BEAUMONT, Texas - As the 2022 women's soccer season approaches, head coach Nathan Kogut has already been busy adding new players to the roster. While 16 players will be returning to LU, including All-WAC honorees Christine Kitaru, Nicole Panis, and Isela Ramirez, they will be joined by 11 transfers and two incoming freshmen.
 

Alana Clark - Midfielder - Austin, Texas/Lake Travis HS (Texas State)

Clark arrives to LU after spending the past two seasons at Texas State. While there, she appeared in 32 matches with 25 starts and scored one goal. In high school, she was an first-team all-state honoree by both the UIL and TASCO.

Clark also earned first team and second team all-district honors as well as academic all-district for three years. She played for both the Lonestar SC and Sting Soccer club teams. Daughter of Steven and Rocio Clark, the cyber security major will be joined by her twin sister Trinity.

"Alana comes to us with her twin sister Trinity with a diverse soccer background. She's played a lot of minutes at the DI level which really appealed to us, and she can dictate tempo in possession through the middle of the field. She will be able to step into our system and help us continue to play at a high level."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach

Trinity Clark - Midfielder - Austin, Texas/Lake Travis HS (Texas State)

Like her sister, Trinity Clark is also coming to Beaumont from Texas State. In 20 matches, Trinity Clark tallied two goals, and two assists for the Bobcats. Also named first-team all-state by both the UIL and TASCO, she too was an academic all-district honoree for three years while being named second-team all-district. The two Clark sisters led the Cavaliers to the semifinals in the 2018-19 season.

She also played with Alana for Lonestar SC and Sting Soccer club teams. The two Clark sisters have three siblings, including Johanna and Taylor Clark, who are competitive ice skaters. Trinity will also be majoring in cyber security at LU.

"Trinity joins Alana in our program from a good Texas State program. She played a lot of high level minutes last year that will pay dividends in our transition back to the Southland Conference. Her ability to create chances for others and see the whole field will add another dimension to our midfield"
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach

Kolbi Coleman - Forward - Desoto, Texas/Duncanville HS (Alabama)

Arriving to Beaumont as a sophomore, Coleman spent her freshman season with the Crimson Tide. There, she appeared in six games playing 49 minutes and recorded one shot attempt.

She played club soccer with the Solar SC under head coach Adrian Solca. While at Carter High school, she was a state champion in track and field and earned THSCA Academic All-State Second Team before she transferred to Duncanville. She also was a three-time national champion in tumbling and trampoline as well as a two-time national champion in gymnastics. As a member of the National Honor of Society in high school and a member of the Dean's List at Alabama, Coleman will be majoring in Chemical Engineering at LU. She is the daughter of Derrick and Kristi Coleman.

"Kolbi returns to Texas after spending the last year at Alabama and playing in their system. She played at a high level with Solar in Dallas, and we know after watching her compete in the SEC that she can impact our team and the conference. Her pace, vision, and ability to go 1v1 will be an asset to our front line, and I can't wait to see her play this fall"
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Cariel Ellis - Forward - Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS (Madison, MS)

Ellis joins the Cardinals' squad after her junior season at Tennessee that saw her play 14 games and score two goals for the Volunteers. Prior to playing in Knoxville, Tenn., Ellis spent two seasons as a scoring machine for Holmes Community College.

In 39 games, Ellis tallied 64 goals and dished out 23 assists for 151 points in her career. This would include nine game-winning goals. Her freshman season saw her with 48 goals and 15 assists for 111 points that earned her Region 23 Player of the Year, NJCAA All-Region, Academic All-State, MVP, and All-American honors.

At Madison Central High School, Ellis finished her career with 24 goals and 10 assists as a senior, which gave her All-State honors and seven times was she named player of the game. A Kinesiology major, she is the daughter of Robert and Rhonda Jacobs.

