UTEP Head Coach Kevin Cross

April 18, 2008

The UTEP soccer team, never one to rest on its laurels, inked four more student-athletes to national letters of intent on Friday, to bring its 2008 recruiting class to a total of 10. Head coach Kevin Cross' latest signees are comprised of two defenders, a defender/forward and a goalkeeper.

"We are very excited to add these final four players to the UTEP Soccer family," Cross said. "They will add great depth to our defense.  I would like to thank everyone who helped us recruit them - the UTEP team, assistant coaches and graduate assistants, our academic advisor, Gina Romero, strength coach, David Adamson, soccer trainer, Tom Lechtenberg, and senior woman administrator, Lisa Campos.  We feel we now have all of the pieces to the puzzle for next year.  We will have many young and talented players on next year's roster."

The four new players are as follows:

Chandra Morden Bednar, Goalkeeper

Brittany Gonzalez, Defender/Forward

Two-year standout at Paradise Valley Community College .... Helped her team to a national ranking of 14th in 2006-07 ... improved that figure to sixth the following year, which was aided by a 14-2 record ... awarded the "Unsung Hero" for the squad, as result of her efforts as both a defender and forward for the Pumas ... prior to PVCC, was a four-year starter at Cactus High School ... holds three school records for goals and helped contribute to a state-runner up showing and a region three championship in 2003 ... garnered first-team all state and first-team all-region distinction as a junior ... played club for both Cisco 88' and the two-time state championship Cisco 87' ... born 6/17/88 in Peoria, Ariz.

Florencia Gutierrez, Defender

Multi-sport student-athlete at Franklin High School, where she was a standout in soccer and golf ... all-district honors and first-team all-city accolades in soccer during her junior campaign ... was the No. 2 ranked golfer in the city of El Paso during her freshman and sophomore seasons ... began playing the sport at the age of seven  ... strong student, evidenced by being a member of the National Honor Society and FCCLA ... ranked in the top two percent of her senior class ... two brothers, a senior at UTEP and Ramiro a sophomore at UT Austin, and a sister Rocio, a sophomore at FHS .. daughter of Ricardo Gutierrez and Ely Ferreyra ... born 4/25/90 in Argentina.

Hannah Silvey, Defender

Junior-college transfer who will have two years of eligibility from UTEP after starring on defense with Iowa Western Community College ... squad competed for the NJCAA Division I championships, grabbing runner up honors in 2006 and 2007 ... the starting stopper and team captain, Silvey's teams were a combined 42-4-2 ... member of 2007 all-tournament team ... tallied five goals and five assists ... prior to attending IWCC, Silvey was a four-year starter at Springville High School (Utah) ... squad participated in four state championships ... all-state recognition from Desert News and Salt Lake Tribune in 2005 ... graduated with honors competed with the Celtic Storm at the club level, grabbing the 2003 USA Cup championship and 2004 Las Vegas Showcase title ... daughter of Sam and Tia Silvey ... has four older siblings and one younger brother ... born 10/27/87.