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| February 6, 2008Seasiders Sign Six to Letters of IntentLaie, HI-The Brigham Young University-Hawaii Women’s Soccer team got stronger today with the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent. The six, Natalie Cude, Britt Edman, Ashley Kamoe, Lauran McCullough, Tara McPartland, and Scottie Prince, represent a group of talented young players from the West Coast.
Cude starred as the central midfielder for the Utah high school 5A state champs, the Alta Hawks, helping them to state championship titles in 2004, 2006, and 2007. She was a first-team All-State selection in 2006 and 2007 while scoring 25 goals from the midfield during her high school career. She was a team captain her senior season as well as being her club team’s captain from 2003-2007. Alta finished the 2006 season going undefeated, 20-0, while being ranked second nationally. Natalie played club soccer for the Utah Force from 2003-2007 and currently plays for the Celtic Storm Soccer club. She is a four-year member of the state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team, and is an honor student with a 3.9 GPA. Natalie’s hard work ethic and her presence in the air around the goal gives her that extra edge in the games.
Edman, a talented forward from Highland High School in Utah, helped lead her team during her senior season to the state championship game for the first time in school history. She finished with 11 goals this past season as the team captain and made first-team All-State honors. She played her club ball as an outside midfielder and forward for the Utah Avalanche, and was a member of the state ODP team. "Britt will bring a lot of speed to our team and a strong shot," said BYU-Hawaii Head Coach Justin Wagar. Edman said about coming to BYU-Hawaii, “As if playing soccer on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean wasn't enough, it just felt right and I know it's where I should be.”
Playing outside midfielder, Kamoe was a four-year varsity letter winner for Orem High School in Utah, capping her high school career off as part of the first-ever 4A state women's soccer champions for Orem High. She had the opportunity to be a leader on her team at a young age, being selected as the varsity captain her sophomore through senior years. She made first-team All-Region in 2005 and second-team in 2007, a year in which she scored a huge playoff overtime goal to win the game in the state semifinals. She played club ball for Celtic Storm and Inter FC, and is an honor roll student in school. Kamoe mentioned that she and her dad set a goal to come to Hawaii back in the ninth grade. Kamoe said, “both my parents are from Hawaii, so playing for BYU-Hawaii has always been a dream of mine.”
McCullough, a three-year varsity letter winner for Kamiakin High
School in Washington is a versatile player who can play both at midfield and
defense.
McCullough
helped lead her team to the Eastern Region championship and fourth place
in the state championships in 2006. She made first-team All-Conference in 2006
and 2007,
and
was a second-team all state selection her senior year. She is a member
of the National Honor Society and earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award
from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lauran works hard, always
strives to improve and get better, and is an intense player
on the field who can elevate the abilities of those around
McPartland is a dynamic attacking player who captained her team this year at Hillcrest High in Utah while making first-team All-Conference her junior and senior years. She was a four-year letter winner and was the team's leading scorer. She is an academic standout as well, earning a National Merit Scholar Award, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She played club soccer for Westwind Premier and Celtic Storm. She is graceful during the attack with the ball at her feet and poses problems for opposing team's defenses.
Prince was the starting goal keeper for three years for a talented Davis High School soccer team in Utah. She led the state of Utah with 12 shutouts in 18 games this year, while picking up two assists as well. Prince was an All-State second-team selection in 2005 and 2007. While in goal during 2007 she allowed only a .5 goals-against average. She played club ball for La Roca Futbol Club. Prince's willingness to learn and improve each day have made her a solid player who should be exciting to watch.
BYU-Hawaii Head Coach Justin Wagar, who will enter his third
year as the head coach this fall, says “this group of recruits will
provide a lot of energy and talent to a team that managed to win its first-ever
PacWest conference championship this fall after going 13-6-1 on the
season.
We look to build on the success we’ve had in the past and
hope that the work ethic and skills of these players, combined
with those
that are
returning, will help us to reach our goals in the near future.” |
