Feb. 11, 2004

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Head soccer coach Heather Nelson announces the signing of high school senior midfielder Margie Schaeffler from Incarnate Word high school.

Schaeffler, daughter of Steve and Ellen Schaeffler, has had extensive soccer experience at the club soccer level and as an Olympic Development Player. Coached by Dan Sellers and Wendy Dillinger, Schaeffler is a standout member of the prestigious J.B. Marine soccer club and has nine years of club experience on her resume as a member of both Busch and J.B. Marine club squads. As a member of the1986 Missouri ODP Team, she helped lead the team to win the Region II Championship and advance to the 2004 National Championships to be held March 19 through the 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Plagued by an injury during her freshman and sophomore seasons, Schaeffler did not compete on her high school team. She rebounded from her injury to help guide Incarnate Word to a third place finish in the state tournament last season, under the direction of Jeff Muhr. For her accomplishments last season, Schaeffler was selected to the All-Metro area honorable mention team.

"Margie is a creative and dynamic player who has the ability to beat players one-on-one," remarked Nelson. "She is expected to contribute immediately to our program."

Schaeffler also received top honors while attending soccer camp at North Carolina last summer. Out of 600 high school, club and ODP soccer athletes from around the United States, Schaeffler was selected to the All-Star team as the camp's top player. She was also selected from the Missouri State Team to compete in pool play while at Region II Camp.

She will enter Southeast next season in the fall of 2004, surrounded by four J.B. Marine teammates and high school teammate Lauren Costello who have all signed national letter intents to play at Southeast.