June 2, 2006

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The women's soccer lineup for the upcoming season received a boost on Friday (June 2) when head coach Derrek Falor announced the signing of Sarah Baker (Huron, OH) and Courtney Keith (Akron, OH/Copley) to national letters of intent to attend Cleveland State and play soccer beginning this fall.

"We are continually on the lookout for players that can help us get better and become more competitive on the field," Falor said. "To have two players available this late in the year with the skill and physical ability that Sarah and Courtney possess is a real find. They should really help to stabilize our playing rotation."

Baker, a 5-5 forward, played four years of high school soccer on the boys team at Huron High, helping the team to a46-23-3 record and a pair of league titles. She also lettered four times in track, serving as the team captain as a senior.

A member of the National Honor Society in high school, Baker was on Huron's academic challenge team. She intends on majoring in journalism at CSU.

"Sarah is good at combining and keeping possession, as well as going to goal. She has a good burst of speed and is quite aggressive in the attacking third which should make her a bit of a scoring threat early on in the season," Falor said. "She played on a boys team in High School so as a freshman shewill beready for the physical nature of Division I soccer."

Keith, a 5-2 defender/midfielder, earned first team all-district honors as a senior after helping team to its third league title during her playing career. A four-year letterwinner in soccer, she was a three-time all-area selection, earning first team honors as a senior and second team as a junior. She intends to major in communications at CSU.

"The addition of Courtney gives us a tenacious and solid defender that will bolster our back line," Falor said. "She has a tireless work rate, functions well in a zonal defense and can be physical playing one-on-one. She is versatile, being able to play in the back or as a defensive midfielder."

The Vikings return 10 starters and 13 letterwinners this fall when they open their third season of intercollegiate competition against Delaware State on August 27.