EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer Head Coach Derek Burton announced the addition of three student-athletes who will join the program next season. SIUE's latest newcomers are Amanda Dean (Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey), Akeelah Omokhua (Brampton, Ontario), and Olivia Watt (Whitby, Ontario).

"We'd like to welcome these young women to the university and to our program. They are bringing with them a ton of quality on the ball, outstanding pace and athleticism. Not to mention a real desire to win and compete, that they have developed in some outstanding environments throughout their youth careers. The potential impact with their addition to our previously signed 2025 class is phenomenal. This fall is going to be an exciting time for our team."

Amanda Dean
Hometown: Lake Hiawatha, NJ
High School: Parsippany High School
Position: Forward
Club Team: Cedar Stars Academy Bergen
Coaches: Anthony Hanson, Paul Koeck

From Coach Burton: "Amanda combines high level speed and quickness with legit 1v1 ability on the ball. She is definitely going to be asking questions of defenders, whether it's in space with room to beat them or in close quarters, where she can turn you around and unbalance you. Excited to add her abilities to our attack."

Why I chose SIUE: "I chose SIUE because when I visited, the coaches were supportive and enthusiastic about me which made me feel very comfortable and excited. The girls I had met were also very welcoming and the soccer environment seemed competitive but also very supportive of each other. The campus was also beautiful and the school and soccer program is a perfect fit and somewhere I see myself thriving in next year!"

Akeelah Omokhua
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
High School: Cardinal Ambrozic
Position: Forward
Club Team: Markham City FC OPDL
Coaches: Laura Gosse, Cyprian McFarlin, John Toey

From Coach Burton: "Akeelah has a desire to play and compete that really stood out to us in the recruiting process. Combined with her physical ability and stature, she is built for the college game and has great potential to become a force to reckon with this fall. Akeelah has a hunger to get to goal that we are looking forward to adding to the team."

Why I chose SIUE: "I'm very excited to join the SIUE as Coach Burton and his staff have built an incredible soccer program. I look forward to bringing competitive spirit and playing with all the incredible players on the roster! The academic offerings are impressive and align with my goals for personal and professional growth. SIUE is the perfect place for me to thrive both on the field and in the classroom."

Olivia Watt
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario
High School: Sinclair Secondary School
Position: Midfield
Club Team: Vaughn SC, Guyana U20 National Team
Coaches: Coach Paul, Coach JC, Coach Jeff

From Coach Burton: "Olivia is a technical operator in the middle of the park. She has great ideas, vision and game IQ to really make things happen in possession and to get an attack going. She can go on a dribble to get something going but shows a real knack for incisive passes which we are excited to bring into the team. And it's exciting that she is getting the experience of CONCACAF U20 Championship Qualification games this month. The experience can only help continue to push her development as a player."

Why I chose SIUE: "I chose SIUE because I felt an instant connection with Coach Derek. All the girls I met on the team were super welcoming. The campus was beautiful and had the perfect atmosphere for me. It instantly felt like home. Additionally, the soccer program is super impressive and the school perfectly aligned with my goals academically and athletically. So excited to officially be a coug!"