NATCHITOCHES -- New Northwestern State co-head soccer coaches Jess and Anna Jobe barely had a month to solidify a recruiting class before Wednesday's National Signing Day, but the Lady Demons were able to attract a 10-member group in the Jobes' initial class.
 
The versatile class includes players from Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Canada as the Jobes' sought to sign players who could make an immediate impact.
 
"These players have strong backgrounds with their clubs, and their experience leads us to believe that they'll fit in well here and come in and compete," said Jess Jobe. "We're excited to get them him early so they can get acclimated and hit the ground running this August.
 
"They'll make up nearly a third of our roster, so they'll play a big part. This group has a chance to write a really cool story being our first recruiting class, to be our first four-year group."
 
Forward Skylar Sorrell got a head start by signing early and getting to NSU in January.
 
The Neville High signee contributed 92 goals and 44 assists in her career, while helping club team Shreveport United to two Louisiana titles.
 
"Skylar has come in and gotten to know our expectations and gotten to know her teammates, and we're really pleased with the progress she's making," Jobe said.
 
The largest portion of the class hails from Texas with five members -- Kylee Dominy, Hallie McCarroll, Kaymi Wheeler, Kalee Williams and Aliyah Hale.
 
Wheeler (Rockwall-Heath HS) and Williams (Frisco HS) bring a defensive mindset that can bolster the back line.
 
Wheeler is a four-year starter (three at center back) who was named the district's defensive MVP. Kaymi's older sister Jayden is a junior midfielder at NSU who has earned significant playing time.
 
Williams competed in two national club finals with D'Feeters Soccer, earning a Stalwart award in 2015.
 
"Williams is a good-sized kid who played center back, and we look for her to make an impact," Jobe said. "We think Kaymi can make a similar impact as her older sister Jayden, and we think she'll bring the same effort, attitude and attention to detail that Jayden does."
 
Dominy (Jasper HS) is a two-time all-state midfielder selection who earned the team MVP award for a Class 4A state semifinalist program.
 
McCarroll (Centennial HS) has experience as a defender and attacker, helping her team to a state title as a sophomore.
 
Hale is a two-time all-district player for a nationally ranked The Woodlands HS program who proved her offensive prowess in the ECNL ranks -- combining for 43 goals in her last three seasons.
 
"Dominy is a really skilled midfielder with great size and physical attributes who can contribute defensively but also has great vision and passing ability," Jobe said. "McCarroll is another skilled, technical player who can play multiple positions, and she has a great engine.
 
"Hale comes from a good club background (Houston Dash PA/Texas Rush) and has scored a lot of goals, so we think she's capable of contributing to our attack.
 
Twins Natalee and Nicole Henry finished their high school days in Texas (Klein Oak HS) but hail from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 
Natalee played on the left side and Nicole on the right side as midfielders and defenders. Nicole is a three-time, all-district performer.
 
"The Henry sisters will be the first time I've coached twins, and we're really excited about them," Jobe said. "They come from an ECNL background, so we know they've been challenged at a high level in club ball (Challenge Soccer Club)."
 
Florida native Karleigh Acosta is a defender who's become an offensive threat lately, combining for nine goals and 11 assists in the past two seasons at Mariner High.
 
"Acosta is a skilled player who is really technical, and we think she can play multiple positions on the field," Jobe said.
 
Canadian native Jalen Donaldson has national experience with Team British Columbia in the 2017 Canada Games. She was the MVP for her U17 league championship team.
 
"Donaldson is coming a long way, but we've got some Canadians where she should feel at home," Jobe said. "She's been very mature and responsible, and we expect that on the field as well."