LAKE CHARLES- McNeese soccer head coach Drew Fitzgerald announced Wednesday on National Early Signing Day that four student-athletes have committed to play for the Cowgirls next season.
Avery Baker (Edmond, OK.), Sydney O'Shea (Lakewood Ranch, FL.), Alexi Pitt (Jacksonville, FL), and Alexis Theiler (La Porte, TX.) have all signed their National Letters of Intent to play for the Cowgirls next fall.
Avery Baker | Defender | Edmond, Okla. | Edmond Memorial HS | Oklahoma Energy FC
CLUB: Played for Oklahoma Energy FC under coaches Gareth Evans and Mike Moritz…was team captain for four years.
HIGH SCHOOL: Edmond Memorial HS… Defensive Player of the Year 2020…All District Award…Two time Oklahoma State Champion… District City Champion….National Honor Society Member… Avid worker in community, coached disabled children through Top Soccer…Mentored 15 high school freshman…Four years in a committee of school philanthropic raising
PERSONAL: Daughter of Nicole and Brent Baker, has two brothers, Garrett and Jake.
Fitzgerald on Baker: "We were excited to add Avery to this class as she seems like a seamless fit for our culture and team. She immediately bolsters our backline and helps ensure that we continue to grow as a defensive group. We have known Avery for years and she continues to improve every season. She put in the work throughout the pandemic and it shows and we know she is going to keep on improving even more when she gets here."
Sydney O'Shea | Forward | Lakewood Ranch, Fla. | Lakewood Ranch HS | IMG Academy
CLUB: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla...2020-21 Girls Academy Conference Champions
HIGH SCHOOL: Lakewood Ranch High School...Did not participate in any high school sports due to club soccer commitment.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Leslie-ann and Nick O'Shea…mother was a member of the Canadian National Team ('91-'95), she also played soccer at University of Detroit…Nick played soccer at Schoolcraft College and Oakland University…Has two sisters, Rylee and Ashlyn… Ashlyn currently plays soccer at University at Buffalo.
Fitzgerald on O'Shea: "Sydney projects as a gifted attacking player who primarily plays forward, but who we believe can play multiple attacking positions. She has a nose for the goal but still manages to be an unselfish player. For a team looking to replace attacking players like Anna Watson and Havana Johnson, adding a player like Sydney is incredibly important. It doesn't hurt that her parents were both gifted soccer players and her father, Nick, has coached at every level."
Alexi Pitt | Defender | Jacksonville, Fla. | Bolles School | North Florida Soccer Academy
CLUB: North Florida Soccer Academy under coach Michael Pickett… Member of the Florida Olympic Development Program State Team 2018-2020.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Bolles School…Second Team Honors throughout the four years…honorable mention 2020…First Team All First Coast Girls Soccer 2021…Best Newcomer as a freshman…and was awarded Offensive Player of the Year her final season.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Yemi and Andre Tarrance…father played soccer at Florida International University…has six siblings, Keanna, Andre, Sarah, David, Alexis, and Jeff.
Fitzgerald on Pitt: "We are thrilled that Alexi made the decision to become a Cowgirl. Alexi comes to us from a club soccer environment that we know prepares their players to compete at the collegiate level. She is driven, athletic and technically gifted. While we will most likely look to her to help shore up our backline, I don't think there is a position on the field, outside of goalkeeper, that she couldn't excel at. She combines quickness with composure in a way that we believe will suit her well at this level."
Alexis Theiler | Forward | La Porte, Texas | La Porte HS | Albion Hurricanes FC
CLUB: Albion Hurricanes FC under coach Robert Gallegos.
HIGH SCHOOL: 3x First-Team All District…3x Offensive Most Valuable Player… Freshman of the Year (2019)…Academic All District…President of FCA, Member of Interact Club, Senior Class Council, and National Honor Society Member.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Rosie and David Theiler…has three brothers, David Jr., Craig, and Connor.
Fitzgerald on Theiler: "We were really excited that Alexis was interested in coming to McNeese. She is a versatile, athletic attacking player that will immediately supplement our depth and compete for playing time in multiple positions. She attended camp here at McNeese and impressed us with both her play and personality. Her club coaches speak very highly of her character and we are confident she'll be a great teammate and student along with helping us win games on the field."
