Feb. 6, 2008

Pocatello, ID -- Idaho State head soccer coach Allison Gibson announced on Wednesday the signing of eight players to national letters of intent to join the Bengal soccer program for the 2008 season. Among the recruits are a pair of highly-touted goalkeepers, and four players from the state of Utah, as well as two junior college transfers.

"We are very excited about the 2008 class because of the diversity of positions and locale that these players are coming from," said Gibson. "We continue to go after the top talent in the immediate region as well as high level players from the West Coast. With the combination of two JC transfers and six freshmen, this will be an exciting class to watch as they integrate themselves into our strong core of returners. This class along with our returning players, will look to fill some gaps left open this year and will be the difference in getting us back to the top of the conference." Last year, the Bengals just missed the conference tournament, going 7-5-6 overall and 2-2-3 in the Big Sky. Idaho State set several school records, including fewest losses and best goals against average. The Bengals have won the Big Sky championship four times in the last seven years, with four NCAA College Cup berths, along with one trip to the Round of 32 after upsetting Utah in 2003.

The following are capsules of the soccer recruiting class of 2008.

Ashley Askwig
5-7, Midfielder
Salt Lake City, UT
Brighton HS
HS ... Lettered in soccer for four years at Brighton High School, and three years in basketball ... helped her team three state 5A playoff appearances, including the 2005 Utah 5A championship ... her teams also made it to the semifinals in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2006 ... in 2007, she scored six goals, helping Brighton to a Region 2 title ... earned Second Team All-State honors for her efforts ... also has spent five years with the Olympic Development Program with the ODP '90 team ... served as captain of her ODP '90 team in 2005 ... was a junior class senator, and was a member of student government as a senior ... was an honor student with a 3.8 grade point average ... Personal ... her birthday is January 25, 1990 ... her parents are Jeff and Verna Askwig ... will major in physical therapy ... is related to former Idaho State men's basketball player Chad Tracy.

Coach Gibson on Askwig:
"Ashley is an extremely dynamic player who can serve in many different capacities whether it be offensive or defensive. We will look for Ashley to be an impact player immediately. She has a great attitude and a tremendously competitive mentality."

Kacey Ball
5-6, Defender
Escalon, CA
Modesto JC
Escalon HS
JC ... Lettered for two years at Modesto Junior College, while also lettering twice in basketball and once in track ... was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 as well as All-Conference ... helped her team to the 2006 CVC title ... over her two seasons anchoring the backline of the Pirates, her teams went 33-8-6 with 24 shutouts ... her 2006 team was ranked #8 nationally ... also led the track team to a Central Valley Conference title, qualifying for the state meet as part of the 4 x 100 relay ... was on the President's Academic List all four semesters at Modesto ... HS ... Lettered in soccer for four years at Escalon High School, along with four years of basketball and four years of volleyball ... helped her team to a pair of runner-up section finishes ... was league MVP as a senior along with earning All-League and All-District honors ... was also named a league MVP in basketball, twice earning All-League accolades ... was her team MVP all four seasons ... also named to the honor roll every quarter, and was also named a league Scholar-Athlete ... Personal ... her birthday is December 27, 1987 ... her parents are Gary and Caryn Ball ... will major in speech pathology.

Coach Gibson on Ball:
"Kacey comes to us after playing at the JC level for two years. We will expect her to come in with a jump start from her two years of college experience. Kacey has tremendous pure speed and will give us a much needed advantage in that area of the game."

Alex Hansen
5-8, Forward
Wellsville, UT
Mountain Crest HS
HS ... Lettered in both soccer and basketball at Mountain Crest High School ... was her team's offensive MVP as a senior ... was an Honorable Mention All-State pick by The Deseret News ... recorded eight goals and seven assists for 23 points, second on Mountain Crest's team, as the Mustangs went 9-6-2 during her senior year ... was also named First Team All-Valley ... helped Mountain Crest to three 4A state playoff appearances in both soccer and basketball ... won a region basketball title in 2007 ... Personal ... her birthday is September 12, 1989 ... her parents are Tom and Sheri Hansen ... is undecided on a major ... her father Tom was an outside linebacker for Utah State.

Coach Gibson on Hansen:
"The addition of Alex to our young front line will give us the ability to throw opponents a different style of play. Known for her strength and finishing ability, we are excited to have Alex as another offensive threat."

Michelle Harrison
6-0, Goalkeeper
Danville, CA
Monte Vista HS
HS ... Lettered in soccer for four seasons at Monte Vista High School ... led her team to East Bay Athletic League titles in 2006, 2007, and 2008 ... her team currently is currently 14-1-6, and they have allowed just 12 goals in 21 games ... has never recorded a goals against above 0.92 in her career ... recently joined the Pleasanton Rage U18 team after the past four years with the Mustang Mavericks ... has national experience, training with the Olympic Development National Camp ... has won a host of titles in club soccer ... has played as a guest player with teams from New Jersey and Tennessee as well ... is also a USSF Grade 8 referee ... is one of 12 players off her high school team committed to Division I universities ... Personal ... her birthday is November 14, 1990 ... her parents are Rob and Cindy Harrison ... will major in business.

