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| February 11, 2008Seasiders Announce Seven Signees
Laie, HI-The Brigham Young University Hawaii Women’s Soccer team announced the second part of their signing class for 2008 with the announcement of its final seven players to National Letters of Intent. The seven announced today are Whitney LeBlanc, Chanise Raab, Brenna Rhoades, Kendra Roseberry, Kami Strait, Kacey Williams and Lacey Wilcox. This group of seven players along with the previous six announced last week brings the total number of incoming players next fall to 13 talented and dedicated student athletes who will represent BYU-Hawaii on the soccer field next year. LeBlanc, a late addition, comes from the soccer hotbed of Southern California where she was the starting outside midfielder and MVP for her Oceanside Breakers soccer club team. She prepped at West High in Tracy, California her freshman and sophomore years where she started at outside midfielder on the varsity team and then for her junior and senior years she led her team at the center and outside midfield positions for Fallbrook High School. LeBlanc was an honors student, and was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic team last year. BYU-Hawaii Head Coach Justin Wagar said that "LeBlanc excells at challenging players one-on-one on the wings and makes things dangerous on the attacking end. Her work ethic should enable her to do good things at the college level,"
Coming in as a forward, Raab, from Lehi High School in Lehi, Utah, was a four-year varsity letter winner who made Honorable Mention All-Valley and All-Region as the captain for Lehi. She scored 15 goals and had ten assists her junior and senior year of high school. Raab plays forward and is also the captain for her club team, the Utah Avalanche, and previously played forward and midfield for Inter FC. She also is a member of the Utah Olympic Development Program (ODP). Coach Wagar said, "Chanise brings speed and hustle as well as a great attitude and personality to the Seasiders. She is a good leader," said the coach, "and someone that is expected to contribute to the BYU-Hawaii attack next year."
Rhoades, a tenacious defender, hails from Modesto, California where she played for Johansen High School as a four-year varsity letter winner. She led her team in scoring during her junior year and is currently the team's captain heading into her senior season. During her three years as a defender on the team she has helped to score 12 goals with seven assists while contributing defensively to an outstanding 35 shutouts in Johansen's 48 wins. Her team's record has been 48-20-2 during her time on the field. Rhoades played her club ball for the Ajax Dynamo for two years before switching over to the Manteca Rangers as their sweeper and team captain. Rhoades said, when asked why she chose BYU-Hawaii, “I chose BYU-Hawaii because I liked the idea of playing the sport I love so much in the most beautiful place on earth. It can’t get any better than this.” Coach Wagar said he liked the idea of Rhoades coming to Hawaii as well. "I think Brenna will be a great addition to the Seasiders," he said.
Roseberry, also a California native, prepped for Fremont High School her freshman and sophomore years as a Goalkeeper and made second team All-League and was chosen as the Freshman of the Year. She made first team All-League as a sophomore and earned the Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honor. Roseberry’s junior and senior seasons she was the starting goal keeper for Monta Vista High where she helped lead her team to the CIF Division I finals her junior year, while only allowing .72 goals per game, and a second-place ranking for Division I at the conclusion of the year. Coach Wagar said, "Roseberry is a very quick keeper with good technique and understanding of positioning in the goal." Roseberry herself said “I chose BYU-Hawaii because it made sense for me. The team has goals that are similar to the goals that I have for myself, and I know that everyone there is prepared to commit themselves to winning games.”
Coach Wagar says Strait is one of the most athletic and versatile high school players that he has seen in some time. She is a four-sport high school athlete that earned a whopping 15 varsity letters for Rampart High school in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Strait made second team All-League her sophomore year and Most Valuable Defender. She was Honorable Mention her junior season and will begin her senior season soon as a four-year starter for the team, having scored ten goals and five assists as a defender. She plays club ball for the Nike Rush Premier as their center back and outside defender. Wagar said, "She has a strong leg and is quick and agile. She'll help bring some depth to us in the backfield during these next few years as she competes for a starting role."
Williams had her breakout year this year for Davis High School as the center back for a team that posted a 5A state-leading 12 shutout wins in 18 games en route to their most successful season ever. Williams made second team All-State, first team All-Conference and first team All-Area her senior season as her team's captain. Davis was region champions both her junior and senior seasons. She played club ball as the starting central midfielder for LaRoca FC which was ranked as high as 28th in the Western Region and won the State Cup Championships in 2002 and 2005. Williams has also been an honor roll student every year in high school. "Kacey comes to BYU-Hawaii as a very athletic and aggressive player who doesn’t back down to challenges on the field," said Coach Wagar.
Defender Lacey Wilcox from Turlock, California will bring speed
and height to our back line along with a good boot. Wilcox has a strong leg,
and is good at clearing it out of pressure from the back. She is a three
year varsity starter for Atwater High School and two year captain for the team.
She plays her club ball for the Turlock Tornados Heat and is the captain of
that team as well. Wilcox is a good student in the classroom with a 3.9 GPA
and has been on the honor roll for three years.
Lacey said, "Ever
since I have been playing soccer I have wanted to play college ball and now
this
is
my dream
come true" These seven incoming athletes complete the recruiting class for
2008 and will begin the re-building process for the BYU-Hawaii team that won
a hard-fought conference championship in 2007. Coach Wagar said “It will
be a tough road ahead, but I’m excited for the challenges of a new season
that awaits us in 2008. I’m pleased with our recruiting class and hope
that we’re ready to get to work." The season begins August 29th
with a home game against Washburn University from Kansas City, Missouri. |
