Louisiana Soccer Adds Six to 2021 Signing Class

Ragin’ Cajuns go for global flair with five newcomers having international experience

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LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Women’s Soccer coach Lance Key announced on Thursday the addition of six additional newcomers – including five international products – to a National Letter of Intent during the 2021 Signing Period.
 
Signing NLI’s to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns include forwards Petra Buyck (Auckland, New Zealand) and Alexandra Folchert (Madrid, Spain), midfielders Anna Grassinger (Bergheim, Germany/Creighton), Laura Hansen (Middelfart, Denmark) and Carolina Rodriguez (Zaragoza, Spain) plus midfielder Julieta Limardo Sarmiento (Doral, Fla./Eastern Florida State College).
 
They join seven early signees from the fall including: forwards Tatum Beck (Flower Mound, Texas), Hailly Waterhouse (Mandeville, La.) and Ally White (Frisco, Texas), goalkeeper Reese Keller (San Antonio, Texas) and defenders Hailey Lander (Lantana, Texas), Gabi Placke (Lantana, Texas) and Paizlee Whalen (Windsor, Colo.).
 
"The young women in this 2021 class are exceptional," Key said. "As we continue building champions within the Louisiana Soccer program, we are grateful to be adding each of these individuals to our environment. Our staff has worked very hard to assemble a group that exemplify the values and commitments of our culture and that will harmonize with our returners because of who they are and what they stand for. 
 
"We are about the pursuit of excellence as human beings, students and learners, as well as soccer players. Our influence on each other and on our community is critical to what we do every day. We are proud of these young women and feel richly blessed by their and their families’ decisions to entrust us with this season of their lives. We at Louisiana Soccer are incredibly excited about our future and the part they will play in it."
 
LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS 2021 SPRING SIGNING CLASS
Petra Buyck – F, 5-6, Auckland, New Zealand (Baradene College)
Alexandra Folchert – F, 5-6, Madrid, Spain (Deutsch Schule Madrid)
Anna Grassinger – D, 5-6, Bergheim, Germany (Gutenberg Gymnasium/Creighton)
Laura Hansen – D, 5-9, Middelfart, Denmark (Middelfart Gymnasium)
Carolina Rodriguez – D, 5-5, Zaragoza, Spain (Colegio Sagrada Familia)
Julieta Limardo Sarmiento – MF, 5-5, Doral, Fla. (Ronald Reagan/Eastern Florida State College)
 
Early Signees
Tatum Beck – F, 5-6, Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound HS)
Reese Keller – GK, 5-9, San Antonio, Texas (Johnson HS)
Hailey Lander – D, 5-5, Lantana, Texas (Denton Guyer HS)
Gabi Placke – D/MF, 5-7, Lantana, Texas (Denton Guyer HS)
Hailly Waterhouse – F, 5-6, Mandeville, La. (St. Scholastica Academy)
Paizlee Whalen – D, 5-7, Windsor, Colo. (Windsor HS)
Ally White – F, 5-3, Frisco, Texas (Frisco Liberty HS)
 
LOUISIANA SIGNEES CAPSULES
Petra Buyck – F, 5-6, Auckland, New Zealand (Baradene College)
A 2020 Code Captain in both soccer and futsal at Baradene College … played in Auckland’s Premier Division … helped Baradene College to a third-place finish in futsal the New Zealand Championships … part of 2018 soccer squad that claimed the national secondary schools title … member of 2017 soccer team that placed fourth in the national secondary schools … part of New Zealand schools team that placed third in 2017 World School Orienteering Championships in Palermo, Italy … also competed in track and field, cross country, tennis, touch rugby and volleyball.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Petra loves to score goals. She’s got a tremendous strike of the ball both from the dribble as well as from set pieces. She is an attacking player that loves to get behind defenders and challenge goalkeepers and her turn of pace allows her to do it. She’s been called in to the New Zealand U-20 camp at the end of April, so she’s playing at a high level as she prepares for her arrival to Lafayette. We are excited about what she’ll bring to our side."
 
Alexandra Folchert – F, 5-6, Madrid, Spain (Deutsch Schule Madrid)
Helped Deutsch Schule Madrid to four league championships and a pair of Donosti Cup titles … part of squad that claimed consecutive titles in Primera Nacional (2019-20 & 2018-19) … leading scorer and second overall in the league in 2017-18 … league’s top scorer in 2016-17 … part of a team that finished as runner-up for the Costa Daurada Cup in 2017.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Alex is a traditional number nine with a high-level technical proficiency and awareness in and around the 18-yard box. Alex is a player that will be important in the construction of attacks for the Cajuns. She’s savvy off the ball and will bring tremendous experience to our program. We are thrilled about the impact Alex will have on our program upon her arrival into Lafayette."
 
