Women's Soccer | 6/20/2011 10:09:46 AM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - There can be firsts that occur when a new coach is hired to lead a collegiate program but perhaps the most important is when they announce the signing of their first recruiting class.

Since being brought in as the new head coach of the Western Oregon soccer program early in January, Steve Ancheta hit the recruiting trail hard and signed four women to National Letters of Intent. Lindsay Bauman, Erika Oliva, Julia Garcia and JoEllen DeLeon comprise Ancheta's first recruiting class and will all be on campus in the Fall.

Bauman will join the Wolves as a junior after spending the past two seasons at Clackamas Community College. This midfielder from Portland (Wilson HS) was named the Clackamas' most valuable player in 2010 after recording two goals and four assists. Bauman also earned all-region honors both seasons and was an All-Academic team member as well.

"Lindsay is an exciting player who can play multiple positions," noted coach Ancheta. "Being a junior I'm expecting her to come in and be a leader on and off the field. She is very skillful on the ball and has a great understanding of the game. We look to have two great years out of her for the future of this program."

JoEllen DeLeon is the first of three freshman coach Ancheta will be bringing in. DeLeon played her high school ball at Centennial High School where she was an all-state honorable mention and the Mt. Hood Conference co-Player of the Year as a midfielder.

"Jo Jo, as they call her, can play multiple positions and reads the game very well," Ancheta explained. "I like her toughness and that she doesn't mind getting into a tackle. I look forward to seeing her fit and ready to go at pre-camp."

Erika Oliva will enter Western Oregon University as a freshman after playing her high school ball at West Salem High School. She was a two-time all-state honorable mention selection and was the named the league's defensive player of the year.

"It was great to find a hometown player," noted Ancheta. "She is a talented left-sided player who is very skillful and is a great passer of the ball. She is looking forward to the challenges ahead and coming in to help this program start moving in the right direction."

Julia Garcia is the fourth member of coach Ancheta's first recruiting class. Garcia played her high school soccer at Arbor View High School in Las Vegas.

"Julia is a talented defender from the Las Vegas area," continued Ancheta. "She is a great athlete who has very good pace and is a very strong vocal leader from the back. I think she has a load of potential to be a great player the next four years at this program on and off the field."

Overall coach Ancheta was very excited about the collection of talent in his first recruiting class.

"Even though we got a late start in the recruiting process we still we were able to bring in a solid core of student-athletes for the 2011 class," Ancheta explained. "The four recruits are all very passionate about the game and have a lot of soccer experience to bring to the team.

"I wanted to bring in players who are very versatile and who have a very competitive spirits, and these women all have that. They all know that they need to raise their game to make an impact at the Division II level, but I know they are all excited with the challenge ahead of them."

Coach Ancheta also noted how impressed he was with the work the current members of the team are putting in.

"The team had a great spring and I think we are all excited to come back in August and start our first season together," said Ancheta. "We know how much work we have in front of us to change this program in to a winner, and my players all showed me during the Spring that they are not scared of working hard."

The Wolves will open their season on Sept. 1 at Humboldt State.