Soccer Bolsters Roster with Eight New Signees

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech athletics, along with soccer head coach Matt Lodge, have announced the signing of eight upcoming freshmen. Of the signees, four are from Texas, two from Georgia, and one each from New York and Illinois.

The newcomers include: Leah Edler (Defender | Celina, TX | Walnut Grove HS), Isabelle Igbokwe (Forward | Cumming, GA | Lambert HS), Brooke Jioia (Goalkeeper | New York City, NY | Xaverian HS), Zoe Puente (Midfield | Carrollton, TX | Hebron HS), Marley Vaughn (Defender | Atlanta, GA | Holy Innocents Episcopal School), Taylee Wood (Forward | Prosper, TX | Prosper HS), Khloe Griffith (Forward/Midfield | Celina, TX | Prosper HS), and Josephine Morelli (Decatur, IL | Mount Zion HS).

Leah Edler | Defender | Celina, TX | Walnut Grove HS

Edler comes to Ruston after playing all four years on varsity at Walnut Grove High School. In her junior year, she was named to First Team All-District and led Walnut Grove to the state championship, where they were runner up. Outside of high school, she plays for String Black ECNL.

Head coach Matt Lodge says "Leah is a left-footed defender who can play left back, center back, or even higher as a wingback. She has great size and athleticism, and is confident with the ball at her feet. When playing outside back, she will often join the attack and deliver great crosses. At center back, she organizes the players around her well. I am looking forward to adding Leah to the team."

Isabelle Igbokwe | Forward | Cumming, GA | Lambert HS

Igbokwe becomes a Bulldog after standing out at Lambert High School, where has thus far played three years on varsity. In those three years, she scored 29 goals and had nine assists. During her sophomore and junior seasons, she was a part of the First Team All-Region, and was First Team All-County in her junior year. She also won Offensive MVP in two seasons.
On Igbokwe, Matt Lodge says "Izzy is a very exciting winger with so much pace. She is very crafty on the dribble, loves running with the ball, and thrives in one-on-one moments. Izzy will look to put her stamp on games by running and defenders and making things happen. She is hard to stop when running at full speed. I cannot wait to have her in Ruston."

Brooke Jioia | Goalkeeper | New York City, NY | Xaverian HS

Jioia spent four years playing at Xaverian High School, where she spent all four years on varsity, playing every single minute. She compiled over 50 wins, averaging a goal-allowed-average of less than one for her career. On the club side, she spent the last two seasons playing for SUSA ECNL, where they made the playoffs both years and have consistently ranked top 25 nationally. She now plays for Brooklyn City FC, and trains with MetOval in Queens, NYC, a part of the MLS NEXT program.

Coach Lodge has high praise for Jioia – "Brooke is a goalkeeper who commands her box well, is explosive, and very brave. She is constantly working and training to improve her game. She will be hard to outwork! She has a confident presence in goal and is able to use her feet well in her team's building phase. Brooke has a very high ceiling and I am excited to be a part of that development."

Zoe Puente | Midfield | Carrollton, TX | Hebron HS

Puente played high school soccer at Hebron High School, but really stood out in her club play. She was a part of FC Dallas, where they won the Dallas Cup Championship twice. She also played for Sting Royal ENCL, where they reached the round of sixteen in the ENCL National Playoffs.

On Puente, Coach Lodge says "Zoe is a central midfielder who controls both sides of the ball well. When in possession, she always wants it. She has a great range of passing, advances the ball forward very well, and can pick teams apart. When out of possession, she breaks up play, is tough in tackles, and has a great presence in the middle of the field. I cannot wait to see her represent the Bulldogs!"

Marley Vaughn | Defender | Atlanta, GA | Holy Innocents Episcopal School

Vaughn has spent three years at Holy Innocents Episcopal School, where she has collected many accolades. For the 2026 season, she led her school to winning the state championship, made both All-Region and All-State, made the Southeast All-Region First Team, and was a part of the GHSA all-star team.

Coach Lodge says "Marley is a great addition to our back line. She is versatile in the sense that she can play as center back or fullback. She is incredibly athletic, tough, very hard working, and has that bite that we love players to have. I am really excited to get Marley in Ruston in the Spring and have her working with the team."

Taylee Wood | Forward | Prosper, TX | Prosper HS

Wood spent four seasons at Prosper High School, playing varsity every year. During her junior season, she led Prosper HS to the 6-6A Texas State Championship, winning it. That season, she was a part of the All-District First Team. In previous years, she was an Honorable Mention All-District and reached the Regional Semi-Finals. As a junior, she scored thirteen goals and had six assists, and scored to win Bi-District, knocking out the state champions. In 2024 and 2025, she was a part of FC Dallas 09 ECNL, which won the Dallas Cup Championship. In the same seasons, she led her club to the round of sixteen in the ECNL National Playoffs. This season, she has been the team captain of the Dallas Texans 09 ECNL team.

On Wood, Coach Lodge says "Taylee is a forward with bags of pace. She can play anywhere in the front line and is multi-dimensional. She can run the line and she can pick up the ball at her feet and drive at players. I am confident that Taylee is going to come in and immediately become one to watch with her pace in the Sun Belt."

Khloe Griffith | Forward/Midfield | Celina, TX | Prosper HS

Griffith comes to Ruston with a trophy case of accolades. At Prosper HS, she won the State Championship in the 2024 season. In the same season, she was a part of the Second Team All-District. The next season, she was First Team All-District. Last season, she was Second Team All-State and won the Prosper Soccer MVP. In 2024, she won the Gothia Cup MVP. On the club side, she played for the Dallas Texans ECNl, and was ECNL All-Conference Second Team.

Head Coach Matt Lodge says "Khloe is the engine room of any team she is a part of. She is relentless in her work rate, covering every blade of grass every single game. She is a very technical midfielder who can also operate as a winger. Khloe loves playing the game, loves having the ball at her feet and will be a fantastic addition to our team as we build something special here in Ruston. I am very excited to get Khloe here with us!"

Josephine Morelli | Decatur, IL | Mount Zion HS

Morelli has spent the last few years dominating on the club level. She played for the Rockford Raptors ENCL, which won the Midwest Conference Championship in 2024. In both 2024 and 2025, the Raptors were a top ten team in the national. She has been a 2x ECNL Playoff Standout Player nominee. She has also been a part of the USYNT IDC two times.

On Morelli, Coach Lodge says "Josie is a technical player who loves to use the ball, whether it is on the dribble or combination play. She is explosive, creative, uses both feet well, and is fun to watch. She is a winger by trade but she will add some real quality anywhere in the final third. She will be joining us this spring and I cannot wait to have her amongst the group."

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