BYU women’s soccer to welcome six newcomers for 2021 season

PROVO, Utah – Six student-athletes have signed with BYU women’s soccer and will join the Cougars for the 2021 season.

“We are very fortunate each year to reload our roster with strong, talented and hard-working young women,” said BYU women’s soccer head coach Jennifer Rockwood. Our 2021 class will be a tremendous addition to the roster and really complement our group of returning players. Collectively they bring a very high level of experience, athleticism and passion for the game.”

The states of Utah, Nevada and California are represented in the 2020 class of signees. Addison Gardner and Josie Shepherd (American Fork) along with Caroline Stringfellow (Syracuse) are from Utah. Ruby Hladek (Ladera Ranch) and Kelsey Hoopes (Livermore) are originally from California and Jacey Wood (Las Vegas) represents Las Vegas.

“I know how excited each of these athletes are to represent BYU both on and off the field,” said Rockwood. “They will be a key component for the program’s future, and we expect them to have an immediate impact during the fall season.”

Addison Gardner
Forward | Highland, Utah | American Fork HS | Utah Celtic FC

• 2020 6A State Finalist
• 2020 Academic All State
• 2020 All American watch list
• 2017 6A State Champion (ranked sixth nationally)
• 2017 1st Team All Region, 2nd Team All State, Academic All State
• 2019 High School: 6A state champs, first-team All-Region, first team All-State
• 2019 Club: Finalists State Cup U18 United Soccer Association
• 2018 Celtic 1st place in U-16 P1 UYSA 2018, Avalanche tournament finalists playing up U-18
• 2022 Daily Herald All Valley Team
• 2020 Student of the month (October)
• Hope Squad 2018-2019
• Olympic Development Program Team Top 18 traveling team, invited to international trip

Ruby Hladek
Midfielder/Forward | Ladera Ranch, California | American Fork HS | So Cal Blues SC

• IMG Academy Top 75 — Top 20 Midfielder
• Top Drawer Soccer 4-Star Rating
• 2020 Utah 6A Region 4 Champion
• 2019 SC Blues Ranked #1 U17 Club Team in Nation
• 2019 SC Blues 26 game unbeaten streak—longest in US Soccer Development Academy history
• 2016 & 2019 San Diego Surf Cup Champion
• 2017 US Soccer Development Academy Top 10 Goal Scorer
• 2017 Top Drawer Soccer Top Goal Scorers
• 2017 Cal South Olympic Development Program
• 2017-2020 US Soccer Girls DA
• 2014-2017 US Soccer Invitational Trainings
• Four-time Honor Roll

Kelsey Hoopes
Goalkeeper | Livermore, California | Livermore HS | Mustang Soccer

• 2015-17 US Soccer National Training Center Attendee
• 2016-17 California ODP State Team
• 2015-20 PDP Regional/PDP State Pool Attendee
• 2018 NCS State Championship runner up
• 2017-20 NCS Scholar Athlete
• 2019 EBAL All League Honorable Mention
• Livermore HS Team Captain

Josie Shepherd
Midfielder | American Fork, Utah | American Fork HS | Utah Celtic FC

• 2019 Utah 6A High School State Champions
• 2019 Utah State Cup Champions
• 2018 Olympic Development Program Team
• 2017 Utah 6A High School State Champions
• 2017 Olympic Development Program Team
• Academic All-State

Caroline Stringfellow
Midfielder, Forward | Syracuse, Utah | Syracuse HS | USA Premier

• 2019 Utah Gatorade Player Of The Year
• 2018 Deseret News Ms. Soccer
• 2017 Salt Lake Tribune Player Of The Year
• Two-time Standard Examiner All Area Player Of The Year
• 2017-19 first-team All-State (Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Standard Examiner)
• UHSAA all-time Utah Career Assist Leader (86)
• UHSAA Top 10 all-time goal scorer (88)
• Top scorer 6A all-time
• 2002 Utah ODP all-time leading goal scorer
• Two-time US National Soccer ID Camp
• 2019 USYSA Golden Ball Recipient-US National Championships
• 2019 USYSA Best Eleven
• 2018 USYSA Golden Ball Recipient-US National Championships
• 2018 USYSA Best Eleven
• 2018 USYSA National Championship Finalist
• 2019 USYSA National Championship Semi-Finalist
• Two-time UYSA State Cup Champions
• 2019 USYSA Far West Regional Finalist
• 2017 USYSA Far West Regional Champions and Golden Boot
• Four-time high school captain

Jacey Wood
Midfielder/Forward | Las Vegas, Nevada | Desert Oasis HS | Players SC

• Desert Region Player of the Year
• Desert Region Golden Boot Award
• Student Athlete Academic Award
• WPSL Nevada Top Goal Scorer
• Nevada record for most goals in one game
• Diamondback Most Valuable Player
• Desert Oasis HS Soccer records (most goals in a season, assists in a season, goals in a game)
• Also competed in track and cross country
• Cross Country school record: 5K (19:21)
• Track school records: 800 M (2:19), 4x800m relay, 4Xmile relay