LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese women's soccer team and head coach Drew Fitzgerald welcomed nine student-athletes who will become part of the Cowgirl tradition in the fall season.
 
The class is one of the biggest in recent history for the McNeese soccer team but is expected to enter with one goal and that is to build on the recent success that the program has seen in the last year.
 
"With us having such a large senior class this coming year, we knew we needed to bring in a bigger class this year that would provide us with versatility and flexibility going forward," said Fitzgerald.
 
Six student-athletes hail from Texas while two will make their way from California. The Cowgirls also welcome a new member from the state of Idaho.
 
"This group brings a lot of talent and energy to our program as we look to build on last season," said Fitzgerald. "We want to win championships here and we believe this class is going to bring out the best in our current team and help push us to new levels. We saw on their official visits the instant chemistry they have formed and we can't wait to get them all on campus." 
 
Havana Johnson – Forward – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho – FC Nova ECNL/Spokane Sounders Shadow
 
Top scorer for ECNL team FC Nova in 2015… made varsity as a freshman and lettered all 4 years as well as being a starter for 3 years… Freshman Year: Newcomer of the league (Inland Empire League), Sophmore/junior/senior season MVP of the league (IEL)… 2015/16 North Idaho Hall of Fame Female Soccer Player of the Year… 2015 All State team honorable mention… 2016 All State team forward, 2016 All State 5A (big schools) player of the year… Idaho High school state champion 5A soccer 2016… finished with 87 career goals(second most in school history)… daughter of Heather Wichman and Eric Johnson… Maintained a 4.0 GPA all four years and has been a member of the honor roll as well as a Top Scholar of America… ranked 11^th out of 392 students to participate in the ALP and AP classes… volunteered with local soccer program for 2-5 year olds and at Ironman camp every summer.
 
Fitzgerald on Johnson: "Havana is a gritty forward that scores goals.  Her speed will be a welcome addition to our attack.    She demonstrated her goal scoring prowess in high school, where she was the leading scorer while guiding her team to a state championship.  She was also the top scorer for her ECNL team.  She is dynamic and gives you a threat to score at any time - you are never out of a game with her on the field."
 
Sarah Johnson – Defender – Magnolia, Texas – Challenge SC ECNL
 
Played varsity as a freshman and sophomore… second team all district selection as a freshman… chosen to the first team all district during sophomore year… Academic All District both years… named team captain sophomore year and helped lead her team to the District championship… decided to focus on club and school, junior and senior year… played for Challenge Soccer Club since 2009 and made the ECNL team in 2013… helped lead club to national playoffs in 2014, '15, and '16… daughter of Craig and Shelly Johnson.
 
Fitzgerald on Johnson: "Sarah will bring a calming presence on our backline.  She organizes well and not only gets herself in good position, but helps makes sure her teammates are in the right places too. .  A real all-around defender, she is confident on the ball, good in the air and strong in tackles.  Capable of playing any position on the backline, she gives us flexibility in how we defend and really gives us great confidence in the depth of our backline."
 
Alexis Miller – Midfielder – El Dorado Hills, Calif.– San Juan Spirit ECNL
 
Played club soccer for San Juan Soccer Club (CA) and Sereno
Soccer Club (AZ)… member of Arizona State Champion Team- 2010… member of San Juan 99 ECNL team, 2011-2017… led team in assists 2015-16… helped team finish 2nd in the ECNL Bay Area League… ECNL North American Cup participant 2014, 2015, 2016… ECNL Northwest Conference PDP Invitee 2016… San Juan Soccer
Academic Award Recipient… Oak Ridge High School Varsity starter… team captain
in 2016-17... leads team in assists… daughter of Josh and Kim Miller… father was an Academic All-American in Baseball at St. Andrews University… mother was NAIA South Region Player of the Year in Volleyball at  St. Andrews University.
 
Fitzgerald on Miller: "Alexis has the size and athleticism to really make an impact in the Southland Conference.  She is a vocal leader and a true box to box player in the midfield.  She's always looking for ways to improve and push herself and her teammates and her work rate is going to be a welcome addition to not only our midfield, but our team as a whole. She is a competitor and I believe she'll immediately fit into the culture we are building here."
   
Keely Morrow – Midfielder – Nevada, Texas – Solar Chelsea ECNL
 
2013-14 Community High School Outstanding Female Athlete… 2014 FCCLA Junior Youth At It's Best Award… awarded 10-4A Team Offense and Defense MVP as well as first team all-district… 2016 Area Qualifier in 11&12-4A Track and Field… 2016 Regional Track and Field Qualifier… 2016 UIL State Track and Field Qualifier.
 
Fitzgerald on Morrow: "Keely is a strong, physical and fast player who uses both feet well and is versatile enough to play several positions.  She is particularly gifted in the air and we look for her to make an impact on set pieces on both sides of the ball.  She is a regular starter and produces stats for one of the best club teams in the country.  We look for her to make a seamless transition to the college game."
 
