Kentucky women’s soccer bringing in 16 new Wildcats from 12 states in 2024

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s soccer program and head coach Troy Fabiano have announced their 2024 recruiting class.

The group, comprised of 16 high school seniors from 12 states, is set to join the roster for the 2024 season. The class was revealed in conjunction with National Signing Day, when the new Wildcats signed their National Letters of Intent.

“Today is an exciting day for our program,” Fabiano said. “We are incredibly excited to welcome this class signing to UK. It is a deep, talented and competitive group that we feel will make both an immediate and long-term impact on our program. This class, combined with our current players, will help continue to build upon the competitive foundation that has been set for this program to compete in the SEC and nationally.”

Read more about Kentucky’s newest signees, below.

Emerson Andrews – Defender

Hometown: Highland Park, Texas
Club Team: Solar Soccer Club
School: Highland Park High School

• Played for Solar ECNL U18/19, No. 2 ranked ECNL team
• ECNL U16 National Semifinals, U17 National Finals
• San Diego Wave ID Camp Invitee
• ODP NTX Regional Team
• Competed at Super Copa, Surf Cup, State Cup, Vegas Cup, DIGC, Dallas Cup, ECNL Playoffs
• Captain of Highland Park Girls Soccer team
• Father, Brian, played football at Arkansas State 

Ella Dykstra – Midfield/Forward

Hometown: St. Joseph, Mo.
Club Team: Midwest United ECNL
School: St. Joseph High School

• 5x ODP Regional Team
• 2x ODP National Team
• Futsal National Finalist
• Aunt, Kelli Celmer, played college soccer at University of Benedictine

Sydni Fink – Winger

Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
Club Team: Chicago Inter
School: Naperville North High School

• 2x starter on IL State ODP Team
• 2x IL State Cup Champion
• 2022 USYS Midwest Regional Champion
• 2023 ECNL Regional League Central Regional Champion 

Avery Lampe – Center Back

Hometown: Medina, Minn.
Club Team: Tonka Fusion Elite
School: Providence Academy

• All Conference honoree in high school
• Third place finisher at 2022 State Tournament
• Captain of club and high school teams
• 14 goals and 16 assists during the 2023 high school season

Ashley Mekitarian – Attacking Center Midfielder

Hometown: Chula Vista, Calif.
Club Team: Rebels Soccer Club
School: East Lake High School

• USYS National Champion
• ODP Far West Regional Champion
• Second Team ECNL All-Conference
• Led Rebel Club Soccer in goals and assists in 2021-22

Marilia Nieves Melchor – Forward

Hometown: Clover, S.C.
Club Team: Charlotte Soccer Academy
School: Clover High School

• United Soccer Coaches All-State selection
• U17 ECNL First Team All-Conference
• Played for the U17 and U20 Puerto Rican National Team
• 2023 Viking Cup All-Tournament Team
• Father, Juan, played in the MLB and threw the first ever no hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is currently a pitching coach with the Detroit Tigers
• Mother, Marilia, played professional volleyball in Puerto Rico
• Sister, Alondra, plays soccer at Georgia State University
• Sister, Natalia, dances on Broadway

Michelle Moskau – Center Back

Hometown: Cumming, Ga.
Club Team: Atlanta Fire United
School: West Forsyth High School

• Back-to-back State Championships with high school team
• First Team All-State
• ECNL All-Conference First Team
• Grandfather, Paul, played in the MLB for the Cincinnati Reds
• Father, Ryan, played baseball at the University of Arizona and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft

Kathleen Ngulefac – Forward

Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
Club Team: Gwinnett Soccer Association
School: Parkview High School

• ECNL Southeast First Team All-Conference
• All-State honoree
• Has scored 54 goals across three years of high school soccer
• Sister, Sussy, plays basketball at Rice University

Jasmine Nixon – Defender

Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Club Team: Charlotte Soccer Academy
School: Indian Land High School

• Team captain for Charlotte Soccer Academy
• U18/19 ECNL All-American (2023)
• U18/19 ECNL Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year
• 3x ECNL Mid-Atlantic First Team All-Conference
• U18/19 ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion
• Indian Land High School Female Athlete of the Year
• 3x SCHSL 4A All-State
• SCHSL 4A Region Player of the Year
• Father, Jeff Nixon, played football at Penn State and coaches in the NFL
• Brother, William, plays college football at the University of Washington 

Gaby Rourke – Goalkeeper

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
Club Team: Florida Elite
School: Atlantic Coast High School

• First Team All-Gateway Conference
• Nominated for 2021-22 Florida HS Player of the Year
• Captain on Florida Elite club team
• Recorded 25 saves in one ECNL game
• Kicker on varsity football team
• Also played volleyball, softball and flag football
• Brother, Tyler, played baseball at Alabama A&M
• Brother, Austin, played baseball at Emmanuel University

Anna Sikorski – Forward

Hometown: Muskego, Wis.
Club Team: SC Wave
School: Muskego High School

• 3x First Team All-State in high school
• 3x DI State Champion in high school
• 2x All American
• Wisconsin State Player of the Year
• Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year
• 2x USYNT Regional Camp
• Girls Academy Nationals Final Four Golden Boot
• 2x Girls Academy National ID Camp
• 2022 03/04 USYS National Champions
• 6x Wisconsin State Champion with club team
• 2023-24 club team captain

Abigail Stager – Forward

Hometown: Wexford, Pa.
Club Team: Beadling Soccer Club
School: North Allegheny Senior High

• State Tournament Runner-up
• 60 career goals in high school
• 2x WPIAL Champion
• Father, James, played football at William & Mary

Bella Stewart – Forward/Attacking Mid

Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Club Team: S.C. Blues
School: JSerra Catholic High School

• U15 National Team Player Pool
• ODP Player Pool
• Four-year varsity letter winner in girls’ soccer
• 12 goals and seven assists for the 2022-23 club season
• Father, Andy, played tennis at Fresno State and on the professional tour
• Mother, Jessica, played tennis at Whittier College 

Gianna Tuzzolino – Midfielder

Hometown: East Amherst, N.Y.
Club Team: WNY Flash
School: Williamsville East High School

• 2023 All Conference honoree
• 2021 ECNL Ohio Valley Conference Champion
• 2021 ECNL Champions League Appearance
• Multi-year All State Selection
• Sectional honoree in Track & Field
• Father, Tony, played hockey at Michigan State University and played professionally for 14 years, including several games in the NHL

Lexi Tylenda – Forward

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Club Team: Beadling SC
School: Shaler Area School District

• All-WPIAL

Reese Wilson – Defender

Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Club Team: FC Alliance
School: Hardin Valley Academy

• ECNL Ohio Valley First Team All-Conference
• USYNT IDC
• High School All-State
• Mother, Becka, played soccer at ETSU
• Team captain of high school team
• Has artwork in the National Museum of Art