WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard women’s soccer coach Brent Leiba has announced a seven-member recruiting class that will join a team that reached the Great West semifinal last year and is coming off its best-ever season.

Among the incoming freshmen are five with extensive club-team experience and three Washington, D.C. area products who have made impacts at the ODP regional and high school levels.

The class is comprised of Tempestt (Bre) Roper (Fredericksburg, Va.), Owyn Manson (Silver Spring, Md.), Imani Pierre (Silver Spring, Md.), Sydney Ross (Springfield, Va.), Arielle Elizee (Miramar, Fla.), Chaucia Sydnor (Rockville, Md.) and Payton Bouie (Laurel, Md.).

“We are very excited about this class,” Leiba said. “Each player brings certain strengths and a passion for the game that will play an important role in helping to direct and build this program.”

The following is a look at each player:

Tempestt (Bre) Roper (Fredericksburg, Va.,/Courtland H.S./FASA Impact Elite Team)
Four-year letterwinner at Courtland High School’s varsity team; Assisted Cortland to three District and three Regional Championships; Was a first-team Battlefield District Player; Garnered second-team Region I Player honors and All-Area Free Lance Star honorable mention; Played on the FASA Impact Elite Travel Team & FC Fredericksburg Super 20’s team; Named to the Virginia ODP Central District Pool; Selected for the United Soccer League ODP SYL National Camp

Owyn Manson (Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase H.S./Laurel United Premier)
Named to the Washington Post All-Met Team; Received All-Gazette honors; Helped lead her team to two State Championships (scored the winning goal in this year’s championship); Lettered in three sports (soccer, track & field, basketball); Helped the Laurel United Premier club team to two State Cups and a Region 1 Championship; Attended Our Lady of Good Counsel H.S. before transferring to Bethesda-Chevy Chase

  Imani Pierre (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair H.S./Calverton Keieteur)

Named team MVP and team captain; Garnered All-County honors; Selected to play in the Senior All-Star Game; Played club ball with Calverton Kaieteur; Received the Coach’s Award  

Sydney Ross (Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee H.S./SYC Liberty)
Four-year letterwinner at Robert E. Lee High School’s varsity team; Named to the All-District Team; Named Team Captain at Robert E. Lee and SYC Liberty club team

Arielle Elizee (Miramar, Fla./American Heritage School/Miami Strike Force)
Named Most Consistent Player and helped lead American Heritage School to a State Championship; Played her club ball with Miami Strike Force

Chaucia Sydnor (Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson H.S./Free State)
Named to the All-Gazette Team; Was a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention; Named Team MVP at Walter Johnson H.S.; Was also the team captain and won the Jesse Owens Award for Athletics; Helped the Free State club team to the State Cup Final

Payton Bouie (Laurel, Md./Reservoir H.S./Laurel United Premier)
Helped lead her squad to a County and Regional Championship; Named Team MVP; Also helped her squad to the State Cup Final; Played her club ball with Laurel United Premier