MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois University women?s soccer team announced its recruiting class on Monday, with nine players signing on to play for Western next season. Head coach Richard Moller, in his first recruiting effort at Western, landed two international recruits and seven regional signees. ?This incoming class has three things in common: great character, intelligent soccer minds and tremendous competitiveness. I cannot wait to blend this class into our team. Consequently, we have not only addressed our needs, but also have added an amazing amount of talent to our squad,? said Moller about his new charges. ?I am thrilled about the quality and quantity of talent in this years? recruiting class to Western Illinois University. Nine young women is not your typical recruiting class, but we have put together a fantastic group that will undoubtedly leave their mark on Western Illinois women?s soccer history.?The nine signees include Angie Guy (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport Assumption), Delaine Pattison (Alberta, Canada/Bowness High), Bess Rap (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast), Julia Remes (Arden Hills, Minn./Totino Grace), Liz Remes (Arden Hills, Minn./Totino Grace), Robyn Ruypers (Ontario, Canada/Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Inst.), Kim Slutz (East Moline, Ill./United Township), Jena Sternquist (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) and Jessica Taylor (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna).Guy, a defender/midfielder, is a two-time Iowa state champion (2002 and 2003) and a two-time selection to the Iowa All-State Tournament Team (2002 and 2003). In 2003, Guy was selected to the Iowa All-State second team. She is also a member of the Quad City United U18 team. ?Angie is a natural team leader, who will inspire her teammates with her great work ethic,? said Moller. ?She is a very consistent player who can be counted on to get the job done game in and game out. She is also a very good and wiry defender/midfielder that has great feet and reads the game exceptionally well. She is a force in the air, but her tremendous vision and distribution skills will make her a special player in our region.?Pattison was a member of the Southern Alberta Provincial Winter Training 2003 and is a member of numerous elite teams in Alberta. Pattison was Moller?s first commitment in his 2004 recruiting class. ?For us to get a player of Delaine?s caliber is a blessing. She is an out-and-out winner and a very polished player. She has the ability to make players around her better, which will ultimately help us win championships. Delaine has the ability to control the tempo and be a calming influence on the game, which is a great quality to possess.?Rap, a midfielder, was a high school state runner-up in Nebraska and is a member of the Omaha Gladiator Fuerza club team. ?I believe Bess brings a lot of talent to our team and she has an outstanding work ethic. She is a skillful player with a great engine and feel for the game that will give us that playmaking spark. Most importantly, she is strong, fast, and possesses the one on one ability to take on and beat players, as well as finish her scoring opportunities. She will be a fun player to watch for our fans. ?Julia Remes is an all-state and all-conference honorable mention goalkeeper and a member of the Blackhawks (St. Paul) U17 Premier team. During the 2003 season, she was recognized as one of the top 100 high school players in the state of Minnesota. Remes also earned the Jostens Distinguished Academic Achievement Award.?Julia is a very talented goalkeeper. She is very vocal with great ability to organize her defense and has good physical presence in goal. I really feel that she is going to add some good depth to our goalkeeping position.?Liz Remes was also an all-conference honorable mention and among the top 1.25% of all Class A players in the state. She was also recognized as one of the top 50 players in the state of Minnesota during the 2003 season. Remes is a member of the Blackhawks (St. Paul) U17 Premier club team, who also earned the Jostens Distinguished Academic Achievement Award.?Liz is a very intelligent soccer player, who understands how to read the game. Her competitiveness makes her a tough and aggressive ball-winner. She also possesses the skills necessary to attack out of the back, and be a threat in the attacking end of the field. The fact that her twin, Julia, joins this recruiting class makes it great for us to have a family connection within the family atmosphere we have created here.?Ruypers is a decorated forward as a member of the Corunna Wildcats U18 team, leading the team with 40 goals in the 2002 season and 37 in 2003. She won a silver medal in the 2003 OFSAA Track and Field Regionals in the 100-meter dash and is also a talented hockey player, helping the Chatham Outlaws to the 2002 OWHA Provincial Championship and was a 2003 OFSAA Girls? Hockey ?AA? finalist.?Robyn is probably our best athlete that we have signed. From a recruiting point of view, her athleticism is as good as anybody I have seen around the country. Her speed may be without rival in the Mid-Con. She is an explosive player who can change the complexion of a game, constantly making big plays,? said Moller about her soccer skills. ?Her hockey background also gives her one more edge on the soccer field. One thing about ice hockey players is they are very good with their bodies in shielding, screening and getting by people, which enabled her to become one of the top goal-scorers in Ontario.?Moller is pleased by the hard-nosed approach defender Kim Slutz brings to the Western program.?Kim is a player we identified at our summer camp. She will join the Westerwinds after a successful career at United Township. She is a well-rounded defender that has the ability to play with either three or four in the back. She reads the game very well, can challenge in the air with anyone we will face, and her competitiveness will give her an opportunity to make an immediate impact for us on defense. She does not care who gets the credit, she only cares about the result. This approach will be invaluable in creating a professional environment.?Sternquist is a multi-dimensional player, playing both midfield and the forward positions. She was a member of the 2003 state regional champion team at Belvidere and a 2003 all-conference recipient.?Jena is a hard working midfielder/forward who is extremely intelligent off the ball and has the uncanny ability to get herself into good scoring situations. Jena also possesses the combination of athleticism and skill necessary to break open a game at the next level. We expect her to impact our program right away.?Taylor was a teammate of the Remes twins on the Blackhawk (St. Paul) U17 Premier club team and was selected to the 2003 ODP All-State team. In the 2001 and 2002 season, Taylor was an all-conference honorable mention and was selected, along with Liz Remes, to play in the 2003 All-State Senior Classic in Minneapolis in mid-November.?Jessica has great athleticism and is very tenacious. She is not afraid to tackle with some authority and wins balls out of the air. Additionally, she strikes the ball tremendously. We are looking for her to set players up in the final third as well as take on a role of scoring goals for us. I really believe that she is going to give us some immediate success in the midfield position. I also believe Jessica has the potential to be one of the best central midfielders in the country. She is gifted technically and tactically and possesses the mental toughness to lead us in the future.?