2015 PORTLAND STATE SIGNEES

Morgan Matthews, F, FR, Portland, Ore. (Lincoln HS)
Krystal de Ramos, M/F, FR, Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS)
Dallin Esmond, D, FR, Newberg, Ore. (Newberg HS)
Ashton Blanksma, GK, FR, Wenatchee, Wash. (Wenatchee HS)
Rachel Ross, D, FR, Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS)
Kylie Long, F, FR, Livermore, Calif. (Granada HS)*
Zoe Ramer, D, FR, Concord, Calif. (Northgate HS)*
Maxine Nagramada, D, FR, Long Beach, Calif. (Woodrow Wilson HS)*
Laura Gougeon, D/M, FR, Camas, Wash. (Camas HS)*

* - Athlete will walk on to the team at Portland State

---

PORTLAND, Ore. — Seeking to address the team's two biggest needs, Portland State women's soccer head coach Laura Schott announced a nine-player signing class Thursday.
 
"We are pleased to announce this new generation of great Viking soccer student-athletes," Schott said about the class. "We graduated a lot of backs and this class will be integral in establishing a great new defensive block. Additionally, we are adding some skilled attackers who we expect to make an impact right away."
 
The Vikings lost all-conference defensive backs Kayla Henningsen, Kelsey Henningsen and Torie Morris off last year's team, as well as back-to-back Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year Caitlin Plese. Those four players helped make the Vikings one of the top defensive teams in the Big Sky Conference the past two seasons, but the Vikings will now have to rely on its youth in order to return as one of the top defensive teams in 2015.
 
The Vikings signed five defensive players to that end in Dallin Esmond, Laura Gougeon, Maxine Nagramada, Zoe Ramerand Rachel Ross. Schott said she expects all five to potentially fit in on the back line for the Vikings, though Gougeon might also step up as a holding midfielder, according to Schott. Additionally, the Vikings signed goalkeeper Ashton Blanksma, who will join a strong stable of returning goalkeepers, led by redshirt senior Angela Haluska, who saw time in goal at the start of last season while Plese was out with an injury.
 
The Vikings also added three attacking players in their 2015 signing class, who should add some firepower to a Viking attack that lacked some punch at times last season, when the Vikings ranked tied for seventh in the Big Sky with 13 goals scored in conference play. Incoming freshmen Krystal de Ramos, Morgan Matthews and Kylie Long should all contribute to the Vikings' attack in 2015. Schott said she expects de Ramos will switch between an attacking midfielder and forward role for the Vikings next season, while Matthews and Long will see time at forward.
 
Matthews comes to the Vikings as a local product out of Lincoln High School in Portland, where she was a two-time first-team all-state selection and the 2014 all-city player of the year.
 
The Vikings' nine signees will tip the team's roster to the youthful side next season – the Vikings currently have 20 underclassmen on their 29-player roster with Thursday's signees – but Schott remains confident the Vikings can challenge for a top spot in the conference once again in 2015.
 
"We will be young in 2015, but we will be good," Schott said. "I'm looking forward to this year."

---

Morgan Matthews, F, FR, Portland, Ore. (Lincoln HS)
 
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL:
2014 all-city player of the year…Two-time all-state first-team selection at Lincoln (2013 & 2014)…Invited to the U.S. Soccer Federation training camp in 2012 and 2013…Made the all-city team as a sophomore, junior and senior.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played on the ODP '97 regional team in 2010…Played for the THUSC United Mercury for seven years…Played for the Crossfire United ECNL for a year…Won state cup titles with her club team in 2010 and 2011.
 
PERSONA/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born Feb. 14, 1997…Daughter of Ken and Carmen Matthews…Lists photography and running as hobbies…Hopes to take her soccer career as far as she can.
 
Oregonian article on Matthews and her Lincoln team during the 2014 fall season

---

Krystal de Ramos, M/F, FR, Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS)
 
LOS ALAMITOS HIGH SCHOOL:
Three-year letterwinner in soccer at Los Alamitos, and a two-year letterwinner in track…Named to the all-tournament team at the Excalibur Tournament in 2014…Helped her team to a Sunset League title in 2013, and a president's cup victory in 2014…Captained her soccer team in 2014-15.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Has played club soccer since 2010…Played for the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club from 2010-11…Played for West Coast FC EGSL from 2011-15…Played for West Coast FC ECNL from 2014-15…Won the United Cup with her club team in 2011…Won the Carlsbad Premier Cup in 2012…Was a finalist in the players showcase in Las Vegas in 2012…Won the West Coast Futbol Classic in 2012…Won the Nomads Showcase in 2013.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born March 16, 1997…Daughter of Ryan and Marian de Ramos…Has two brothers, Kenneth and Kevin…Lists reading and drawing as hobbies…Plans on majoring in communications.

---

Dallin Esmond, D, FR, Newberg, Ore. (Newberg HS)
 
NEWBERG HIGH SCHOOL:
Two-time all-league first-team selection at Newberg (2013 & 2014)…Named an all-league honorable mention in 2012…Captained her Newberg team in 2014…Honored with a leadership award in 2013 and 2014...Awarded a commitment award in 2013…Named an Academic All-Conference selection in 2011, 2012 and 2013…Earned an Academic Excellence Award (based on GPA) during all four years of high school…Also lettered in track and field for two years at Newberg.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Sherwood Soccer Club from 2008-10…Played for the Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club from 2011-14…Played for Crossfire United ECNL in 2015…Captained her club team from 2012-14 (U-16, U-17)…Won the Nike Oswego title with her club team in 2012…Slammers Champion, 2013…Albion Cup Semifinalist, 2012…Regionals semifinalist, 2013.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born Oct. 17, 1996…Daughter of Lee and Jennifer Esmond…Has a brother, Luke, and a sister, Mackenzie…Lists volunteering with special education students, watching movies and listening to music as hobbies…Hopes to become a special education teacher, or a speech pathologist.

