SEATTLE (Feb. 7) – Seven high school seniors have signed national letters of intent to play women’s soccer at Seattle Pacific University beginning next fall, Coach Chuck Sekyra announced Monday.

The Falcons, coming off their finest season, including a third straight conference championship and second NCAA Division II tournament appearance, received commitments from goalkeeper Jen Burns (Boise, Id.), defender Claire Grubbs (Sterling, Va.), forward Lacey Keyser (Eugene, Or.), midfielder Michelle Musser (Portland, Or.), midfielder Shannon Oakes (Boise, Id.) and outside backs Katie Taylor (Vancouver, Wa.) and Meredith Teague (Redmond, Wa.).

Burns and Oakes were teammates at the club level, as were Musser and Taylor. Teague joins her older sister Allie on the Seattle Pacific roster.

“I believe that in four years, we will look back at this recruiting class and realize the huge impact they will have on this program,” said Sekyra. “These are skilled, difference-making, dedicated young women. We lost a large, wonderful group of seniors, yet this group is very talented and upbeat. They are motivated, and are coming to SPU with every intention of winning a national championship.”

Seattle Pacific, which finished 19-1-2 and ranked No. 9 in the nation, lost seven seniors to graduation, including five starters. The Falcons take a 32-game conference unbeaten string into 2005.

Below are notes and quotes from Sekyra for each member of the recruiting class.

Shannon Oakes has been a four-year starter for Boise High School, which won the Idaho state championship twice and finished third last fall, when she totaled 13 goals and 13 assists. Her club, Les Bois United, has won the state title three times. She has been a member of both the state and regional ODP pool for four years. Her older brother Ryan plays for the University of Portland.

“Shannon has great creativity, vision, ability on the ball, ability to defend. She’s a very complete player who is going to dominate games at times. ”

Jen Burns started three seasons in goal for Capital High School, earning first team all-Southern Idaho Conference each year. Her club, Les Bois United, won the state title the pasttwo years and was a regional quarterfinalist in 2004.

“Jen is everything you want in a keeper: athletic, fearless, explosive, intelligent and natural born leader. I think the sky is the limit for her.”

Lacey Keyser scored 15 goals last fall as Sheldon High School claimed its second straight Oregon 4A championship and she was selected third team all-state. She has played three years for the OUSA Breakers, the state premier league champions.

“Lacey makes everyone around her a better player, and she also has the ability to beat another team by herself. . Very quick with a savvy beyond her years. She will be exciting to watch.”

Katie Taylor has started four seasons and been a first team all-league pick for Columbia River High School, which has won the Great Saint Helens League the past two years. She crosses the river to play for Oregon’s Lake Oswego Defeeters, the state champion in 2003. She was a state and regional ODP member from 2001-03.

“Everyone knows how much we like to get our outside backs into the attack, and Katie is going to be awesome. Her service, poise and decision making with the ball is everything you want with an outside back.”

Michelle Musser started her final three seasons for Jesuit High School, which won the Oregon 4A crown twice and was runner-up last fall. Twice she was first team all-Metro League. She has played with the Lake Oswego Defeeters, winning five state cups in the last seven years.

“Michelle has an amazing field presence and confidence about her, that you know she will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her skill and vision in the midfield are impressive.”

Meredith Teague has started four years for Bellevue Christian High School, which was third in the state 1A tournament last fall. She scored 20 goals as a senior and was Emerald City League MVP as a junior. She has played five years for FC Crossfire, which took first place in the Premier 1 five times and won the state cup three times. Her older sister, Allie, will be a senior for the SPU in 2005.

“Meredith is such a gifted technical player that she could play anywhere on the field. I don’t know if I watched a player this past year who had better ball control in tight areas.”

Claire Grubbs scored 16 goals for Potomac Falls as a junior, when the Panthers won Virginia AA championship and she was named all-state. She’s a member of the state ODP pool and attended U-17 regional camp. Her club, Braddock road is a two-time state runner-up.

“Claire is quick and wins balls in the air. She’s very skilled on the ball and comes from a club where they play a great level of possession soccer, so she will fit in well, and is going to be a difficult marker.”