Liberty University signs nine women’s soccer recruits for 2021

Head coach Lang Wedemeyer and the Liberty University women’s soccer program announced nine newcomers for the 2021 season.

“We have been fortunate to bring together such a great and versatile class of players for 2021. This group has a lot of great soccer in them combined with a tremendous will to win,” Wedemeyer said. “We are excited that they will be joining our soccer family and we look forward to Training these new Champions for Christ.”

[+READ: Liberty University women’s soccer team signs transfer from Tennessee]

See below for a look at Liberty’s incoming class:

Lysie Findley | Midfielder | Charlotte, N.C.

A local product, Findley attended Liberty Christian Academy where she is a three-year starter under head coach Janice Bennett. Findley and her family are familiar with Liberty as her brother, Gabe Findley, is a freshman on the Liberty men’s soccer team and her father, Kelly Findley, is the head coach of the Liberty men’s soccer team. Findley was a First team All-District in the Sunflower League and was a First Team All-District and Region in the Seminole District. A multi-sport athlete, Findley also ran track at LCA.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Lysie is very skillful and clever on the ball. She is excellent at combining with other players and finding dangerous slotted balls through defensive units.”

Ingrid Hentemann | Defender | Grand Haven, Mich.

Hentemann attended Grand Haven High School, where she played under head coach Yvonne McKessy and also played for Midwest United for head coach Remco Bergsma where she was a four-year starter. Hentemann was an All-Conference Player of the Year and an All-District Player of the Year. A multi-sport athlete, Hentemann also played golf at Grand Haven.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Ingrid has a great combination of short and long-range passing accuracy out of the back that is matched only by her fierce tackling and ball-winning skills.”

Riley Hill | Goalkeeper | Schwenksville, Pa.

Hill attended Perkiomen Valley High School where she was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter under head coach Kimberly Paulus McCabe. At Perkiomen Valley, Hill was a two-time MVP where she has tallied 14 shutouts and 263 saves going into her senior season. Hill also played for FC Revolution Rowdies under head coach Eric Franks where she was a three-year starter and posted 20 shutouts and lead to team to hoisting the State Cup Championship. She also led FC Revolution to first place in the EDP League.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Riley has a tremendous presence in goal and commands her box with authority. She has the skill to make the difficult saves look easy and brings confidence to any defensive unit.”

Ainsley Leja | Goalkeeper | Rockford, Mich.

Recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in the country, Leja was a three-time U.S. National Training invitee. Leja played for Midwest United FC where she was posted a 91-14-11 record throughout her time with the club, which ranked No. 5 in the nation from 2017-20. Leja is a three-time State Champion from 2018-20 and was a part of the Mid-America Regional Champions Academy in 2019 and 2020.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Ainsley is a tough and dynamic goalkeeper who has tremendous spring in her dives. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and a great competitor on the field.”

Lauren Landry | Forward | Fort Bragg, N.C.

Landry attended Pinecrest High School where she played under head coach Corey Rice where she was a three-year starter. As a captain, Landry tallied 22 goals and 34 assists at Pinecrest where she was a 2019 North Carolina GDA Player of the Year and led her team to the 2019 High School State Finals. In 2017 her team was crowned the North Carolina U-15 State Cup Champions and from 2018-19 Landry was an All-Conference and All-Region selection.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Lauren is a tremendous attacking player. She has the tools to beat defenders off the dribble one-versus-one or with combination play. She also has a great knack for getting into goal-scoring positions around the box.”

Taylor Mason | Midfielder | Lynchburg, Va.

A local product, Mason attended Jefferson Forest High School where she played under head coach Matt Newton. She was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter. As a midfielder, Mason has tallied nine goals and seven assists throughout her career. Mason is a two-time Seminole District Champion and a two-time Region 4D Champion.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Taylor is a very dynamic attacker who plays with speed and courage. She never backs down from a challenge and creates all kinds of havoc for opposing defenders.”

Jessica McDonald | Midfielder | Denver, Colo.

McDonald attended Hayfield Secondary School, where she played under head coach Ruben Bolegnsi where she was a two-year starter. A consistent goal scorer throughout her time at Hayfield, McDonald was Hayfield’s third-leading goal scorer in 2018 and the team’s leader in 2019. She was also named the team’s MVP in 2019. McDonald has played top competition all across the world as she competed in the 2017 Scotland Region I ODP, the 2018 Costa Rica Region I ODP and was a part of the 2017 German National Pool. McDonald was a 2018-19 First Team All-District honoree.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Jessica is a very versatile player who can play in multiple positions on the field. She has a tremendous nose for goal and always seems to be dangerous around the box.”

Briana Myers| Midfielder | Troutville, Va.

Myers attended Lord Botetourt High School where she played for head coach Guiseppe D’Arpa. Myers has been a starter since her freshman year and has accumulated 30 goals and 20 assists throughout her time at Lord Botetourt. She is a Blue Ridge District Player of the Year and a First Team All-District honoree and a Region 3D Co-Player of the Year. A multi-sport athlete, Myers played basketball where she was a part of 3A Co-State Champions.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Brianna is an incredibly proficient passer of the ball. She sees plays and can deliver textured balls from the midfield, but is also hard-nosed enough to defend well.”

Katharina Pohs | Midfielder | Daun, Germany

Pohs is from Daun, Germany where she attended Geschwister-Scholl Gymnasium. Playing against some of the top competition all throughout Germany, Pohs has played in the National Cup in Duisburg, competing against teams all over Germany. An offensive midfielder, Pohs plans to study mechanical engineering.

Coach Wedemeyer Quote: “Katharina is a versatile, attacking player who can play pretty much any of our top five roles. She is silky in her dribbling through packed defenses and technical enough to play teammates into dangerous attacking positions.”