Anna Grassinger – D, 5-6, Bergheim, Germany (Gutenberg Gymnasium/Creighton)
A two-year letterwinner at Big East member Creighton … appeared in 16 career matches with 13 starts … logged 956 minutes along the Creighton back line as a freshman in 2019 … played at the club level for SGS Essen in the 2. Bundesliga (the second highest women’s league) … playing for U17, led her squad (1.FC Köln) to the national semifinals … from 2012-17, was a part of the All-Star District Team and also trained with an U19 men’s team.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Anna comes to Louisiana with great experience from her time in Germany as well as the Big East. She’s got over 1,000 minutes under her belt as a Division I player which will enable her to smoothly transition into our program and our vision for excellence. She is very hard-working and resilient with a tactical awareness that should help us tremendously in our back line. Anna embodies the lifestyle of a champion that will help our program continue to grow and excel."
 
Laura Hansen – D, 5-9, Middelfart, Denmark (Middelfart Gymnasium)
Part of three Danish national champion teams and a runner-up squad … top regular-season tournament player and top scorer in the postseason in 2018 … also a top scorer during the high school league national championships in 2019 and 2020 … member of club team (Odense Q) that played in the 2021 national semifinals and claimed a senior league title in Denmark’s second division … a 2017 member of the Scandia United All-Star team that toured Scandinavia … played for the U18 team that was the bronze winners in the top league in Denmark.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Laura is another young lady that brings tremendous experience to Louisiana Soccer. We’ve been able to watch her develop within the top of the Danish professional environment, playing a very high standard. She has a fantastic physical presence, that combined with mobility makes her a threat on both sides of the ball. We like Laura in the wide channels, but she is versatile to play in a number of roles on the field."
 
Carolina Rodriguez – D, 5-5, Zaragoza, Spain (Colegio Sagrada Familia)
Member of the 2019-20 league champion Zaragoza CFF that earned a promotion to the national league … played for the 2017-18 league champions with Zaragoza CFF … earned Best Player honors in 2016-17 for UD Montecarlo and helped team to 2014-15 league championship.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Carol is an exciting player coming from an outstanding organization in Spain. She is an athletic and gritty defender that is always dangerous going forward. Her experience competing alongside highly experienced players has been a terrific platform for her growth. Carol is going to be a ton of fun to watch over the next four years." 
 
Julieta Limardo Sarmiento – MF, 5-5, Miami, Fla. (Ronald Reagan/Eastern Florida St. College)
Nine goals and five assists as a freshman at Eastern Florida State College in 2019 … started and played in 16 matches on the season … recorded three game-winning goals and had three straight matches with multiple goals … had 58 shots with 24 on-goal … helped Eastern Florida State to a 16-1 record and national semifinal appearance in the NJCAA Tournament … part of a Spring 2021 squad that is ranked No. 2 overall in the NJCAA poll.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Juli is a ton of fun to watch on the ball. She’s had such a diverse development path domestically and internationally and has made a big impact at one of the best junior college soccer programs in the country. She is crafty, creative, and also has the ability to score goals. Her professional-style approach to developing her game will only help to take the mentality of our program to another level as we continue to build champions. She is going to be an outstanding addition."
 
LOUISIANA EARLY SIGNEE CAPSULES
Tatum Beck – F, 5-6, Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound HS/Warriors SC)
A three-year letterwinner at Flower Mound … a second-team all-district selection as a junior … earned first-team all-district honors and named the district’s Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … earned MVP honors on offense as a freshman on the junior varsity team … led club team – Warriors SC – in goals and assists for five straight years. 
 
Lance Key Comments – "Tatum has demonstrated a hunger and ability to score goals throughout her prep career, which we have been following closely for some time. She is a confident and athletic player who knows how to get at defenders in isolation and also combines well around the box. We are incredibly excited to see that translate into our quest for a Sun Belt championship."
 
