Ladyjacks Soccer Welcomes Six New Signees
2/7/2018 12:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NACOGDOCHES, Texas—Stephen F. Austin women's soccer head coach Wally Crittenden announced the signing of six signees to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. The half dozen additions will bring talent and depth to a Ladyjacks soccer program that went 12-8-1 overall and 8-3 in conference play this past fall.
All six of the new signees hail from the great state of Texas. The group is made up of a trio of forwards, one goalkeeper, one midfielder and one defender. Teia Haynes (Cypress HS, Challenge 99), Mattie Musser (Brenham HS, Challenge ECNL) and Camryn Romero (Centennial HS, Dallas Texans Development Academy) make up the forwards group, while defender Paige Kanipes (Clear Lake HS, Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL) and midfielder Ryka Shea (Bryan HS, Challenge 99) are the other field players. Goalkeeper Makenzie Covington (Aledo HS, Dallas Texans 99) rounds out the signing class for SFA.
"This is a really good class that will be strengthening our flank and front lines while continuing to build on our successful defenders and goalkeeping units," said Crittenden. "I am very excited to watch this group over the coming months and see how they fit in to our culture and compete amongst their teammates to make us better. We will have the pieces in every unit to be a very special team in 2018 and in the years to come."
Paige Kanipes – Houston, Texas – Clear Lake High School
Kanipes comes to the Ladyjacks by way of Clear Lake HS and the Albion Hurricanes FC (ECNL). At Clear Lake, she has been an All-District performer throughout her career, being named to the Second Team All-District in her freshman year, and being selected as an All-District First Team honoree in both her sophomore and junior seasons. With the Albion Hurricanes, she has twice been selected to be a team captain, and in the classroom she has proven the ability to be an excellent student, earning All-Academic accolades as a junior.
"Paige is a tremendous competitor and will be someone who serves as a physical and emotional catalyst. She has great work ethic and that, along with her ball winning and individual defending, will bring a great presence to our defenders unit group. No doubt coming from Albion ECNL (Houston), she has had the opportunity to work with great coaches and play at a very high level.
Makenzie Covington – Aledo, Texas – Aledo High School
Covington has compiled a storied prep and club career on her journey to SFA, having spent the past few years playing for Aledo High School and the Dallas Texans 99 club team. As a goalkeeper for her high school, Covington is a three-time All-State Team selection as well as a two-time District Keeper of the Year honoree. She has also twice been named the Most Valuable Player for her high school, and has earned Academic All-District laurels twice.
As a member of the Dallas Texans, Covington helped the team earn a number one ranking in North Texas in 2017 and number three ranking in Region Three. Prior to that, Covington and the Texas were LHGCL D3 Champions in 2014-15, LHGCL D2 Champions in 2015-16 and State Cup Finalists in 2016.
"We are really excited to add an All-State Goalkeeper to what we already feel is the best goalkeeping unit in the region. Makenzie has a great attitude and is very tough. She trains at a very high level and has also competed in big games with championships on the line. These experiences in high school, as well as with the Dallas Texans, will help prepare her to make a great impact on our team and in the goalkeeping position."
Ryka Shea – College Station, Texas – Bryan High School
Shea, a native of College Station, comes to the Ladyjacks by way of Bryan High School and Challenge 99 club team. The midfielder is a First Team All-District honoree, as well as being a two-time team captain, as well as being named the Most Valuable Player for her high school team in her junior season.
"Ryka is going to be really fun to watch. I can't wait to see the player she becomes in our environment. She is a tremendous ball winner, tackler, and is very athletic. She has great height and a fearless mentality that will certainly keep those around her aware when they have the ball. Coming to us from the Challenge Soccer Club (Houston), Ryka will look to be featured in the defensive midfielder group and perhaps as a center back as well."
Camryn Romero - Frisco, Texas - Centennial High School
A versatile athlete who hails from Frisco, Romero is a versatile athlete that has competed for Centennial High School and the Dallas Texans Development Academy.