"Cariel comes to Lamar as a highly decorated and highly motivated transfer. She was a junior college All-American who scored loads of goals and then played at the Power 5 level this past year. Her ability to change a game with her speed, power, and skill will be a massive asset to us the next two years. I can't say enough about how excited we are to have Cariel as a Cardinal!"
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Maddie Janolo - Defense - Denton, Texas/Guyer HS (TAMU-Corpus Christi)

After a three-year career as an Islander for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Janolo will make her senior season wearing Cardinal red.  For 57 games, Janolo helped lead a defense that produced 17 shutouts. She also recorded 12 shots in 1980 minutes.

As a Wildcat at Guyer High School in Denton, Janolo was a member of two state tournament teams while earning two first team all-district honors. A two-time defensive MVP, she was the program's MVP in 2019. On the club level, Janolo was part of the DFeeters squad of the Elite Club National League. Leading them to the national tournament, Janolo helped the club to a fifth place finish in the Gothic Cup in Sweden. Janolo is the daughter of Art and Wanda Janolo and will major in University and General Studies

"Maddie is a defender who joins us after 3 seasons at A&M-Corpus Christi. She has experienced a lot of college soccer, and that will allow us to build around her at the back. Her ability to step into the attack from an outside back position enhances our ability to put our stamp on the game, and her work rate makes her a relentless defender to compete against. I can't wait to see Maddie step in our program and be successful as she finishes her college career."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Payton Joost - Midfielder/Forward - Wylie, Texas/Wylie HS (LA Tech)

One of three former Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, Joost is looking to make her collegiate debut after redshirting in 2021. Hailing from Wylie,  she earned first team all-district honors as a senior and led the Lady Pirates to a district championship.

Joost spent time with the Sting Dallas Royal of the ECNL and appeared on the 2002 team for the U.S National League. One of five kids to John and Nicole, Joost's father ran track at East Texas State.

"Payton is joining our program after redshirting a year, so we are very excited for her to kickstart her college playing career here at Lamar. She will add another layer to our front line with her size and athleticism. Payton's ability to hold the ball up and connect play while also being able to get in behind will fit our style well and we are thrilled to bring her back to Texas."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach

Dahjah Lewis - Midfielder/Forward - Gladewater, Texas/Sabine High School

Although transitioning from high school to college, Lewis won't be changing mascots as she will remain a Cardinal following four years with the Cardinals of Sabine High School. As one of two incoming freshmen to join the team, she ended her high school career averaging over 23 goals a season. With 38 goals and 17 assists as a senior, Lewis set a new school-record with 120 goals and finished second all-time with 54 assists.

Lewis led Sabine to a playoff berth in 2021. She earned first team All-East Texas honors to go along with a second-team selection by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches. Along the way, she appeared in two all-star games.

"Dahjah is an attacking player from the Metroplex who flat out scores goals! She scored over 100 in her high school career, and her goal scoring ability will be something we want to continue to develop and enhance over her career at Lamar. We can't wait to get on the field with her and for our fans to see her score in Cardinal red for the next 4 years."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Crisely Pavon - Midfielder - Willis, Texas/Willis HS (Texas Southern)

Pavon spent the last three seasons with the Tigers of Texas Southern. In 44 matches, she scored one goal and dished out three assists. At Willis High School, Pavon tallied 51 goals and 25 assists, which included career bests of 19 goals and 14 assists in her senior season.

A finalist for the Courier's All-Montgomery County Girl's Soccer Offensive MVP, Pavon was a three-time first team all-district, second-team all-district, second-team all-Montgomery County and honorable mention all-region. She played club soccer for the Houston Dash Youth Team. One of three kids to Daniel and Barbara Pavon, she has a brother named Christian, who was a kicker for the Sam Houston State football team.

