Feb. 5, 2003

WACO, Texas - New Baylor soccer coach George Van Linder announced the signing of forward Brittany Kuykendall to a National Letter of Intent Wednesday for the 2003 season.

Kuykendall joins the Bears from Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, where she played both forward and midfield for coach Oscar Borgarello. Kuykendall started and lettered all four years at Pearce and served as team captain her senior year. She was named all-district each of her first three years and was named to the Plano Tournament of Champions all-tournament team in 2002.

Kuykendall played her club soccer for the Andromeda '85 Soccer Club under coach Alex Pantarotto. She was named Forward of the Year in 2000 and served as team captain from 1998-2000. Kuykendall also was a four-year member of the North Texas Olympic Development Program State Team and attended the Region III Camp in Montevallo, Ala. four times. Kuykendall joins a long list of current Bears who are graduates of the Baylor Soccer Camp, having attended in 2002.

"Brittany has a great reputation as a blue collar forward," Van Linder said. "She is constantly chasing the ball and working very hard to get a goal. Her effort alone has created goals. She will put opposing defenders under constant pressure and will help our other forwards create dangerous situations up front. Brittany is one of those players you hate to play against, but are glad she is on your team.

After taking the helm of the Bears in late December, Van Linder was able to spend just over a month on the recruiting trails.

"We got a bit of a late start and don't want to settle for just any player," he said. "There are still enough good players left undiscovered in Texas and California, our top two recruiting states, that we can have a good freshman class. We are also getting some interest from college transfers. We are working very hard, and we are very confident that this year's group will be very respectable."

Press conference comments from Coach Van Linder:

"We still only have one signee from December. Nonetheless, we are very excited about our forward Brittany Kuykendall from Dallas. It is always a plus to get someone from that area. I think she will be a very explosive member for our team and she will be very valuable to us in a few years."

"I would like the opportunity of getting some transfers because that means we get automatic experience."