Valparaiso University women's soccer coach Stephen Anthony has announced the signings of four players that will join the Crusaders for the 2004 season.

Joining the program in the fall will be Erin Murray, Karie Sahly, Britta Zewers, and Sonney Ziegahn.

Murray is a 5'7" goalkeeper from Pleasanton Calif. A two-year team captain at Amador Valley High School, she also plays club soccer for Pleasanton Rage.

?Erin will add depth and strength to our goalkeeping position and challenge for playing time as a freshman," Anthony said. ?She brings a tremendous amount of club experience to Valpo, which will be a nice addition to the program in training and games."

"I chose Valpo because everyone on the team and the coaches had a great attitude and it seemed as though they were a family and not just teammates," Murray said of her decision to attend Valpo.

Sahly is a 5'5" defender from Naperville, Ill. An All-Conference selection at Naperville Central High School, she has also been a four-year captain for the Naperville Soccer Association.

?Karie will make an immediate impact in the back," said Anthony. She will be key in starting our attack out of the back, and will do well getting forward to give us numbers and another threat to serve the ball."

"I chose Valpo for both the academics and the soccer program," said Sahly. "I know Valpo will help me attain my career goals and the soccer program clinched my decision."

Zewers arrives at Valpo as a 5'4" forward from Shoreview, Minn. An All-Conference selection at Mounds View High School, she has been a two-year Olympic Development Program player.

?Britta will step in and challenge for time up front," said Anthony. ?She possesses athleticism and speed, and will contribute to our ability to get behind defenders and finish on more opportunities this season."

"Of all the colleges that I applied to, I felt that Valparaiso met all of the qualities that I was looking for," said Zewers. "The combination of the programs, campus life, the team, and the coaches was a great fit for me and I'm excited to be a part of a great program."

Ziegahn, a 5'10" midfielder from Anchorage, Alaska, will join her sister Liberty at Valpo. She was an All-Region Team selection for Robert Service High School, and is a member of the Alaska State Olympic Development Team.

?Sonney will be a strong addition to our program providing depth either in the back or in the midfield," said Anthony. ?A versatile player with tremendous strenghth and technical ability, she will be a solid defensive player while also having the ability to help us get forward on attack."

"Valpo is the perfect combination of academics and athletics," Ziegahn said. "I'm excited about playing soccer with coaches and girls that I really like."

?I am very excited about the 2004 incoming class," stated Anthony on the entire group of incoming student-athletes. ?As a group, they will provide added depth to our team and serve the team well in replacing a strong graduating senior class. I feel very confident that this group will contribute immediately in our ability to score and put pressure on our opponents defensively."