COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer adds four National Letter of Intent signees to their talented roster with head coach J. B. Belzer announcing the addition of Emily Aguilar, Jessica Rockwell, Anna Vince, and Nanea Wong Yuen who are set to become Mountain Lions next Fall.

"Graduating nine talented seniors who have helped win three successive RMAC regular season championships, it is naturally important to replenish with exciting, new talent for the future," Belzer stated. "Today's four signees will compliment returning student-athletes, who have also helped build our culture and standards, allowing us to sustain program excellence on the pitch, in the classroom, and in serving the community. We expect to continue the winning tradition of Mountain Lions Women's Soccer."

From Albuquerque, N.M., Emily Aguilar signs with UCCS as an attacking midfielder that has been an offensive threat with Cibola High School after scoring 87 points off 34 goals and 19 assists in her high school career. Aguilar's impressive offensive production has led her to become a three-time all-district first team selection where she has also garnered two all-state first team honors. Her 2021 season in particular came out to be a career best as she was named 2021 District Player of the Year and UCSA All-Region after going off for 16 goals, six assists, and 38 total points. Also a two-time offensive player of the year, Aguilar has helped the Cibola Cougars to three metro championships and three state tournament appearances. Off the pitch, Aguilar has gone on to garner six honor roll selections.

"Fresh off leading her Cibola High School team to a New Mexico 5A State Championship a couple weeks ago, Emily will compete for a role immediately in our midfield," stated Belzer. "A Rio Rapids Club State Champion as well, her creativity on the ball with ability to break lines dribbling, passing, or shooting will help sustain our offensive production that is among the best in NCAA DII soccer."

Windsor, Colo. native Jessica Rockwell joins the Mountain Lions as a forward from Fossil Ridge High School where she was a three-sport student-athlete in basketball, track & field and soccer. On the court, Rockwell was a two-year varsity letterwinner as she helped the Sabercats to a conference championship and Great 8 appearance in 2020 followed by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2021. In track & field, Rockwell put her athleticism on display by becoming a 2021 conference champion in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x400m relay as the Sabercats went on to claim the 2021 conference championship. Also a three-time Academic All-State First Team selection, Rockwell is no stranger to winning as the 5-foot-5 forward helped her Rapids FC 04 Select 1 Team to a 2021 State Cup Championship.

"Jess is a goal scorer—pure and simple," said Belzer. "A key member of the Rapids Fort Collins State Cup winning side, it is her work rate on both sides of the ball combined with her tactical IQ in transition that sets her apart from most of her peers. We expect Rockwell to contribute points as a freshman."

Midfielder Anna Vince comes to Colorado Springs from York, United Kingdom where she played for Durham WFC (U23) and was a two-year captain for York City FC Regional Talent Club (2016-20). For the 2020-21 season Vince netted four goals and tallied six assists as her and Durham FC moved on to the 2021-22 season where they won 10-2 on aggregate against the Everton Academy to reach the FA WSL Youth Cup Quarterfinals. Vince is the recipient of the 2020 annual linguistics and annual sports award as she was also nominated for the politics student of the month for October of this year. Vince also stayed busy off the pitch by working with charities such as "Cry in the Dark" where she spent a week in Romania to help fund functioning hospices and care homes for orphans and young adults with disabilities.

"Anna joins from Durham FC in the northeast of England," Belzer said. "A linking, creative player who will develop into a box-to-box midfielder type as she acclimatizes to the American college game, her technical ability to maintain possession and break lines through a range of skills will help replenish a central midfield who loses three players to graduation."

A center back from Hilo, Hawaii, Nanea Wong Yuen signs her NLI as a Region IV ODP selection and four-time varsity starter at Kamehameha School Hawai'i. Wong Yuen's impressive play has not gone unnoticed as she played for both Hawaii State ODP (2018-19) as well as the West Regional ODP Team in 2019. She continued to get the job done at Kamehameha as Wong Yuen played to an All-State DII First Team selection, BIIF First Soccer Team selection, and an All-State Soccer Honorable Mention from 2018-19. Wong Yuen played a key role on the Kamehameha's 2019 BIFF Championship team as they went on to become Hawaii State Tournament Finalists in the same year. Soccer hasn't been the only thing that the 5-foot-9 center back has excelled at as she received the Po'okumu Academic Award in grades 9-11 and stayed active off the pitch by becoming the Junior Class Vice President and being a member of the National Honors Society.

"Nanea is that rare breed of left-footed players who have capabilities in many positions," Belzer stated. "Whether as a central defender, a wing-back, or as a box-to-box midfielder, Wong Yuen possesses the technical skills, size, and athleticism to help this team achieve its goals. A Region IV ODP selection from the Big Island of Hawaii, she will impact this team positively throughout her career."

With four signees now in the books for the 2021 RMAC Tournament Champions, No. 9 UCCS Women's Soccer will head back out on the pitch Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. for the second round of the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Mountain Lions will await the winner of Friday's first round match between Colorado School of Mines and Midwestern State University that is slated for 1 p.m. inside Mountain Lion Stadium.