Louisville women’s soccer program welcomes 8 Class of 2025 recruits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville women’s soccer head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes and her staff announced that they have added eight players to the 2025 signing class.

Brielle Baker, Ella Bard, Ellie Hill, Kylie Peat, Karina Peat, Ashlyn Huie, Taylor Wilson and Nicole Jodoin are all set to join the Cardinals for the 2025 season. The singing class is composed of one goalkeeper, two defenders, three forwards, one midfielder/forward and one defender/midfielder. They hail from New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina (2x), Georgia, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Brielle Baker

Goalkeeper | 5-7
Hometown: Hillsborough, N.J.
High School: Rutgers Preparatory School 
Club Team: Players Development Academy (PDA)

Brielle comes to the Cardinals from Hillsborough, New Jersey where she played for Rutgers Preparatory School and club for PDA and coach Stan Lembryk. She was a three-time  First Team All-Conference honoree, two-time First Team All Group honoree and was First Team All-State. At Rutgers Prep, they won the state championship twice, conference championship three times and was a one-time county champion. For her club team, she was a two-time All-Conference North Atlantic ECNL. She also played for the U17 Philippine National Soccer Team in the 2024 Asia Cup.

“We are very excited to add Bri to our goalkeepers unit! She comes from an excellent PDA club team environment that is absolutely going to help her transition to the college level quickly! She gets excellent training and is a very confident and capable goalkeeper! Great communicator, soft hands and excellent feet! Super excited about adding Bri to our team!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“I had the privilege to work with Brielle since her beginnings as a goalkeeper. She is an amazing person and her mentality, work rate, goalkeeper ability, leadership and desire to get better every single day will make her an immediate asset to her college team. I cannot wait to see what she will accomplish at the college level.” – Stan Lembryk, Club Coach

Ella Bard

Defender | 5-9 
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Club Team: Internationals SC

Ella comes to Louisville from Wadsworth, Ohio where she played club for Internationals SC and coach Zdravko Popovic. This season for her club side, she has scored 14 goals and tallied 18 assists. She is a three-time First Team ECNL honoree during her club career.

“Ella has the size, athleticism and presence of an excellent center back! She’s a thoughtful player who is engaged in every moment of the game! She can dribble and pass well out of the back, is a very good 1-v-1 defender and is an excellent leader! We are thrilled to add Ella to our team!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“In my 48 years of coaching soccer, I’ve been blessed to be surrounded with many great young athletes. Ella Bard is in the small percentage of being one of the best on and off the soccer field. Every practice, every game is rewarding working with and watching Ella perform and grow. Her drive, commitment, determination to excellence is wrapped up with LOVE, and RESPECT for every challenge and opportunity to be better today than yesterday is heartwarming. Ella is my team captain with tremendous leadership skills and respect of all her teammates. Her character as a human being is something that I wish everyone possessed. She makes everyone better each and every day. Ella’s future is bright as she keeps her feet on the ground while reaching for the stars. I can’t wait to see her in years ahead on her journey to excellence on and off the soccer field. One thing is for sure, everyone Ella represents is a lucky one. Ella is a SPECIAL one.” – Zdravko Popovic, Club Coach

Ellie Hill

Forward | 5-6
Hometown: St. Leon, Ind.
High School: East Central High School 
Club Team: Indy Premier

Ellie comes to the Cardinals from St. Leon, Indiana where she played for East Central High School and club for Indy Premier and Kenrick Ramirez. She only played high school soccer her freshman and sophomore seasons. She was named the 2022 Top Team Player from the state of Indiana. In 2021, she was First Team All-County and the girls newcomer of the year. Her team was conference and sectional champions each of her two seasons and reached the semis at regionals during her freshman year. For her club, she participated at the U.S. Girls YNT ID Center Nashville event along with other showcases and ID camps.

