UTEP head soccer coach Kevin Cross announced the signing of eight ladies of high-caliber character and athletic ability to national letters of intent Wednesday.

“I am very excited to welcome these talented new players to the UTEP soccer family,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “I feel this is an excellent recruiting class. One of the main reasons these players chose UTEP is because of our current UTEP soccer team. Our players do an awesome job of welcoming them on their recruiting visits, and I cannot thank them enough for all that they do!

“I am also thankful for the many hours my staff (Assistant coaches Heather Clark and Ashleigh Decker, graduate assistant Tori Martyn, soccer manage Andrew Latham) puts into recruiting, which is the lifeblood of the program. Coach Jon Leitch, Athletic Trainer Brandon Burris, and Jeff Amey, Soccer Academic Advisor in the MAAC, have given up many Saturday mornings to meet with our soccer recruits.”

Below are bios on the Miners' eight signees.

Jodie Enokson

Garden City Collegiate West

Soccer’s Best

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Member of “Soccer’s Best” program in Winnipeg Manitoba, and for the past five years has been coached by Alex Esteves … member of the Manitoba provincial program in 2011 … previously was a member of FC Northwest Premier Soccer Club from 2008-13, taking home the city championship the final five years … won the MSA Cup and competed in the club National Championship in 2010 … team was the champion of the Golden Boy tournament and NSC Cup tournament in 2011 … claimed MSA Cup and competed in the 2012 Canadian Club National championships, receiving a silver medal … earned placement on every year since she was a freshman at at Collège Garden City … is thankful for everything Coach Esteves has done for her in addition to the consistent support of her family and friends … began playing soccer at the age of four … has two sisters … her mom’s name is Penny.

Madeline Feist

Ecole Secondaire Sentinel Secondary School

Mountain United FC

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Currently plays for Mountain United FC in the BC Soccer Premier League … consistently a top goal scorer across all divisions of the league since joining it in 2011 … won the league title with Mountain in 2012, 2013 and in December 2014 … squad also claimed the Whitecaps College Showcase in 2013, PDT in Phoenix in 2014, and FC Portland winter showcase in 2015 … helped the British Columbia Provincial team win a bronze medal at Nationals in 2012 … was a member of the team for two years … competed in the spring and summer months with Mountain FC in the Super-Y league … attended invitational ODP camp in Florida in March 2012 …from grades eight through 10, she attended the Sentinel Soccer Academy, and went on the UK tour in 2011 to compete against teams in England … recipient of the 2013 Nelson Award, which is presented to the top overall athlete and their perseverance and commitment … paced her high school team in scoring each year … also competes for the school’s track team, running the 100m and 200m … grateful for many coaches who have aided in her development … particularly would like to thank Lee Tregonning and Jesse Symons … has three brothers … daughter of Margaret and Bob Feist.

Paige Harm

The Colony High School

FC Dallas ECNL

The Colony, Texas

Three-year varsity letterwinner at The Colony High School … was an All-District selection in each of those seasons but is not playing her senior year … made the top 100 in Top Drawer Soccer rankings and was selected into ODP … played for ECNL teams in Dallas and is currently with FC Dallas as a defender … plans to major in education … started playing soccer at the age of four … is extremely excited to become a member of the UTEP soccer program … has an older brother … has been greatly supported in her soccer endeavors by her parents, Danny and Annie Harm.

Alyssa Palacios
Carrollton Creekview High School
Sting 97 ECNL
Carrollton, Texas

Member of Sting 97 ECNL, which was the 2014 ECNL National Champion … club was a national finalist in 2012 and secured a third-place finish in 2013 … in 2012 participated in the ECNL Player Development Program … A 2011 USYYSA National Champion, where she was USYSA Nationals U-14 Best 11 and was awarded USYSA Nationals U-14 Golden Glove … leading up to the event was a 2011 USYSA Region III Southern Champion and was presented with a USYSA Regional III U-14 Golden Glove … participated at the 2011 MexGames with the U16 Texas Team …a 2011 North Texas State Cup Champion … From 2008 to 2011 she was Lake Highlands Girls Classic League Division-1 Champion … In 2010 she was a San Diego Surf Cup Champion, Region III Premier League Finalist, North Texas State Cup Finalist& Vegas Cup Champions … in 2009 was Eclipse Select Challenge Cup Champion & SC Del Sol Presidents Day Champion … previously attended ODP Region III Camp (2009-10) and participated on ’96 North Texas State Team (2008-10) … starting varsity GK for Creekview High School from 2012-15 … served as captain in both 2013 & 2014 and was the team’s MVP in 2013 and 2014 … in 2014 she was recognized with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Senior Excellence award and an All State GK and second team All-District field player … 2013 first team All-District GK and the Dallas Morning News Class 4A Player to Watch … 2012 Class 4A Regional Finalist and second team All-District GK … thankful for each of the following coaches played in her development … Tatu Pecorari, Kioumars Rezaie & Joe Waggone … also would like to thank her parents, Ray and Valeria Palacios, and her older sister.

