CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's soccer program has signed 18 student-athletes to its inaugural signing class, head coach Shanna Caldwell announced today. The Islanders program and its signees will make their debuts in the fall of 2013.

"After a year of preparation, this is such an amazing moment," Caldwell said, "both for our program and for me personally. We've been building up to this day since the University decided to add women's soccer to its intercollegiate athletics program, and to finally be able to officially say that these players are part of our team is extremely exciting.

"This group is special, not just because it's our first class, but because it's a group that will work hard, be good students and be strong members of our campus community," she continued. "They are excited about the challenge and the opportunity to build a new program. [Assistant Coach] Money [Molinaro] has been there every step of the way through the assembly of this inaugural class. It's going to be a fun ride once they arrive on campus."

The group of 18 will join Meghan Cordero, who graduated early from high school and enrolled at the Island University in January. The team will play at the newly constructed Dr. Jack Dugan Family Soccer and Track Stadium on Nile Drive, which is expected to be complete at the end of May.

Among the 18 signees are four natives of the Coastal Bend - Corpus Christi's Yvette Franco, Daniela Gonzalez and Naomi Morales along with Rockport's Kennah Leal. Thirteen of the signees originally hail from the state of Texas, three come from Las Vegas, and Colorado and Maryland are each represented by one member of the class.

A full list and a brief synopsis of each player can be found below. Click on the player's name in the list for more information on each.

2013 ISLANDERS WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEES