PULLMAN, Wash. – Signing his first full class, head coach Todd Shulenberger crossed the nation and one international border to come up with 14 new Cougars freshly signed to be part of Washington State women's soccer. The Cougars signed 11 freshmen and one junior college transfer on signing day on Wednesday, Feb. 1 with the 12 new players joining WSU's two early enrollees, Elyse Bennett (De Pere, Wis.) and Jamie Rita (Burien, Wash.), to make up the class of 2017.

Brianna Alger, Marin Auth, Gabriella Crenshaw, Sarah Davidson, Shanya Dhindsa, Hanna Goff, Makamae Gomera-Stevens, Aaqila McLyn, Lauryn Payne, Sydney Pulver, Rachel Thompson, and Courtney Worstell each signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Washington State University beginning next fall.

"This is an exciting time of year and we are happy to announce our first recruiting class to Washington State University," said Shulenberger. "This group of young ladies come from seven different states and also internationally from Canada.  Each one of these players brings a ton of experience and the qualities we look for in a player: high academic standards, a competitive spirit, athletic, hard-working, and are proven winners! I expect each one of these players to make an immediate impact on our program. Go Cougs!"

 

Brianna Alger (Forward, Monument, Colo.)

High School: Heading into her senior season, Alger is a three-year letter winner at Lewis-Palmer High School … two-time Colorado High School Activities Association 4A Girl's Soccer Player of the Year … three-time Pike's Peak Athletic Conference Player of the Year from 2014 -2016 … 2016 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American … won the 2016 4A State Championship … has scored 67 goals needing just 29 more as a senior to break Lewis-Palmer's all-time scoring record of 96 set by former Coug standout Kourtney Guetlein.

Club: A member of Pride Soccer Club … has won four-consecutive state club championships … 2014 US Youth Soccer U-15 Region IV Champions … 2014 bronze medalist at the US Youth Soccer National Championships

 

Marin Auth (Midfielder, Medina, OH)

High School: Two-time Ohio State Champion at Walsh Jesuit and a state semifinalist at Medina High School as a junior after transferring … earned First Team All-America honors as a senior … named first team all-state and conference player of the year as the lone senior on her team … led Medina to the Division I District championship game in 2016 … finished high school having lost just two games in four years.

Club: Member of the Cleveland FC … took home the 2016 G19 State Championship as well as a Regional Champion … earned a spot in the US Youth Soccer National League.

 

Elyse Bennett (Forward, De Pere, Wisc.) – Early Enrollee

High School: Graduated from De Pere HS in December … played just one season for her high school team before focusing on club soccer.

Club: A member of the FC Wisconsin Eclipse … one of the top scorers in the Elite Club National League (ECNL) in 2015-16 … led the way to the North American Cup in Seattle two seasons ago advancing all the way to the tournament finals … member of the Olympic Development Program.

 

Gabriella Crenshaw (Forward, Marysville, Wash.)

High School: Will graduate from Marysville Pilchuck where she played the last two years … earned four all-league honors throughout her career as a defender at two difference schools … played her first two varsity years at Marysville Getchell High School where she helped the team to a runner-up finish in the 2014 state championships … will join her sister, Kelsee, who will be a senior for the Cougs in 2017.

Club: Currently is a member of the Seattle Reign Academy in the ECNL … named to the Girls IMG Academy 150 list … previously played for the Washington Rush in 2014 and 2015 … were Regional Participants and the State Cup winners in 2014 … State Finalists in 2015.

 

Sarah Davidson (Defender, Camas, Wash.)

High School: A three-year letter winner at Camas High School … named her team's Offensive Player of the Year as a junior … went 22-0-1 in 2016 en route to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) 4A state championship … team allowed just two goals as a senior while posting a 43/0 goals for/against mark in league play … won back-to-back league and district championships … two-time all-league as both a forward in 2015 and defender in 2016 … earned first team all-region and all-state as a senior in 2016 as a defender.

Club: Played club soccer with the Washington Timber Reds from 2012-2014, and most recently for the Washington Premier FC in the ECNL … 2013 Vegas Players Showcase Champions, Rage College Showcase Champions, Clash at The Border High School Gold Division Champions, Oswego Nike Cup GU16 Gold Champions, and November Nights Champions …in 2015 finished eighth nationally in the ECNL.

 

Shanya Dhindsa (Forward, Surrey, BC, Canada)

High School: Attending Panorama Ridge Secondary High School … led the team to the Fraser Valley title.

Club: Plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC … selected to U-14 Provincial Development Program … won the 2013 Provincial Cup with Surrey United and went on to the 2013 Canadian Soccer Association National Championships … invited to the National ID Camp in 2016.

 

Hanna Goff (Defender, Glendora, Calif.)

High School: Attending Glendora High School where she is a four-year varsity player and is currently in the midst of her senior season … three-time all-league honoree including First Team All-Palamores League the last two seasons … earned all-area recognition as a junior defender … academically named a scholar athlete all four years while earning Student of the Semester three-straight years.

