McNeese head soccer coach Scooter Savoie announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Tuesday.

Sarah Clayton, Dayna Garcia, Kayla Garza, Emilee Mayes, Morgan Middleton, Nola Prickett, Erin Winters have all signed National Letters of Intent to study and play soccer at McNeese beginning in the fall of 2015. The seen signees hail from three states, California, Michigan and Texas.

“We are really excited about the class that we will bring in this coming year,” said Savoie. “Our staff has done a great job of going out and identifying players from some of the top teams in the nation. We believe these student-athletes will have an immediate impact on our program.”

Sarah Clayton – Rancho Mission Viejo, CA – Santa Margarita HS
Lettered four years as a central defender for Santa Margarita HS… earned Defensive MVP honors twice during her prep career… helped lead her high school squad to three consecutive Trinity League titles and is currently sitting in first place during the 2015 season… was a part of the 2014 CIF Division 1 championship teams as well as helped lead team to quarterfinal appearances in 2012 and 2013… member of the So Cal Blues Soccer Club where she plays as defensive midfield and center back… was a member of the 2010 State Cup championship team… has participated in the Southern California Developmental League, California Regional League and Far West League… member of teams who have won numerous tournaments and showcases around the country… active in Peer Court, Breast Cancer Club, Loaves and Fishes, TOPSoccer and Special Olympics… has served over 150 community service hours focused on volunteering with the elderly… daughter of Ted and Sonja Clayton… has two siblings, Patrick and Andrew.

Savoie on Clayton: “Sarah is a mainstay in the Defensive Midfield position. She does a great job of owning her space and is a good distributer of the ball. We expect her to add a defensive presence to our midfield line and to provide an effective link to starting play in the counter-attack.”

Dayna Garcia – Chino Hills, CA – Chino Hills HS
Varsity starter all four years at Chino Hills HS… member of team that has advanced to the CIF playoffs each year and advanced to the finals during the 2013-14 season… Plays for Legends FC that over the years has won its respective league multiple times… Also led her club team to a state title, the National Cup in 2014, Surf Cup in 2013, Regionals in 2013 and 2014 and also the National Championship in 2012… plays as a center and left midfielder.

Savoie on Garza: “Dayna is listed as an outside player, but plays with center midfield skills and vision. She is a great possession player and creates opportunities in the final third. We expect her to bring playmaking ability to our front line and midfield play.”

Kayla Garza - Baytown, Texas – Goose Creek Memorial HS
Has been ranked one of the top prep players in her region by Top Drawer Soccer… three year starter at Goose Creek Memorial High School… helped lead her team to three district championships and an appearance in three bi-district round of the playoffs… has collected multiple awards for her performance on the pitch including two District MVP accolades, Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP… named to first team all-district twice… plays for Albion 97 ECNL club… member of club team that has participated and won multiple showcases and tournaments… was invited to the 2010 United States Soccer Federation… Selected to the Region III ODP Pool in 2011 while helping to lead her club to a USYSA South Texas State title, Region III Quarterfinals and Disney Showcase finals in 2011… repeated as USYSA South Texas State champions and advanced to the Region III Regional Finals in 2012… led her team to a third place finish in the ECNL U16 Texas Conference as well as a qualification in the ECNL National Finals in Richmond, VA where her team finished seventh in 2013…  Qualified for ECNL Playoffs in Seattle, WA in 2014.

Savoie on Garza: “Kayla is a very dynamic player. She plays great on both sides of the ball and she can cover a lot of ground on the field. We expect her to be a creator in our midfield line and to be a link in our attacking play.”

Emilee Mayes – Deer Park, Texas – Deer Park HS
Member of Deer Park High School squad that has won a district championship… named Defensive MVP and was selected to all-district and all-region team… Plays for Albion Hurricanes FC club… helped lead her club to a state championship and a seventh place finish at nationals.

Savoie on Mayes: “Emilee is a tenacious outside back with the ability to play the ball forward with possession. We expect her to be a strong defender and to add attacking skill to our back line.”

Morgan Middleton - Frisco, Texas – Frisco HS
A member of the Frisco High School varsity squad all four years… helped lead her team to the playoffs in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well as the 2014 Area Championship and sectional finals… named Frisco HS Defensive MVP three consecutive years… chosen first team all-state in 2014, first team all-district in 2012 and 2014 and second team all-district in 2013… member of D’feeters ECNL club team from 2010-2014 and currently a member of the Dallas Texans ECNL club… with the D’feeters, she helped her squad to a playoff appearance in the ECNL Champions league and to the finals of the ECNL North American League… under the Texans, her squad is currently ranked second in the ECNL Texas conference and has scored one goal so far.

Savoie on Middleton: “Morgan is a crafty player. She possesses the ability to link up with her teammates and does a great job of creating combination play. She is a player we can put in several different positions. She is good in the attacking line and also does well in the defensive line. We expect her to add versatility to our outside play with her ability to play in multiple lines.”

Nola Prickett – Hemet, CA – Hemet HS
Started all four season as a member of the Hemet HS squad… helped lead her team to the CIF Finals as a freshman along with 27 goals and nine assists… has been selected captain since her sophomore season… awarded the Mountain Pass League’s All-Around MVP three years in a row… currently has 20 goals and has helped her team to a 5-0 record in league play so far during her senior season… has helped lead her team to three consecutive undefeated league championships as well as the CIF finals, semi-finals and quarterfinals… chosen as a Scholar Athlete three consecutive years… named All-CIF and All-League three straight years… selected All-Area in 2011-12… competes for the Carlsbad Elite club team… has helped her club to four Coast League championships, a National League title as well as the State Cup championship… team placed third in the National Championships in Maryland in 2014… was the top scorer for the National League in North Carolina in 2013.

Savoie on Prickett: “Nola is a great leader on the field. She is a strong, versatile player that can play in the front or in the mid-field lines. She competes and she is a player that does the work to score goals. We expect her to improve our ability to finish plays in the attacking third of the field.”

Erin Winters – Canton, MI – Plymouth HS
Member of the varsity squad at Plymouth HS for three seasons… led her team to a division championship and conference title in 2012… helped lead her squad to a division championship in 2013… regional semi-finalists in 2012 and 2013… her team ranked third in the nation for high school teams in 2013… selected captain as a freshman of JV and senior captain of varsity… plays for Michigan Rush Northville club team… helped lead team to the Michigan State Cup semi-finals in 2011 and 2014, State Cup finals in 2012, and the State Cup championship in 2013… her team earned honors such as MRL First Division Red Champions in 2012, US Youth Soccer Region II Pool Play with a 2-1-0 record in 2013 and tied for second place in MRL Premier 1 Division in 2014… ranked as No. 1 team in Michigan #10 team in the region in 2013… was selected to try out for the Rush National Team.

Savoie on Winters: “Erin is a great personality player. She can take on attacking or defensive roles. She makes good decisions on the ball. She provides a valuable link to her teammates with her ability to play in limited touches. We expect her to bring a presence to our midfield line with her competitive style of play and ability to find her teammates with the ball.”

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