Four players who were four-year starters for the Hixson girls’ soccer team signed this week to continue their careers at four-year colleges.

Triplets Blair, Becca and Kathleen Kent will play next season at Tennessee Wesleyan College after making their commitment to the Athens school official Thursday morning at Hixson, and Lady Wildcats sweeper Monica Lindsey signed Wednesday with Lincoln Memorial University.

“It just makes it more real now,” Becca Kent said. “It’s official, and I’m excited.”

Blair Kent spent her four seasons in goal for Hixson, while Kathleen played defense and midfield and Becca split time among forward, midfield and defense. The trio at first considered attending different colleges, but the opportunity to play together at Wesleyan changed their minds.

“We all decided together,” Blair said. “I liked the campus, and the girls on the team were great.”

Added Kathleen: “We got a really good offer, and it was just the best choice. I like their team, and I think we’ll have a good chance of playing.”

Lindsey’s signing featured both athletic and academic scholarships for the 4.0 student who chose LMU in part for its nursing program. The Lady Railsplitters are an NCAA Division II program that will make the move up to D-I in 2011.

“This has always been a goal of mine,” Lindsey said. “It was just a matter of making it happen.”

The four players also competed together on the Redoubt Lady Generals club soccer team, and Hixson coach Jeff Dean said the Lady Wildcats will miss their presence on the field next season.

“All four of them have been huge contributors to the team,” Dean said. “They’ve meant a lot to our program. The triplets have grown up playing together, and they just seem to always know what the other is thinking. They communicate on the field so well. And Monica can read the game defensively better than any player that has come through Hixson in a long time.”