EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s soccer coach Tom Saxton announced recently the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.

Courtney Clem (Williamston), Kelsey Mullen (Okemos) and Annie Steinlage (Grand Haven) all signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Spartans in the fall of 2010.
In addition, Chelsey Miller (Okemos) has accepted her offer of admission to MSU.

“Our 2010 class is small in number but huge in terms of talent and potential,” said Saxton. “We are particularly pleased to have added three of the top players ever from the Greater Lansing area. Girls’ soccer in mid-Michigan has grown tremendously in recent years and Courtney, Kelsey and Chelsey reflect the quality of the game in our home area. The addition of a national-level player in Annie Steinlage, along with the three local student-athletes, helps us continue the strong recruiting tradition we have established over the past several seasons. We are delighted to welcome all of them to Michigan State.”

Clem, who has been Williamston’s starting goalkeeper since her freshman season in 2007, garnered first team all-state honors in each of her last two seasons. She was also named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team in 2008 and ’09. Clem has picked up all-league, all-region and all-academic honors in each of her three seasons and led the Hornets to the state championship game in 2008 and the regional finals in 2009. She played club soccer for the Michigan Hawks Black where her team made four consecutive state cup finals appearances. Clem has been involved with the state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team since 2004 and has been on the region pool team since 2007. In 2007, she was selected as one of the top amateur players in the country to compete in the Elite Soccer Program at Cal Poly Pomona.

Mullen, a defender, garnered first team all-state honors and was also named the Lansing State Journal Player of the Year as a junior last season. As a sophomore, she was named third team all-state after earning all-league and all-area honors as a freshman. Mullen played with Clem for the Michigan Hawks Black at the club level, where they made four consecutive state cup finals appearances. She has played with the state ODP team since 2005 and the region team since 2006.

“Kelsey will be a tremendous addition to our team and we are so grateful she chose to join the Spartan soccer program,” Saxton said. “She is indeed a special player with the potential to be a great college midfielder or defender. Kelsey should have an immediate impact on our lineup this fall.”

Steinlage was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and garnered a spot on the state Dream Team as a junior in 2009.

She is a three-time all-state honoree, including picking up first-team honors as a sophomore and junior. As a senior, she scored 29 goals and added 14 assists in helping Spring Lake to a 19-2 record. She has played club soccer for the West Michigan Fire and the Michigan Hawks. Steinlage also has significant ODP experience as she has played with the state team since 2005 and the regional team since 2006. She also participated in the 2008 and `09 ODP national team camps.

Miller comes to MSU from Okemos and will join her sister, Taylor, on the team next year. Chelsey Miller garnered all-region, all-district and all-conference honors in her first three seasons with the Chieftains. She has been a part of the state ODP team since 2003 and has also participated in several ODP regional camps. Miller also played for the Michigan Hawks club team in 2008 and 2009.