BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's soccer program is unveiling its 2020 signing class in a different way. Rather than announcing all of them and their accomplishments in one release, the Hokies will highlight each new signee individually, which will include a brief "Get to Know" Q&A, until all of the incoming freshmen have been announced.
The third player to be introduced from the 2020 class is Erin Carleton, a 5-foot-8 attacking midfielder from Powder Springs, Georgia. She currently attends Hillgrove High School and is contemplating on majoring in interior design when she gets to Tech.
Playing for the Hawks, Carleton earned a pair of varsity letters playing for coach Shannon Center during the spring of 2017 and 2019 seasons. She helped Hillgrove to a pair of region championships, was the team's MVP in both 2017 and 2019.
During the spring of 2019, she scored 21 goals, including four game winners, to go with 16 assists for a 15-4-1 Hawks squad. She led Hillgrove to the Class 7A state quarterfinals, which included a four-goal effort in a 4-0 win over rival Kennesaw Mountain. Carleton was named the 2019 Marietta Daily Journal Player of the Year and the region's player of the year.
Carleton's club experience includes four years with the Concorde Fire Platinum ECNL with coach Garvin Quamina and has national team experience as well, playing in 2016. The Fire finished third at nationals in 2017 and were the Southeast Conference champions after the 2018-19 season.
"Erin is a creative midfield player who is wonderful on the ball, has a great touch, is a good passer, and will be an integral part of the team as far as possession and moving the ball up the attacking third," Tech head coach Chugger Adair said. "She is a special player on the ball with a great mind for the game."
GET TO KNOW - Erin
Name: Erin Carleton
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Powder Springs, Georgia
High School: Hillgrove High School
Other Schools considered: Clemson University, University of Notre Dame
Why did you choose Tech? It was the first and only school I visited that I felt 100 percent comfortable at. I also really enjoy cold weather.
What was your favorite thing about your visit? I enjoyed attending to the basketball game.
What do you like about the Tech soccer program? I enjoy the style of play and the family atmosphere that's created by the coaches.
What are your soccer strengths? I am very technical and able to read the game extremely well.
Who is your favorite pro player (why)? My brother Andrew (Atlanta United FC) is my favorite pro soccer player because we grew up playing together and I've taken parts of his game and implemented it into how I play.
What is your most memorable soccer moment (why)? Giving my (younger) sister Erica her first high-school assist in the first game we played together.
What do you think you will major in? Interior design, because I'm very into art and design and have always loved HGTV growing up.
What's one thing you'd want Tech fans to know about you? I have 17 piercings, but I'm extremely scared of needles.
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