Baton Rouge Area soccer tandem signs with Ole Miss

[AICWildcat]

Christine Breaux and Leslie Robichaux live not far from each other in the Prairieville area and play on the same club soccer team.
Now two of the Baton Rouge area's top players are set to continue their soccer careers at Ole Miss.

Breaux signed with the Rebels during a ceremony at Dutchtown High on Wednesday morning.

Robichaux, a Bishop Sullivan standout, signed with Ole Miss during a ceremony held at the Baton Rouge Soccer Association's offices.

Two other Ascension Parish players also signed soccer scholarships on Wednesday.

Breaux's Dutchtown teammate Kodi Bethay signed with Louisiana Tech, while Samantha Dupuis of St. Amant signed with the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

"I committed first and I always knew there was a chance we would both go to Ole Miss," Breaux said. "We live not far from each other and play on the same club team. I'd drop little hints now and then, but I didn't want to push it.

"Leslie was trying to decide between Navy and Ole Miss. I'm glad she's going to Ole Miss. I'm also glad this (recruiting) is all over."

Breaux has six goals and two assists while playing a variety of positions for sixth-ranked Dutchtown of Division II-Class 4A. Florida State was Breaux's other finalist.

Robichaux has 16 goals for Sullivan, ranked seventh in Division II.

"It (Ole Miss) just seemed perfect for me," Robichaux said. "It was the right thing for me to do. That's what it came down to. I'm looking forward to playing there."

Robichaux said Ole Miss projects her as a center midfielder. Breaux said the Rebels coaches have told her she'll play either center back or defensive midfield.

Bethay, who has 14 goals for Dutchtown, adds another chapter to this woven tale of signees. By signing with Louisiana Tech, Bethay is set to play for ex-Sullivan coach Jennifer Soileau, a former Parkview Baptist and Ole Miss player.

Soileau coached last season at Sullivan and just finished her first season at Louisiana Tech.

"I like the school and I really liked the coach, Jen Soileau," Bethay said. "That had a lot to do with my decision."

Dupuis, who helped St. Amant advance to the Division I playoffs for four straight seasons, is one of five signees announced by Louisiana-Monroe.

A forward, Dupuis earned the praise of ULM coach Stacy Lamb, who said, "Sam could be the toughest player we're adding to the team. She is fast with quick feet ... a talented, attacking player."

ULM's other signees are Kendall Dawkins of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; Rachel Hobson of Longmont, Colo.; Brittany Lee of Lakewood, Colo.; and Kendra O'Leary of Katy, Texas.

Northwestern signs five

In Natchitoches, Northwestern State announced the signing of five players, three of whom come from other states.

Manette Keller of Dominican-New Orleans and Samatha Penico of Chapelle-Kenner are the Demons' Louisiana signees. Penico is the younger sister of current Northwestern player Heather Penico.

Northwestern's other signees are Hannah Casey of Fort Worth, Texas; Bobbie Hayes of San Antonio, Texas; and Lauren Miller of Portland, Ore.

McNeese signs 10

In Lake Charles, McNeese State announced a list of 10 signees led by Heather Goodly of St. Thomas More-Lafayette and Kamryn Koch of Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau.

Goodly is a defender who helped STM win two state titles. Koch scored 58 goals in one season and had 106 goals and 25 assists in three seasons.

Other McNeese signees are Devon Glynn and Ja'Nae Powell of Fort Worth, Texas; Krya McDonough of Dallas; Shelby Money of Cypress, Texas; Labrie Pritzen of Spring, Texas; Taavia Whaley of Duncanville, Texas; New Mexico-based Justeen Lords; Lauren Slater of Iowa City, Iowa.

Tulane signs six

In New Orleans, Tulane signed one goalkeeper, four offensive players and one defender in its 2005 signing class.

Goalkeeper Kathryn Alario, forward/midfielder Lauryn Goode, forward/midfielder Corrie Gurucharri, forward Jessie Hrapmann, defender Katie Owen and midfielder Katie Somadelis all signed national letters of intent on Wednesday with Tulane.

News releases from University of Louisiana at Monroe, Northwestern State and McNeese State contributed to this report.

Baton Rouge Advocate
www.2theadvocate.com/stories/020305/pre_soccer001.shtml

[ronaldo11]

Quality post

[lilgrif]

:)Yes-awesome for both of these young ladies -

[cenla]

Quick question, was it a slap at Northwestern when you say three of which are from other states. If so please check the other schools signing class. Youll notice that NSU signed more or as many as the others from Louisiana. I also know that NSU has more quality players from LA than anyother program. NSU continues to get quality instate players like The Latiolais from Acadiana, Hebert from Carencro, The Penicos from Chapelle, Waguespack from Redemp., and now Keller as well from Domin. Lets give props to NSU for finding instate talent.

[ronaldo11]

Cenla, simply because of Natalie, Im sure Wildcat knows all about Northwestern, and thus Im sure it was not a 'slap'.

Good for all three of the Baton Rouge based girls.

[AICWildcat]

Don't misunderstand...I didn't write the article. This was a cut and paste from the Baton Rouge Advocate. Note the link at the bottom of the article.

I don't think it was a "slap" at Northwestern at all, just a comment that 3 of the 5 are from out of state.

As for Northwestern, I do follow them a bit just to keep up with what Natalie is doing. She did quite well again this season gaining academic all conference and scoring a few more goals than last season. The Demons, a three-time Southland Conference champion and still the only women's soccer team in Louisiana to ever participate in the NCAA Tournament (2000, 2002), finished the 2004 season 11-11 overall and tied for second in the standings at 8-4.

For more info give them a visit at:

www.nsudemons.com/sports/soccer/default.asp

Here's a shot of Nat in action against Nicholls

[LSUmike84]

LSU's former coach needed to be fired just for not recruiting Breaux. In my three years at LSU I've only been to one game, but I would've been to more if they had some players like her. Does anybody know if she had interest in LSU if they would have recruited her and is there any word if LSU signed any quality players?

[rivers2]

LSU's new coach needs to follow Nick Saban's blueprint for program success and that is to #1 put a wall around the state in terms of signing all state blue-chippers. That Ole Miss can step across the line and snatch two playes of that caliber is one thing but to have these players haunt LSU for four years in SEC HEAD TO HEAD is another.

LSU's 2004 roster included 7 Louisiana players from a roster of 24 or 30%. Soccer coaches at the college level seem to have a penchant to recruit the far away and exotic while what they need is right under their noses. It will be the local players that will grow the sport in terms of interest and more importantly attendance. Most fans can more easily support a team that is more built with local talent than a half dozen Swedes or Finns brought in.

Coaches are charged to win and to overlook their backyard for the alure of the exotic is a blueprint for failure. Women's soccer power UNC who can and does recruit nationally has 13 local girls from a roster of 28 from the state of North Carolina or 46% of roster is local.

Local girls should be the first considered in building college programs in Louisiana. Saban won a National Championship doing it. The talent is here.