Maddie Neidig – Forward – Mountain View, Calif. – MVLA ECNL
 
A four year varsity athlete and played at Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia for first two years and played at Mountain View High School in Mountain View, California the last two years… was named second team all conference as a freshman and first team all-conference as a sophomore… leading goal scorer and starter for both of those years… member of MVHS team both years and currently is a starter and leading goal scorer… selected tournament MVP for the Firebird Classic Tournament for scoring 4 goals throughout all 4 games… a scholar athlete all four years of maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher as well as a part of the National Honor Society since sophomore year… daughter of Peggy and Jim Neidig… mother was a diver at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and father played football at Towson University.
 
Fitzgerald on Neidig: "Maddie has turned it up another notch this past year and we couldn't be more excited.  She leads her high school in goals despite playing with a large number of extremely talented attacking players.  She is a strong body up top and we think she'll give us a different look at forward than we've had in years past.  Physically, she is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenders and we believe, with her ability to play out wide or centrally, she is going to be a goal threat from day one."
 
Emma Roccaforte – Goalkeeper – Nederland, Texas – Albion Hurricanes FC East
 
Started Varsity GK all four years of high school… captain for junior and senior year… All-District GK MVP freshman, sophomore, and junior year… was awarded 2nd team All-State as a sophomore… led team to three trips to the playoffs and two district championships… played on the 99G Albion Hurricanes Premier/ Champions League team as goalkeeper and participated in many tournaments and events with the team… Student Body President during senior year, National Honors Society President, Spanish Honors Society, American Legion Award recipient and ranked number five in class… daughter of Charles and Brandy Roccaforte.
 
Fitzgerald on Roccaforte: "Emma is a confident goalkeeper that we are really excited to add to our team.  She is quick, vocal and fearless.   Being one of the more local players in our class, we have known Emma for a while and have been able to watch her grow through the years. We believe she has the potential to be a top quality goalkeeper in the Southland. She is not only talented, but possesses the leadership qualities you want in the net."
 
Mariah Ruelas – Midfielder – Plano, Texas – Dallas Texans
 
Played four years of high school soccer for Plano Senior High School… was the leading goal scorer three years in a row and led in assists as a freshman and sophomore… named first team all district during her junior year and helped team to the regional semi finals… as a freshman and sophomore year, she helped junior varsity squad to consecutive first place finishes in district… named captain senior year… played club for four years with Mustangs FC in Division 1 Lake Highlands Classic League as well as Premier League, and was captain for the State Cup Champions in 2013 and Regional Quarterfinalists in 2013… led in assists for all four years with Mustangs FC… played ECNL for two years with Solar Chelsea and Dallas Texans… helped lead Dallas Texans D1 team to finish first in Lake Highlands Classic League and led in goals and assist for two consecutive seasons… played and started for three years with North Texas ODP State team as well as Region 3 Pool Team… was a National Camp Invitee in 2014, Futsal National Champion in 2010 and 3v3 World Champion in 2009… daughter of Espy Ruelas.
 
Fitzgerald on Ruelas: "Mariah is a player that we expect to cause problems with her crafty play.  Primarily an attacking midfielder, she can also give defenders problems from any of the three forward positions.  She reads the game well and her ability to combine with teammates a find gaps is impressive and adds a more subtle dimension to our attack.  Our other attacking players are going to enjoy playing with Mariah and we plan on her racking up a lot of assists."
 
Anna Watson – Midfielder – Spring, Texas – Texas Rush ECNL
 
A member of the varsity squad as a freshman… named Newcomer of the year as a and was named all district 1st team… led the district in goals and assists and voted team offensive MVP during junior year… district offensive MVP and all region first team… daughter of Penny Watson.
 
Fitzgerald on Watson: "Anna is a gifted player with the potential to be great.  We look for her to play an attacking role for us because we believe she can score goals at this level, but she is also a versatile athlete that can play numerous positions on the pitch.    Not only does she read the game well, but she has the flair, skill and creativity to create game changing moments."
 
Also added to the Cowgirl soccer family was Macy Kendrick of Jasper, Texas.
 
Macy Kendrick – Midfielder - Jasper, Texas – Albion Hurricanes FC East
 
Played for Albion's Premier team 8th grade through 11th grade… four year varsity starter at Jasper High School… earned Utility player of the year honors as a freshman… helped lead team to the state semi finals as a sophomore… state finalist as a junior… earned UIL state all tournament team honors as well as first team all district accolades… named Vype Magazine female athlete of the year… was voted captain junior and senior year… junior class secretary… Student Council President as a senior… member of the National Honor Society and Academic All State 2016 team… daughter of Michael and Michelle Kendrick
 
Fitzgerald on Kendrick: "When Macy came to our ID camp we knew she was a fit for our program.   She immediately clicked with the other players – both personality wise and on the field.  She is a feisty midfielder with vision and a feel for the game.  She picks up coaching points quickly and I think she'll make a smooth transition to the collegiate level."