Club: Plays for Legends FC … played within ODP 2015 and 2016, and was both the ODP regional and national champion in 2015 … her club earned a spot in the US Youth Soccer National Championships each of the last two years … played in the National League for four years while finishing second in red flight in 2016.

 

Makamae Gomera-Stevens (Forward, Kapolei, HI)

High School: Four-year letter winner at Kamehameha Kapalama High school where she is playing her senior season … 2013-2014 High School Soccer State Champions ... starting forward for three years … has currently scored 27 goals as a team captain during her senior soccer season, more than four other teams have tallied on the year … in the midst of a midseason push for the top spot in the ILH soccer race.  

Club: Plays for the Surf Hawaii Academy … won the 2016 Surf Cup championship while also taking home the US Club State championship … earned a Golden Boot Award for the 2012 Hawaii State Championships …  led the Miso Junior League U-19 Gold Division in scoring in 2014 … 2014 and 2015 Miso League Champions.
 

Aaqila McLyn (Defender, Long Beach, Calif.)

High School: A four-year letter winner at Long Beach Poly High School … won three Moore League Championships … was named her team's defensive MVP while starting as the team's center back … earned All-Moore League First Team honors. 

Club: Plays for Beach FC 98 Academy … No. 4 ranked club team nationally and No. 1 club in California … 2016 US Youth Soccer National finalist … won two ODP Team Championships at Cal South. 

 

Lauryn Payne (Forward, Chino Hills, Calif.)

High School: A three-year letter winner at Chino Hills High School where she is currently competing in her senior season … during her freshman year she helped to lead her team to a Division 2 Sierra League Conference Championship after finishing league play undefeated … won a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Regional Championship … took home the CIF Southern Section Championship before completing her freshman campaign as a finalist in the state championships … competed in Varsity Track and Field as a sophomore where she ran the 100 meter sprints and was a member of the 4x100 relay sprint team … returned to high school soccer her junior year where she helped to lead her team to an undefeated Division 1 Conference Championship in the Baseline League … advanced to the Semi Finals of CIF Southern Regional Championship … named Baseline League Second Team and All Southern California CIF Second Team.

Club: Plays for the Southern California Blues Club under Coach Randy Dodge … led her team to a Surf College Cup Championship in 2016 … finished in fourth place overall in the Elite Clubs National League Championships in 2016 … member of the State Olympic Development Program and Team as well as the Cal South Region IV Olympic Development Team … won ODP Regional Championship in 2014 and the ODP National Championship in 2015 … invited to US Soccer Federation Soccer Training Session in 2013 … invited to US Club Soccer ID Camp in 2014 … Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 National Player Pool.

 

Sydney Pulver (Midfielder, Parker, Colo.)

High School: Playing at Regis Jesuit High School where she will earn her third letter this season … awarded all-state honorable mention and honorable mention all-conference in 2015 … first team all-state and all-conference in 2016 as a junior … two-time academic all-state honorable mention.

Club: Plays for Real Colorado of the Elite Club National League (ECNL) … two-time national finalist in the ECNL Champions League in 2014 and 2016 while finishing fourth in 2015 … invited to the Nike National ID Camp in 2015 … part of the ODP Region IV Camp.

 

Jamie Rita (Midfielder, Burien, Wash.) – Early Enrollee

High School: Graduated from Highline HS in December but did not compete for her high school.

Club: A member of the Crossfield Premier in the ECNL … secured a spot in the Champions Division playoffs in each of the last three seasons … played in the Olympic Development Program as well as the Eastern Development Program that was the Region Y Champions.

 

Rachel Thompson (Goalkeeper, Nikiski, AK)
Previous School (Highline College): Played two years at Highline College where she established herself as one of the top junior college goalkeepers … set a program record with an 11-game shutout streak lasting 1,104 minutes as a sophomore … recorded 99 saves, a .910 save percentage, and a 0.50 goals against average in 1,813 minutes in 2016 …  two-time conference all-star … recorded 26 shutouts in two seasons.

High School: A 2015 graduate of Nikiski High School … three-year team captain … two-time all-region selection as well as Region MVP in 2012 … three-sport athlete as she also was a four-time all-region selection in volleyball and a three-time all-region selection in basketball … two-time all-state selection in basketball.

Club: A 5-year club captain for Kenai Peninsula SC.

 

Courtney Worstell (Goalkeeper, Moorpark, Calif.)

High School:  Attends Moorepark HS where she is a three-time letter winner in goal and currently in the middle of her senior season … won back-to-back league championships … finished as the runner-up in the California State Championships as a junior … two-time runner-up in the CIF Southern Section playoffs … named team MVP in 2015 as a sophomore after back to back penalty kick wins in playoffs … named All-CIF Division 4 First Team as a junior.

Club: Plays for the Real So Cal in the ECNL … currently second in the Southwest Conference … competing with San Diego Surf for a spot in the national championships.