March 4, 2002

OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss continues to attract some of the top soccer players from the Bluegrass state. The Rebels have received national letters of intent from Katie Bindner and Hillary Beckman, giving the squad six signees from the state of Kentucky over the last three years.

Binder and Beckman join current Rebels Amy Sample, Kristal Menard and Lindley Beckman, all of whom played previously for the Javanon Soccer Club.

"We are excited that for the third year in a row, we have signed two of the top players in Kentucky," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman, who has guided the Rebels to SEC West titles two of the last three years. "Hillary and Katie are two outstanding athletes who will not only add to our depth but also to our team chemistry.

"The Javanon soccer club is the top club in Kentucky and has produced many quality Division I soccer players. We are very fortunate to have signed six of them. Ole Miss soccer has developed a great relationship with Javanon, and we hope to continue to attract the top players from their club."

A 5-4 defender from Goshen, Bindner is a two-time All-State selection at Assumption High School. She earned Academic All-State honors as a senior and was also a member of the AHS varsity track team. Binder spent three years on the state ODP squad.

Hillary Beckman, whose sister Lindley was third on the Rebels in total points in her 2001 freshman season, was named Mideast All-American a year ago. The 5-8 midfielder was a three-time Academic All-State honoree at Ballard High School in Anchorage, and also played on the Kentucky ODP team three years.

Binder and Beckman raise the list of 2002 soccer signees to six, including Ashley Hanne (Franklin, Tenn.), Megan Morton (Auburndale, Fla.) and All-Americans Brittney Potts (Franklin, Tenn.) and Lyndsey Williams (Germantown, Tenn.).

Ole Miss finished the 2001 campaign with a 10-10-1 mark, giving the club their sixth consecutive season with a .500 or better record. The Rebels became the only SEC Western Division squad to have earned an SEC Tournament berth the past five seasons, and is the West's winningest team over that stretch.