Basalyga Adds Four More to EKU Soccer Program

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer head coach Lindsay Basalyga announced on Thursday that Nikkita English, Sharon Gunsiorowski, Courtney Klaas and Kristan Paynter have committed to play soccer for the Colonels this fall.

English is the first Australian player ever to sign with the EKU soccer team. She is a defender out of Southern Cross Catholic College in Scarborough, Queensland, Australia. She played last season at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky. She was named the captain of her club team, the Peninsula Power Soccer Club, and led the team to a premier league championship in 2008. For her efforts, she was named to the Brisbane Representative Squad, the Queensland Representative Squad and the Queensland Development Squad. English plans to major in communications disorders while at EKU.

Gunsiorowski is a goalkeeper from Notre Dame Academy in Burlington, Ky. While at Notre Dame, she helped lead the Pandas to the state final four in 2007. Gunsiorowski was voted a team captain her senior year and was named the team’s most valuable defensive player at the end of the season. She was also named to the 10th Region All-Tournament team and was voted honorable mention all-state by the NKGHSSCA. Gunskiorowski plays club soccer with the Kings Soccer Academy and helped the team win three state cups (2004, 2008-09) and advance to regionals all three of those years. She also played for the Kentucky ODP state team from 2004-06. Gunskiorowski plans to major in pre-pharmacy (chemistry) while at EKU.

Klaas comes to EKU from Ohio County High School in Hartford, Ky. While at OCHS, the forward led the Lady Eagles to three district championships, three region championships and a state final four appearance in 2006. In 2009, she was named the 3rd Region Player of the Year and second team all-state after breaking the single season school record and ranking fourth in the state with 20 assists. Klaas plays club soccer for the Owensboro United and helped the United win the Metro Sports Center Indoor Championship from 2008-10 and the Spring Cup Championship in 2009. She plans to major in aviation while at EKU.

Kristan Paynter is a midfielder from Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky. where she helped lead the Lady Rebels to the state elite eight three of the four years she was there. As a senior in 2009, she was named first team all-district, first team all-region and second team all-state. She plays club soccer for the Central Kentucky Soccer Club and helped the team win the GIT Bracket Championship, the Music City Invitational Championship and the KSSL Premier Division Championship. Paynter was named the MVP of the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl Showcase. She also played for the Kentucky ODP State Team from 2007-08. Paynter plans to major in special education/art at EKU.

The Colonels now have 13 new student-athletes for the 2010 season. This is the largest and most diverse incoming class in the program history.