NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State co-head coaches Jess and Anna Jobe signed their first full recruiting class at the helm of the Lady Demons this week.

The Jobes, who took over the NSU program this past January, inked 12 players over the first three days of the signing period, which moved to the fall for the first time.

NSU inked five forwards, four midfielders, two defenders and one goalkeeper after a season in which the Lady Demons posted a 10-10 record and a postseason appearance with 19 underclassmen.

"This is significant for Anna and I, signing our first class in which we've had a full recruiting period," Jess Jobe said. "We feel good about every single player we signed, and we know they'll get on board with what we're building.

"We've gotten to know our current team over the spring and the fall, and we know they'll be instrumental in introducing the new players into the new culture we're trying to build."

"Work rate" is a term Jess Jobe used repeatedly to describe this signing class, especially the group's five forwards.

The forwards include Texas natives Rachel Brandt, Olivia Draguicevich, Jayme Haynes and Isabel Shanahan along with the class' lone Louisiana native in Kaitlyn Poirrier.

Brandt is a two-time all-district attacker who helped transform Guyer High (Denton, Texas) into a perennial playoff participant.

Draguicevich is an all-district and all-region performer as a junior who aided Hendrickson High (Pflugerville, Texas) to a bi-district title.

Haynes guided Heritage High (Frisco, Texas) to a 10-win season as a sophomore.

Shanahan boosted Kingwood High (Kingwood, Texas) to at least 20 wins in each of the past two seasons, including 25 wins as a junior.

Poirrier, a Lafayette native and Teurlings Catholic forward, was selected for three all-district teams and an All-Acadian team as a junior.

"This group possesses a high work rate, and we really want to stretch opposing defenses and cover ground with dynamic movement," Jobe said. "There's a lot of speed, physicality and a variety of attacking styles.

"The forwards aren't cut from the same mold, and we think that will be valuable."

Three of NSU's four midfielders are from East Texas with the other from the Austin suburbs.

Julie Arriaga (Arlington), Samantha Hanking (Flower Mound) and Hallie Field (Frisco) hail from East Texas while Morgan Espinoza is from Cedar Park.

Arriaga is a three-time all-district performer that helped Martin High to an area championship with 10 goals and eight assists.

Hanking helped Flower Mound High to a 16-win season as a freshman.

Field is a two-time all-district selection who guided Centennial High to a pair of area quarterfinals appearances.

Espinoza lettered in five different sports as a standout athlete at Vista Ridge High.

"This is a physical bunch that has composure on the ball," Jobe said. "We've got some players who can break up plays defensively and challenge by winning first and second balls.

"We have playmakers as well who connect passes, have confidence on the ball and create offense off the dribble."

NSU's pair of defenders are Maddie Scott (Plano, Texas) and Titania Krumme (Argyle, Texas).

Scott, The Plano East High member, is an academic all-district honoree who scored the game-winning goal in a championship match one year after the program one its first contest in five seasons.

Krumme (Argyle High) is the three-time reigning defensive MVP of her district who made all-region as a junior.

"We need depth in the back line, and we think Maddie and Titania can provide that and push our current players," Jobe said. "We were very competitive as a back line this year and young players got some great experience, but this class won't allow them to feel comfortable in their roles.

"We believe in bringing in hard-nosed, committed players with a high work rate. These players have a relentless defensive mentality."

NSU also added goalkeeper Savannah Hall, an all-district selection who allowed just five goals en route to a 12-2 district mark as a junior.

"We expect Savannah to compete and challenge our current keepers," Jobe said. "We can do more training with that group now that we have three keepers.

"Savannah has great size, and uses her body well."