Lady Jacket Soccer Signs Three Players from Casper (Feb. 26, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The roster for the 2004 women’s soccer team at Montana State University-Billings will include the starting defense for Natrona County High School’s 2003 Wyoming State Championship team as well as last year’s Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year.  Yellowjackets head coach Don Trentham has announced the signing of Natrona seniors Kaylee Neal, Lauren Mackey and Anita Renemans. 

The three all-state players join Natrona graduate and current Yellowjacket Jenni Furman on the Yellowjacket roster.  Furman, Neal and Mackey were the starting defenders for Natrona’s 2003 team that won conference, regional and state championships.  Renemans was the starting goalkeeper for that squad.  Furman played in 16 games as a true freshman for the Yellowjackets last season, starting seven.

As a junior last year, Neal was named the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year after helping NCHS to the state title.  She also earned all-conference, all-region and all-state honors last year as well as all-region honors her sophomore season. 

“Kaylee is an excellent defender with great speed,” said Trentham.  “She is also very comfortable with the ball at her feet and transitions very well from defense to offense.  I expect her to contribute immediately as a freshman and to compete for a starting position."

Mackey earned second team all-state honors as a junior at fullback.  She was an all-conference selection last year and was named to the all-region team as a sophomore.

“Lauren is a hard nosed, hard working defender who causes havoc and disruption to opposing offenses,” said Trentham.  “She played a big part in Natrona’s state championship last year and we are very excited to have her joining our program.”

Renemans was in goal for Natrona’s championship run, earning all-conference, all-region and all-state honors.  She will join Yellowjacket sophomores Alyssa Wolfer and Megan Plank who each saw extensive action last season.

“Anita comes into a program with two good goalkeepers (Wolfer and Plank) in front of her,” said Trentham.  “However, her size, athleticism and shot-stopping ability will certainly make things interesting next preseason.  I think with the addition of Anita, we are among the top NCAA II programs in regards to depth at the goalkeeper position.”

The three new Yellowjackets will play their senior seasons this spring at Natrona before joining the Yellowjackets for training camp on August 8.  The Yellowjackets, 6-10-1 last year, will kick off the 2004 season on August 27-29 at a tournament at St. Cloud State where they will face Bemidji State and St. Cloud State.