by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
With the loss of seven seniors, the UNM women's soccer team had some holes to fill.
Some of those positions might be taken care of, as head coach Kit Vela announced the signing of 12 players Monday.
The group of freshman is the most talented group Vela has recruited, she said.
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"I think it's the best class, numbers and talent wise, we've ever had," she said.
Included in the 12 recruits are three New Mexico prospects - midfielder and forward Alexis Ball, defender Marisa Wootton and defender Emily Simon.
Ball is a graduate of La Cueva High School and helped the Bears win the class 5A championship in 2006. She was named the 5A New Mexico Player of the Year.
Simon and Wootton graduated from Sandia High School.
Vela said she got three of the top local players.
"They're the best in the state - the best players that fit into our system," she said.
The Lobos signed four players from California, including midfielder and forward Stephanie Hebert, defender Elizabeth Lambert, midfielder and forward Kerrin Stephan and forward Kate Wyrick.
Vela also added three players from Utah. Midfielder and forward Stephanie Lowery, midfielder Jennifer Nielsen and defender Natalie Wheatley will make their debuts next season.
Two Texas players, forward Jordan Craig and midfielder Rachel Fields, will be joining the UNM squad.
The Lobos finished 8-6-4 overall last season and 2-2-3 in the Mountain West Conference. They lost to Utah 2-1 in the second round of the MWC Tournament.
Despite losing such a large portion of last season's roster, next season's team will be competitive, Vela said.
She said some of the freshmen will have to contribute immediately.
"I don't think all 12 will," she said. "It's hard to say which ones will acclimate the fastest. We lost our senior experience, but we gained some young talent. We're going to be very dynamic."
