Ladyjack Soccer Signs Five
2/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 5, 2003
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team signed Sarah Butler (Austin, Texas), Shahin Pabani (Calgary, Alberta), Andrea Ramirez (Austin, Texas), Alicia Reese (Spring, Texas) and Mary Surkein (The Woodland, Texas) to National Letters of Intent announced SFA head coach Nicole Nelson Wednesday.
"I am very pleased with this signing class," said Nelson. "We return nine of 11 starters from this year, plus 2001 leading scorer Kendra Cannon, so when it came to recruiting we curtailed what we needed. Fortunately, we signed the players that we wanted. This class filled in some gaps that we needed."
Butler is a multi-sport athlete who was a three-year letterwinner at Westwood High School. Butler plays both the forward and midfield positions for the Warriors '85 out of Austin. She is also successful in the classroom as a three-time academic all-district selection. Butler helped guide the Warriors to a Western Division first-place finish at the Snicker's Cup.
Pabani is a multi-sport athlete that led the Calgary Blizzards to a Provincial Bronze Medal during the outdoor season. Pabani also earned top female athlete of the year honors and was named MVP of the Senior High All-Star Game. Pabani received the hustle award for her accomplishments on the basketball court at Western Canada High School. She has also earned athletic accolades as early as seventh grade, being named top female athlete of the year in three consecutive seasons.
Ramirez is another Ladyjack signee from the Warriors '85 out of Austin, Texas. Along with Butler, she guided the Warriors '85 team to a Snicker's State Cup 2001 Western Division title. In 2000, the Warriors were division champions at the Orange Classic Tournament, as well as winning the South Texas State Championship. She was also a four-year letterwinner at McNeil High School. During her prep career, Ramirez was a two-time first-team all-district selection that earned team MVP honors as a sophomore and junior. Ramirez is another strong student-athlete earning academic all-district honors.
Reese is a four-year letterwinner at Klein Oak, earning 2003 Klein Oak all-tournament honors. She was also a member of the Olympic Development State team in 1997-2000. Reese plays for 84-85 Challenge out of Houston, Texas. She helped lead the Challenge to four state titles and the 2001 Orange Classic title.
Surkein was the captain of the Challenge team in 2002 and guided them to two berths in the Orange Classic Tournament. Surkein is a 2002 honorable mention all-district selection that earned numerous all-tournament honors. She was also the recipient of the 2001 Woodlands High School Lady Highlander Spirit Award.
SFA finished the 2002 season 7-9-4 (.450) overall and 4-4-4 (.500) in the Southland Conference.
