RUSTON – A month after wrapping up another successful year on the pitch, head coach Kevin Sherry announced the signing of eight players that will join the Louisiana Tech Soccer team for the 2019 season. 
 
The eight incoming freshmen who signed their National Letters of Intent come from the usual recruiting areas for Sherry with three being from Texas, two from the home state of Louisiana, one from North Carolina and two from Canada. 
 
"You try to replace the skill sets you lose to graduation while also looking for new skill sets that the present squad does not possess," Sherry said.  "We spread our net far and wide and have put together a very eclectic group of talent.
 
"It was important we found strong defensive players, together with midfield players who look to take the ball forward, combined with strikers who are creative and confident in front of goal.  We had another great season, but we want to keep improving as a team and believe this recruiting class will help with that goal."
 
Starting on the back line, Mia Dupuis comes north to Ruston from Cankton (north of Lafayette) where she starred at Beau Chene High School.  She was a first team Division II All-State selection and has won three state championships with her club soccer team CSC Rage.
 
"Mia is a very tough defender with a lot of speed and tenacity," Sherry said.  "She is one of those players who will run through a brick wall for the team.  A big heart and ferocious tackling are her calling cards."
 
Another defender is Casandra Smith who hails from Prosper, Texas where she played at Prosper High School (same school as current Lady Techster Maycie McDougal), helping them to a district title in 2017-18.
 
She has garnered numerous awards including Elite 30 Defensive MVP, President's Cup Defensive MVP, Richardson Invitational Defensive MVP and Lady Eagles Defensive MVP.
 
"Casandra is an intelligent defender who reads the game well and is always in the right place at the right time," Sherry said.  "A bonus is that she can play anywhere on the back line and even in midfield if needed."
 
The third defender is Josie Studer who has lettered in varsity soccer at Central Academy of Technology and Arts in Waxhaw, North Carolina.  The wingback has been an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection while also being the team's leading goal scorer in multiple seasons.
 
Studer has also participated in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2012-17 and is currently a member the Charlotte Soccer Academy as part of the United States Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA).
 
"Josie is a high energy, outside wingback who has great athleticism and can be very effective on both ends of the field with excellent defending skills and a willingness to provide width in attack on the wing to provide crosses into the box," Sherry said. 
 
Three midfielders were signed, including Julia "Quinn" Parks who has played varsity soccer at Plano Senior High School in Plano, Texas.  She was an all-district honoree as a sophomore and has been recognized as a regional player for ODP North Texas, a top state team for the last four years, while also playing for the two-time regional champion Solar ECNL.
 
"We spotted Julia at our ID camps and were very impressed with her attitude and performance," Sherry said.  "She is a physically strong and technically-gifted midfield player with a great range of passing."
 
Another midfielder is Katelyn Davis out of San Antonio, Texas.  She has been a three-time all-district, two-time all-state and three-time San Antonio Express News all-area team selection while playing at Geneva School of Boerne. 
 
While there, she was part of the 2015 state championship team and has already set a high school record with 100 goals scored in just three seasons.  On the club level, she has played for Classics Elite 01G ECNL.
 
"Katelyn is a talented midfield player who likes to dribble the ball forward and has great creativity when looking to join in with the attack to score goals," Sherry said. 
 
The third signed midfielder is Isabella Cordoba who has lettered four years at St. Mary's Dominican High School in Slidell, Louisiana.  The varsity soccer captain has also lettered in track two years.  At the club level, she has played with the Chicago Fire Juniors.
 
"Isabella is another talented midfielder from Louisiana who impressed at our ID camp," Sherry said.  "She has a great controlling first touch and a very accurate pass which will fit perfectly into our style of play."
 
The lone forward in the class is Jahmoia Henderson from Ajax, Ontario, Canada who has lettered in soccer at J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate.
 
"Jahmoia is a terrific striker who will lead the offensive line and knows how to put the ball in the net, a quality any team wants in their central striker if they wish to be successful," Sherry said.
 
Lastly, there is signee Hayley Krahenbil who also calls Canada home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  She is a utility player who is a two-time city and provincial champion at St. Joseph High School.
 
"Hayley is a great athlete with tremendous technical ability who can play anywhere on the field," Sherry said.  "She will be the ultimate utility player for us where that be in the attack, defense or midfield."
 
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