Fourth-year LSU soccer coach Sian Hudson has added three transfers from the NCAA transfer portal for the 2024 season.
Hudson guided the Tigers to an 8-8-4 record last season and their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament, falling 2-1 at Memphis in the first round.
In an effort to fill some holes and add depth in her program Hudson added defenders Sydney Chessman of North Carolina, defender Gabbi Ceballos of TCU along with goalkeeper Sophine Kevorkian of San Diego.
“Sydney is an exceptional player with a high level of technical quality and tactical understanding,” Hudson said of Cheesman in a university release. “She is a versatile player who can operate as a center back or full back, but she is also excellent in the deep build as a center back or fly forward.”
Cheesman, a native of Lafayette, Colorado, played for the past two years at North Carolina and helped the Tar Heels to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The former four-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer gained experience on the national stage and played club ball with the Colorado Rush.
She was invited to the 2021 U20 U.S. Women’s Youth national team training camp and competed with the team in two international friendlies in Costa Rica in ’22.
Hudson also added an experienced keeper in Kevorkian of San Diego and another defender in Ceballos of TCU.
“Sophine is a goalkeeper who will bring experience and quality to our goalkeeping union,” Hudson said. “She is athletic, has quick reactions, is a good shot stopper and has the ability to use her feet well to support the team in possession. During the recruitment process, her character was something that stood out as someone we wanted to bring into our program.”
Kevorkian spent the last two years at San Diego and totaled 2,282 minutes over 27 matches. She has two years of eligibility remaining with the Tigers.
Kevorkian recorded a career-high 97 saves in her 17 appearances in ‘23. As a sophomore, she tallied a season high 14 saves against Cal St. Fullerton on Sept. 7 and a .693% save percentage in only her second year.
The native of San Diego, Kevorkian attended La Jolla High, and the all-conference selection helped her school to a spot in the CIF finals in ’21.
In her club career, Kevorkian won the 2021 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Goalkeeper Award for her efforts with ASC San Diego. She was also chosen to the 2021 Girl’s Academy Talent ID Southwest Team and was a 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer national champion.
Ceballos, a native of San Antonio, Texas, has four years of eligibility remaining at LSU after a redshirt season at TCU last season.
“Gabbi is a versatile player who can play as a defensive center midfielder, center back or even attacking midfield positions,” Hudson said. “She has tremendous technical quality and presence on the pitch.
“She is a player who wants to be on the ball and has the courage to get on it in high pressure moments, whether that is in breaking the press or stepping onto a shot from 25 yards out,” Hudson said. “Off the ball she is an excellent communicator and has the ability to organize, which is so important down the spine of any team.”
Ceballos played in one match and played four minutes at TCU. She played at John Paul Stevens High and for the Classics Elite Soccer club.
She spent three year with the U.S. U17 national team set up and was on the ’20 UD2 national selection team. She was ranked the No. 29 overall player in her age group, No. 12 midfielder and No. 2 player in Texas.
Ceballos was named a two-time ECNL conference selection player (2020-22), including first-team honors in 2022 during her club career. In 2021, she was named to ECNL’s San Diego Best XI and was recognized as an ECNL Tennessee Standout Player.
Additionally, she has also received honors as 2022 WPSL Red River Conference Best XI, San Antonio Express Newcomer of the Year, ECNL national selection training camp recognition, and was a member of the ECNL Houston national selection squad.
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