"Crisely will join us as a grad transfer from Texas Southern and will be able to slide into our midfield in multiple roles. She is a smart player who can create from the center of the field, and her ability to play simple allows us to play our game. We are so excited to have Crisely in our program to finish her college career."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Madison Rabideau - Defender - Carson City, Nev./Carson HS (LA Tech)

The second of three transfers from LA Tech, Rabideau, who hails from the Nevada state capital of Carson City, will look to contribute defensively to the Cardinals after her freshman season as a Lady Techster.   Originally born in California, Rabideau became a two-sport athlete in both soccer and basketball in Carson High School. Rabideau earned All-Sierra and MVP honors for her play on the soccer field as she scored 16 goals in three seasons with the Senators.

As a club player, she was on teams like the Nevada ODP, Carson Valley Quakes and Nevada Players North Premier NPL, which ranked second in the state and seventh in the nation. Academically, the daughter of Matthew and Natalie Rabideau was an All-State Academic award winner and a member of the National Honor Society. Rabideau is set to major in Biology at LU.

"We are really excited to add Madison to our program. She has the ability to play in multiple roles across the backline and even step into the midfield. She is another transfer from Louisiana Tech and has game experience at our level. We know she can play at a high level and we are excited to see what she can do during her time at Lamar."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Miranda Urbizu - Midfielder - San Marcos, Texas/San Marcos HS (Grambling State)

A criminal justice major coming to Beaumont, Urbizu will be spending one season as a grad transfer for the program. Although she got her collegiate start with the Houston Cougars, which included her first collegiate goal, she spent the last three seasons as a Tiger at Grambling State. Starting in 31 of the 39 games she played in, she scored seven goals, including a hat-trick against Alcorn State while dishing out six assists.

At San Marcos, the three-year captain put together three seasons where she tallied 64 goals and led the Rattlers to a district championship and three playoff appearances while capturing First Team All-District each season and twice named All-District MVP. Daughter of Joe Castillo and Gloria Urbizu, she is a two-time academic honoree.

"Miranda is a grad transfer who is coming to Lamar after an All-SWAC career at Grambling State. She can play in multiple positions and impact the game from all of them. She has played a lot of college soccer and her experience will help guide our team as we strive to win another conference championship. Her technical ability, tactical knowledge, and her high work rate will be something our fans love."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Landry Worsham - Defender - McKinney, Texas/McKinney Boyd HS (LA Tech)

The third of the LA Tech transfers is Landry Worsham. Held to limited action in two games, she looks to reunite with Rabideau to form a great defensive back tandem for the Cardinals.

Worsham spent time with the U19 Dallas Texans of the ECNL and she led them to a third place finish in the regional league. One of four kids to Chuck to Bobbie Worsham, she will be majoring in Marketing at LU.

"Landry is a dynamic and athletic outside back that will allow us to control, play higher up the field and keep pressure on our opponents. Her work ethic and her ability to get forward will allow us to be creative in how we line up and compete each game. I am so excited to have her move back home to Texas and represent Lamar."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


Yainn Zuniga - Forward - Sabine Pass, Texas/Port Arthur Memorial HS

Zuniga was a two-sport athlete who played basketball and ran track in high school. But, she also played soccer on the club level. She spent time with three club teams, including the Gulf Coast Youth Soccer Club, Beaumont Youth Soccer Club, and D1 CPA Showcase.

During her time, she scored two goals on eight shots and also recorded eight assists for GCYS and also led BYSC to the state playoffs. Planning to major in accounting, Zuniga is the daughter of Fredy and Natacha Zuniga.

"Yainn is a local product, and we want to prioritize keeping the top players in the area at home with us at Lamar. She has game changing speed and a high soccer IQ, and she will be someone that makes our attacking unit even more dangerous as she develops through her college career."
- Nathan Kogut, LU head coach


These 13 newcomers are also joined by freshman goalkeeper Morgan McBride, a native of Nederland, who signed her national letter of intent for LU in November of 2021.

The Cardinals will open their season this Sunday when they will host the University of Houston at 7:30 PM at the LU Soccer Complex.

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