Feb. 7, 2012
RUSTON, La. - The 2012 Louisiana Tech soccer team will have plenty of new faces on the roster next season as head coach Kevin Sherry announced the signing of 16 newcomers who will join the squad in the fall.
The 16 signees are Brittany Beddow (Keller, Texas), Nancy Chavez (Garland, Texas), Keely Davis (Baton Rouge, La.), Taylor Douglas (Carrollton, Texas), Samantha Fabian (Long Beach, Calif.), Nicole Jaquemet (Dielsdorf, Switzerland), Laura LeFevour (Woodstock, Ill.), Lauren Long (Lewisville, Texas), Nony Oko (Baton Rouge, La.), Nicole Poirier (Coral Springs, Fla.), Kelly Polk (Leesburg, Ga.), Madison Raines (League City, Texas), Mayra Rodriguez (Hockley, Texas), Christine Schimpf (Shreveport, La.), Erica Stewart (Columbus, Ind.) and Siobhan Wilson (Waltham Abbey, England).
"I believe this recruiting class has the potential to be the driving force of a new team being created at Louisiana Tech which can take us to new heights," Sherry said. "We do not have the advantages many of our competitors have and so we, as a staff, have had to think 'outside the box' and search far and wide to find these very talented players who fit our very distinct philosophy."
The large signing class is because of the loss of 15 players from last season because of career-ending injuries, circumstance and the graduation of seven seniors.
"This group is a clear message of intent that our soccer program is now ready to push forward and build on the strong foundation laid down by previous players and teams," said Sherry.
Brittany Beddow was named the 2010 District 9-5A Offensive player of the Year and 2009 District 9-5A Newcomer of the year while playing forward for Carrollton Creekview High School in Keller, Texas. Entering her senior season, she has scored 37 goals and been credited with 23 assists in her career and is a teammate of fellow signee Taylor Douglas.
"Brittany is a well-rounded, talented soccer player who is hard working and very committed to the game," Sherry said. "She has great balance and touch along with a tremendous left foot which can open up defenses with a dribble or pass."
Nancy Chavez has been named to the District 10-5A first team four times while playing forward at Garland High School in Garland, Texas. She was named team captain her junior and senior seasons and earned the Garland Independent School District's Academic Excellence Award four times.
"Nancy is a stylish forward who has had a great education in club soccer with a top team with a soccer IQ that is second to none and posses a strong desire to win," said Sherry. "She can unlock the tightest defenses with a quick pass that most people can't see."
Keely Davis is a two-time Louisiana all-state first team selection at forward with 139 goals and 72 assists in her career at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, La. She has also been a three time selection to the first team all-district and all-metro teams. Davis is described by Sherry as not having an 'off' switch when it comes to the game of soccer.
"Keely is a gregarious, hard working soccer player who lives for the game of soccer and has a tremendous work ethic combined with a strong desire to improve," Sherry said. "She gives 100 percent all of the time, whether in practice or on game day."
Taylor Douglas is a defender who can also play midfielder from Carrollton, Texas. She was named to the District 9-5A first team her junior and sophomore years and is a teammate of fellow signee Brittany Beddow.
"Taylor reads the game well, is mentally tough and always gives her all for the team," said Sherry. "She also has a strong foundation of potential which we hope to develop."
Samantha Fabian is a center midfielder from Mater Dei High School in Long Beach, Calif. She was a member of the Tustin United Premier club team that was ranked second in the Southern California Premier Region in 2011.
"With Samantha, we will have our first ever box-to-box central midfielder in program history," Sherry said. "She is a committed, all-action soccer player who works tirelessly in the midfield and provides us with some much needed 'steel' in the middle of the field."
Nicole Jaquemet is a defender from Dielsdorf, Switzerland. She has been a member of the Switzerland National Team at the U17, U19 and U20 levels.
"Nicole is a very talented right-sided defender who is not only very strong on the defensive side of the game but is also someone who will look to join in with the offensive-side of things as well," said Sherry. "Her European style of play and high level playing experience will be a great role model for our American based players to learn from."
