ThunderWolves Soccer Celebrates Signing Day

PUEBLO, Colo - The CSU-Pueblo Men's and Women's soccer teams both announced new additions to their squads on Wednesday, the first day that players can officially commit to a school for the fall of 2008. Signing National Letter's of Intent for the ThunderWolves women's soccer team was a trio of talented players: Pueblo West's Kelci Johnston, MaKayla Hambek from Valencia (CA) High School and highly touted transfer Taylor Sinclair from Walla Walla (WA) Community College. On the men's team, a pair of transfer students have already enrolled in school and will participate in spring practice: Dylan Thomas, a sophomore from Roswell, NM and Andrew Quinn, a red-shirt freshman from Greeley, CO.

On the women's side, Kelci Johnston, a top cross country and soccer prospect who competes with Pueblo West while being home schooled, will major in Mass Communication while competing on the women's soccer team. An aspiring writer, Kelci has already published a novel and been named "Most Outstanding Teen" in the Miss Teen Colorado scholarship contest. On the field, the senior will represent Pueblo West in soccer and track this spring after a stellar cross country season in the fall. "We're excited about her athleticism and commitment to excellence, "said ThunderWolves coach Dave Morris, "I expect her to contribute right away - our players feel she is a great fit and she has the physical tools to be a great player in the RMAC."

MaKayla Hambek comes from Valencia High School, and also plays for Santa Clarita United in the prestigious Coast League U-17 Gold Division. MaKayla played as a wide midfielder and striker for both her high school and club teams. "MaKayla is a quick, clever player with experience playing at a high level. The team really enjoyed meeting her, and she has the speed and savvy to be a dangerous player for us," added Coach Morris.

The third signee for the women is a junior college transfer from Walla Walla (WA) Community College, Taylor Sinclair. Taylor is a 4.0 business major who is expected to make a quick transition from her role as a defender on consecutive NWAACC Championship finalists into the backline at CSU-Pueblo. "Taylor is a great player who can step in and contribute on the field and in the locker room," notes Coach Morris, "we are really excited to add a student-athlete of her caliber to our team." She was named to the NWAACC All-Star team, the NWAACC All-Academic Team, and had two goals and 11 assists playing in the backline WWCC.

On the men's side, the two new additions to the team are both midfielder/forwards. Dylan Thomas was All-Conference as a freshman for the NAIA College of the Southwest this past fall. The 6', 165lb. Thomas brings solid athleticism and skills to the ThunderWolves' men's team.