Payton Ross

Bev Facey High School 

Sherwood Park Phoenix FC 

Sherwood Park, Alberta 

Has played for Sherwood Park FC since its inception in 2009 … served as a team captain for the club that claimed all three provincial championships and took home the title at the 2013 Las Vegas Invitational and the 2014 Cupertino Classic … current member of the Regional Performance Centre and FC Edmonton Academy, who she’s been with since its creation in 2013 … represented Alberta on the provincial team in 2012 and 2013…currently plays for Northwest United Women’s team in the Major League as an underage player… won two provincial championships … chose soccer as her focus in the 11th grade after also previously participating in competitive levels of track, volleyball, basketball and cross country running … is thankful for C. O’Toole, L. Ballam, S. Texeira, and E. Munoz, who encouraged her passion and promoted her development in her soccer career … has two siblings … daughter of Darren and Robin Ross. 

Carleigh Simmons

Van Alstyne High School

D’feeters ’97 ECNL

Van Alstyne, Texas

Currently plays for D’feeters ’97 ECNL, which is under the direction of Don McElwee … has also played at FC Dallas, Liverpool, and Solar with Chris and Stacey Pulpaneck … four-time Texas State Cup Champion … 2012 and 2014 Region III Championship Finalist … 2013 and 2014 Region III West Premier League Champion … claimed the LHGCL DI title on five occasions ... was a top-ten scorer at the 2012 Region III Championships … lettered in volleyball (honorable mention), cross country (regional finalist), basketball (honorable mention), and track (regional finalist) freshman year, but only continued to play basketball after an ACL injury sophomore year … president of National Honor Society and the school’s Salutatorian … chosen as best personality Senior Superlative … member of the “A” Honor Roll and recipient of a community service award … would not be where she is today if it weren’t for her parents, Kent and Kristin Simmons, and her two sisters.

Brittany Trought

Aledo High School

Dallas Texas 97 Mid-Cities

Aledo, Texas

Currently plays for Dallas Texas 97 Mid-Cities as a forward under coach Jay Fitzgerald … in the midst of the 2014-15 season, which she has contributed nine goals and three assists … previously coached by Kyle O'Keefe while competing for Sting West Blue 97 … tallied 20 goals and four assists in 2013-14 while finding the back of the net 12 times in 2012-13 … three-year varsity member for Aledo High School, and is currently a team captain … believes that Kyle O'Keefe and Jay Fitzgerald have made a major impact in her life as a soccer player and athlete … thanks God for giving her a life that she will always cherish … thanks her parents for all they have sacrificed for her and her siblings so they could follow their dreams … daughter of Diana and Antonio Rodriguez.

Danielle Trought

Aledo High School

Dallas Texas 97 Mid-Cities

Aledo, Texas

Currently plays for Texans Mid-Cities 97 as center defender in Lake Highlands Division II under Coach Jay Fitzgerald … shown ability to get involved in the offense as well, with three goals and four assists … previously played two years for Sting West Blue 97 under Coach Kyle O'Keefe … pitched in two goals and five assists in her first season (2012-13) while upping those numbers to eight and six, respectively, in 2013-14 … three-year varsity member for Aledo High School … named the MVP at the school’s home tournament, the Aledo Tournament of Champions … also shares a passion for the sport of Track & Field … would like to thank her coaches Kyle O'Keefe, Jay Fitzgerald and Taylor Hennigan … would also like to thank her parents, her birthdad, Aunt Mona, Uncle Taylor, her siblings and the rest of her family for supporting and guiding her in the right direction.