Texas State soccer head coach Kat Conner has announced the signing of the incoming 2015 class on Wednesday. The Bobcats will add Sophia Acevedo, Kelly Barbalias, Jamie Brown, Sydney Smith, and Skylar Vanover-Hallmark to next season’s roster.

”This recruiting class is exciting,” said Conner. “They have amazing skills and a lot of athletic talent. Their best attribute is their competitive drive to win.”

Sophia Acevedo

Acevedo, a 5-4 forward out of San Antonio, Texas, joins the Bobcat squad from Ronald Reagan High School where she was a four-year starter for head coach Frankie Whitlock.

After her junior season, Acevedo was named the San Antonio Express-News All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year along with being named to the 2014 State All-Tournament Team and All-Area Girls’ Super Team. In 2014, Acevedo recorded 25 goals and seven assists for Ronald Reagan High School.

Acevedo is a member of Lonestar 97 Red San Antonio.

“Sophia is an aggressive forward that likes to go against other defenses,” mentioned Conner. “She will add to our ability to score.”

Kelly Barbalias

Barbalias joins the Texas State soccer team as a 5-4 midfielder from The Woodlands, Texas and The Woodlands High School under head coach Dina Graves.

In 2014, Barbalias’ team earned the title of District Champions. Barbalias has been named to the UIL All-Region First-Team, the Houston Chronicle All-District First-Team, Offensive Player of the Year, and Second-Team All-District in her time at The Woodlands High School.

During her junior season, she recorded 11 goals and eight assists and ultimately earned the Most Goals Award and Most Points Award on her team. Barbalias plays club ball for Challenge 97 ECNL.

“Kelly is a defensive midfielder who reads the game so well,” added Conner. “She can get in and disrupt the other team’s offense with a well-timed interception or hard tackle for the ball.  Her ability to run the midfield will give more freedom for creative attacking players.”

Jamie Brown

Brown, a 5-4 midfielder from Belton, Texas, joins the Texas State soccer team after enjoying a successful career at Belton High School.

Through the first three years of her high school career, Brown’s high school team tallied a 37-4 overall record under the direction of head coach Wendy Knight. Honors that Brown has earned include All-District Honorable Mention in 2012, Second-Team All-District in 2013, First-Team All-District in 2014, All-Area Team in 2014, and Academic All-District in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

In addition to success on the soccer field, Brown is a two-time 300m Hurdles Area Qualifier for her track team. Brown also plays club ball for Lonestar 97 ECNL.

“Jamie is an amazing talent as she is athletic enough to play anywhere and smart about the game to be an impact at all positions she plays,” said Conner.

Sydney Smith

Smith, a 5-4 defender from Colleyville, Texas, comes to Texas State as a four-year starter for her Grapevine High School team. Going into the 2015 season, her team has been undefeated in district play and is currently riding a 42-game winning streak.

In her time with Grapevine High School, Smith has been named First-Team 6-5A All-District three times and in 2013 was named the Defensive MVP. As a senior, she is a team captain under head coach Steven McBride.

For the first three years of high school, Smith’s team has been named 6-5A District Champions three times and Bi-District Champions twice. Smith is also a member of the D’Feeters 97 ECNL. 

“Sydney is a calm and composed defender,” said Conner. “She can read the game and be a step ahead of her opponent which leads her to interceptions. She then has the ability to create a quick transition to get us into the attack.”

Skylar Vanover-Hallmark

Vanover-Hallmark is a 5-6 forward/midfielder from Boerne, Texas where she attended Boerne High School.

As a member of Region 4-District 28, Vanover-Hallmark was named Second-Team All-District her freshman year, First-Team All-District her sophomore year and First-Team All-District her junior season. She was also named the Offensive Player of the Year her sophomore and junior season in addition to Player of the Year her junior year.

Her sophomore and junior seasons combined for 39 goals and 11 assists. Vanover-Hallmark is also a member of Lonestar 97 Red San Antonio.

“Skylar is fun to watch as she is hard working and very dynamic,” stated Conner. “She loves to score goals and when she is not scoring, then she is usually the player that created the chance for her teammate. She will definitely add some danger into our attack.”

Texas State graduated six seniors last season in Jourdan Brown, sister of Jamie Brown, Michelle Bucy, Tori Hale, Monica McEntee, Ali Myers and Brenna Smith. That senior class won the 2011 Southland Conference Tournament their freshman season and helped lead the Bobcats to the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2013 and 2014.