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CHS pair join ENMU women's soccer

A pair of Wildcats are turning in their Clovis purple for Greyhound green.

Defenseman/forward Jaci Sievers and goalkeeper Hailey Brady both signed with Eastern New Mexico in a ceremony Wednesday morning, starting just after high school prospects could officially sign letters of intent for college programs.

They are two of three signings confirmed for Omar Morales’s Greyhound program. Morales said Wednesday afternoon he was waiting on up to five more signings throughout the day. Coaches cannot discuss unsigned prospects under NCAA rules.

Brady never thought she’d play beyond high school, “until Coach Morales told me he was impressed with what I was doing ... that really got me thinking about an opportunity.” She never considered any other school, and thanked her coaches for teaching her the game, her family for their constant support and her teammates for keeping her inspired.

Brady played 20 games for Clovis, and posted a record of 11-7-1. She allowed 25 goals, while making 107 saves.

Brady comes as a preferred walk-on, meaning she was invited by coaching staff but does not receive a scholarship. Brady had already planned to attend ENMU before soccer was in the picture.

“She came down and trained with the team earlier in the spring,” Morales said. “She did pretty good. She definitely had potential to compete with our goalkeeping crew. She’s a great kid, passionate for the game.”

Sievers was more touted, having led Clovis with 15 goals despite playing mostly in a defensive role. She also had plenty of exposure to soccer and ENMU through her family. Her mother Traci is Clovis High’s coach, her sister Jenna played for the Greyhounds and her father Joel is an ENMU Hall of Honor inductee and team physician.

“She’s a very, very athletic kid,” Morales said. “We’re definitely happy and excited she stayed home. She’s athletic enough to play whatever she wants to. We had Jenna for three years with me, and now it’s keeping that tradition going. I think she’ll come in and do some good things for us, definitely help on the backline.”

Sievers, who had 43 goals and 47 assists in her four seasons, thanked her team for always keep the game fun, and her family for always giving her an opportunity to play.

“I’d like to thank my father,” Jaci Sievers said, “for driving me to tournaments, going to every game and being my No. 1 fan — and let’s not forget, treating all of my injuries.”

Sievers was also considering track and field for West Texas A&M. She said her older sister never pressured her into joining the Greyhounds, but touted the soccer program and the school’s educational offerings while noting no matter where she went, home would be as close or as far as she made it.

The third signing was Dallas midfielder Shelby Bell, a club soccer player Morales felt had a chance to contribute immediately. The college planned to announce additional signings Thursday.