Women's Soccer

SIUE Women's Soccer Signs Six New Cougars
         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers announced today that Jennfier Kates (Florissant, Mo.), Elizabeth Valenti (Overland Park), Amy Million (Granite City), Lori Harvey (Troy), Kelly Limpert (St. Peters, Mo.), and Kaci Backs (Greenville), have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Cougars this fall.
         Bowers said these six players are looking to bring a lot of fresh, young talent to the program.
         Kates comes to SIUE from Incarnate Word Academy where she won a state championship in 2004. The forward was a first team All-Metro and All-Conference selection. Kates ended her senior campaign with 33 goals and 10 assists in her career.
         "She will be one of our better strikers," said Bowers. "She is very good in the air. We are looking to her to come in and give us a spark on the offense. She is going to bring many elements to our attack."
         Valenti, from the Kansas City area, will challenge for a starting spot as a midfielder. She collected All-State and All-Sun Conference honors at Blue Valley West High School. Valenti was a co-captain as well as being the team Most Valuable Player during her junior year.
         "She is one of the top players coming out of Kansas City," said Bowers. "She has excellent field vision and is a great ball handler."
         Million, a forward/midfielder, has notched All-State, All-Metro East, and All-Southwestern Conference honors as well as being a four-year letterwinner at Granite City High School. Million started this season with 33 goals and 16 assists playing for the Warriors.
         "She is going to add tenacity to our offense," said Bowers. "She just keeps going until the ball gets in the net."
         Harvey, a forward/midfielder from Triad High School, was a first team All-Mississippi Valley Conference selection. The Troy native has collected 36 goals and 24 assists in her career as a Knight. She netted 24 goals as a junior, being voted team offensive MVP.
         "She is a natural forward," said Bowers. "She has good field visual. She will give our forwards a nice push."
         Limpert plays in the midfield and was a four-year starter. She picked up a first team all-conference selection as the captain at Francis Howell Central High School. Coming into this season, Limpert scored 15 goals adding 21 assists during her career.
         "She is a very fast player," said Bowers. "Her speed and aggression continually add to her game. Her great speed is going to be a force at this level."
         Backs is a two-sport athlete at Greenville High School playing soccer and basketball. As a goalkeeper, she has started all four years while being a three-time team MVP and all-conference selection. She entered her senior season with the career saves record (495) while notching 10 career shuouts. Backs collected a school-record 310 saves during her sophomore season finishing with a 10-6 record.
         "She is a great goalie," said Bowers. "Kaci will really push Kim (Roady) in practice."
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