SEATTLE (Feb.18) – Seattle Pacific University has signed four recruits from in-state high schools to women’s soccer national letters of intent, including Sarah Martinez, the Eastside player of the year.

Joining Martinez–a forward from Bothell’s Cedar Park Christian–in the 2004 recruiting class are Jeanne Webster, a defender from Bothell High; Tricia Loomis, a defender from Mount Rainier High in Des Moines; and Kara Hamby, a midfielder from Spokane’s Mead. Seattle Pacific, which reached the NCAA Division II tournament in 2003, lost only one starter to graduation.

Martinez led Cedar Park to its third straight state 1A championship by scoring 30 goals and 12 assists. She was the King County Journal’s player of the year for the Eastside and played for the Seattle Sounders last summer. Martinez, a two-time Emerald City League MVP and three-time state Olympic Development Program (ODP) selection, is rated as the top attacking player in the state by her new coach, Chuck Sekyra.

“Sarah is such a difference maker,” Sekyra said. “Her ability to beat players off the dribble and break opponents down along with her ability to finish and create opportunities for others is impressive. She’s going to have a big impact on our team right away and I cannot wait to get her on the field for us.”

Webster and Loomis were both first team all-league selections as juniors but missed the 2003 fall prep season with injuries. Webster was KingCo co-MVP in 2002 and was selected to the state ODP team five times, making the regional camp. She played for FC Alliance in the Premier 1 league. Loomis was twice all-Seamount for Mt. Rainier and also for the Parrots, state P1 runner-up last year. She was a three-time state ODP member and also made the regional camp. Both were teammates and starters on the state ODP team the past three years.

“Jeanne and Tricia are gifted players,” said Sekyra. “Jeanne has a wonderful presence on the ball and an outstanding ability to tackle and win the ball in the air. I see Tricia playing centerback and defensive center midfield. She has amazing technical ability and is going to be great on set pieces.”

Hamby was a first team all-Greater Spokane League pick her final three years, and second team all-state as a senior. She made the state and regional ODP camp in 2002 while playing for the P1 Spokane Vision.

“Kara is flat out dynamic,” Sekyra said. “Her speed of play, ability to create for herself and others is going to have an immediate impact on our team. Kara has another level to her and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the result needed. She is just a natural leader in so many ways.”

Sekyra guided Seattle Pacific to an NCAA tournament berth and a second straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship in his first season and the program’s third. The Falcons were 17-2-2 and finished the season ranked 10th nationally.

“This class is going to have a huge impact on our program when it is all said and done,” Sekyra said. “It is not only talented soccer wise, but a wonderful group of young women who are gifted students and outstanding people. We could not be happier with this recruiting class and what they are bringing to our soccer program and our community.”