Binghamton women’s soccer signs eight high school recruits ahead of 2021 season

VESTAL, N.Y. – With a large senior class set to close out their collegiate careers in the spring, Binghamton women’s soccer has signed eight high school recruits who will begin their own promising careers as Bearcats in Fall 2021. Head coach Neel Bhattacharjee announced the commitments on national signing day.

Set to join the Bearcats in Fall 2021 are Peyton Gilmore (Mullica Hill, N.J.), Erin Hogan (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), Alexis Marsteller (Allentown, Pa.), Maria Poulos (New Hyde Park, N.Y.), Hailey Roberts (Valley Stream, N.Y.), Nicole Rago (Parsippany, N.J.), Mackenzie Ryder (Oxford, Mass.) and Kaitlyn Williams (Clinton, N.Y.).

“Our program is ecstatic to be adding these eight student-athletes into our team this fall,” Bhattacharjee said. “For this 2021 class there were numerous needs we wanted to address and we know each of these student-athletes will play a specific role within our program.  Each of them is held in high regard and they are expected to be successful on the field through their athleticism, technical ability, and tactical knowledge, as well as setting a high level in the classroom and being positive citizens throughout the Binghamton campus and community.  We could not be more excited to have this class join us this August.”

Bhattacharjee’s current squad is scheduled to open their 2020-21 season in early March.

Here is a capsule look at the eight incoming student-athletes:

Peyton Gilmore (Mullica Hill, N.J.)

• Five-foot-five forward
• Four-year letterwinner at Delsea Regional HS
• Captain as senior in 2020
• Four-time first team All-Group/All-State selection
• Three-time All-South Jersey selection
• Twice named to NJGSCA “Top 20” South Region Team
• South Jersey Times and Vineland Daily Journal Player of the Year as sophomore
• Two-time South Jersey Times first team selection
• Has career totals of 111 goals and 26 assists with senior season still going
• Second-highest leading scorer in school history and one of just four seniors in state of NJ to tally 100 career goals
• In her four years, Delsea hasn’t lost a single game in the Tri County Conference
• Four-year captain for club team FC Copa
• Leading scorer in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
• Named Top Performer of EDP Tournament in 2019
• Captain and two-time all-conference player in basketball
• Member of National Honor Society
• Honors Student all four years of high school

Erin Hogan (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.)

• Five-foot-three forward
• Left forward and left back at Dobbs Ferry HS
• Senior captain
• One of top scorers in all of Westchester County
• Has eight goals and seven assists thus far in senior season
• Plays for New York SC
• Club team was ranked No. 5 in nation
• Also a captain of basketball team
• Member of Hispanic Honor Society
• Named to High Honor Roll

Alex Marsteller (Allentown, Pa.)

• Five-foot-two midfielder
• Four-year letterwinner at Parkland HS
• Ranks among top-15 in school history in career points (78+ pts)
• Two-time All-Area selection
• First team all-conference choice
• Led team to 2019 conference title as junior
• Team won conference title and was District XI champion back-to-back years
• Parkland team was selected as Allentown Morning Call Girls Soccer Team of Year in 2018 and 2019
• Played for club team FC Revolution
• Club team was 2019 Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup champions and U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern Regional finalists
• Club team has lost just once in 83 games with Marsteller in lineup (79-1-3)
• Member of National Honor Society and High Honor Roll

Maria Poulos (New Hyde Park, N.Y.)

• Five-foot-three midfielder
• Standout for New Hyde Park Memorial HS
• Member of ODP New York State team and Region 1 team
• Selected by Generation Adidas to play abroad in France
• Earned invitation to Player Development Program trainings
• SUSA Academy club team was three-time NPL league champion
• SUSA was two-time NPL national finalist and 2018 national champion
• Club team went 26-1-3 in her three-years
• Member of National Honor Society
• Earned High Honor Roll accolades

Hailey Roberts (Valley Stream, N.Y.)

• Five-foot-nine defender
• Four-year standout at Valley Stream South HS
• Two-time all-conference selection
• Team captured 2018 New York State Class A championship and was ranked No. 4 in country
• Anchored back line that produced 16 shutouts and was undefeated in 2018 (21-0)
• Didn’t play senior season with injury
• Valley Stream South also won conference title in 2017 with Roberts and defense producing nine shutouts
• Played for club team East Meadow SC
• Also was an all-state basketball player
• Two-time all-county selection whose sister Cassidy is a sophomore on the BU women’s basketball team
• Member of four honor societies: National Honor Society, Language Honor Society, Art Honor Society and History Honor Society
• Four-year member of Principal’s List for GPA of 95 and higher

Nicole Rago (Parsippany, N.J.)

• Five-foot-seven defender
• Four-year standout for Parsippany HS
• Two-year captain who led team to state semifinals in 2018 and 2019
• Was individually ranked as high as No. 14 in region by Top Drawer Soccer
• Named one of Top 50 defenders and Top 85 seniors in state of New Jersey in 2020
• Four-year captain for club team FC Copa Academy
• Selected for NJ ODP State team in 2016 and 2017
• Named to Next Gen Select Team in 2017
• Selected for GPS Bayern Munich National Team in 2016
• Awarded Parsippany High School Soccer Coaches Award in 2018
• Member of National Honor Society and Italian National Honor Society
• Honor Roll student all four years in high school

Mackenzie Ryder (Oxford, Mass./Worcester Academy)

• Five-foot-eight defender
• Four-year letterwinner at Worcester Academy
• Anchored back line of New England Class A semifinal team
• Team captain as senior
• Member of FC Stars club team
• Club team advanced to ECNL national playoffs
• High Honors student
• Member of Alumni Transition Team at Worcester

Kaitlyn Williams (Clinton, N.Y.)

• Five-foot-seven goalkeeper
• Five-year letterwinner at Clinton HS
• Led 2019 team to 15-2-1 mark and No. 1 Class B ranking in New York State
• Three-time all-state selection
• All-American nomination in 2020
• Team captured five straight conference titles and has won at 85% clip during her scholastic tenure (72-11-4)
• Holds five school records, including career shutouts (54), single season shutouts (15), single season save percentage (95%) and single season goals against average (0.216)
• Led 2018 team to sectional title with 17-2-1 record and 15 shutouts
• Didn’t allow a goal in 2016 play against conference opponents
• Recorded 13 shutouts as junior with 138 saves and a 0.47 goals against average
• Received Golden Glove Award in 2016
• Three-time Center State Conference All-League selection
• Also played basketball for Clinton
• Member of National Honor Society
• Received prestigious Award of Excellence from National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists
• Also earned Academic Awards in Spanish, health, science, English and art