Auburn loads up on playmakers with signing of nine Class of 2024 recruits

(Photo Credit: Grayson Belanger / Auburn Tigers)

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn soccer and head coach Karen Hoppa have announced the program’s latest signing class, which consists of nine student-athletes who are set to join the team for the Fall 2024 season.

“We’re thrilled about making this group official,” Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. “It’s an extremely athletic and versatile class that is going to give us depth in every single area on the field. The Auburn Family is going to enjoy watching these nine doing their thing next year.”

The group is comprised of four midfielders, three forwards, one defender and one goalkeeper. Seven states/territories are represented in the class as the signees hail from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New York, Texas, West Virginia and British Columbia, Canada.

Auburn’s newest Tigers are listed below.

JESSICA ASKEY

Position: Defender
Hometown: Johns Creek, Georgia
Club Team: United Futbol Academy ECNL
High School: Chattahoochee HS
Instagram: @jessica_askey9
Intended Field of Study: Biomedical Sciences
Favorite Professional Team: 2017 FC Barcelona

Biography: Birthday is Aug. 1… parents are Eric Askey and Jennifer Reed-Askey… has one older sister, Jacqueline… mother ran track at Michigan… plans to study biomedical sciences.

Accolades: Multi-sport athlete in gymnastics, karate and soccer… three-year varsity starter at CHS… 2023 CHS Varsity Team Captain… 2023 5A Award Distinction and 2022 GA GHSA All-State… Two-time All-Region and First Team Award Distinction (2022, 23)… 2023 Coaches’ Award Recipient… 2021 HM All-Region Award Distinction… U17 ECNL Team #2 in Region & National Finalist (two years)… U16 ECNL Team #3 in Region & National Finalist (two years)… U14 DA (Development Academy) at UFA… U13 NPL (National Premiere League) at UFA… United Futbol Academy competed in the National Finals for NPL… ODP (Olympic Development Program) identified as a high-potential player for 2006 Girls.. U9-U12 Academy Player at Concorde Fire.

LILY BORDERS

Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Lake Wales, Florida
Club Team: West Florida Flames GA
High School: Lake Wales HS
Instagram: @lilyborders2
Intended Field of Study: Nursing

Biography: Birthday is Aug. 21… parents are Kathy and Pat Borders… has eight total siblings, six older — Lindsay, Levi, Luke, Laura, Leah and Lance, and two younger — Livia and Landry-Kate… father played Major League Baseball from 1988-2005 and was the MVP of the 1992 World Series Championship team with the Toronto Blue Jays… father also won a gold medal with USA Baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics…plans to study nursing.

Accolades: Multi-sport athlete in softball and soccer…2023 First Team All-Polk County… Four-year varsity starter at LWHS… 70 career goals… 57 career assists.

CIARA BROWN

Position: Forward
Hometown: Wyandanch, New York
Club Team: SUSA ECNL
High School: Half Hollow Hills HS West
Instagram: @ciarabrown_22
Intended Field of Study: Pre-Medicine
Favorite Professional Team: Netherlands Women’s National Team

Biography: Birthday is Jan. 10… parents are Jarvis and Nicole Brown… has one older sibling, Marcus Rhoden, and two younger siblings, Kennedy and Ayden Brown… plans to study pre-medicine.

Accolades: Three-time All-Suffolk County Selection… two-time HHHHSW Team MVP… two-time Newsday top 100 soccer players… 2022 Suffolk County Player of the Year… two-time team captain… also a member of National Honor Society, Athletes Helping Athletes, Blue Notes, Medicine Club and Women in Engineering and Science… SUSA ECNL’s leading goal scorer for three-straight seasons, netting 101 goals over the time span… 2022 Conference Cup A Champions… 2021 First Team All-Conference ECNL Player.

GRACIE BROWN

Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
Club Team: Beadling SC
High School: Morgantown
Instagram: @gracie.brown15
Intended Field of Study: Political Science
Favorite Professional Player: Messi

Biography: Birthday is May 19… parents are Joe Brown and Nikki Izzo Brown… mother is the head coach of the West Virginia women’s soccer program… father played college baseball at Ithica… has one older sister, Sammie, who is a current member of the Auburn soccer team, and one younger sister, Gabbie… plans to study political science.

