Fordham women’s soccer announces 14-player recruiting class for 2022

Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham women’s soccer head coach Magnus Nilerud announced the team’s recruiting class which will begin play in Fall 2022. The Rams added 14 players for the upcoming season.

Here is a look at this year’s recruiting class:

Caroline Monahan – Forward – Fairfield, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy (William & Mary)

Monahan is a graduate transfer from William & Mary, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BBA in Business Analytics, where she was a four-year member of the women’s soccer team.  She appeared in 30 games over her time in Williamsburg, posting two goals and an assist and was a four-time member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.  She was also a recipient of the William & Mary Provost Award all four years and a seven-time selection to the Dean’s List.

Prior to William & Mary, Monahan was a three-time All-State performer in Connecticut at Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall, setting school record with 80 career goals.  She was the 2017 SCC Player of the Year and was a member of the TopDrawerSoccer.com/IMG Academy Top 150.  For club soccer, she played for Connecticut Football Club (CFC) and played on the ODP State Team.

Tristan McFarlane – Midfielder – Ottawa, Ontario/Brookfield (Hartford)

McFarlane is a transfer from Hartford, where she spent one season with the Hawks.  She started 16 games for Hartford, playing over 1,300 minutes and recording one assist.  She was also a member of the Dean’s and President’s List for the 2021-22 academic year.

Before Hartford, McFarlane played for Brookfield High School in Ottawa, Ontario, where she was a two-time MVP of the women’s soccer team.  She played club soccer for Ottawa South United, where she led the team to both the OPDL Championship and the OPDL Cup/Charity Shield Championship in 2018 (U-15) and 2019 (U-16), as well as the Bethesda Premier Cup Championship in 2017.  Away from the pitch, McFarlane was an Ontario Scholar and recipient of the French Immersion Certificate.

Abby Doyle – Midfielder – Reading, Pa./Wyomissing (Army West Point)

Doyle is a transfer from Army West Point, where she spent one year with the Black Knights.  She appeared in 12 games, making one start in 2021 and recorded one goal.  She was also a member of the Dean’s List for both semesters of the 2021-22 academic year.

Before Army, Doyle graduated from Wyomissing High School in Pennsylvania, where she was the Berks County Female Athlete of the Year after earning All-State, All-Region, and All-County honors in soccer.  She led team to both county and district championships.  For club soccer, she played for PA Classics DA.  Away from the field, Doyle was a member of the National Honor Society and the high honor roll.

Ryann Lucas – Midfielder – Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township (St. Mary’s (CA))

Lucas is a transfer from St. Mary’s College in California.  She played varsity soccer for Evanston Township High School in Illinois as well as club soccer for FC United, where she helped both teams claim two state championships in 2018 and 2019.  In the classroom, Lucas was a member of the National Honor Society.

Ella Guth – Defender – Clinton, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy

Guth was a four-year soccer player at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, Connecticut, where she was a three-time team MVP and senior year captain.  She earned All-State honors in 2020, while being a two-time All-Area and All-SCC First Team selection (2020 & 2021).  For club soccer, Guth played for CFC United ECNL 2004, which attended the ECNL National Tournament in the Champions League in 2020, while winning the Jefferson Cup in 2019.

On top of her soccer exploits, Guth was also an All-Area and All-SCC selection for indoor track, breaking the school record in the mile run.  In the classroom, she was a member of the National and Spanish National Honor Societies, received the Trinity College Book Award, and served as President of the Spanish Club.

Julia Holton – Midfielder – Wilmette, Ill./Loyola Academy

Holton graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, and played club soccer for FC United.  She helped FC United Pre Academy to a number of championships, including the 2017 Presidents Cup National Championship and the 2022 USYS National Championship.  She also was a part of the 2019 State Cup and Surf Cup Finalists.  Additionally, she served as the Girls Academy Team Representative from 2020-22.

Away from the pitch, Holton was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa Cum Laude.  She was also an Illinois State Scholar and a four-year Loyola Scholar.

