Division I transfers Maxine Franco (East Tennessee State) and Kristen Prevosto (Marist) have agreed to attend UTEP and compete with the Miner soccer program beginning with the 2020 fall season, UTEP head coach Kathryn Balogun announced Wednesday.
“We are excited for have both Kristen and Maxine join us,” Balogun said. “With all of the unanswered questions surrounding athletics, it a great honor that their families have entrusted our staff and program during this time. I believe each young lady will come in and make an immediate impact. They have experience and knowledge and fit well with the cultural direction the coaching staff wants to take the program.”
Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Stewart Givens was instrumental in landing Franco and Prevosto.
“We are really excited to add Kristen and Maxine to our other three incoming players for 2020,” Givens said. “We believe that with these additions we have added a lot of quality and technical ability to take us to the next level in Conference USA. After speaking with their respective coaches and having conversations with Kristen and Maxine we are confident that these are players that exemplify what we want to be about here at UTEP. They are players that want to get better on and off the field and that want to play for championships.  We can’t wait for them to join us this fall and have them start competing with a strong returning group of players that are hungry for more in 2020.
Maxine Franco – Midfielder/Forward |  East Tennessee State |  Diepenbeek, Belgium
UTEP head coach Kathryn Balogun on Franco:
“Maxine will bring experience and a left-footed threat to our program. She will come into our program and be able to invest three full years with great soccer knowledge and a high level of experience at the national team level. Â She enjoys possession soccer and believes in our program’s playing style.”
UTEP assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Stewart Givens on Franco
“Maxine is a player that will compete to make a big impact this fall. Maxine has playing experience with the Belgian youth national teams and will help us in the attacking third of the field with her vision and ability to pick out some very difficult passes. Maxine is a player with a high soccer IQ who is a true student of the game and wants to continue to be pushed as a player to be the best she can be. We are looking forward to Maxine contributing this fall and helping her achieve the lofty goals she has set for herself.”
Franco’s bio –Â Played one year with East Tennessee State, and will have three seasons of eligibility with the Miners … appeared in 15 games off the bench with ETSU, including playing a season-high 42 minutes of action against Wofford (10/18/19) … registered five shots, including three shots on goal, during the year … fired two shots on target against South Carolina State (9/30/19) … previously garnered ample international experience while playing with the Belgian youth national teams … on the club level helped her team to a championship in the first division of Belgium in 2016 … daughter of Sabine and Denis Franco.
UTEP head coach Kathryn Balogun on Prevosto
“ Kristen is a hard working, gritty player who understands the tactical questions being asked within the midfield position. I believe she brings D1 college experience, knowledge and depth to our midfield, who we ask to solve problems and connect us from the defensive half into the attacking third. She might not be the tallest player we have, but she will also compete and challenge for everything.“
UTEP assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Stewart Givens on Prevosto
“We believe Kristen will compete to make an immediate impact for us in midfield. She is someone who has very high aspirations for herself as a player, and wants to be pushed. She has the ability to play both sides of the ball well. She will add to our possession-based style of game and help us control the tempo of the game. She is not afraid to make a hard tackle or win a header. We can’t wait to add Kristen this fall.”
Kristen Prevosto – Midfielder | Marist |  Selden, N.Y.
Prevosto’s Bio – Two-year starter at Marist who will year two years of eligibility with the Miners … started 32 of 36 career games with Marist, tallying five goals and three assists for 13 points … ranked second on the squad for goals (four), assists (three) and points (11) in 2019 … played in 18 contests, including starting the final 16 tilts … her four goals came on 10 shots on target … credited with a career-high two assists in a 5-0 win at Delaware State (9/1/19) … had a hot streak for scoring with four goals in a five-game stretch, including the match winner against Loyola Marymount (9/8/19) … logged at least 90 minutes of action in seven different contests … voted to the MAAC All-Rookie team in 2018 … played in 18 contests, including making 16 starts, as a freshman in 2018 … buried a chance against Rhode Island (9/2/18) for her first career goal … earned MAAC Rookie of the Week as result of her efforts … logged at least 90 minutes of action in the final four games on the season … at the prep level was a five-year varsity player for Newfield High School, securing numerous accolades … was All League (eighth and ninth grade), All Conference (10th grade) and All County (11th and 12th grade) … two-time state champion with the ISA Sting … daughter of Mike and Liz Prevosto.
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