BEAUMONT, Texas -- Head coach Steve Holeman and the Lamar University women's soccer program can add another former student-athlete to the international ranks as this time former All-American Esther Okoronkwo signed with the AS Saint-Étienne on Saturday afternoon.
 
"I am extremely proud of Esther and excited to see her accomplish her goal of playing professional soccer," said head coach Steve Holeman Signing with a team in the first division in France is an incredible achievement. She'll go down as one of the greatest soccer players to ever play in the Southland and I know she will do a wonderful job of representing Lamar University at the highest level."
 
Becoming an international player this summer, Okoronkwo will look to reinforce the attack line of the Vertes during the 2021-22 season apart of the first division Arkema, which is set to begin play on August 28.
 
"I am very happy to join ASSE," said Esther Okoronkwo. "It is a first experience in Europe, I am very excited to start this season in D1 Arkema. My goal is necessarily to score as many goals as possible, but collectively, I first want to get along well with my teammates in the field."
 
The Richmond, Texas native earned numerous accolades over the course of her career for the Cardinals. In 2020, Okoronkwo was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and named SLC Offensive Player of the Week twice. To round out her Big Red career, she was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and Forward of the Year. She was also a two-time member of the SLC All-Conference First Team.