RUSTON – To help build a more experienced team for 2020, head coach Kevin Sherry announced the spring signings of seven players that will join Louisiana Tech Soccer. 
 
Five of the seven who inked National Letters of Intent are transfers that will bring balance to a LA Tech team that was very young last season. 
 
"We felt the team needed more experience to give the squad more of a physical maturity," said Sherry who will begin his 14th season at the helm.  "Transfer student-athletes coming in have valuable playing experience and are 'battle ready' with regards to competing immediately at the Division I level. 
 
"With that said, last season's team deserves a lot of credit for doing so well against more experienced teams.  That first year will provide an invaluable experience for them to draw upon as they grow and mature in the game.  Generally, high school seniors need some time to find their footing."
 
Valeria Rios is a 5-foot-7-inch defender who spent two seasons at Highline Community College where she helped the Thunderbirds to back-to-back NWAC West division titles and the 2017 NWAC championship.  The 2018 West Division All-Star selection left and spent her junior year at Cal State Bakersfield.
 
"Valeria is an athletic defender with a lot of college game experience who will provide us with some much needed speed in the back line and the energy levels to get forward and join in with the attack," said Sherry.
 
Anna Loftus is a 5-foot-8-inch midfielder who has spent the last two seasons at Lamar.  Last season, the England native started in 22 of the 23 games to help the Cardinals claim the 2019 Southland Conference regular season and tournament title. 
 
She notched 22 points on seven goals and eight assists, earning First Team All-Southland honors as well as First Team Southland All-Academic.
 
"A two-year transfer with NCAA D1 experience, Anna is a box-to-box midfielder who possesses all the qualities you want to see in a perfect midfielder; leadership, physical power, energy, high levels of technique and a great decision-making capability," said Sherry.
 
Rose Priestley is a 5-foot-7-inch defender who has played the past two seasons at North Iowa Area Community College.  As a freshman, she was an honorable mention All-NJCAA Region XI selection notching two goals and four assists. 
 
"Rose is another two year junior college transfer who can play either in midfield or defense and can be dangerous in the attacking third when called upon," said Sherry.  "She is physically tough and very competitive, but also has a very technical style of play when the ball is at her feet."
 
 
Marcela Gallo is a 5-foot-3-inch forward who has spent the past two seasons at San Bernardino Valley College.  In her two seasons at SBVC, Gallo scored 17 goals (seven game-winning goals) while adding 15 assists in the Wolverines' attack. 
 
"Marcela is a brave, quick and tenacious striker with two years junior college experience," said Sherry.  "She is a pocket dynamo who is constantly on the move and will cause defenses all kinds of problems in games with her movement off the ball."
 
The final transfer is Morgan Miller who is a 5-foot-3-inch striker as well, having played the past two seasons at Eastern Florida State College.  She helped the Titans to a third-place finish at nationals twice as well as earning district and regional championships both years. 
 
The Florida native tallied a combined 56 points on 25 goals and six assists, earning numerous accolades including First Team United Soccer All-American and First Team NJCAA Division I All-American.  She was also named Region 8 Player of the Year as a sophomore and Region 8 Freshman of the Year in her first year.
 
"Morgan will be an essential creative forward player for us, linking our midfield to the strikers," said Sherry.  "She is an all-round striker able to provide assists for teammates but finish goal-scoring chances herself."
 
The last two signees – Carmen Suarez and Morgan Bean – will enter the Lady Techster program as freshmen.  Suarez is a 5-foot-2-inch defender from Spain where she was a member of C.D. Femarguin in the second Female Spanish Division, finishing in fourth place last season.
 
Bean is a 5-foot-9-inch midfielder who has played the last four years across Tech Drive at Ruston High School.  She has racked up 58 goals and 34 assists, earning District MVP honors as well as First Team All-Northeastern and two-time Team Offensive MVP. 
 
"Carmen is a very talented ball-playing defender who is short in stature but plays big," said Sherry.  "She reads the game well and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.  She is very tough and competitive who will also prove to be one of the top technically gifted players in the team.
 
"Meanwhile, Morgan is a local talent who has been coming to watch Tech soccer games since she was eight years old.  She has high levels of technique together with the imagination and creativity to take advantage of gaps in opposition defenses. She will need a little time to get up to speed with the game at our level but once this is achieved she can be a great success."
 
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