Furman University announces 12-player women’s soccer recruiting class

Greenville, S.C. – Furman women’s soccer has added 12 players to its roster for the 2023 season, it was announced by Paladin head coach Andrew Burr.

Royton Boulware (Greenville, S.C.), Noemi Casique (Davenport, Fla.), Alyssa England (Atlanta, Ga.), Gigi Espinoza (Kennesaw, Ga.), Gabby Garcia (Orlando, Fla.), Jenny Jacobson (Atlanta, Ga.), Ava King (Bartow, Fla.), Maddie Massie (Birmingham, Ala.), Norah Roller (Birmingham, Ala.), Allison Travis (Wake Forest, N.C.), LJ Wise (Greenville, S.C.), and Vanessa Wolf (Wayne, N.J.) will begin their Furman careers when the Paladins report for training in August.

“We are excited for our 2023 recruiting class and recognize that this group will represent Furman well both on the field and in the classroom,” said Burr. “This group brings significant depth in all positions, and we anticipate that several of these freshmen will have an immediate impact as they step on the field for our program.”

Royton Boulware | MF | Greenville, S.C. | Wade Hampton H.S. | CESA

Boulware, the daughter of Furman’s associate head men’s soccer coach Bret Boulware, is a prep standout for head coach PJ Mancuso at Wade Hampton High School. The midfielder helped the Generals to a 19-2 record, Region 2-AAAAA title, and state playoff appearance as a junior. Boulware plays for CESA Liberty in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and has guided her team to an 8-5-2 record in the ECNL Southeast Conference during the 2022-23 season.

Noemi Casique | MF/F | Davenport, Fla. | Ridge Community H.S. | FC Prime

A two-time all-district choice and the 2020 Florida Athletics Coaches Association (FACA) 7A Player of the Year, Casique has scored over 100 career goals for Ridge Community High School. The midfielder netted 33 goals and added 19 assists as a sophomore before bagging 33 goals and totaling 20 assists as a junior. The Davenport, Fla., native scored five goals in a January match to surpass 100 for her career. She plays her club soccer for FC Prime.

Alyssa England | D/F | Atlanta, Ga. | North Atlanta H.S. | Concorde Fire ECNL

England has been a standout defender for coach Ted Colburn at North Atlanta High School. She earned first team all-region honors as a sophomore and junior and helped the Warriors to a Region 4-6A title last season. England plays her club soccer for head coach Garvin Quamina and the Concorde Fire in the ECNL.

Gigi Espinoza | MF/F | Kennesaw, Ga. | Kennesaw Mountain H.S. | Concorde Fire ECNL

Espinoza, who is capable of playing several positions, is a standout midfielder for coach Kevin Williams and Kennesaw Mountain High School. The Kennesaw, Ga., native also started in the back line for the Mexican U-17 National Team in all three of its matches at the 2022 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India and helped her side to a 2-1 victory over Spain. She is a two-time first team all-region choice and 2021 GHSA All-State selection at Kennesaw Mountain. Espinoza plays for the Concorde Fire and is set to play I the USL W League for Southern Soccer Academy.

Gabby Garcia | MF | Orlando, Fla. | Bishop Moore Catholic H.S. | Florida Kraze Krush ECNL

Garcia, a central midfielder, led Bishop Moore Catholic High School to three consecutive regional and district titles as well as the 2022 FHSAA 4A state championship. A team captain for coach Amy Geltz’s squad, Garcia earned area player of the year honors as a junior. Her Bishop Moore team was ranked No. 1 nationally by Max Preps entering the 2023 season. The Orlando, Fla., product plays her club soccer for Florida Kraze Krush in the ECNL.

Jenny Jacobson | F | Atlanta, Ga. | The Westminster School | Concorde Fire ECNL

Forward Jenny Jacobson is a senior at The Westminster School where she plays for head coach Sharon Loughran. The Atlanta, Ga., native missed her junior season with a knee injury after leading her team to a 21-0 record and state championship in 2021. Jacobson plays her club soccer for Concorde Fire in the ECNL. She also lettered in basketball.

Ava King | D/F | Bartow, Fla. | McKeel Academy of Technology | Tampa Bay United ECNL

King, a three-time All-Polk County choice, has played outside forward and outside back for coach Jacob Sweeney at McKeel Academy of Technology. A three-year team captain, she has scored 55 goals in her first three seasons, including 17 as a junior, and earned all-state honors as a sophomore. The Bartow, Fla., native plays her club soccer for Tampa Bay United in the ECNL.

Maddie Massie | MF/F | Birmingham, Ala. | Homewood H.S. | Alabama FC ECNL

Maddie Massie is a senior at Homewood High School where she stars for head coach Sean McBride. The Birmingham, Ala., native has guided Homewood to a pair of AHSAA 6A state championships. Playing as a midfielder and forward, Massie netted 20 goals and added 15 assists en route to earning Birmingham All-Metro and second team all-state honor as a sophomore. Last year, Massie helped her team to a No.1 ranking in the nation by Max Preps with 21 goals and 17 assists. She led Homewood to the AHSAA 6A title and garnered state tournament MVP honors and first team all-state accolades. Massie plays club soccer in the ECNL for Alabama FC.

Norah Roller | F | Birmingham, Ala. | Indian Springs H.S. | Alabama FC ECNL

Another Birmingham, Ala, product, Roller played her prep soccer for Justin Pino at Indian Springs High School. She led her team to back-to-back 4A/5A state titles in 2021 and 2022 while earning Super All-State First Team honors. She was named “B Division” All-Metro Player of the Year as a sophomore after pacing the county with 55 goals, including 10 hat tricks. Indian Springs’ team captain, Roller plays her club soccer in the ECNL for Alabama FC.

Allison Travis | MF | Wake Forest, N.C. | Heritage H.S. | NC Fusion ECNL

Travis, a native of Wake Forest, N.C., is in her senior year at Heritage High School. She has led coach Scott Sloan’s team in assists in each of the last two seasons while garnering all-region and all-conference honors as a sophomore and as a junior. During her sophomore season, she guided Heritage to a conference title. Travis, a midfielder, plays club soccer in the ECNL for NC Fusion.

LJ Wise | GK | Greenville, S.C. | Greenville H.S. | CESA ECNL

Wise plays goalkeeper for the Greenville High School Red Raiders and head coach Liz Stojetz. The four-year letterwinner and team captain earned all-region honors as a junior. She plays her club soccer for CESA in the ECNL.

Vanessa Wolf | D/F | Wayne, N.J. | DePaul Catholic H.S. | World Class ECNL

An outside back at DePaul Catholic High School, Wolf garnered All-Passaic County and All-Big North Conference honors as a sophomore and junior for head coach Steve Beneventine. She led Depaul to a pair of Big North Conference championships, three New Jersey Non-Public B State Sectional titles, and the New Jersey Non-Public B State crown as a junior. Wolf, a Wayne, N.J., product, plays her club soccer for World Class in the ECNL.

Furman is set to return 10 starters, including All-Southern Conference performers Nieva Gaither and Shania Diaz, from a 2022 squad that posted an 8-9-2 record.