Feb. 11, 2004

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior defender Lauren Costello from Incarnate Word Academy high school in St. Louis, Mo., signs national letter of intent to attend Southeast in the fall of 2004. Costello will add depth to already extremely talented defensive unit at Southeast under the direction of head coach Heather Nelson and assistant Beth Guccione.

Costello, the daughter of Michael and Patricia Costello, returns for her senior season at IWA to lead the defensive unit and her squad which is coming off a third place finish in state last season. For her stellar defensive playing, Costello earned first team All-Conference honors, second team All-Metro area honors and first team All-State honors. Her teammates also selected her as the team MVP, while the North County journal recognized her as athlete of the week.

She also had tremendous success throughout the St. Louis area during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. In 2001 and 2002, Costello helped lead her team to district championships while being selected to the 2002 All-Conference honorable mention team.

"Lauren is one of the top players graduating from the state of Missouri," remarked Nelson. "She is a fierce competitor who likes to attack out of the back."

Throughout her soccer career she has also competed in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and on the prestigious J.B. Marine Soccer Club. Coming into the Southeast program she will be surrounded by former teammates as the four other signees are J.B. Marine soccer club players. Costello choose Southeast over conference rivals Murray State and Jacksonville State, as well as Indiana.