Soccer Recruiting Class Regionally Ranked
6/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
June 5, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - After winning a Southland Conference championship in his first season as head coach, Jaime Frias has continued to lead the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer program in the right direction. SoccerBuzz.com recently released its 2006 recruiting rankings, and Frias' first signing class cracked the Top 25 in the Central Region. SFA's 2006 class, which includes six prep recruits and two collegiate transfers, has been ranked 24th in the region by the nationally respected soccer magazine.
"Our coaching staff has worked relentlessly to put this recruiting class together," Frias said. "We are honored to be recognized by a national publication such as Soccer Buzz for our efforts. It will be fun to watch this talented group of freshmen blend in with an already well-rounded group of returnees."
The No. 24 ranking marks the first time Soccer Buzz has included SFA in its regional Top 25. The Central Region is made up of 68 teams, including Big 12 and Southeastern Conference powers. SFA is one of only a handful of teams from mid-major conferences to crack the Top 25, and the Ladyjack class is ranked higher than classes signed by the likes of Oklahoma, Houston, Texas, Tulsa, North Texas and Southern Methodist.
SFA's 2006 signees include Rachel Schwind and Lauren Fricks - both of whom are sophomore transfers from Texas Tech - Brittany Haugen (midfielder; Littleton, Colo.), Jessica Huggins (forward/defender; Frisco, Texas), Crystin Pactor (goalkeeper; Arlington, Texas), Kelli Wilson (midfielder; Plano, Texas), Erika Palmacci (forward; Plano, Texas) and Brenna Crockett (forward; Calgary, Alberta, Canada). Six of the eight players signed have experience in the Olympic Development Program.
SFA is coming off a 14-4-0 campaign in 2005. The Ladyjacks won the Southland Conference title with the first undefeated, untied (7-0-0) league record in SLC history. SFA is set to open the 2006 season at home on Aug. 27 against Grambling State.
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