By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2023 season barely in the rearview mirror, the Tennessee Tech soccer team is already shifting their attention toward the future with the addition of five incoming freshmen during the annual National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

Golden Eagle head coach Steve Springthorpe and his staff announced the signings of Anna Baker, Angelina Horin, Natalie Howard, Olivia Thomas and Delaney Wade, who will officially join the Tech ranks in the fall of 2024 for a TTU program that is coming off its second-consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship.

"We are excited about the addition of these five new players that will join us in the fall to help our team reload and go after another opportunity at an OVC championship," Golden Eagle head coach Steve Springthorpe said, on the incoming group. "These five players all bring something different and unique to the table, which is always something we are looking for. While some of them may play similar positions, their strengths and skill sets vary across the board, which will help us out in a number of ways.

"You will see that we have more defenders in this group and that is because we ultimately have quite a few defenders that are heading out of our program so that was certainly an area we needed to address and I think we did with this class," Springthorpe continued. "There are a few attacking players as well that we are bringing in, and overall, I am confident and excited about this class as a whole and am looking forward to their arrival in the fall."

Anna Baker (pictured left) will suit up in purple and gold on the heels of a stellar high school career during her days at Page HS in Franklin, Tenn. The incoming Golden Eagle freshman was recognized on the THSSCA first-team All-State list in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022 to go along with being named the District Defensive MVP in 2023.

Serving as one of the anchors of her squad's defense, Baker helped guide her team to a 2022 state championship behind an undefeated season (23-0-2) for Page High School's first-ever undefeated team in school history. Suiting up as a defender, the College Grove, Tenn. product still managed to rack up 14 career goals and 20 career assists throughout her high school tenure.

"Anna has been someone we have watched for the past few years now who has had a major interest in our program," Springthorpe said. "She comes from a club where we have had a successful track record of bringing players in from the past. Anna is a defensive player who has the versatility to play two different positions, whether that be as an outside defender or along the inside. She is a good possession-oriented player who likes to have the chance to get forward and make passes. Anna has a great work ethic, loves the game and we know she is truly excited to be a part of our program."

From a club perspective, Baker enjoyed a strong stint with the Nashville United Soccer Academy Girls 06 Maroon where she was named a 2023 captain for a group that was a USYS National Qualifier, a USYS Regional Finalist and a MidSouth Conference champion.

Angelina Horin (pictured right)  comes to Cookeville with a robust high school resume throughout her time at Egg Harbor TWP High School in Egg Harbor TWP, N.J. As a senior, Horin was named to the All-State team in addition to a spot on the All-South Jersey squad, a place on the Press All-Area second team, reservations on the All-Conference team and was also named a Senior All Star.

"We have recruited quite a bit in-state over the last few years, but Angelina is an out of state player that we are really excited about," Springthorpe commented. "She came highly recommended through a couple of connections, and after having the chance to watch her play, we understand why. Angelina is another back who is a great athlete with a lot of speed. She is the type of player that could play inside or out, which is always a plus. Angelina is aggressive, a great tackler, is good on the ball and her high-level athleticism will fit well within our back four."

A lock down defender, Horin was a crucial part of a program that tallied 21 shutouts over her last two years. The 5-foot-6 incoming rookie tallied four goals and six assists throughout her high school stint as well. Off the pitch, Horin excelled in the classroom by earing the Presidential Academic Achievement honor, the Congress of Future Leaders Award and was part of the National Honors Society.

Within the club ranks, the Egg Harbor TWP, N.J. native currently plays for the Cedar Starts Monmouth Girls Academy and has also participated in the NJYS Olympic Development Program.  

Natalie Howard (pictured left) joins the Golden Eagles after lettering for five years at Briarcrest Christian High School in Eads, Tenn., with a run that began as an eighth grader. A two-time member of AA West All-Region team, the Daily Memphian All-Metro team, her high school's Offensive MVP and the TN State Championship Player of the Match in 2023, Howard helped guide her team to a series of titles throughout her five years on the squad.

The Collierville, Tenn. product led her team to four region championships to go along with a state quarterfinalist appearance, a state runner-up showing in 2022 and a state title in 2019. Howard collected 22 goals and 22 assists throughout her high school career.

"Natalie comes from another great club out of the Memphis area that we have had a few players come from the last couple of years," Springthorpe noted. "She is a target forward who possesses great size and strength. She loves to play with her back to the goal and does a good job of holding the ball up and bringing players in. Natalie has an aggressive nature to her, which is always a positive and something we are excited about. She helps fill a need with Bailey Taylor's graduation after five years in our program. We needed to make sure we brought in depth at the forward position and Natalie certainly helps us in that area. She also has a strong desire to be here and I think she is the kind of player that can help us right away."

Howard's club experience is quite extensive thanks to a long tenure with the 05 Lady Lobos Rush Premier where she was part of a program that won the TN State Championship in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The 5-foot-4 forward was also an integral part of the squad's three NL Mid-South titles, three US Youth Soccer Southern Regional championships and the 2022 US Youth National title.

Olivia Thomas (pictured right) will be one of the latest to throw on the purple and gold following a standout high school career at Chattanooga Christian School in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-sport star who ran track as well, Thomas took to the pitch to the tune of two All-Region accolades to go along with the team's Offensive MVP, Rookie of the Year and two Smoky Mountain Cup All-Tournament team appearances.

"Olivia has been on our radar for a number of years now," Springthorpe said. "[Associate head coach] Corey [Boyd] has been familiar with her through camp settings and is excited about what she brings to the table. Olivia has played two different positions, with time spent out wide as a winger as well as a little bit in the back for her club. I think with us she will be an outside attacking player. Olivia has good size and is a good athlete who wants to get forward and loves to be on the attacking side of the equation. She will bring the kind of traits we like to have out of our forwards and that we have right now with them. I expect Olivia to bring immediate depth to our attacking group."

The Chattanooga, Tenn. native helped lead her team to the TSSAA State Tournament, the TSSAA Elite 8 and a DII-AA East Region runner up appearance. Thomas scored 26 goals and added 23 assists throughout her time in high school, which included a 14-goal, 10-assist junior campaign. From a club perspective, the 5-foot-6 winger suited up for Red Wolves SC.

Delany Wade (pictured left) will help bolster Tech's squad after enjoying a strong career at Anderson County High School in Clinton, Tenn. The incoming Golden Eagle rookie compiled an impressive trophy shelf that featured two first-team All-Region honors, two first-team All-District accolades and an All-Region MVP award. 

"Delaney is a bulldog type of player who is a great athlete with a tremendous work ethic," Springthorpe claimed. "She is strong in the tackle, plays as a back and just loves to be out there. She is constantly working on her play and her athleticism. Delaney comes highly recommended from her coaches and we are excited about her potential within our program. She definitely has the chance to challenge for a defensive position on our team for the upcoming season."

Playing as both a defender and forward, Wade helped lead her team to a 2021 Region and 2021 District title. The 5-foot-5 incoming TTU freshman was also part of FC Alliance in Knoxville.