FERRIS WOMEN’S SOCCER PROGRAM ADDS TWO PREP RECRUITS

Student-Athletes Ashley Lukes & Andrea Palombi Ink National Letters-Of-Intent

The pair includes defender Ashley Lukes (Kokomo, Ind./Western) and midfielder Andrea Palombi (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/St. Mary’s College). Lukes is the younger sister of former FSU forward Gayle Lukes (Kokomo, Ind./Western), who tallied 15 career points in 58 outings prior to concluding her collegiate eligibility last fall.

“Both Ashley and Andrea are skillful defensive-minded players who will be tremendous additions to our program,” Eging said. “We’re excited they’ve committed and plan to continue their careers at Ferris State.”

The 5-2 Lukes led Western High School to an 11-5 overall record in 2003 while compiling personal career highs in both goals (38) and assists (15). The two-time (2001 & 2003) team Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award recipient received All Mid-Indiana Conference kudos for the fourth consecutive campaign and was chosen as the all-county MVP last season. Lukes, a four-time team Offensive Player of the Year Award winner, twice attained academic all-state laurels and garnered honorable mention all-state accolades as a senior following her third-team selection in 2002. The two-time team captain also posted school records for most goals in a match (six), season (38) and career (109) under head coach Larry Houk. Lukes ranked third in total goals and tied for ninth in assists among the Indiana High School Athletic Association's 2003 statewide leaders.

“Ashley had an extremely successful finish to her high school career,” said Eging. “She is a driven and competitive individual who has played on both the defensive and attacking ends. Her mental strength and skill will allow her to make a positive contribution for us in a defensive role.”

Lukes also participated in basketball from 2000-01 and played club soccer for the Carmel (Ind.) Cobras United Soccer Club, which reached the Snickers Region II Semifinals in 2003 along with recording its seventh-consecutive state championship. She was an Olympic Development State Team member from 1998-02.

Palombi played prep soccer for Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) member St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The 5-5 Palombi attained team Coaches Award recognition in 2003 while serving as a co-captain under head coach Phie Brazie. Palombi also was a four-year (2000-03) varsity letterwinner in both basketball along with track and field for the Knights. She played club level soccer for the Sault (Ontario) Civics from 1995-04 and was elected team co-captain. Palombi’s older brother, Mark, presently plays football for the University of British Columbia.

“Andrea’s strengths are her ability to read the game and generate creative attacking chances out of the back,” Eging said. “She’s able to shut players down with her defensive instinct and immediately begin an attack successfully. I expect she will begin her career as a center back or even as a defensive center midfielder in our lineup.”

Lukes and Palombi, who both plan to major in Pre-Pharmacy, represent the first members of Ferris’ 2004 recruiting class.

Ferris State concluded the 2003 campaign with an 11-5-1 overall mark under Eging, which represented the program's best performance in its five-year history and included a fourth-place 5-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) finish. The Bulldogs, who won eight of their final 11 outings last season, opened the year with a school record three consecutive wins and compiled a program-best 5-2-1 road mark in 2003. FSU also set school single-season records for most goals (40), assists (36) and points (116).