SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head soccer coach Greg Sheen announced Wednesday that eight student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join his program for the upcoming 2017 season.
The group, which features five individuals from Texas along with a pair of standouts from New Mexico and another from Virginia, consists of Alyssa Blankenship (San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis HS), Dina Draguicevich (Hutto, Texas/Hutto HS), Tara Giesen (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS), Isa Hernandez (Kyle, Texas/Hays HS), Chandler Jackson (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock HS), Gabriella Mariello (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock HS), Jasmine Marwan (Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) and Ellis Patterson (Austin, Texas/Connally HS).
"We are very excited about our 2017 recruiting class, which combines athleticism, very good technical ability and more than a few difference-makers in several key positions," Sheen said. "I anticipate more than a couple of these freshmen competing for quality playing time right away."
Below is a breakdown of this year's signing class.
Alyssa Blankenship
Forward/Midfielder • 5-6 • Fr.-HS
San Antonio, Texas (Brandeis HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• Two-time first-team all-district
• Olympic Development Program State and Region III member
• Three-time academic all-district
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Member of the Classics Elite Soccer Club
Sheen on Blankenship …
"Alyssa is a local soccer product that is certain to do very well at UTSA. She is a very skilled athlete and is capable of playing in either the forward or midfield positions."
Dina Draguicevich
Midfielder/Defender • 5-7 • Fr.-HS
Hutto, Texas (Hutto HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• 2016 Hutto High School Female Athlete of the Year
• First-team all-district and district's Midfielder of the Year as a senior
• Member of the Sting Austin Soccer Club
Sheen on Draguicevich …
"Dina combines athleticism, very good technical ability and aggressiveness. She might be our most complete and college-ready recruit in this 2017 class."
Tara Giesen
Forward/Midfielder • 5-6 • Fr.-HS
Albuquerque, N.M. (Sandia HS)
• Three-year varsity letterwinner and two-time varsity captain
• Second-team all-district
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Member of the Rio Rapids Soccer Club
• Helped lead her club team to a pair of state championships
Sheen on Giesen …
"Tara will be adding speed and athleticism to our forward and midfield lines. She has a great nose for the goal and she should compete for quality minutes right away."
Isa Hernandez
Midfielder • 5-3 • Fr.-HS
Kyle, Texas (Hays HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner and team captain
• First-team all-district and academic all-district as a senior
• Olympic Development Program State and Region III Pool Member
• Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society
• Member of the Lonestar Soccer Club
Sheen on Hernandez …
"Isa might be our most technically-gifted recruit in this 2017 class. She combines great on-field vision with an ability to complete any pass."
Chandler Jackson
Defender/Midfielder • 5-4 • Fr.-HS
Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• Three-time academic all-district
• Member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society
Sheen on Jackson …
"We were very fortunate to have found Chandler late in this recruiting cycle and she impresses me more each and every time I watch her play. She is a great possession player and she is going to make a great addition to our team in any wide position."
Gabriella Mariello
Goalkeeper • 5-6 • Fr.-HS
Burke, Va. (Lake Braddock HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• Olympic Development Program State Team Member
• Accepted to the prestigious Edison Academy for cyber security and network administration program
• Member of the McLean Soccer Club
Sheen on Mariello …
"Gabby is a very talented goalkeeper in several areas. She's a great shot-stopper, but she also possesses very good ball-striking ability."
Jasmine Marwan
Forward/Midfielder • 5-5 • Fr.-HS
Albuquerque, N.M. (Cibola HS)
• Three-time varsity letterwinner and team captain
• Helped lead Cibola to a pair of state titles
• First-team all-metro and all-district as a senior
• Member of the National Honor Society
Sheen on Marwan …
"Jasmine combines speed, quickness and an ability to play in small spaces in and around the goal. Those qualities make her a dangerous attacking player and a tremendous goal scorer."
Ellis Patterson
Forward/Midfielder • 5-4 • Fr.-HS
Austin, Texas (Connally HS)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• Two-time high school MVP
• Three-time first-team all-district
• Member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society
• Member of the Sting Austin Soccer Club
Sheen on Patterson …
We'll be looking to use Ellis in several attacking positions. She is quick, skilled and an overall very talented player. She is certain to be a difference-maker."