Kela Casiple, an All-State keeper from Palmer Trinity in Miami, Fla., and Francesca Howells, a defender/midfielder from Swansea, Wales, have signed with Middle Tennessee and will be part of the Blue Raider program this fall.

Casiple owns a 0.53 career goals-against-average and has been in goal for 31 career shutouts at Palmer Trinity, and she earned All-State and Player of the Year honors in 2006. The 2007 postseason honors have yet to be awarded.

"Kela is a very strong keeper with good technical abilities," Rhoden said. "She is excellent with her feet and is a very solid shot stopper. Her ability to organize the defense will be an asset to our team."

A well-rounded athlete, Casiple lettered in soccer, volleyball and softball at Palmer Trinity and is one of the area's top softball players, as well. Casiple helped lead Palmer Trinity to the Florida Class AA regional finals in 2006 and posted an impressive 0.78 goals-against-average, which was the lowest in Dade County. She was also named first-team All-Dade County for her efforts.

Casiple also helped lead the team the semifinals in Florida Class AA soccer in 2005 when she enjoyed a 0.25 goals-against-average - the lowest in Dade County. She was also named Palmer Trinity's Impact Player of the Year in 2004-05.

Howells also figures to impact the program in 2007. The decorated defender will be looked upon to help fill the void left by the graduation of defenders Katy Rayburn and Sara Wohlhueter.

"Fran is another great addition to an already talented recruiting class," Rhoden said. "Her experience at the national team level will be an asset for our program. She is a very technical player who reads the game well and can attack from the back. We are looking for Fran to have an immediate and significant impact on our team."

Howells, who attends the Arsenal Ladies Academy, has captained the U-16 and U-19 Welsh National teams and is currently playing for the U-19 national team in Wales. She helped lead her club team, the Cardiff City Ladies, to the Southern Premiership in 2005, and she also won the Welsh Cup with Cardiff in 2004 and 2005.

Also included in the 2007 signing class is Jaimee Cooper, a midfielder from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Bethany Bertovic, a defender/midfielder from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala., Kelly Downs, a forward from Soddy-Daisy High School in Hixson, Tenn., and Emily Harris, a defender/midfielder from Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tenn.

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