Tulsa Women's Soccer Signs Eight to National Letters-of-Intent

Tulsa women's soccer coach Kyle Cussen announced the signing of eight players for the 2014 freshman class, including Amanda Creason, Carlie Cook, Tana Dake, Rebecca Defer, Paige Grasso, Courtney McKeon, Eden Opie and Rachel Thun. Thun graduated early and enrolled at TU this spring.

"With the loss of eight seniors out of the program from this past season, we knew we would have a big hole to fill," coach Kyle Cussen said. "I feel with this recruiting class we have a good mix of positions so we've added some depth and a lot of quality all across the field. I am exited about this group coming in and I feel strongly that they can come in and make not just an immediate impact, but a lasting one. We've been recruiting kids with a strong character and strong work ethic and this group fits that mold."

A 5-10 midfielder from Overland Park, Kan., Creason is a three-year letterwinner at Blue Valley Southwest High School. She has helped lead her team to 41 wins, three Kansas Region II Championships and a Class 5A State runner-up performance as a freshman. Creason has scored 32 goals and recorded 18 assists for 82 points, and has been a two-time all-state, all-region, all-Eastern Kansas League and all-Johnson County Sun first team honoree. She also plays club soccer for the Sporting Blue Valley, a team that won the 2011 U17 Kansas State Cup, 2012 U18 Kansas State Cup and 2013 U18 Kansas State Cup, as well as the 2011 and 2012 National Futsal Championship. Creason has also earned two letters on the basketball team and one on the cross country team.

Cook, a 5-2 midfielder from Tulsa, plays club soccer for the TSC Hurricane 96 ECNL team and has served as the team captain two years. Cook is also a three-year letterwinner at Cascia Hall, where she has tallied 62 goals and seven assists for 131 points. She served as team captain the last two years, earned the Golden Boot award as a junior and was selected to the Tulsa World all-metro first team as a sophomore.

A 5-8 midfielder from Claremore, Okla., Dake is a three-year letterwinner at Sequoyah High School. She helped SHS finish as the district champions all three years and is a three-time all-district performer. Dake also plays club soccer for the TSC Hurricane, and is two-time letterwinner at SHS in basketball and track and field.

Defer, a 5-11 goalkeeper from British Columbia, Canada, plays club soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. She has led her team to finish as the 2013 Metro Women's League Champions, 2013 Metro Women's League Cup Champions and 2013 Pacific Coast League Champions. Defer has also helped her BC Provincial Team (U13-16) finish as the U16 and U14 National Champions, U15 National Championship bronze medalists, and U16 Mountain United FC Provincial Champions.

A 5-9 midfielder from St. Louis, Mo., Grasso is a three-year letterwinner at Cor Jesu Academy. She has three goals and 21 assists for 27 points, and has led her team to 57 wins and the 2012 Class 3A State Championship title. Grasso has helped her club team, St. Louis Scott Gallagher, win three Missouri State Championships and participate in three Region II Championships. Her club team also finished in third place at the U16 Disney Showcase, participated in the U16 United States Youth Soccer National League and captured the U17 Disney Showcase Championship.

McKeon, a 5-10 goalkeeper from Garland, Texas, currently plays club soccer for the Dallas Sting Soccer Club, but has played for the Solar Soccer Club from 2008-13. She helped the Solar finish as a 2011 State Cup finalist, 2011 Disney Soccer Showcase Predator Division Champion and 2013 Dallas International Cup Champions, and captured a third-place finish at the 2013 North American League Nationals. McKeon is a three-year letterwinner in softball at Naaman Forest High School.

A 5-7 forward from Olathe, Kan., Opie is a three-year letterwinner at Northwest High School. She was a three-time all-Sunflower League second-team honoree, an all-Olathe League performer in 2011 and was named as the 2011 ONHS Offensive MVP. Opie also plays club soccer with the Sporting Blue Valley, as well as the KCFC Fury and KC Comets. She helped the KC Comets win the 2010 and 2011 Kansas State Cup; the KCFC Fury the 2011 U15 Kansas State Soccer Cup and a fourth-place finish at the 2012 Elite Club Nationals; and the Sporting Blue Valley win the 2011 U17 Kansas State Cup, 2012 U18 Kansas State Cup and 2013 U18 Kansas State Cup, and the 2011 and 2012 National Futsal Championship.

Thun, a 5-6 midfielder from Oklahoma City, played club soccer for Oklahoma Futbol Club. She led her team to a 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 state championship, and to a 2013 Regional III championship. Thun as a member of the 2009 regional team pool, 2009 National I.D. camp and 2010 regional team.

"I am very excited about Rachel," Cussen added. "She graduated early and came in at semester so we are happy to have her already here on campus and ready for spring training."

2014 Tulsa Women's Soccer Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (Previous School)

Amanda Creason MF 5-10 Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley Southwest)

Carlie Cook MF 5-2 Tulsa, Okla. (Cascia Hall)

Tana Dake MF 5-8 Claremore, Okla. (Sequoyah)

Rebecca Defer GK 5-11 British Columbia, Canada (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Paige Grasso MF 5-9 St. Louis, Mo. (Cor Jesu Academy)

Courtney McKeon GK 5-10 Garland, Texas (Naaman Forest)

Eden Opie F 5-7 Olathe, Kan. (Olathe Northwest)

Rachel Thun MF 5-6 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy)