By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Hillcrest High senior and goalkeeper Isabella Andrews signed to play soccer for Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, Louisiana in front of family, teammates and friends, who all gave her the claws in support for her future home with the Wildcats. 

Andrews, who also played basketball and competed in track, will join her new team in the fall. The Wildcats finished 16-2-1 last season. She sat out her senior soccer season with an ACL tear, but was able to return for region play on the basketball court for the Huskies.

Her dad, Shane, said he was glad Real Salt Lake came to Utah in 2005 as he bonded with his daughter watching the professionals play while she also grew up playing soccer; he referees the sport.

“She had the desire ever since she was about five years old to kick the snot out of people and take prisoners and be where she’s at today,” he said.

Her mother, Elisa, recounted her recreational soccer coach calling her a “dyno defender. She definitely has the tenacity. We frequently said she may be small, but she is fierce; she definitely is fierce out on the soccer field.”

Andrews joins the ranks of other Huskies this year who have signed to play collegiate athletics including Bryce Young, baseball, McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois; Gabe Moore, baseball, Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia, Ryder Mathis, baseball, Utah Valley University; Carter Wolf, football, Salt River Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona; and Amir-Leo Beharic, soccer, Snow College.