Accolades: Multi-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball and soccer… 2023 West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year… 2023 MHS Female Player of the Year… 2023WVHSCA First Team All-State… 2022 WVSSAC State Champions… Selected for Mid Atlantic GA Talent ID.

AVA CALDWELL

Position: Midfield
Hometown: Watkinsville, Georgia
Club Team: Atlanta Fire United
High School: North Oconee HS
Instagram: @ava_caldwellll
Intended Field of Study: Finance
Favorite Professional Athlete: Michael Jordan

Biography: Birthday is Dec. 15… parents are Cindy and Chris Caldwell… mother attended graduate school at Auburn… has an older sister, Ansley, and a younger brother, Spencer… father played baseball at South Alabama… mother ran track/cross country at South Alabama… sister plays soccer at Columbus State… plans to study finance.

Accolades: Multi-sport athlete in cross country, track and soccer… AP/Honors curriculum student… three-time team captain for Atlanta Fire United… ECNL 2023 Florida National Selection Game… 2022-2023 ECNL Southeast All Conference Team… 2021-2022 ECNL Southeast All Conference Team.

JENEVA HERNANDEZ GRAY

Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Club Team: Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite FC
High School: Burnaby Central Secondary School
Instagram: @jenevahernandezgray
Intended Field of Study: Undecided
Favorite Professional Team: Manchester City FC

Biography: Birthday is Oct. 5… parents are Wendy Gray and Armando Hernandez Jimenez… has one older brother, Joshua.

Accolades: Multi-sport athlete in basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, tennis and soccer… called up to Canadian Senior Women’s National Team on Nov. 23, 2023 …named to 2022 Canadian U17 World Cup Roster… two-time bronze medalist a with Team Canada (U17 & U20… 2023 Vancouver Whitecaps BMO RESPS Most Promising Player… Whitecaps Academy XI Team of the Year (2023)… 2023 Canada Summer Games Best XI of the Tournament… back-to-back League1 BC champion with Whitecaps… voted Gatorade Player of the Match in championship final.

RORY SCHANK

Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas
Club Team: FC Dallas ECNL
High School: Flower Mound HS
Instagram: @roryschank
Intended Field of Study: Sociology
Favorite Professional Athlete: Kevin De Bruyne

Biography: Birthday is Sept. 5… parents are Ian and Pilar Schank… has a younger brother, Rhys… plans to study sociology.

Accolades: 2023 TASCO First Team All-Region… 2023 FMHS Offensive MVP… 2022 THSADA 6A State Champion … 2022 First Team All-District… four-year varsity team member… picked for 2022 ECNL Selection Game (Houston)… 2019, 21 ECNL Nationals

MADDIE STODDARD

Position: Forward
Hometown: Cumming, Georgia
Club Team: United Futbol Academy ECNL
High School: Denmark HS
Instagram: @maddie_stoddard
Intended Field of Study: Political Science
Favorite Professional Player: Messi

Biography: Birthday is March 24… parents are Tom and Shelly Stoddard… has an older brother, Tyler, and two younger siblings, Hailey and Jaxon… plans to study political science.

Accolades: Two-time DHS team captain… Three-time All-Forsyth County… three-time first team all-region… 2023 All-State First Team… 2023 Southeast All-American… 2023 GHSA 7A State Champion… UFA ECNL U19 Team Captain… ECNL 2021-2022 Southeast U16 First Team All-Conference… 2021 US Soccer U-16 YNT Regional Identification Center… 2021 US Soccer U-16 Virtual Camp… 2020 US Soccer U14-GNT East Camp Invitee.

AYANA YAPO

Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Club Team: SC del Sol
High School: Verrado HS
Instagram: @ayana__yapo
Intended Field of Study: Aviation Management
Favorite Professional Team: Manchester City FC

Biography: Birthday is April 24… parents are Melissa Steele and Achi Yapo… plans to study aviation management.

Accolades: High School: multi-sport athlete in track and soccer… two-time selection for GA Southwest Talent ID… two-time selection for GA National Talent ID.

Learn more about the Tigers’ complete 2024 signing class here.

Auburn soccer returns to action with five exhibition matches spread across the spring of 2024. A schedule for the exhibition slate will be released in the coming weeks.