Louisiana Soccer Adds Three Decorated Signees for 2021 Season

Pair of Division I transfers, member of Haitian National Team join Ragin’ Cajuns

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LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Soccer coach Lance Key added three members to an already impressive 2021 recruiting class on Tuesday with the announcement of a pair of Division I transfers and a member of the Haitian National Team to the roster.
 
Signing with the Ragin’ Cajuns is forward Gracie Vargas (Roseville, Calif./Sierra College/Fresno State), goalkeeper Libby Harper (Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England/Akron) and defender/midfielder Ruthny Mathurin (Gressier, Haiti). 
 
The additions increased Louisiana’s 2021 signing class to 16.
 
Mathurin played for Haitian National Team in the 2020 Olympic Senior Qualifying Round in Houston, Texas, alongside former Ragin’ Cajuns assistant coach Chelsea Surpris. Mathurin also played for the Haitian National U-20 Team in the 2019 Caribbean Qualifying Stage of the WOQC in Puerto Rico and the Sud Ladies Cup in France 
 
She was a member of the 2017 Haitian National Team U17, U20, and Senior Team in the FIFA World Cup in France and her club team – Tigresses – claimed the Haitian National Championship. 
 
Mathurin was selected to the Haitian National U17 Team before being promoted to the Haitian National Team (U20) in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. She competed in her first international competition as a member of the Haitian National U-15 Team that played in the CONCACAF U15 Girls Championship in Orlando, Fla., and was selected to the Haitian National U12 Team and moved to the National Soccer Academy – Academie Camp Nous.
 
Lance Key comments – "Ruthny is going to be a tremendous addition to our program.  We have been working with her for quite some time to make this happen and we are thrilled it is becoming a reality. She’s a wonderful person and as resilient as can be. Her experience in the U20 World Cup as well as the full Haitian National Team will be a big addition to our side moving forward."
 
Vargas, a junior college All-American at Sierra College (Calif.), was a two-time Big Eight 8 MVP, first team all-conference and all-state selection. Before her lone season at Fresno State, the striker totaled a school-record 53 goals at Sierra and scored 129 points (53 goals/23 assists) in two seasons. In 2019, she averaged 1.35 goals per game, netting 27 in 20 games. She started every game at Woodcreek High School during her four years and was named to the SFL first team each year.
 
Lance Key comments – "We are really excited about Gracie and her hunger to continue proving herself. She’s a talented player, creative with the ball at her feet and capable of scoring loads of goals. We began tracking her over a year ago during her All-American season and feel fortunate that circumstances have led to her joining our program at this time."
 
Harper, the 2019 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, played in 23 career matches in two seasons at Akron with 20 starts, 74 career saves, a .907 goals against average and six shutouts. 
 
She competed for Arsenal FC and was the No. 1 goaltender for Arsenal FC U21’s while helping lead her team to an FA cup championship. Harper played for Chelsea FC for six seasons as well as Arsenal FC for three seasons to begin her career (U9-U12’s).
 
Lance Key comments – "Libby adds tremendous quality to an already outstanding group of goalkeepers. Prior to earning Freshman-of-the-Year honors in the MAC, she was with Arsenal’s first team and also an FA Cup winner with Arsenal’s U21s. We really value her command of the game and her connection to the players in front of her. Libby’s commitment to excellence was evident from our first conversation, and we are confident in the professionalism she will bring every day to our culture and team."
 
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