LOS ANGELES - The Loyola Marymount women's soccer team will have several new faces this fall as they head into the start of the 2017 season. The Lions have added eight new players, as announced by Head Coach Michelle Myers.

"With this class of 2017, we add another group of young women who are exceptionally driven on and off the field," said Myers. "As a group, they have already formed a very special bond and energy that will continue to grow in our existing team's culture which values team chemistry and team values. As individuals, each of them brings some very special qualities to our team that will continue to strengthen us and help us in achieving our goals of winning a conference championship, making another run in the NCAA tournament, and striving to become the best versions of ourselves on and off the field while enjoying our time together."

Meet the Players:

Simone Handy, Forward, La Mirada High School, Albion Orange County, U17 Women's National Team

Team Awards: League Champs 2014-16, CIF Southern Section Champs 2015 and 2016, Regional Southern Section Champs 2016
Individual Awards: All League 2014-15, All-CIF 2014-15, Rookie of the Year 2014, Most Inspirational 2016

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Handy:

"Simone is an athletic forward with good pace and technical ability. She will definitely cause some problems for the opponents' defenders. Simone can play anywhere upfront. We are excited to add her to our front line that returns several dangerous players."

Kameryn Hoban, Midfield, La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad United Elite / San Diego LA Galaxy

Accomplishments: Varsity Women's Soccer (2014-17) 10^th-12^th Grade
Team Awards: CIF Champions 2015, Northern California State Champion 2015, Avocado League Champions 2016
Individual Awards: Coach's Award (2014), Scholar Athlete (2014-17)

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Hoban:

"Kami is a central midfielder that can play both a holding role and a transitional role. She is a workhorse. Her work ethic and mobility in the midfield is impressive. She is also very good in the air and has scored several goals with her head. Kami is another San Diego product, playing for the same club - Carlsbad United (LA Galaxy San Diego) - as current Lions Shelby Cormier and Kallie Kampfl. We are excited to bring her exceptional ball winning and work rate to our midfield."

Amanda Kocsis, Forward, Melissa High School, ECNL D'Feeters 99

Accomplishments: 3x letter in Soccer, MHS Career All-Time Goal Scorer
Team Awards: 2x District Champion, 2x Bi-District Champion, 2x Area Champion, Regional Finalist, Regional Qualifier
Individual Awards:
Sophomore: 1st Team All District, MHS Offensive Player of the Year, 2^nd Team All State, Academic All-District
Junior: District Offensive Player of the Year, MHS Offensive Player of the Year, 2^nd Team All State, TopDrawerSoccer Winter Texas State AllStar List, Academic All-District
Senior: Team Captain, Dallas Morning News- Season Preview, Players to Watch, Academic All-District

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Kocsis:

"Amanda is a forward with good pace and a nose for the goal. She is a multi-sport athlete with championship experience in soccer, volleyball, and tennis. Her athleticism combined with her competitive drive has led her to scoring over 90 goals in her high school career. Amanda joins us from another soccer hotbed of talent - Dallas, TX., and the D'Feeters Soccer Club. Amanda will add to our attacking options up front."

Maki Kono, Midfield, Chaparral High School, SFIDA Setagaya U18- 2014 (Japan), Sereno Soccer Club ECNL 2015-2016, Jumonji ventus 2016- (Japan)

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Kono:

"Maki is an attacking midfielder with great technical ability and savvy. She is very good on the ball and can strike and pass a ball with precision. Maki will add some creativity to our midfield. It is special to have an international player like Maki join our team. We are all looking forward to Maki sharing her Japanese culture and soccer experience with us and ours with her."

Olivia LaCasto, Midfield/Defense, Rosary Academy, SoCal Blues ECNL
Accomplishments: 4x Soccer letter
Individual Awards:
Freshman: 2^nd Team All-League, Newcomer of the Year, Scholar Athlete, Principal's Honor Roll
Sophomore: 2^nd Team All-League, 3^rd Team All-County, 1^st Team All-CIF, Rosary High School Athlete of the Year, OC Varsity Athlete of the Week, Scholar Athlete, Principal's Honor Roll
Junior: 1^st Team All-League, Team MVP, Scholar Athlete, Principal's Honor Roll

Head Coach Michelle Myers on LaCasto:

"Olivia is a versatile, technical player with a good tactical understanding of the game. She played several positions, from central midfielder to outside back, for a very competitive So Cal Blues team. Olivia is the type of player that can connect your team from back to front and side-to-side. She will give us some more good options and flexibility in our midfield."

Jenna Lafferty, Defense, Neuqua Valley High School, Sockers FC Chicago
Accomplishments: Varsity Soccer Letter (2014-2017), Illinois ODP Regional Team 2015
Individual Awards: High Honor Roll

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Lafferty:

"Jenna is an outside defender with the ability to play out of the back offensively. Her possession rate is high as she finds simple connections in transitioning from defense to offense. Jenna is another out of region recruit joining us from Sockers FC in Chicago. Besides the warm weather and palm trees, Jenna was drawn to LMU for our highly-ranked film school. Expect to see some of her work both on and off the field."

Olivia Morse, Defense, Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego Surf Soccer Club
Team Awards: Surf Cup 2011 and 2016 Champions, Manchester City Cup Champion 2015
Individual Awards: Cathedral Catholic High School Academics Second Honors as a junior and First Honors as a senior.

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Morse:

"Olivia is an athletic defender that can play both central and wide. She plays for one of the top club programs in San Diego, SD Surf, and has good competitive experience under her belt. Olivia has a contagious positive energy, an ingredient that every coach and teammate appreciates."

Skylar Robledo, Defense, South Hills High School, Albion OC
Team Awards: League, CIF, State Champs 2016, Surf Cup 2016 Champions, 4x CSL Premier League Champions (2013-16)
Individual Awards:
2015: 1^st team All Area, 1^st team All League, 2^nd team All CIF
2016: 1^st team All Area, 1^st team All League, 1^st team All CIF, 1^st team All State, NSCAA All Region

Head Coach Michelle Myers on Robledo:

"Skylar is a forward that can beat players off the dribble and create good goal scoring opportunities for herself and others. Skylar always manages to make an impact on the game. Whether it be with her club team or her high school team, I guarantee the other team remembers her number."