T-Bird Lady Soccer players commit to universities

Four Casper College Women’s Soccer team members are pictured after signing their letters of intent to play soccer for NCAA teams. (L-r) Sophia Henley, Sydney Hiatt, Yissel Navarro, and Valeria Hernandez. (Casper College photo/Lisa S. Pearce Icenogle)

Four Casper College Lady Thunderbird Soccer players have signed letters of intent to play soccer at the university level. All four are three-year starters for the T-Birds.

Of the four, three will be attending Kansas Wesleyan University. Those attending KWU include Yissel Navarro, a defender from West Valley City, Utah, who played in the outside back position and was a captain for two years; forward Sydney Hiatt from Heber City, Utah, who was named Region IX’s Freshman of the Year in her first season at Casper; and Valeria Hernandez who played the center-back position and was named an All-Region IX Player.

KWU, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics affiliated school, plays in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Under head coach Henrik Sohn, the Coyotes had a record of 11-8-1 for the 2022 fall season.

Sophia Henley has committed to play with the Louisiana State University of Alexandria Generals. A midfielder from Farr West, Utah, Henley was instrumental in creating the T-Birds’ offense for the past three years.

LSUA is also an NAIA-affiliated school and plays in the Red River Athletic Conference. Under head coach Mark Hammond, the team had an 11-6-1 record for the 2022 fall season.

“All four of these ladies were an important part of building the foundation of our program and creating a winning team for the past three years. They were important to our region championship last year,” said Jocelyn Norcross, women’s assistant soccer coach.