San Antonio – Two talented players will join the Trinity University Tigers women's soccer team in August.

Ruth Ocean of The Woodlands, Texas (College Park); and Valerie Rutan of Olympia, Wash. (Charles Wright Academy); are becoming members of one of the best NCAA Division III teams in the nation.

“We're excited to welcome these two young women to the program,” said Lance Key, the sixth-year head coach of the Tigers. “They are an important part of an incoming first-year class that will enhance women's soccer at Trinity.”

Ocean, a goalkeeper, earned Class 5A all-district honorable mention honors in 2009. She was the starting keeper her junior and senior years, and was elected captain in 2010. Ocean has also played with the Texas Rush Soccer Club. She was the team's high scorer during the 2007-08 season. Ocean played center midfielder, defender, and keeper during the 2008-09 campaign. She was a U-18 Division I midfielder and keeper in the fall of 2009. When the club disbanded, Ocean joined another Texas Rush U-18 squad, in the spring of 2010.

She is an honor student with a 3.9 grade point average, and has maintained a soccer referee's license for three years.

“I'm encouraged about the depth that we will be adding at the goalkeeper position with Ruthie's arrival,” coach Key said. “I feel her work rate and adaptability will be a positive influence on the players around her.”

Rutan has been on Select Teams in Virginia, Germany, and in the Seattle-Tacoma area in Washington. She currently trains with the Black Hills Football Club in Washington. At Charles Wright Academy, Rutan was an all-league honoree for four years. She led the team in scoring her junior and senior years. A versatile student-athlete, Rutan competed in the 1,600-meter run in track and field, and in basketball. Rutan began playing soccer at age 4, in El Paso, and has been in year-round competition since the age of 8.

“Valerie's technical proficiency will help elevate the standard of players alongside her,” coach Key added. “She is a creative player whose understanding of the game will generate opportunities for us in the attack.”

Coach Key led the team to a perfect 16-0-0 regular-season record, and won a fourth Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship this past fall. He was elected SCAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for the third time. 

After finishing 18-0-1 and advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals last year, the Tigers will return three of its top four scorers in 2010.  All-American and SCAC Defensive Player of the Year Danika Wright will lead the Tigers next fall, following a year in which the team was the top-ranked defensive team in Division III.  Wright will be joined by seven other returning All-SCAC performers, including SCAC Newcomer of the Year Lindsay Euers.