SAN ANTONIO – UTSA head coach Greg Sheen announced Wednesday that five student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join his program for the 2018 campaign.
The group, which includes four individuals from Texas and one from Florida, consists of Katie Becker (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch HS), Lexi Bolton (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./William T. Dwyer HS), Kaitlyn Bumgarner (San Antonio, Texas/Smithson Valley HS), Olivia Futch (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch HS) and Julia Martinez (Richardson, Texas/Berkner HS).
Below is a breakdown of this year's signing class.
Katie Becker
5-5 • F/M/D
Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
• National Honor Society
• Two-time first-team all-district
• Team captain
• Albion Hurricanes Soccer Club
Coach Sheen's comments on Becker
"Perhaps our most complete recruit, Katie is a tremendous athlete with fantastic technical ability. She can play with either foot and in any field player position. The bottom line is that Katie has the ability to help us in several key areas."
Katie Becker is also out of Katy, Texas. She is described by Coach Sheen as "a tremendous athlete with fantastic technical ability." He says she "has the ability to help us in several key areas." Welcome to UTSA, Katie! #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/bsmUzJsowx
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) February 8, 2018
Alexa "Lexi" Bolton
5-3 • M/F
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (William T. Dwyer HS)
• National Honor Society
• Four-year letter winner
• Three-time leading scorer
• First-team all-conference
Coach Sheen's comments on Bolton
"Lexi will be a fantastic addition to our attack in 2018. She can play midfield or forward and play central or wide. Furthermore, she has great vision and passing ability, and a cannon of a left foot."
Lexi Bolton is coming from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida! Coach Sheen says she is "a fantastic addition to our attack." He also says she "has great vision and passing ability, and a cannon of a left foot." ??
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) February 8, 2018
Welcome to San Antonio, Lexi! #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/FG4t7Jfi3Y
Kaitlyn Bumgarner
5-8 • F/D
San Antonio, Texas (Smithson Valley HS)
• Three-time academic all-district
• Four-year varsity starter
• First-team all-district
• First-team all-area
• Lonestar-SA Soccer Club
Coach Sheen's comments on Bumgarner
"Kaitlyn is a local product who combines tremendous speed with an ability to play with both feet. Whether she's playing wide left or wide right, she's going to be a difficult matchup for opposing teams."
Kaitlyn Bumgarner is staying home to play for UTSA! Coach Sheen says she "combines tremendous speed with an ability to play with both feet." He also says "she's going to be a difficult matchup for opposing teams." Can't wait for you to get on the field Kaitlyn! #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/Pt1RtOH3g8
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) February 8, 2018
Olivia Futch
5-6 • GK
Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
• National Honor Society
• All-district selection
• Team captain
• Albion Hurricanes Soccer Club
Coach Sheen's comments on Futch
"Olivia is a great shot-stopper who combines quick feet, long range ball-striking ability, and the sort of fearless, physical attitude that is necessary to compete at this level."
Olivia Futch is a goalkeeper from Katy, Texas, who Coach Sheen calls "a great shot-stopper." He also says she has a "fearless, physical attitude that is necessary to compete at this level." Welcome to UTSA, Olivia! #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/6qz4n9S5Rc
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) February 8, 2018
Julia Martinez
5-8 • F
Richardson, Texas (Berkner HS)
• Newcomer of the Year
• First-team all-district
• First-team all-city
• Offensive Player of the Year
Coach Sheen's comments on Martinez
"A technically-gifted, back-to-goal striker who combines the physical strength necessary to hold off opposing defenders with explosive speed that should create numerous goal-scoring opportunities."
Julia Martinez signed with UTSA out of Richardson, Texas. She's a forward that Coach Sheen describes as "a technically-gifted, back-to-goal striker who combines the physical strength necessary to hold off opposing defenders with explosive speed." Welcome, Julia! #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/kD1Co41wgu
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) February 8, 2018