Kyla King – Goalkeeper – Hamden, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy

King is the second member of Sacred Heart Academy to join the Rams in 2022, serving as a four-year goalkeeper for the team.  A 2021 team captain and All-SCC selection, she helped the team to the 2021 Class M State Championship for the first time in school history, where the squad did not concede a goal in the tournament.  She was also on the Top 25 Players to Watch List in 2021 by the CIAC.  For club soccer, King played for CFC United ECNL, helping her squad to the 2018 CFC College Showcase Championship and 2019 PDA Showcase Championship.

In the classroom, King was a member of the National and Spanish National Honor Societies, as well as the High Honor Roll all four years.

Rachael Mahan – Forward – Safety Harbor, Fla./Calvary Christian

Mahan was a four-year soccer player at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida.  She was a three-time Offensive Player of the Year, setting a school record with 50 career goals.  A three-year captain, she earned a selection to the All-State Team as a senior, as well as a spot on the Pinellas County All-Star team.  For club, Mahan played in the Caledonia WPSL Summer League, while for club teams, she helped Celtic FC to a first-place finish in the U18/19 NPL League and Tampa Bay United ECNL to the U1 National Playoffs.

In the classroom, Mahan was a member of the National and Spanish Honor Societies, as well as Founder and President of Model UN.  An AP Scholar, she finished in the top 25 academically in her class.

Kaitlyn Murphy – Midfielder – Avon, Conn./Avon

Murphy is a graduate of Avon High School in Avon, Connecticut.  She played club soccer for Oakwood Soccer Club, where she has been a U19 GA starter since 2020.  Prior to that, she split time as a USSDA starter for the U16, U17, and U19 teams from 2019-20.  She competed at the USSDA and GA Showcases in Florida and California from 2018-20, and the North Carolina edition in 2018 and 2022.

In the classroom, Murphy was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year member of the Honor Roll at Avon High School.  She was also selected for the National Society of High School Scholars and was recipient of the President’s Education Award.

Sidney Nicholas – Forward – Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs

Nicholas is a graduate of Holly Springs High School in North Carolina.  She played club soccer most recently for the U19 NC Courage ECNL Academy.

Academically, Nicholas was an honors student and member of the National Honor Society at Holly Springs.  She graduated with an AP Capstone diploma.

Eva Niemeyer – Forward – Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield

Niemeyer graduated from Ridgefield High School in Connecticut, playing for the soccer team as a senior.  Prior for club soccer, she was a part of Oakwood Soccer Club, which consistently placed in the top three for the New England Conference from 2018-22.  She was also selected for the GA Talent ID Event for the top 30 players in the New England Conference in 2021.

Away from the pitch, Niemeyer was a member of the National Honor Society and was recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award twice.  She was also a part of the student government, serving as executive treasurer (2022), class treasurer (2021), and class senator (2019) during her high school tenure.

Maddeline Peck – Defender – Westwood, Mass./Westwood

Peck is a graduate of Westwood High School in Massachusetts, playing for the soccer team as a senior, where she was the Tri-Valley League MVP and All-Star.  She also made the All-State and Eastern Massachusetts All-Star teams.  For club soccer, Peck was a part of the NEFC Development Academy.

Academically, Peck was a member of the National Honor Society at Westwood and a four-year honor roll member.

Ava Smith – Midfielder/Defender – Little Silver, N.J./IMG Academy

Smith played soccer at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after graduating from Red Bank Catholic in New Jersey.  At Red Bank, she also was a lacrosse player, serving as team captain and was an All-Shore Conference honoree.

In the classroom, Smith was a member of the National Honor Society at Red Bank Catholic.

Natalie Velde – Forward – Torvastad, Norway/NTG Baerum

Velde attended NTG Baerum in Norway for high school.  She plays club soccer for Haugesund FK in the Norwegian Women’s 2^nd Division, netting three goals in the 2022 season.  She previously played for Avaldsnes in the Norwegian Women’s Top Division (Toppserien) and Ovrevoll Hosle in the Women’s 1^st Division.  Additionally, Velde has also been called to the Norway U19 National Team Camp.