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University of Houston Athletics
Soccer Signs Seven For 2006 Season
2/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Feb. 14, 2006
HOUSTON - University of Houston soccer coach Bill Solberg announced Tuesday that seven student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Cougars in the fall of 2006.
The class includes defenders Ali Conrad (Albuquerque, N.M/El Dorado HS), Stephanie Beyelia (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak HS) and Alex Terry (Tigard, Ore./Tualatin HS), midfielder Nikki Echeverria (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements HS), defender/midfielder Stephanie Masci (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS) as well as midfielder/forward Jordan Godbolt (Austin, Texas/Travis HS) and forward Islara Rodriguez (Houston, Texas/Awty International School).
Godbolt looks to be the star of the class. The Austin native has spent time as an Region III Olympic Development pool player and plays for the Austin Lonestars. She could create a deadly combination with senior-to-be Sophia Mundy (Katy, Texas/St. Pius X HS/Portland State), a First-Team All-Conference USA selection last season. She along with Masci and Echeverria will look to earn starting roles in preseason training this summer.
"Godbolt is a dynamic midfielder who possesses great vision, an outstanding vertical game and an advanced understanding of soccer," Solberg said. "Her soccer brain and knowledge of the game is so advanced, she will compete for time right away and is a player to watch in the coming seasons."
Masci and Rodruguez play together currently for the Texas Premier Soccer Club.
"Masci is a great athlete with tremendous speed, strength and a determination that sets her apart from most players," Solberg said. "She will be a force on either the attacking or defensive side of the ball. Rodriguez is a playmaker who always looks to help her teammates. That team-first mentality will mesh well with our program."
Echeverria will be reunited with former club teammates Courtney Gaines (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements HS), Kristin Carlyle (Sugar Land, Texas/Dulles HS) and Amie Brady (Houston, Texas/Katy HS).
"Nikki (Echeverria) is an animated player that will bring savvy and composure to the attack from either the center of midfield or up front," Solberg said.
Beyelia joins UH from the Challenge Soccer Club, where she shores up the right side of the defense.
She (Beyelia) will provide a good anchor and help to continue the development of our young backline," Solberg said. "We also expect her to be a force coming up the right side and joining the attack whenever possible."
Terry joins the Cougars from Tigard, Ore. where she plays for the Lake Oswego Soccer Club.
"She will be an asset for us on either flank of the defense because of her speed and quickness," Solberg said. "That is an element we have lacked in past seasons. That speed gives her the ability to join the attack and serve crosses into the box."
A steady defender, Conrad will push for a place among UH's already young backline.
"Ali (Conrad) is the kind of kid that will push her teammates every day," Solberg said. "She has a high desire to succeed and does so through grit and determination and we are thrilled to have her."
"In 2006 we are bringing in a class of dynamic players that have a visible passion for the game," assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Susan Bush said. "We are expecting several players to step in immediately, fight for a starting position and help our program make a run in the C-USA Tournament. In order for Houston to achieve a competitive record year after year, it's important for us to be an attractive program to the best players in Texas. This class is a big step in that direction. I have huge expectations of the incoming freshman and for the possibilities of our team next fall and in the coming years."
UH ended its 2005 season at 8-7-3, finishing the campaign over .500 for the first time since 1999 when the squad compiled an 11-8-2 record.
UH also set or tied 10 team records on the season, including team marks for points in a season (116), goals (43), points per game (6.44), goals per game (2.39), assists per game (1.67), shots (357), shots per game (19.83) and goals against average (1.10). The Cougars tied the team standards for shutouts (5) and ties (3). Houston also appeared in the Conference USA Tournament for the first time in three years.
Mundy set single-season records for goals (14), points (33) and shots (95) in her first season with the Cougars, earning first team All-C-USA and third-team NSCAA/adidas All-Central Region honors, while Gaines was named to the C-USA All-Freshmen Team. Sarah Fisher (Katy, Texas/Cypress Springs HS) was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District VI First Team. Fisher, a 2005 team captain, made 18 starts on the season, running her consecutive games started streak to 55. She was third on the team this season in both goals (5) and points (12).
