The Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions soccer team has added five newcomers to the 2007 squad that they hope will help improve on their 12-8-3 record last season.
“I am very excited about all five athletes coming in,” said soccer head coach Neil Piper. “They are all very athletic and will fit into our system nicely.”
All five women come from the state of Texas and should come in and make an impact on the team immediately.
Dana Deerinwater is a 5’9″ midfielder from Kilgore. She was a four-year starter at Kilgore High School and was named MVP of her team as a junior. Deerinwater served as team captain both junior and senior years.
Alex Germain comes from Cleburne as a two-year starter for Cleburne High School. The 5’6″ forward will either play front or outside midfield for the Lions.
The third new member of the women’s soccer team is Chelsey Haight. Haight comes in as a forward from Granbury High School where she was a four-year starter. She was a first team all-district in 2005 and made the second team in 2004. Her last two seasons have been spent playing on the club team for the Dallas, Forth Worth Tornadoes.
Megan Monroe hails from Waco as a 5’4″ defender from Midway High School. Her junior and senior years were spent as team captain for her team and she has been an all-district selection.
Monrow has also been named as an honorable mention on the all-Super Centex team.
Ashley Walker comes to the Lions as a two-time team MVP from Grand Prairie High School. The 5’7″ goalkeeper was a four-year starter and letterwinner for her squad. She was also named team captain her senior season. Piper has said that he expects Walker to come in and start for the Lions as senior Amber Ramoz is graduating.
Recruiting takes a while as coaches try to find the right players to fit into their system.
“I have seen some of these student-athletes playing for a couple of years,” said Piper. “I have watched club games, been to tournaments, and seen high school games. It is a pretty long process.”
Next season the Lions will return 13 letterwinners and hope to improve on the 2006 season.
“I think combined with the talent we have coming back, we will be a more dangerous team next year. We will be faster and we have added a couple of goal scorers,” added Piper.
Last season, the Lions lost a 1-0 decision to Central Oklahome in the finale of the Lone Star Conference Championship. The team was unable to put any points on the board on only allowed four shots in the loss.
Jessica Pierce, Bailey and Tamara Geels were named to the All-Tournament team while Pierce and Haylee Williams received academic awards.
Sophomore Melissa Doremus earned a spot on the second team all-region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.