EVANSVILLE, Ind. –University of Evansville head women’s soccer coach Chris Pfau continued to add talented pieces to his 2022 recruiting class on Thursday, as he announced the signing of Chrysta Vasquez (Henderson, Nev./Coronado HS), Kathryn Tyler (Lantana, Texas/Liberty Christian HS), and Joelle Haines (Jacksonville, Fla./IMG Academy) to letters of intent.
Vasquez recently helped lead Coronado High School to a Class 5A state championship in Nevada in the fall, while also playing club soccer for the Nevada club powerhouse Heat FC. Vasquez was named to the 2021 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada first team. She earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for her high school side, while playing in an attacking role for Heat FC.
“Chrysta is a player that can play anywhere on the field and change the game,” said Pfau. “She is technical and loves to run at defenders. Her ability within our program to play wide as an attacking player, but also to move into an attacking center mid position will really help create more opportunities to score.”
Tyler is a two-time co-captain of the Liberty Christian School soccer team, while playing club soccer for FC Dallas. She earned first team all-district honors as a junior in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), while also earning academic all-state honors. Tyler was named the team’s Defensive MVP as a junior, and has the Lady Warriors currently 11-5 on the season, which will conclude with the playoffs later this month.
“Kathryn is another player that can not only play anywhere in the defense, but I also believe could play anywhere on the field,” said Pfau. “She is a great defender and a great 1-v-1 defender. She has good skill coming out of the back, and also has great vision.”
Haines comes to UE from IMG Academy in Florida, where she was a part of a club program which finished at the top of its league at three different age levels, including finishing atop the U19 league this fall. Haines also played volleyball and basketball in high school, and chose UE for the “great academic program and soccer program.”
“I am excited about Joelle becoming a member of our family,” said Pfau. “She comes from an incredible background, being able to play and train at IMG Academy. The players and coaches she has been able to learn from will really help her at UE. She is extremely smart and a very technical player with a great work rate, and I really expect good things from Joelle.”
Vasquez, Tyler and Haines join Isabel Valdez (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS), Amy Velazquez (Avon, Ind./Avon HS), Kaylee Woosley (Evansville, Ind./North) and Ella McAndrew (Greendale, Ind./Lawrenceburg HS) in UE’s 2022 recruiting class. Evansville is coming off of a season in which the Purple Aces began with the best start in program history, ranked as high as #5 in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region poll, and earned a spot in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament finals.