Coach Gibson on Harrison:
"Coming from one of the top clubs in the nation, Pleasanton Rage, Michelle brings a ton of experience from competing at the highest levels. Her strengths are numerous, but her size, knowledge of the game, and leadership from the back are the qualities we will look for her to bring to the Bengals immediately.

Ellen Larsen
5-6, Midfielder
Murray, UT
Murray HS
HS ... Lettered in soccer for four seasons at Murray High School ... served as a captain of the orange and black-clad Spartans for three seasons ... was named by The Deseret News to the 5A All-State team both as a junior and a senior ... scored 44 goals in her career, including 13 as a senior ... she was second in 4A in the state of Utah in scoring as a junior ... also spent three years playing for the Utah Olympic Development Team ... helped Murray to four state playoff appearances, and their first ever region championship as a junior ... played club soccer with the Utah Avalanche, twice winning a state title ... was also the President of the Murray High School Orchestra ... Personal ... her birthday is October 3, 1989 ... her parents are Shirl and Elizabeth Larsen ... is undecided on a major.

Coach Gibson on Larsen:
"Ellen comes to ISU from one of the top clubs in Utah, the Avalanche. Known for its high level of coaching and production of quality players, we are very excited with the addition of Ellen to our 2008 class. She is a very consistent and patient defensive player with a unique ability to link up with teammates on offensive attacks. Ellen will add to our strong, and veteran group of midfielders."

Noelle Sanders
5-10, Midfielder
Orem, UT
Timpanogos HS
HS ... Lettered in soccer for four seasons at Timpanogos High School, as well as three years in basketball ... Was named by The Deseret News as a Second Team 4A All-State selection ... was also First Team All-Region as a junior and as a senior ... served as a team captain for both Timpanogos and for her club team Celtic Storm ... earned MVP honors with Celtic Storm, once for defense, and once for offense ... helped the Celtic Storm to the 2006 and 2007 state finals, and Timpanogos to the 2007 state semifinals ... was also named Academic All-Region ... was a four-year Honor Roll member ... Personal ... her birthday is November 30, 1989 ... her parents are Gerry and Kathy Sanders ... will major in business ... her uncle Steve Sanders played football at Brigham Young.

Coach Gibson on Sanders:
"Noelle's size and strength will be a huge advantage for us in the midfield. She is a very composed player on both sides of the ball and we will look to her to step in and command the central midfield position."

Lucero Villasenor
4-11, Forward
Ceres, CA
Modesto JC
Ceres HS
JC ... Lettered for two years at Modesto Junior College, while also lettering twice in basketball and once in track ... ... helped her team to the 2006 Central Valley Conference title ... her 2006 team was ranked #8 nationally ... scored 14 goals with eight assists as a sophomore, good for second on her team and fifth in the Big 8 Conference ... was ninth in the Central Valley Conference in scoring in 2006 with eight goals and five assists ... scored 22 career goals with 13 career assists for 57 career points ... was twice a First Team All-Conference pick ... HS ... Lettered in soccer at Ceres High School ... was named Ceres' team MVP as both a junior and as a senior ... was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2004 ... won her teams' "Coaches Award" as a freshman ... Personal ... her birthday is November 5, 1987 ... her parents are Paul and Evangelina Villasenor ... will major in nursing.

Coach Gibson on Villasenor:
"Lucero is an extremely, technically gifted player. One of our two JC transfer players, Lucero will give us an advantage with her experience of having played two years of college soccer already and we will look for her to step in and be a leader right away."

Bailey Williams
5-5, Goalkeeper
Puyallup, WA
Rogers HS
HS ... Lettered in soccer for three seasons at Rogers High School, as well as three years in basketball and track ... was named First Team All-League as a senior and Second Team All-League as a junior, and she was a two-time All-Area pick as well ... was both a two-time team MVP and two-time team captain for the Majestic Rams ... earned Talonia Athletic Commission Athlete of the Month honors ... helped her team to a pair of State Cup semifinal appearances ... in basketball was a three-year captain, and earned Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior ... took fourth at the 4A state meet in track in the discus ... was a nine-time Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award winner ... Personal ... her birthday is July 27, 1989 ... her parents are Mike and Sue Williams ... is undecided on a major ... her father played football at Spokane Falls Community College and her mother played field hockey at Central Washington University.

Coach Gibson on Williams:
"One of our two goalkeepers for the 2008 class, Bailey brings to ISU a vocal leadership presence along with quick reaction to the ball as well as her ability to work hard and improve daily."