Soccer signs six in-state recruits

[Comment Below]

By Stephanie Kraft

LSU head soccer coach Brian Lee has stressed the importance of recruiting in-sate talent. This year the Tigers have signed six in-state recruits for the Class of 2009.

Tricia Johnson is among the best after being named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year in May.

Johnson, of St. Scholastica Academy in Mandeville, earned first-team all-district, all-metro, all-parish, and all-state honors while leading her high school team to the state semifinals as the team's leading scorer. Johnson was also named the Mandeville Soccer Club Premier Girls Player of the Year in leading the Lakers throughout this past season.

"We're very excited to have Tricia joining our program in the fall, and we think she has a chance to continue in the long line of great Mandeville players to make an impact on our program," said LSU head coach Brian Lee. "She's certainly very deserving of such a great honor, and I know she probably feels honored for being selected. We just want to congratulate her for that."

Other signees from Louisiana programs include Reyna Lubin of LaPlace, Natalie Ieyoub of Lake Charles, goalkeeper Hannah Linzay of Cheneyville, and Kelly Gautreaux and Catherine Luparello of Mandeville.

"We believe that each of these young ladies has all of the characteristics both on and off the field that will allow them to succeed in our program", Lee said.

The trio of Gautreaux, Johnson, and Luparello has been the heart and soul of the Mandeville Lakers soccer club in recent years, leading the squad to the semifinals of the United States Youth Soccer Association Southern Regional Championships in 2008 following quarterfinal appearances in 2005 and 2007.

Lubin signs with LSU out of St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace where she is one of the most decorated athletes in school history. She was a finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman award in 2008 and is the only soccer player in school history to score more than 100 goals in a career.

Ieyoub is an all-state midfielder at St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles where she led her team to the Division III state championship in 2008. Linzay signs with LSU as the state's top goalkeeper for the Class of 2009, earning first-team all-district and all-state honors at Bolton High School in 2008. She is a three-time first-team all-district selection in her high school career.

"We're very excited about this group of in-state players that we've signed this year," Lee said. "I think having the opportunity to wear the LSU uniform is something that every kid growing up in this state wants to do", said Lee.

"Our staff does an outstanding job of recruiting year in and year out, and this year is no different. We're very pleased with the depth and quality of our in-state signees this season. Daniel (Brizard) was instrumental in recruiting Hannah Linzay to our program, and Debbie (Hensley) continues to show her prowess as our recruiting coordinator in the state and in Canada."

Originally Published: Issue 803 - June 10, 2009

Share on Facebook

Back to the top