GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College head Women's soccer coach Mike Joy has received the commitment of two student-athletes to attend the College and play soccer beginning in the fall of 2011. Midfielder Nikki Arthur (Brights Grove, Ontario) and goalkeeper Marissa Williams (Canton, Mich.) have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Pioneers for the 2011 season.

"We are excited to sign these two quality student athletes on our initial signing date. Each of these players will be counted on to compete right away this next season," said Joy, who recently completed his 14th season as Pioneer head coach. "We were hit hard with graduation in our midfield and the goalkeeper position presented us with our biggest challenge to find someone we could expect to compete right away. I think both of these signees will help us tremendously next season and we are very excited to have them here at Tusculum."

Williams is a 5-7 goalkeeper from Plymouth High School. She will enter her fourth season as the starting keeper for Plymouth this spring, and was named All-State twice, All-Region twice, All-District three times and All-Conference twice. Williams helped Plymouth to the MIAA Division I state finals in 2010, and the Michigan Hawks club team to the ECNL State Cup finals as well.

Arthur is a 5-6 center midfielder who attends Sarnia Northern Collegiate School. She plays for the North London Galaxy club team in the OYSL and Super Y League. Arthur has participated in the Ontario Provincial Camps and has also played for the London Gryphons Academy club team.

The Pioneers finished 9-9-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the South Atlantic Conference in 2010, advancing to the SAC semifinals for the 10th time in 12 seasons.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of ten colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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