Feb. 6, 2002

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech head soccer coach Felix Oskam announced today the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on this the first day of the Spring signing period.

Overall, Oskam signed two forwards, one defender and one midfielder. The class is expected to make the 2002 squad extremely competitive and all five players are capable of making an immediate impact.

"This year we brought in a lot of numbers because we really need to be more competitive in practice, " said head coach Felix Oskam. "Last year we were so short-handed that our starters were never challenged. This group will make us a lot more competitive and all five could see quality minutes in the Fall. I am glad to get two players from Lubbock because I think that for the first time since I have been here we have local talent that can help out our program."

The class includes two players from the City of Lubbock in Lubbock High School product Stephanie Colbert and Monterey product Brandi Sims. Colbert is a 5'8 defender who earned All-District honors two different seasons in District 3-5A for the Westerners. Colbert was a captain for the Lubbock Elite soccer team and was named the MVP at the Texas Tech Soccer Camp in 1998.

Brandi Sims, a forward from Monterey High School, was an All-District pick for the Plainsmen in 2000 and was also named the Newcomer of the Year that same season. In 2001, Sims garnered the District 3-5A Offensive Player of the Year. Sims helped lead Monterey to the regional round of the state playoffs in 2001 and the area round in 2000.

Mary Strode, a product of Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, will join the Red Raiders as a forward. Strode was a second team All-District pick in 2000 and a first-team All-District selection in 2001 for the Scots. She was named the 1999 Reebok Player of the Year and played for the Andromeda Soccer Club of Plano.

Coming into the program as a midfielder is Karen Stephens of Denton, Texas. Stephens, a product of Denton High School, played varsity soccer all four years of high school and helped lead her team to the Texas UIL Class 4A State Finals in both her junior and senior seasons. She was a first-team All-District pick three years and was named the Newcomer of the Year for District 7-4A her freshman season. Stephens was also an Academic All-District pick each of her four years at Denton High.

The final student-athlete to sign on the first day of the Spring period is Allison Horn. Horn, a native of Colleyville, Texas (Colleyville Heritage High School), was an All-District defender in 1999, 2000 and 2001. She was named to the Northeast Tarrant County Second Team in 2001 and was one of the Dallas Morning News' Top 20 Players to Watch for in 2002. Colleyville Heritage had an overall record of 74-2-1 during her high school career and the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation this past season.