Romero has seen both personal and team success during her prep career, being named an All-District selection as well as guiding her team to a state title in 2016.
"Speed, intensity, and power are some of the words that come to mind related to Camryn. Arriving from a talented Dallas Texas DA squad, Camryn is an accomplished track athlete as well. She will be featured on the edges or up front as a winger. She is a tremendous competitor and will demand the very best from whomever is asked to defend her. No doubt she will be a player other coaches game plan around this fall."
Teia Haynes – Houston, Texas – Cypress Falls High School
A dangerous scorer who hails from Houston, Haynes is another forward that will be joining the Ladyjacks in the fall. While playing for Cypress Falls High School, Haynes has twice been named an All-District selection as well as her team's MVP. In addition, she was the third-highest goal-scorer in Cy-Fair ISD in her junior year, and is an Honor Roll student as well. Playing with her club team Challenge 99, Haynes helped the team to being a 2016 National Cup Regional Midwest Finalist.
"Teia is really, really fast and has the unique ability to keep control of the ball and score goals while at top speed. Teia will have the chance to get behind our opponents every attack as she will be in our forward unit. Her 1v1 dribbling and good technical finishing are strengths of Teia's that we will look to embrace. She comes to us from the Challenge Soccer Club (Houston) and will certainly cause defenders problems from day 1."
Mattie Musser – Brenham, Texas – Brenham High School
The final member of the class is forward Mattie Musser, a native of Brenham, Texas, who has played for Brenham High School and Challenge 99 ECNL. Musser has amassed a litany of high school accolades, including two-time All-District First Team accolades, and was named her team's offensive MVP on three separate occasions. She was also selected as a TASCO All-Region Second Team selection in 2016. Musser has also demonstrated an aptitude for academics, being named an Academic All-District in 2015, 2016 and 2017, in addition to a 2016 Academic All-State selection for track in 2016.
"Mattie has great size, strength, and speed. She is very strong on the ball and is an extremely smart player. At 6'0" tall, she will also be a tremendous target and no doubt will challenge and fight for any ball close to her. She has an extremely high competitive character and will look to be featured either in the forward or winger groups. Mattie comes to us from the Challenge ECNL (Houston) program and has consistently played at the highest level for several years now."
-SFA-
All six of the new signees hail from the great state of Texas. The group is made up of a trio of forwards, one goalkeeper, one midfielder and one defender. Teia Haynes (Cypress HS, Challenge 99), Mattie Musser (Brenham HS, Challenge ECNL) and Camryn Romero (Centennial HS, Dallas Texans Development Academy) make up the forwards group, while defender Paige Kanipes (Clear Lake HS, Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL) and midfielder Ryka Shea (Bryan HS, Challenge 99) are the other field players. Goalkeeper Makenzie Covington (Aledo HS, Dallas Texans 99) rounds out the signing class for SFA.
"This is a really good class that will be strengthening our flank and front lines while continuing to build on our successful defenders and goalkeeping units," said Crittenden. "I am very excited to watch this group over the coming months and see how they fit in to our culture and compete amongst their teammates to make us better. We will have the pieces in every unit to be a very special team in 2018 and in the years to come."
Paige Kanipes – Houston, Texas – Clear Lake High School
Kanipes comes to the Ladyjacks by way of Clear Lake HS and the Albion Hurricanes FC (ECNL). At Clear Lake, she has been an All-District performer throughout her career, being named to the Second Team All-District in her freshman year, and being selected as an All-District First Team honoree in both her sophomore and junior seasons. With the Albion Hurricanes, she has twice been selected to be a team captain, and in the classroom she has proven the ability to be an excellent student, earning All-Academic accolades as a junior.
"Paige is a tremendous competitor and will be someone who serves as a physical and emotional catalyst. She has great work ethic and that, along with her ball winning and individual defending, will bring a great presence to our defenders unit group. No doubt coming from Albion ECNL (Houston), she has had the opportunity to work with great coaches and play at a very high level.
