Cajuns Soccer Announces 2007 Signees

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns soccer team announced the signing of seven recruits on Thursday, Feb. 8.

Of the seven signees, the Cajuns inked two from Texas and one each from Louisiana, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Canada.

The Ragin' Cajuns signed Chelsea Balestra, Jordan Blevins, Gayla Foster, Allyson Hollier, Kelli Jestes, Carleigh Martin and Tammy Young.

Balestra hails from Plano, Texas. She is a midfielder who played at Plano High School. She is very athletic and offensive minded. Balestra has great attacking ability and explosive speed. She played with the Sting Soccer Club. Balestra has a 3.6 GPA.

The Cajuns other player signed from Texas is Blevins, who comes to UL from Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. She has a 4.7 grade point average. She was first team All-District in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Blevins was named the District Newcomer of the Year in 2004. She was named the District Midfielder of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2006 while serving as her high school's team captain. Blevins was named All County in 2005 and 2006 and first team All-Region in 2006. She was a member of the Texas Olympic Development Program and the D'Feeters Soccer Club in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Blevins is a talented and very technical center midfielder with great field vision and attacking ability.

Foster is a defender from Edwardsville High School in Glen Carbon, Ill. She has a 3.5 GPA and is a member of the Metro United Soccer Club. Foster was a member of the Illinois ODP in 2003. At Edwardsville HS, she was named team MVP in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Foster was a two-time Illinois All-Sectional Team member. She was named All-Conference in 2005, 2006 and 2007, as well as, being named Alton Telegraph All-Area in 2006 and 2007. Foster was also named St. Louis All-Metro. She is an athletic and technical defender with great speed and attacking ability.

Hollier is the Cajuns only signee from Louisiana. A Lafayette native, she has a 3.9 GPA at Teurlings Catholic High School. She was named the captain of the Rebels from 2004 through 2007. Hollier was named first team All-District in 2004 and 2005. She was a member of the All-Acadiana team in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Hollier was a first team All-State honoree in 2005 and 2006. She is a member of the Cajun Soccer Club and was a member of the Olympic Development program in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Hollier is a very talented and composed defender with great field vision and attacking ability.

Jestes is a forward from Fort Collins, Colo. She has a 3.6 GPA at Poudre HS. Jestes is a member of the Fort Collins Arsenal Soccer Club. She was a Club-State Cup champion in 2005 and 2006. Jestes is a very athletic and dangerous offensive player with tremendous speed and attacking ability.

Martin joins the Cajuns from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She has a 3.4 GPA at Branksome Hall High School. She is a member of the Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club, as well as, a member of the Ontario Development Program. Martin was the captain of her high school in 2005 and 2006. She is also a member of the Canadian National Rugby Team in 2006 and 2007. Martin is a very athletic and physical offensive player with great mobility on and off the ball.

Young is a defender from Largo, Fla. She currently has a 4.2 GPA at Largo High School. She was named All-District in 2005 and the defensive MVP in 2004 and 2005. Young is a member of the Clearwater Chargers Soccer Club. She is a very athletic and technically sound player with tremendous speed and attacking ability.

The Cajuns added another recruit later in the signing period. Defender Brittany Pilon of Naples, Fla., was the late addition to the UL signing class. Pilon is a member of the National Honor Society at Barron Collier High School. She is a member of the Florida Premier club team. Pilon helped BCHS to the District Champion in 2004, 2006 and 2007, earning All District honors in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. She was named All Area Player of the Year in 2007 and All State from 2004 to 2007. Pilon was team captain for three years and Barron Collier High School's team MVP for three years. She was also State Senior All Star Captain in 2007. Pilon is a very versatile player not only being able to shut down opposing offenses but she has great field vision and tactical awareness under pressure. She has a tremendous physical presence and accompanies that with great speed and attacking ability. With a reputation in the state as a defender that can shut an opposing offense down, she led her high school team in 2007 with 17 shutouts and only 11 goals against. She also led her team to the Region 5A-4 semifinals in 2007.