On Feb. 19, 2002, Saint Louis University women’s soccer coach Tim Champion announced the signing of five incoming players for next season.

Christie Cigno (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s), Kelly Ferguson (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s), Becky Hopfinger (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall), Trisha Neidenbach (St. Louis, Mo./ Rockwood Summit) and Lachlyne Eastman (Stevinson, Calif./ Hilmer) signed National Letters of intent to attend SLU and begin playing for the Billikens in 2002.

“This is the best recruiting since the program’s been here,” said Champion. “Of the five we’ve all signed, all five can start next year.”

Cigno enters her senior season at St. Joseph’s after leading the Metro Conference with 67 points (28 goals, 11 assists). Her 28 goals was second in the league. The Angels have won two state championships in her three years.

Cigno was single-handedly responsible for the 2001 title, scoring two goals, including the game winner.

She had been named All Conference twice, along with All-Metro and All-State selection last year. Cigno was the leading scorer for the Busch soccer Club team last season. The team has claimed four state titles.

“She’s a midfielder and striker who has averaged 30 goals a year,” Champion said. “She’s one of the top 10 players coming out of St. Louis. She’s one of the most highly-recruited in the area. If I had to guess, she’ll probably play midfield.”

Ferguson is a back/midfielder at St. Joseph’s with Cigno. She tallied 27 points (four goals, 19 assists) and was the team’s third-leading scorer. Her 19 assists led Metro Conference and her point total placed her ninth in the league.

She was named second-team All-Conference and helped the Angels to a 29-2-0 record and a 6-1-0 record in the league.

“She’s a typical center back,” Champion said. “She’s big and strong and good in the air. She wins a lot of ball in the air and is a hard-nosed defender. She’ll add presence to the backfield.”

Hopfinger, a forward/midfielder, helped Nerinx Hall Markers to a 23-1-0 overall record and an unblemished 5-0-0 record in the Metro Conference. Her team was the only conference team to defeat St. Joseph’s in the league and claimed the conference’s regular-season title.

Hopfinger scored 17 points (four goals, nine assists) for Nerinx Hall and played on the Busch team with the other three Billiken signee from St. Louis.

“She was a forward in high school, but in college she’ll have to convert to a midfielder or a back,” Champion said. “She’s great on the ball. She holds the ball well and is strong. She sees the field and passes well. She played for Nerinx Hall, and even though they didn’t win state many thought that they should have.”

Niedenbach is a three-time All-Conference selection at midfielder/back from Rockwood Summit. She earned Honorable Mention All-State as a freshman, third-team selection as a sophomore, and second-team last season. Her 45 points (14 goals, 17 assists) was the fifth in the Suburban South Conference. After helping Summit win conference, district and sectional championships as a sophomore, Summit finished second in the state last year.

“She played on the same team as (current SLU freshman) Jamie Perry. They were the two best players on that team,” Champion said. “She’s a midfielder who scores a lot of points. She’s a hard, physical, defensive player. She’s one of the most under-rated players in the area.”

Eastman is currently in the midst of her senior season. She has helped Hilmer win conference championships in her freshman and sophomore seasons. She is a three-time All-Conference selection and has been named Offensive MVP for her team the past three seasons. As a junior, Eastman earned conference Offensive MVP and Player of the Year honors by the Turlock Journal.

“She’s a big, strong, fast striker whose capable of scoring a lot of goals. Her strength is taking people on and her ability to finish.”

In addition to the freshmen that have already signed, transfer Laura Alberts will be joining the squad after playing at the University of Richmond. She sat out last season as a medical redshirt. She’ll have an opportunity to prove herself during the spring season, which starts this weekend. SLU will face LSU and Mississippi State in Memphis.