Logansport, IN — The Goshen College women’s soccer program announced 2005 Logansport High School graduate Amy Clem as its first official signee of the 2005 summer signing period, helping to fill a gaping void in the team’s roster for the upcoming season.

Clem, a standout goalkeeper, will help ease the loss of 2004 senior Megan Morris, who started in goal for Goshen for the past four seasons. Clem helped her Logansport squad to both conference and sectional championships in her senior season, and was named team MVP two consecutive years as a result of her play.

“We are very excited to have Amy Clem join our team this year,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “She will be a leader and I expect her presence to make an impact immediately.”

Mounsithiraj said that in addition to helping the Leafs tend goal, Clem will also be asked to play in the field. And while most of her prep experience has been in goal, Logansport head soccer coach Todd Reiff said Clem’s field skills are also exceptional.

“You can play Amy Clem anywhere,” Reiff said. “She was our MVP as a junior and senior and plays with a lot of intensity. She loves to play, loves to run and loves to be aggressive. This past season was a banner year for Amy Clem. I don’t know of any other coach who wouldn’t want her as their goalkeeper. It’s a good thing we had her in the goal, or it could’ve been real ugly.”

Logansport finished 2005 with a 13-6-1 overall record, and it was local ties that helped lead Clem to Goshen in the first place. Goshen College assistant soccer coach Tera Franklin was instrumental in the recruitment of Clem, after seeing her play for many years. Franklin, a 2000 Logansport High School graduate, coached Clem’s under-12 travel soccer team while in high school. Since then, she has followed Clem’s career closely.

“I am thrilled to again have the opportunity to coach Amy,” Franklin said. “I have been fortunate enough to watch her develop as both a soccer player and as a quality person over the past several years. She is a great student-athlete who we are proud to have represent our team.”

Clem said she plans to major in elementary education once at Goshen, and will surely help the Leafs’ already-proven academic record: Clem maintained a 3.79 GPA throughout high school, while the Goshen College women’s soccer team was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America / Adidas All-Academic Team Award for second consecutive season in 2004, maintaining a cumulative 3.47 GPA.

Clem said she chose Goshen College for a multitude of reasons, citing the academic and athletic plusses among them.

“I chose Goshen College not only because of athletics, but also because I am the kind of person who likes to get to know people and a small classroom setting gives me that opportunity,” Clem said. “Also, I believe I can get a very good education at Goshen. From what I’ve seen, Goshen College encourages their athletes to not only do their best on the field, but also to achieve their personal goals in life.”

While soccer will be Clem’s main athletic focus, she will also participate as a member of the Leafs’ softball team in the spring months. Clem was Logansport’s top hitter as a junior and senior, and led the Berries’ softball team to a 23-5 overall record as a senior, winning a conference championship in the process.

Check back to this website for continuing Goshen College women’s soccer off-season news, including recruiting updates and schedule information. To contact Thavisith Mounsithiraj, call him at (574) 535-7539 or click here to send him an email.