Feb. 5, 2009

The Lamar soccer program gained five more student-athletes on Thursday when head coach Dewi Hardman announced the signing of five players to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Cardinals beginning this fall.

Four players from Texas and one from Arkansas make up the initial group of signees, which is expected to double in the next few weeks. Lexi Gebhardt, Meghan Huggins, Katelyn Ross, Michelle Sladaritz and Sadie Wright will bring speed and athleticism to the third-year program.

"This is definitely our biggest, strongest and deepest class," Hardman said. "I have only had one and the school had only had one before my arrival, but this group has the potential to make a strong impact with our program.

"It's a very technically gifted group and fills a lot of the holes we had on the team. It will make us a far stronger starting 11 and far deeper squad."

Gebhardt is a 5-foot-5 midfielder out of Bedford, Texas who plays at L.D. Bell High School and for the Sting West '92 club team. She has been a three-time all-district 7-5A selection and named district Midfielder of the Year as a sophomore and junior at L.D. Bell. She has played for the Sting's West '92 team since 2003.

"She is more of an attacking midfielder who plays with an ability to go at people and beat defenders," Hardman said. "She is a very good athlete as well."

Huggins is only non-Texan in this group, as she is a tall athletic goalkeeper from Springdale, Ark. She has started since her freshman season at Har-Ber HS and led the Wildcats to the state tournament in 2007 and 2008, while earning all-state accolades both years. Huggins also plays for the Northwest Arkansas Lightning Club '91 which is ranked 35th in the nation. Huggins, whose father and grandfather graduated from Lamar, has been a state and regional qualifier in the Olympic Development Program.

"Megan has good size and good distribution," Hardman said. "It strengthens our goalkeeper position which was strong last year and will continue to get better."

Ross is a 5-foot-4 midfielder/forward from Justin, Texas where she has been a four-year letterwinner and two-time captain at Northwest HS. She currently plays club ball for the Solar '91 - ranked 34th nationally - and has played with the U23 ODP state team.

"Kaitlyn has a great amount of pace and very intelligent player who possesses an ability to get in front of players and get behind the defense," Hardman said. "She is a very hard working player and will come in very fit and ready to play."

Sladaritz is a 5-foot-2 combo midfielder/forward from West Brook HS in Beaumont who earned First Team All-District 21-5A honors as a junior in 2008 after netting 30 goals and handing out 17 assists. She made the move from the Beaumont Youth Soccer Club to the Challenge Clash '91 in Houston last year.

"She has good pace at outside midfield and forward," Hardman said. "She is a very, very good student as well."

Wright, who Ross' teammate on the Solar '91, is a 5-foot-7 forward was the District 6-5A Freshman of the Year after scoring a school-record 20 goals in 2006. She added First Team All-District 7-5A as a sophomore and helped the Lady Raiders to a District title in 2007 and Bi-District crown in 2008. She was a North Texas state ODP pool player from 2002-04.

"Sadie is a tall, very technically gifted intelligent midfield player," Hardman said. "She's played at a level where she can make an immediate impact. She has the physical tools, as well as the technical tools."