---

Ashton Blanksma, GK, FR, Wenatchee, Wash. (Wenatchee HS)
 
WENATCHEE HIGH SCHOOL:
Played soccer during all four years of high school…Played in both the field and in goal during high school…Named to the all-conference first team as a goalkeeper as a senior…Named to the all-conference second team as a midfielder as a junior…Named her soccer team's Rookie of the Year as a freshman…Also played varsity softball as a freshman…Named her high school's valedictorian…Four-time Scholar Athlete…Helped her team to the academic state title as a junior…Honored with the Principals Award of Academic Excellence as a junior, as well as the Academic Award of Excellence in English.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Washington Premier ECNL team from 2011-15…Won a ECNL flight B national title with her team in 2012…Won back-to-back Northwest Conference titles with her club team in 2013 and 2014.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born June 3, 1997…Daughter of Pete and Kristine Blanksma…Has two sisters, Korynn and Madison…Lists photography, hiking and family time as her favorite hobbies…Hopes to own her own business one day…Plans on majoring in mechanical engineering.

---

Rachel Ross, D, FR, Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS)
 
GIG HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL:
Played soccer during all four years of high school…Captained her team as a senior…Named to the all-area first team as a senior…Named to the all-area second team as a junior…Three-time all-league first-team selection as a midfielder…Helped lead her team to a fourth-place finish in the state 4A tournament during her freshman and senior seasons…Led her team to league titles as a sophomore and junior.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Washington State ODP team from 2009-11…Participated in the ODP Regional Camp…Has played for club teams since the U11 stage…Played for Washington Premier ECNL from the U13-U18 stages…2010-2011 U.S. Club National Champion…2012 ECNL Flight B National Champion…Two-time ECNL Northwest Conference Champions (2012-13 & 2013-14).
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born Aug. 5, 1997…Daughter of Joe and Lori…Has a brother, Justin…Lists boating, watching movies and hanging out with family and friends as her favorite hobbies…Hopes to work in a health-related field one day…Plans on majoring in health studies.

---

Kylie Long, F, FR, Livermore, Calif. (Granada HS)
 
GRANADA HIGH SCHOOL:
Played basketball for four years in high school, and soccer for only two years…Named to the all-tournament team in basketball in 2013 and 2014…Named Athlete of the Month for Granada High School in December of 2014 for her play in both soccer and basketball.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played within the West Coast Soccer Club for 11 years.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born Dec. 14, 1996…Daughter of Debbie and Jason Long…Has two sisters, Kacie and Kaila Long…Lists basketball, hiking, scuba diving and beach volleyball as hobbies…Hopes to be a physical therapist…Plans on majoring in pre-physical therapy. 

---

Zoe Ramer, D, FR, Concord, Calif. (Northgate HS)
 
NORTHGATE HIGH SCHOOL:
Started for her varsity soccer team during all four years of high school…Named the 2013 and 2014 Defensive MVP of her team…Selected to the All-Diablo Valley Athletic League first team in 2013 and 2014…Helped her team to a semifinal finish in the NCS Playoffs in 2012, as well as back-to-back quarterfinal finishes in 2013 and 2014...Named a scholar athlete at her school in 2012, 2013 and 2014…Captained her soccer team in 2013.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Walnut Creek Soccer Club from 2005-12…Played for the Pleasanton RAGE ECNL from 2012-15…Finished as a finalist for the Surf Cup with her club team in 2014…Played for ODP state team in 2013 and 2014.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born March 6, 1997…Daughter of Earl and Wendy Ramer…Has a sister, Skylar Ramer…Lists running, hiking and spending time with her family and friends as hobbies…Hopes to become a physical therapist…Plans on majoring in physical therapy.

---

Maxine Nagramada, D, FR, Long Beach, Calif. (Woodrow Wilson HS)
 
WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL:
Lettered in soccer during all four years of high school…Named her team's Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman in 2012…Named to the all-league second team as a junior in 2014…Helped her team to a CIF Division II championship, and a Moore League title in 2013.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Beach Futbol Club for seven years…2012 Far West Regional Champions…2014 California Regional League Champions…2014 Far West Regional Champions…2014 U16 vs. Youth National Champions.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born Oct. 22, 1997…Daughter of Robert Nagramada and Laurie Seifors…Lists gardening as a hobby.

---

Laura Gougeon, D/M, FR, Camas, Wash. (Camas HS)
 
CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL:
Played only one year of varsity soccer at Camas due to injuries in both her sophomore and senior seasons…Helped her team to district and league titles in the year that she played in 2013…Helped her team make it to the state quarterfinals in 2013…Named a scholar athlete in 2013.
 
CLUB/ODP:
Played for the Oregon ODP '97 team from 2010-14…Played for the Columbia Timbers U11-U12, WSU Glory U13, Washington Timbers U14-U17 and Crossfire United ECNL U18 during her club career…Made it to the Washington State Championship quarterfinals, the Mustang Stampede semifinals and the NWCL semifinals in 2010…Made it to the Washington State Championship semifinals and the Mustang Stampede quarterfinals in 2011…Made it to the Crossfire Challenge finals, the Mustang Stampede finals and the Washington State Championship semifinals in 2012…Was a Lake Oswego finalist in 2014.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
Born June 15, 1997…Daughter of Monique and Dominique Gougeon…Has an older sister, Helena Gougeon…Won the Camas Rotary Award in 2012…Lists running and coaching as her favorite hobbies…Hopes to become a sports medicine doctor…Planning on majoring in health studies with a focus on pre-med courses.