Makenzie Covington – Aledo, Texas – Aledo High School
Covington has compiled a storied prep and club career on her journey to SFA, having spent the past few years playing for Aledo High School and the Dallas Texans 99 club team. As a goalkeeper for her high school, Covington is a three-time All-State Team selection as well as a two-time District Keeper of the Year honoree. She has also twice been named the Most Valuable Player for her high school, and has earned Academic All-District laurels twice.
As a member of the Dallas Texans, Covington helped the team earn a number one ranking in North Texas in 2017 and number three ranking in Region Three. Prior to that, Covington and the Texas were LHGCL D3 Champions in 2014-15, LHGCL D2 Champions in 2015-16 and State Cup Finalists in 2016."We are really excited to add an All-State Goalkeeper to what we already feel is the best goalkeeping unit in the region. Makenzie has a great attitude and is very tough. She trains at a very high level and has also competed in big games with championships on the line. These experiences in high school, as well as with the Dallas Texans, will help prepare her to make a great impact on our team and in the goalkeeping position."
Ryka Shea – College Station, Texas – Bryan High School
Shea, a native of College Station, comes to the Ladyjacks by way of Bryan High School and Challenge 99 club team. The midfielder is a First Team All-District honoree, as well as being a two-time team captain, as well as being named the Most Valuable Player for her high school team in her junior season.
"Ryka is going to be really fun to watch. I can't wait to see the player she becomes in our environment. She is a tremendous ball winner, tackler, and is very athletic. She has great height and a fearless mentality that will certainly keep those around her aware when they have the ball. Coming to us from the Challenge Soccer Club (Houston), Ryka will look to be featured in the defensive midfielder group and perhaps as a center back as well."
Camryn Romero - Frisco, Texas - Centennial High School
A versatile athlete who hails from Frisco, Romero is a versatile athlete that has competed for Centennial High School and the Dallas Texans Development Academy.
Romero has seen both personal and team success during her prep career, being named an All-District selection as well as guiding her team to a state title in 2016.
"Speed, intensity, and power are some of the words that come to mind related to Camryn. Arriving from a talented Dallas Texas DA squad, Camryn is an accomplished track athlete as well. She will be featured on the edges or up front as a winger. She is a tremendous competitor and will demand the very best from whomever is asked to defend her. No doubt she will be a player other coaches game plan around this fall."
Teia Haynes – Houston, Texas – Cypress Falls High School
A dangerous scorer who hails from Houston, Haynes is another forward that will be joining the Ladyjacks in the fall. While playing for Cypress Falls High School, Haynes has twice been named an All-District selection as well as her team's MVP. In addition, she was the third-highest goal-scorer in Cy-Fair ISD in her junior year, and is an Honor Roll student as well. Playing with her club team Challenge 99, Haynes helped the team to being a 2016 National Cup Regional Midwest Finalist.
"Teia is really, really fast and has the unique ability to keep control of the ball and score goals while at top speed. Teia will have the chance to get behind our opponents every attack as she will be in our forward unit. Her 1v1 dribbling and good technical finishing are strengths of Teia's that we will look to embrace. She comes to us from the Challenge Soccer Club (Houston) and will certainly cause defenders problems from day 1."
Mattie Musser – Brenham, Texas – Brenham High School
The final member of the class is forward Mattie Musser, a native of Brenham, Texas, who has played for Brenham High School and Challenge 99 ECNL. Musser has amassed a litany of high school accolades, including two-time All-District First Team accolades, and was named her team's offensive MVP on three separate occasions. She was also selected as a TASCO All-Region Second Team selection in 2016. Musser has also demonstrated an aptitude for academics, being named an Academic All-District in 2015, 2016 and 2017, in addition to a 2016 Academic All-State selection for track in 2016.
"Mattie has great size, strength, and speed. She is very strong on the ball and is an extremely smart player. At 6'0" tall, she will also be a tremendous target and no doubt will challenge and fight for any ball close to her. She has an extremely high competitive character and will look to be featured either in the forward or winger groups. Mattie comes to us from the Challenge ECNL (Houston) program and has consistently played at the highest level for several years now."
-SFA-
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