010 … Named Player of the Year in 2014 in Morris County by the Daily Record, New Jersey Star Ledger, Mugs Media and Morris County Coaches Association … First Team All-State in 2014 … First Team All-Morris County in 2013 and 2014 … First Team NJAC from 2012-2014 … Totaled 56 goals and 48 assists at Randolph … Two-year Randolph team captain … Morris County Championship game MVP in 2014 … Won Morris County and NJAC Conference champions at Randolph in 2012 and 2014 … Reached 2012 and 2014 New Jersey sectional finals.

Personal: Born July 16, 1996 … Daughter of Angela and Jack Conklin … Plans on majoring in education … Hobbies include fishing and swimming … Chose South Carolina over Rutgers, Delaware and College of Charleston.

Abbey Crider
Goalkeeper/Pinehurst, N.C./Pinecrest/’95 CASL ENCL

Pre-College: Enrolled in January 2014 … North Carolina ODP member from 2007-2012 … Attended ODP region camp from 2009-2012 … Named to All-State, All-Region and All-Conference teams at Pinecrest from 2010-2012 … Team reached fourth round of the state playoffs in 2011 and 2012.

Personal: Abbey Lynn Crider … Born March 7, 1996 … Daughter of Terri and Chris Crider … Plans on majoring in media arts … Hobbies include doing anything music related and surfing … Chose South Carolina over College of Charleston.

Lauren Jankowski
Forward/Berkley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston/PDA Slammers

Pre-College: A four-star prospect according to Top Drawer Soccer … Won two national championships with PDA (2011 USYS and 2013 ECNL) … Finished 2013 ECNL season undefeated … Three-time Region I champions and five-time New Jersey State Cup champions with PDA … Led U17 PDA Slammers in points … ECNL All-Texas Event Team … One of two players on 2013 PDA team to be with the team from U9-U18 … Three-year member of New Jersey ODP team … Member of ODP Region I team … Started every game during four-year high school career at Governor Livingston … Two-time All-Union County first team … Three-time All-League and All-Area … Twice named team captain.

Personal: Lauren Shae Jankowski … Born May 31, 1996 … Daughter of Laura and James Jankowski … Sister Jessica plays soccer at Quinnipiac University … Plans on majoring in education … Hobbies include reading … Chose South Carolina over Marquette, Tennessee, LaSalle, George Mason, Rutgers and American.

Savannah McCaskill
Midfielder/Chapin, S.C./Irmo/CESA ’95 ECNL

Pre-College: A four-star prospect, ranked No. 51 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer … Tabbed as the No. 5 overall player in the South Atlantic region and No. 17 midfielder nationally by Top Drawer Soccer … Named MVP of the U16 Region III Championship Team … Named to Top 11 U16 players at nationals … 2012 San Antonio All-Event Team … 2012 and 2013 ECNL Southeastern PDP … Team captain for CESA 95 ECNL … Totaled nine goals and seven assists during U18 season … Member of South Carolina ODP team from 2008-2012 … Member of Region III ODP team from 2010-2013 … Attended 2013 ECNL National ID Camp … Two-time All-State selection at Irmo … Named Region IV 4A in 2012 and 2013 … Won Irmo Golden Boot Award in 2012 with 33 goals … Named Irmo High Offensive Player of the Year and to All-Region team in 2011.

Personal: Savannah Elizabeth McCaskill … Born July 31, 1996 … Daughter of Tina and Greg McCaskill … Plans on majoring in exercise science … Hobbies include water sports (skiing and wake surfing).

Alexis Pendergraft
Midfielder/Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook/’95 CASL ENCL

Pre-College: A four-star prospect and No. 28 ranked player in the South Atlantic region according to Top Drawer Soccer … Attended 2013 ECNL Elite Player ID Camp … CASL team captain since 2008 … 2011 Region III Premier League and North Carolina State Cup champions … Reached semifinals at USYSA Region III tournament … Member of 2013 USYSA ODP International Tournament Costa Rica Champions … Member of North Carolina and Region III ODP teams from 2010-2012 … Competed with Region III team against Costa Rica, Czech Republic and Germany … Cap 8 regular season champions in 2012 at Millbrook HS … Won both Cap 8 regular season and tournament championship in 2013… Three-year captain … Two-time all-conference … Named to All-Region team 2012.

Personal: Alexis Jean Pendergraft … Born June, 17, 1996 … Daughter of Yasmin and Brian Pendergraft … Father played basketball at Louisberg College and East Carolina … Chose South Carolina over UNC-Charlotte.