Laura LeFevour is a midfielder from Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Ill. She scored 16 goals and was credited with 34 assists while being selected to the all-conference and all-sectional teams her senior year.
"Laura is a competitor with a great positive attitude," Sherry said. "She is a soccer junkie and loves the sport very much."
"Laura is one of the fastest players I have every coached and her spring with the ball is unmatched by any opponent," said her club coach Diego Cevallos. "She will beat anyone with the ball."
Lauren Long is described by Sherry as a "compact, quick and hard-working forward who has a great knack for scoring goals." She was a part of the Marcus High School soccer team in Lewisville, Texas that was ranked No.1 in the nation for three weeks in 2011. Long was also picked as second team all-district her junior year.
"She is one of those rare female soccer players who is able to adjust her body position in order to make the correct technique for shooting at goal no matter what the service," Sherry said.
Nony Oko is a defender from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, La. She is a two time all-district first team selection and was named team captain this season.
"Nony is an athletic defender who is coming off an injury," Sherry said. "She is a quiet individual who shows great inner-strength on the field. Nony is a good reader of the game, a very quick learner and is strong in the tackle and fleet of foot."
Nicole Poirier is a defender that played at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Coral Springs, Fla. She was a member of the 2011 state championship team that finished the season ranked No.1 in the nation.
"Nicole is a balanced and stylish defender who passes well out of the back," said Sherry. "She is a great reader of the game who has played on a top club team. Nicole can play anywhere along the backline and will be a very good influence on the team."
Kelly Polk played as a defender on the Darton College team in Albany, Ga. that finished second in the NJCAA with an 18-3-1 record. She was an all-region selection three times at Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga.
"Kelly is a very strong ball-winner in both the air and on the ground and is a natural leader who will give the team much needed power in the back line," Sherry said. "She is dangerous at set plays, communicates well on the field and is a player which this team needs as her heading abilities will nullify the long ball tactics employed by many of our opponents."
Madison Raines is a goalkeeper from Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas. Sherry describes her as "a very athletic goalkeeper who is very communicative during the game." She earned the all-district academic award in 2010 and 2011 and was a part of the Olympic Development Program from 2006-10.
"She has great potential and will push Caitlin Updyke for a starting position from day one which is something Caitlin hasn't had to face for the last two seasons," said Sherry.
Mayra Rodriguez can play the forward and midfield positions and is from Waller High School in Hockley, Texas. She had 10 goals and 12 assists her junior year and earned academic all-district honors three times.
"Mayra is a compact midfielder/striker who possesses great balance and coordination with the ball at her feet," Sherry said. "She has good turn of speed, can finish chances when given the opportunity and has great potential which we need to develop."
Christine Schimpf was named the 2011 Shreveport Times All-City Player of the Year at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, La. after scoring 21 goals and getting credited with seven assists. She is a described as "a very powerful and quick striker" by Sherry. Schimpf was a three time all-district first team selection and was the 2011 all-district first team MVP.
"Christine has one of the most powerful shots I have ever seen in a female soccer player," said Sherry. "She also posses amazing speed and once she has gone past a defender there will be no catching her. I am always very happy to see a player from North Louisiana join us."
Erica Stewart set a school record with 58 career assists while at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind. Sherry describes her as "a very intelligent midfielder who can also play as a striker." She totaled 12 goals and 22 assists her senior season while being named to the all-area, all-conference and all-district teams.
"Erica possesses a strong and accurate shot and we expect her to chip in with some much needed goals for the team this fall," Sherry said. "She also has a great soccer background, knows the game and makes great decisions when on the ball."
Siobhan Wilson is a forward from Waltham Abbey, England. She was named Ladies' Footballer of the Year at Southgate College the past two years.
"Siobhan is an extremely athletic player who is good on the ball and can dribble past players with close control and speed," said Sherry. "She is left footed which will give our team some much needed balance. Siobhan is also composed in goal scoring positions and will be a major player in our team."
