Index of Sports Press Releases

Jan. 7, 2009

Roden adds three more to recruiting class

Coach Dale Roden

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University head women’s soccer coach Dale Roden doubled his official recruiting class for the 2009-10 school year Wednesday with the announcement that three more players have agreed to become Tigers in the fall.

South Dakota recruits Kim Duff and Meghan Pedersen and Oklahoma native Lindsey Wadley have all signed Letters of Intent to play for Roden next season. The DWU coach is excited about his latest wave of signees, and he thinks all three are prepared to make a positive impact during their college careers.

“Throughout the recruiting process, all three of these student-athletes expressed a deep desire to make a difference and contribute to our program right away,” Roden said. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with them.

“This fall is going to a very special time for our young program, and again, I’m very happy to have all three of them become a big part of it.”

Duff’s name should already sound familiar to Tiger and Mitchell-area soccer fans. Duff is a local standout from Mitchell, where she played soccer for her father, Kernel coach Scott Duff. At Dakota Wesleyan, she’ll join her older sister, Sarah, who is a sophomore on the DWU team and earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors this fall.

The younger Duff sister can play either midfield or defense, and her talent and versatility helped her earn All-State Second Team honors three years in a row at Mitchell High School. She was also an All-Conference selection as a freshman at Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, N.C. Duff was also a starter on the state champion Dakota Gold Adrenaline club team.

“Kim is an impact player, without a doubt,” Roden said. “Because of her athletic ability and advanced level of tactical interpretation, we will not confine her to a specific position at this time. However, it is evident that she will adapt to the college level and contribute our program’s success instantly.

“We are overjoyed to include (Duff) in our program. She comes from a soccer family that has passion for the game, and, as a byproduct of that environment, she possesses the potential to contribute right away in a major way.”

Duff plans to major in multimedia at DWU. Her parents are Scott and Susan Duff, of Mitchell.

Pedersen was a three-year starter and an All-State Honorable Mention player at Spearfish High School in Spearfish, S.D. An athletic player with a knack for defense, Pedersen received numerous team awards during her prep career, including Best Midfielder, Best Junior and the Sportsmanship Award.

“(Pedersen) is a tenacious defender with the ability to step into a number of roles in our program,” Roden said. “We feel Meghan’s true athleticism will allow her to further develop throughout her college career. As she continues to work, as well as takes on game-speed experience at the college level, we are confident that she will become a pillar of our program.”

Pedersen is currently undecided on a major. She is the daughter of Monty and Rebecca Pedersen of Spearfish. She is an academic letter winner, a Girls’ State participant and a member of the honor roll.

Wadley joins Roden’s latest recruiting class as his first signee in goal. The Sapulpa, Okla., native earned two varsity letters playing for the Cheiftan soccer team in high school. Roden thinks Wadley will add goaltending depth behind All-GPAC keeper Danielle Richardson, and will add a lot to the Tigers off the field as well.

“We feel Lindsey will provide us with much-needed depth while working towards and challenging for minutes in the goal,” Roden said. “We anticipate Lindsey will instantly increase the intensity of our keeper workouts. As she reaches for that starting position, she will automatically boost those around her.

“Lindsey is very technically sound, wonderful to work with and excited about being here as well as possessing a great work ethic in the classroom. She is a special student-athlete and someone to build a program with.”

Wadley plans to major in nursing at Dakota Wesleyan. Her parents are Kevin and Cheryl Wadley of Sapulpa, Okla.

Roden’s latest group of signees joins Courtney Dickson, Karli Fuelling and Abby Hubbard in the Tigers’ recruiting class for 2009-10.