LAKELAND – Preparing student-athletes for the next steps in their careers and lives is what Polk State College's Athletics Department aims for. Six Polk State Soccer players will continue their academic and playing careers at four-year programs.

Although Polk State finished just 3-9 in 2024, several players had solid individual seasons. Five earned All-Region 8 honors.

"Our players feel well prepared for the second part of their collegiate soccer journey," Head Coach Dee Shivraman said. "We help them with their fitness, technical, and tactical parts of their game. The coaching staff and I take a lot of pride in our work."

A first-team All-Region 8 selection last season, midfielder Noemi Casique began her college career at the NCAA Division I level at Furman University. Casique will be returning to the Division I level after signing with the University of West Georgia.

"Assistant Coach Brian McNulty coached Noemi at the club level and insisted that she was the 'real deal,'" Shivraman said. "Noemi definitely lived up to his evaluation of her talent."

In her lone season with the program, the Davenport native powered the offense, scoring a team-best 11 goals. Casique added four assists and ranked fifth in Region 8 with 26 total points.

"Noemi quietly went about setting the example of hard work, great attitude and calm under pressure," Shivraman added. "We asked her to play in a variety of positions due to injuries, and she did it without any complaint.  When we needed goals, Noemi scored some fantastic goals this past season. When she was needed to secure the defense, Noemi did it selflessly."

Another local product, Grayce Kidwell, will be staying local. The Winter Haven native and former McKeel Academy standout will make the short trip to Babson Park to play at Webber International University, an NAIA program.

"It's a great program," Kidwell said. "We've had people from our program go there and they seem to really enjoy it. The competition is really solid."

Kidwell earned second-team All-Region 8 honors as a sophomore this past season. Kidwell started all 12 matches and was a driving force behind the Polk State defense.

"What stood out about my two years at Polk State was getting to know my teammates and the bonds we made," Kidwell reflected. "My field IQ has improved so much. I've become a better defender and learned to see the field better."

Like Kidwell, midfielder Maria Eduarda will be heading to the NAIA level. She has signed to play at Central Christian College of Kansas.

"Central Christian felt like the right fit – both academically and athletically," Eduarda explained. "The coaches showed genuine interest in helping me grow and the campus had a strong sense of community. I'm excited about the opportunity to compete at the next level while continuing to pursue a degree in a supportive environment."

After beginning her career at Eastern Arizona College, the native of Brazil played in eight matches and made one start. She registered one shot on goal. Eduarda was also an FCSAA All-Academic Team selection.

"Polk State played a huge role in preparing me for this next chapter," she added. "The coaches pushed me to be better every day – both on and off the field – and the support from teammates and professors helped me stay focused and balanced. I've grown a lot here – not just as an athlete but as a person – and I'm grateful for everything Polk State has given me."

A native of Michigan, midfielder Anisa Lahbiki will be returning to a more northern part of the country. She has signed to play at Felician University, an NCAA Division II program in New Jersey.

"I chose Felician because I wanted to continue playing while I pursue my education," Lahbiki noted. "They have a fantastic nursing program, and the team seems like a family. The head coach and teammates were very welcoming. I am very fortunate."

An FCSAA All-Academic selection for the second year in a row, Lahbiki finished with a goal and an assist as a sophomore. Her first career goal came in a 5-0 win over Trinity Baptist College JV on Sept. 21.

"Polk helped me take this next step because it really prepared me for what I am going to do next – both physically and mentally," Lahbiki said. "Polk has given me so much life experience. I'm beyond grateful to Coach Dee for taking a chance on me and providing an environment where I was able to grow and thrive."

Goalkeeper Leona Kraus will be taking her talents to Oklahoma Wesleyan University, an NAIA program. Oklahoma Wesleyan finished 16-1-4 last season and reached the national tournament.

"She will be sorely missed but when this opportunity came about, we didn't want her to miss out on it and fully encouraged her to go for it," Shivraman noted. "She will be fantastic due to her work ethic and attitude."

As a freshman this past season, the German-born goalkeeper earned second-team All-Region 8 honors. Kraus led the FCSAA with 81 saves to go with a .717 save percentage.

"From day one, she was the ultimate competitor," Shivraman said. "Leona had high expectations and what was clear for everyone to see was her level of intrinsic motivation. Often, hours after the training was done, Leona could be found working on various aspects of her game."

Montserrat SanClaudio was the last of the six to sign for Polk State. She's also going the NAIA route – to Bethel University in Tennessee.

"I chose Bethel University because it offers everything I'm looking for to continue pursuing my dreams both academically and athletically," she explained. "As a student-athlete, I want to keep growing in my soccer career at a competitive four-year university; Bethel's strong program will push me to become a better player on and off the field.

"I'm also passionate about studying psychology, and Bethel has an excellent program that aligns with my academic goals. Additionally, I really like the state of Tennessee; it feels like the right place for me to grow, stay motivated and work toward a successful future."

A native of Costa Rica, SanClaudio helped Polk State on both ends of the pitch last season. An FCSAA All-Academic Team selection, she appeared in seven matches as a freshman. For the College, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and National Honor Society.

"Although my time at Polk State has ended, I am incredibly happy to have known such amazing people," SanClaudio added. "Coming from another country, the community at Polk State made me feel welcomed in a new place. Coach Dee helped me with the transfer process and made sure he reached out to a lot of coaches to let them know my strengths. Even though I couldn't play my whole career at Polk State, I grew a lot as a player because we had some really talented players who pushed me to get better during each training session. I also grew enormously academically."

In two years under Shivraman, Polk State has now had 11 players sign with four-year programs. The Eagles hope to continue that trend moving forward. They're slated to begin their 2025 season in August.

"When I speak with our former players who have moved on and are currently playing, they often mention that they will forever be grateful for their time and experience at Polk State," Shivraman concluded. "They appreciate the academic side, where they had good interactions with their professors, campus staff, security, and so on. They often say that it was like a small family."

Polk State signees

Name, position, signed
Noemi Casique, F, University of West Georgia
Maria Eduarda, M, Central Christian College of Kansas
Grayce Kidwell, D, Webber International University
Leona Kraus, GK, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Anisa Lahbiki, F, Felician University
Montserrat SanClaudio, M, Bethel University