HUNTSVILLE — Seven top high school seniors and one transfer have signed letters-of-intent to attend Sam Houston State University and play women’s soccer for head coach Marcia Oliveira.
The eight players are defenders Jennifer Dirk of Stephenville, Meighann Foulkes of Temple, Veronica Mendes of W. T. White in Dallas, and Ashley Simmons of Pflugerville, forwards Joslyn Fuerman of McKinney, Ashley Flores of Houston Westside and Alison Oakland of Austin McNeil and goalkeeper Allyson Sargeant of Bryan.
“This year’s signing class is a hard working group with lots of talent who will fit right in with our program here at Sam Houston,” Oliveira said.
“The success of our young team this past season with reaching the Southland tournament final has shown that Sam Houston soccer has a bright future.
It was much easier to recruit this year with that history of success.”
Dirk is a transfer from Navarro Junior College where she played as a defender for two years after earning All-District honors at Stephenville High School.
Flores in a three-time All-District forward from Westside High School who earned “Offensive Player of the Year” honors in her district as a junior last season.
Foukles was team captain and “Defensive Player of the Year” for Temple as a junior in 2005, earning All-District honors while leading her team to the district title.
Fuerman is a two-time All-District player who helped lead McKinny to the Class 4A state championship last year.
Mendes was District 10-5A “Defensive Player of the Year” and team “Most Valuable Player” for W. T. White in Dallas last season.
Oakland earned All-District honors as a forward while leading McNeil High School in Auston to the third round of the state playoffs in 2005.
Sargeant has been the starting goalkeeper for Bryan High School the past four years, totaling more than 1,200 saves in her high school career.
Simmons is an All-District defender for Pflugerville.
“With our starting goalkeeper entering her senior season next fall, we are excited to sign a talented young keeper,” Oliviera said.
“Losing all-time leading scorer Kim Brown to graduation, we emphasized finding quality forwards. And, finally, we were looking for strong defensive players. We are extremely pleased with this class.”
Sam Houston finished the 2005 season with a 4-4, 5-12 record but came within one win from reaching the national tournament.
The team finished the season by winning five of their last six games. The future looks very bright going into next season, especially after the latest signings.