OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss soccer team added yet another piece to its large incoming class with the signing of defender Brittany King out of Edmond, Okla., to a national letter of intent, head coach Steve Holeman announced Tuesday.

King joins 11 other incoming freshmen in this year’s signing class, in addition to three college transfers.

A recent graduate of Santa Fe High School in Edmond, King has experience as an elite defender with one of the nation’s top club teams, the Edmond Soccer Club, where she is a teammate of fellow Ole Miss signee Lacy Key. Just last week she led her Edmond SC Black team to a final four appearance at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. She is also a five-year member of the Oklahoma State Olympic Development Program (ODP) team and a three-time member of the Region III ODP team for her age group.

At Santa Fe, she led her team to a state championship runner-up finish as a senior. She was a three-time All-City and All-District selection and was named the All-City Defensive Player of the Year by the Oklahoman this past season. She also competed in the Oklahoma East vs. West all-star game as a member of the West squad following her senior year. As a member of the SFHS track team, King was part of the 4x320 relay team that broke the school record.

“This late in the process, we are very fortunate to sign someone as talented as Brittany,” Holeman said. “She is a very good center back with superb athleticism and speed. She comes from a great club team and has proven herself as one of the best defenders in the region.”

The influx of newcomers will join a 2009 Rebel squad anchored by three stalwart senior team captains in Mallory Coleman, Danielle Johnson and Hannah Weatherly. The season begins on the road with an Aug. 23 date at UAB. The Ole Miss home opener is Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. against Morehead State.