GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- University of North Dakota soccer head coach Kristen Gay recently announced the signings of seven to National Letters of Intent to start play in 2012.

Joining North Dakota for its first Division-I postseason eligible season and first year of competition in its new home of the Big Sky Conference are Caitlin Dahl (Redmond, Wash.), Jensen Forbes (Lethbridge, Alberta), Jessica Johnson (Tempe, Ariz.), Taryn MacMillan (Rosemount, Minn.), Lindsey Micheletti (Eagan, Minn.), Marissa Ricci (West St. Paul, Minn.) and Abbey Welle (White Bear Lake, Minn.).

Caitlin Dahl

An outside midfielder from Redmond, Wash., Dahl is a 2-year letterwinner in soccer at Redmond High School where she is set the graduate this fall and then will join her sister, current sophomore Amanda Dahl, competing for North Dakota.

Also competing for the Crossfire Premier (club team), she was fifth in her state in scoring.

The daughter of Mark and Vickie Dahl, she is undecided on a major.

Gay said: "Caitlin will provide some much needed depth at the outside midfielder position with the ability to play on either side. She has a great fitness base and will be dangerous with her service and joining the attack."

Dahl said on choosing UND: "UND is a family school I like everything about it. My mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents all went to school there."

Jensen Forbes

A 5-foot 6-inch, defender from Lethbridge, Alberta, Forbes competed for the Calgary Foothills Voltage (club team) and was a multi-sport athlete having also played volleyball.

Forbes plans to major in physical therapy and is the daughter of Ken and Corrie Forbes.

Gay said: "Jensen has been to camp for the past two years and has proven she can play at this level. She has great size and strength, as well as the ability to win balls out of the air. She has the ability to make an impact on our back line."

Forbes said on choosing UND: "The school is in a beautiful area and I like how the town is surrounding the university. I wanted to go to a school that was not too big and not too small. I believe that UND is the perfect fit for me because there are so many nice people and there are many courses to choose from."

Jessica Johnson

A 5-foot 7-inch, midfielder from Tempe, Ariz., Johnson is a 3-year letterwinner at Desert Vista High School and also competed for the Gilbert Arsenal (club team).

Johnson plans a career in the medical field and is the daughter of Mike Johnson and Linda Johnson.

Gay said: "Jessica is a technically gifted player and can read the game extremely well. She can create some things in the middle of the field that will provide opportunities for us to be dangerous in front of the goal."

Johnson said on choosing UND: "It's a beautiful campus, friendly people and an easy commute back home."

Taryn MacMillan

A 5-foot 6-inch, midfielder from Rosemount, Minn., is a 3-year letterwinner in soccer at Eastview High School and also competed for the Dakota Rev (club team). She was a 4-year captain of her club team and 2-year captain of her high school team where she was named all-state honorable mention and 2-time all-conference.

MacMillan plans to study human resourcing and is the daughter of Tavis and Deon MacMillian.

Gay said: "Taryn is very confident and composed player with her game being both physical and finesse. She has a tremendous work rate and training mentality and comes from an environment that knows how to win. She has a great ability to read the game and play some dangerous balls."

MacMillan said on choosing UND: "UND has always been my dream school over any other college."

Lindsey Micheletti

A 5-foot 6-inch, midfielder/forward from Eagan, Minn., Micheletti is 4-year letterwinner at Eagan High School and also competed for the Dakota Rev (club team). She is a multi-sport athlete having also received three letters in basketball.

Micheletti is the daughter of Patrick Micheletti and Andrea Hammer and is undecided on a major.

Gay said: "Lindsey is a great athlete and her speed and quickness will be an asset as we look for her to play various positions. She is a tough competitor and will raise the level in training/games for our team."

Micheletti said on choosing UND: "I felt wanted by the staff and loved the atmosphere."

Marissa Ricci

A 5-foot 6-inch, defender from West St. Paul, Minn., Ricci is a 5-year letterwinner in soccer at South St. Paul High School and also competed for the St. Croix Scorpions (club team). She was named all-state and all-conference as a senior, all-state honorable mention and all-conference as a junior and all-conference her sophomore and freshman seasons.

She is the daughter of Greg and Sharon Ricci.

Gay said: "Marissa is a fierce competitor and tremendous defender and tough in the tackle. She can play anywhere on the backline as she is composed on the ball and can join the attack."

Ricci said on choosing UND: "I like the area, love college hockey and coach Gay is going to be a great coach."

Abbey Welle

A 5-foot 5-inch, forward from White Bear Lake, Minn., Welle is a 4-year letterwinner in soccer at Totino-Grace High School and also competed for the St. Croix Scorpions (club team). She was named all-state, all-tournament and all-conference in 2011 as well as all-conference in 2010.

She is the daughter of Keith and Vicky Welle and is undecided on a major.

Gay said: "Abbey's athletic ability will provide some depth at the forward position. She comes from a winning program and that same mentality is one that she will bring with her in August."

Welle said on choosing UND: "Great campus, good size, soccer and not too far away from home."