HUNTINGTON -- Allison Harper and Rachel Thompson have signed National Letters of Intent to play women's golf at Marshall for the 2010-2011 season, Thundering Herd coach Meredith Knight Rowsey said Thursday.

Harper and Thompson are the first recruits for Marshall and will look to replace graduating seniors Larie Lynch, Mary Oliver and Andrea Grier.

"Allison and Rachel will make an immediate impact on the team and I would be surprised if they don't qualify for tournaments right away, on an already competitive squad," Knight Rowsey said. "I think they will be able to help fill the void that will be left by losing my two low tournament players in Larie and Andrea."

Harper attended Upper Arlington High School in Columbus. She made first-team All-District two years (2008-09) and first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference three years (2007-09). She made second-team All-State and was medalist or tied for first in nine of 18 tournaments. Harper tied for seventh in the state tournament and finished third in the district tournament. She holds Upper Arlington's lowest round for women (69) and had a 76.0 scoring average for four seasons. During the summer, had three top-five finishes and shot a 74 to qualify for the championship flight in the Ohio Women's Amateur.

"I feel my program will be the perfect fit for Allison and Rachel because these girls work extremely hard in the classroom and on the course," Knight Rowsey said. "We have stepped things up a level this year, having our best tournament scoring average ever, and I think we will be able to kick it up a notch next year with the help of these incoming freshmen."

Both Harper and Thompson have excelled in the classroom, accumulating 3.8 and 3.7 grade point averages, respectively.

Thompson, whose cousin Molly Ginger plays for the Herd, played at Ashland High School. The Arrows qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history in 2008 and placed seventh. They were fourth this season. Thompson finished second in the state as a senior and 12th as a junior.

Thompson is a two-time sectional medalist and set a school record earlier in the year at the Edison Invitational, shooting a 70. She was the team's MVP this season.

"These two were the players that I wanted to fill out my roster with for next year. I think it will be a great fit all around," Knight Rowsey said. "These girls were rivals during the season and have enough respect for each other that they wanted to be college teammates. I feel they have the level of desire and commitment it will take to get us into a new era."

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