Reese Keller – GK, 5-9, San Antonio, Texas (Johnson HS/Classics Elite)
A two-time all-district selection and four-year letterwinner at San Antonio’s Johnson High School … had an 87-percent save ratio in her career … named the San Antonio Express-News Player of the week as a junior … helped JHS to the district title as a freshman … earned Goalkeeper MVP Honors at Exact Camp Dallas as a junior … named CE ECNL Texas-Best 18 (Houston) as a sophomore … member of the U15 ECNL CUP Showcase Champion team in Seattle … a two-year member on the ODP state and Region III team.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Reese is a talented goalkeeper with an infectious personality and great leadership qualities. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and has very good range throughout her goal frame. She joins an already very strong goalkeeping corps and will add athleticism and competitiveness that will surely increase the collective quality."
 
Hailey Lander – D, 5-5, Lantana, Texas (Guyer HS/Sting Dallas)
A two-year captain and three-year letterwinner in soccer at Guyer High School … a first-team All-District 5-6A and district Defensive MVP as a junior … named to the all-region team and a Top Drawer Soccer First-Team All-State selection … earned GHS Defensive MVP honors as a junior … an honorable mention All-District 5-6A pick as a sophomore … also lettered in track … played four years for club team earning team captain honors and helping team to a pair of South Central Regional titles and a second-place finish at the USYS National Championships.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Hailey is a terrific defender that plays and competes at a very high level. Her athleticism allows her to cover the spaces in and around the back line, and her intelligence leads to very good decision making. She is a young lady that comes into our program with great promise. We are very enthusiastic to welcome such an exceptional student-athlete."
 
Gabi Placke – D/MF, 5-7, Lantana, Texas (Denton Guyer HS/Sting Dallas)
A three-year letterwinner and first-team All-District 5-6A at Denton Guyer High School … a two-year captain and two-time Academic All-District pick … named honorable mention District 5-6A as a sophomore … played club soccer for Sting Dallas.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Gabi is a very versatile soccer player who can impact the game from a multitude of positions. She plays with an athletic presence and a competitive confidence that stems from great work rate and intelligence. She is a good passer of the ball and has the ability to get forward from the back of the shape to create goals. Gabi will be a person of influence on and off the field for Louisiana Soccer."
 
Hailly Waterhouse – F, 5-6, Mandeville, La. (St. Scholastica Academy/Mandeville SC)
A two-time all-district and LSCA All-State selection at St. Scholastica Academy … helped the Doves to back-to-back LHSAA Division I state titles … led the Doves to a 22-0-3 record that was capped in the state championship match at the Ragin’ Cajuns Track/Soccer Complex … helped SSA to a 20-1-3 record and 2018 Division I state title … named SSA’s overall Most Vaulable Player as a junior … named to the All-St. Tammany Parish team … a two-time All-Metro pick … a three-time Louisiana State Cup winner and four-time Louisiana Classic Soccer League champion for Mandeville SC … a three-time USYS Region III Championship participant … helped MSC to the Southern Regional Premier League Central Division championship and SRPL West/South Division titles.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Hailly is a creative and talented young woman that plays with tremendous passion. She caught our eye from the first time we watched her and is among the top prep players in the state of Louisiana. She loves to break lines off the dribble and is also a very good server of the ball with the ability to use both feet. We are so happy to be keeping Hailly close to home."
 
Paizlee Whalen – D, 5-7, Windsor, Colo. (Windsor HS/Arsenal Colorado)
A three-time District 17-4A selection and two-time District Defensive MVP at Windsor High School … helped led the Lady Leopards to a pair of undefeated records in district play … named twice to the Super-Centex team … also lettered in track and field/cross country … a team captain and 2019 Fall Silverlakes Tournament "Game Changer" for Arsenal Colorado.
 
Lance Key Comments – "Paizlee is a tough and tenacious defender that covers a lot of ground in the back line. She is strong in the tackle and incredibly hard-working. Paizlee has a leadership presence about her when she plays and will add important depth to our talented back line."
 
Ally White – F, 5-3, Frisco, Texas (Frisco Liberty HS/Sting Dallas)
A two-year team captain and two-time All-District 9-5A selection at Frisco’s Liberty High School … named the school’s Newcomer of the Year and Offensive MVP as a freshman in 2018 … club team – Sting Dallas – reached the National Cup Finals in 2019 and was a two-time Regional Cup champion (2018-19).
 
Lance Key Comments – "Ally is a relentless and dynamic player who can play multiple roles throughout our shape. She is strong and athletic and loves to run in spaces with and without the ball. She is a quality ball-striker and a gritty competitor. Ally will bring intangible qualities to the Cajuns. She embodies what it means to be a Louisiana Soccer player."