Feb. 5, 2010
RUSTON, La. - Head coach Kevin Sherry announced the addition of 11 incoming freshmen for Louisiana Tech soccer for the 2010 season.
Ten have signed letters of intent during the early signing period and one, Sarah Warren, who intends to join the squad as an invited walk-on who signed an acceptance of academic scholarship. Cecilia Acosta (Ruston, La.), Lauren Africa (Calhoun, La.), Rebecca Alvarez (El Paso, Texas), Emily Brennan (Plano, Texas), Heather Cook, (Lewisville, Texas), Taylor Dennis (Albuquerque, N.M.), Paige Dunn (Forney, Texas), Brittany Harbaugh (St. Louis, Mo.), Mia Schorpp (Fort Worth, Texas), Caitlin Updyke (Broomfield, Colo.) and Warren (Gautier, Miss.) all will suit up for the Lady Techsters.
The 2010 recruiting class will fit the team's needs that Sherry put together following the conclusion of the 2009 season. He cited a need for strikers, midfielders and an increase in the amount of competition at the goalkeeper position.
"This group of players gives our squad a more balanced look to it, and will make the culture of the program a lot more competitive," said Sherry, who is entering his fourth-season at Tech. "All of the recruits loved the culture of the team, with its emphasis on family, respect, love of the game and the style of play we adopt with passing and movement being paramount as opposed to the long ball, direct power game most college teams utilize."
Acosta, a midfielder from Ruston, La., is the first Ruston High School product to join the Lady Techsters program in its short history. She was a two-time all-district selection and named Second Team all-Northeast Louisiana. Acosta led the Lady Bearcats to a 15-5 season while scoring nine goals and giving out 10 assists and being named team MVP. Acosta was also a member of the Olympic Development Program 2009 Louisiana Team. As a member of the Ruston cross country team, she won a team state championship in 2006.
"Ceci comes from a great soccer family and has had a wonderful soccer upbringing," Sherry said. "Ceci is a holding midfielder who likes to get forward and join in with attacks so as to use her powerful shot. Ceci will obviously receive a lot of great local support and we hope this acts as a catalyst for future soccer players in the community to want to join our program."
Alvarez, a goalkeeper from El Paso, Texas, was a 2009 all-city performer and an all-district MVP for Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas. As a junior, she recorded 115 saves and allowed just 21 goals in 22 games for a goal against average of .20 percent. Alvarez also earned all-district academic honors last season. For her senior season, she was named one of El Paso's top players to watch.
"Rebecca is a hard working and very communicative goalkeeper. Her communication is intelligent, positive, instructive and always correct. I know the defenders will love playing in front of Rebecca. Having such a goalkeeper always gives the rest of the team extra confidence and self-belief."
Africa, a midfielder from Calhoun, La., was a first team all-state and a three-time all-district selection as she finishes her senior season at West Ouachita High School. She was a member of the Olymic Development Program 2009 Louisiana Team. Africa has been to a few Louisiana Tech soccer camps and was voted MVP of multiple occasions.
"Lauren is another product of North Louisiana soccer who has had a good soccer upbringing. Lauren has great balance and coordination which will develop in our culture of passing soccer. We will be working on her physical strength as soon as she enters the program in the fall, as this is the one area of her game which needs to be developed in order for her true potential to really shine through."
Brennan, a forward from Plano, Texas, was the 2009 offensive MVP and earned second team all-district honors for Plano West Senior High School. She was the top scorer in 2009 for Plano West and the TFC '92 Girls club team. Brennan was a member of the Plano West bi-district championship team and led her team to the regional quarterfinals twice.
"Emily is a true goal scorer, which this team needs," Sherry said. "She has a cool head in front of goal and more importantly is not afraid to miss. Emily is a very skillful player who has an excellent work ethic and will be a great partner for Kiva Gresham up front for us next season."
Cook, a midfielder from Lewisville, Texas, played for the TFC '92 girls club team. Her squad is in second place in the Division II Lake Highlands Classic League. She has been captain of her club team since fifth grade.
"Heather is a very smart midfield player who keeps the game simple and is always aware of what is going on around her," Sherry said. "Heather is a calming influence on the game and I am confident she will develop into a future captain and leader of this program."
Dennis, a forward/midfielder from Albuquerque, N.M., was a four time all-district and three-time all-state selection for Highland High School. She led her district in scoring for three years and was named class 5A Player of the Year in 2008. Dennis was selected as the Albuquerque Public Schools Female Athlete of the Season for fall 2009. As a freshman, her team won a district soccer championship and was a state semi-finalist.
"Taylor is a speedy, wide midfield or striker who has great technical abilities," Sherry said. "She has an eye for goal and is pretty determined to create and look for opportunities to score. Taylor brings that all important element of speed to the team which is vital in any style of play. Taylor will create chances out of nothing because she never gives up on anything."
Dunn, a midfielder from Forney, Texas, was a four-time first team all-district player for Forney High School. She was also a member of the Solar '92 club team that competed in the Red Bull National League.
"Paige is a talented midfielder who possesses tremendous skill, vision and imagination. Paige can see a pass no one else thought was possible. Our strikers will need to learn quickly to be ready for such passes from Paige if they wish to have more opportunities in front of goal. Paige also has a very competitive side to her play which will give our midfield some much needed steel and backbone."
Harbaugh, a midfielder from St. Louis Mo., lettered four years at St. Joseph's Academy. She was a member of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team of the Red Bull National League. Her squad won the State Cup and competed at the Elite Club National League.
"Brittany is a talented player possesses amazing balance and control who plays quickly and has an eye for passing," Sherry said. "She has got an abundance of quality and she will enhance our squad greatly. The soccer community is going to love watching Brittany play."
Schorpp, a midfielder from Fort Worth, Texas, was a two-time second team all-district player for Keller Central High School. She was named MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for her team as a junior.
"Mia is a strong presence in midfield who could play as a striker if needed," Sherry said. "She is a powerful player with a delicate first touch and a tremendous passing range. Mia will give our midfield a real scoring threat as she always looks to get beyond the forward line and join in with attacks."
Updyke, a goalkeeper from Broomfield, Colo., was a four-time letterwinner for Bromfield High School. She was named defensive MVP of her team and earned all-conference and first team all-state honors in 2009. Updyke was a member of the Broomfield Blast and Colorado Ice soccer clubs.
"Caitlin is a very athletic goalkeeper with quick feet and her athleticism always gives her a chance to make any save from any shot," Sherry said. "Caitlin has a great presence in goal and her abilities will give the rest of the team great confidence knowing she is protecting the goal."
Warren, a midfielder from Gautier, Miss., was a two-time team MVP while lettering for six years at Gautier High School. She was a member of the Golf Coast United Futbol Club for seven years while winning one state championship and was also a state finalist once.
"Sarah is a very passionate soccer player who has a great appetite for the game," Sherry said. "Sarah joins the Lady Techsters after a recommendation from Coach Dean Joseph, a well respected coach in Mississippi. Coach Joseph spoke of her excellent balance and control, always available to receive a pass and then maintain possession with intelligent decision-making and a tremendous shot when called upon."
The Lady Techsters are coming off their best season in the programs' six-year history with a 12-7-1 record and their first-ever win in Western Athletic Conference win. They lost two seniors and one junior off that squad, Kat McCullough, Hikari Kurokawa and Brooke Lanie (graduated early).