“Ellie is an excellent athlete who can play as a winger or a striker! Ellie is aggressive in the final third and likes to beat you off the dribble in the wide areas! She has the ability to serve a variety of different crosses and this will absolutely help in our goal scoring phase. She is excellent in the air as well! We are very excited to add Ellie to our team!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“When you have been in coaching for a long time, you come across good human beings and good players, so it becomes an expectation and never a surprise. Ellie Hill did surprise and showed levels can be raised, quality, skillful footballer with an eye for goal, hardest worker in practice and best example of what a human being should be.” – Kenrick Ramirez, Club Coach

Kiley Peat

Defender | 5-9 
Hometown: Wilmington, N.C.
High School: Eugene Ashley High School
Club Team: Wilmington Hammerheads

Kiley comes to Louisville from Wilmington, N.C. where she played for Eugene Ashley High School and club for the Wilmington Hammerheads and coach Will Heaney. Kiley’s twin sister Karina will also be coming to Louisville and they both come from an athletic family. Her dad played soccer at NC State, her mom was a cheerleader at NC State and her brother currently plays soccer at UNC Asheville. Her high school team were two-time MEC Conference Champions and two-time NC 4A East Champions. Kiley was a two-time 4A All-State, three-time All-Region, and two-time First Team All-MEC Conference honoree. For her club team, they were ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference champions and two-time ECNL Champions League champs.

“Kiley is a central midfielder who has an intuitive feel for the game and a relentless winning mentality! Kiley has great vision and is an excellent passer, she sets the rhythm and tempo for her team and is truly an excellent midfielder! We are thrilled to add Kiley to our program!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“As the ECNL Director, I’ve had the privilege of working with Kiley, who has been an exceptional captain on and off the field. Her skills and character have made her a valued teammate and I can’t wait to continue to watch her grow at an amazing program like Louisville.” – Will Heaney, Club Coach

“Kiley has enjoyed an impressive career at Ashley High School having been a leader for her team on and off the field. Selected as a captain during her sophomore and junior seasons, she possesses a remarkable soccer IQ. Considered a “coach on the field,” Kiley is a cerebral player, yet her tactical knowledge and understanding of the game merely augment her physical and technical mastery of her position as a holding midfielder. An invaluable defensive force with an inexhaustible work-rate, Kiley confidently breaks pressure and creates for her teammates. She is equally adept at pushing up and contributing in the attack. Over her career she was responsible for calling set pieces and took the majority of these attempts for her squad. Possessing uncommon leadership abilities Kiley more often led by example but, when needed, was her team’s voice with coaches and officials. Kiley will be deeply missed by our program. Kiley’s coaches and teammates are thrilled to follow her career and support her as she pursues her academic and athletic future at the University of Louisville.” – Erik Graff, High School Coach

Karina Peat

Forward/Midfielder | 5-7 
Hometown: Wilmington, N.C.
High School: Eugene Ashley High School
Club Team: Wilmington Hammerheads

Karina comes to the Cardinals from Wilmington, N.C. where she played for Eugene Ashley High School and club for the Wilmington Hammerheads and coach Will Heaney. Karina’s twin sister Kiley will also be coming to Louisville and they both come from an athletic family. Her dad played soccer at NC State, her mom was a cheerleader at NC State and her brother currently plays soccer at UNC Asheville. Her high school team were two-time MEC Conference Champions and two-time NC 4A East Champions. Karina was the MEC Conference Player of the Year, Coastal Preps Offensive Player of the Year and StarNews All-Area Player of the Year. She was also a three-time 4A All-State, three-time All-Region and three-time First Team All-MEC Conference honoree. For her club team, they were ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference champions and two-time ECNL Champions League champs. She was named an ECNL All-American and ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year.

“Karina is a player with special abilities in and around the goal! She has a nose for goal and will absolutely help us in the attacking phase of the game! She has the ability to beat you 1-v-1 and can score in a variety of ways! We are thrilled to add Karina to our program!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“It has been a privilege to watch Karina grow as a player over the past decade with our club. She’s not only one of the most talented athletes we’ve developed, but her game-changing ability on the field is exceptional. More than that, she’s been an outstanding teammate. I’m confident she’ll thrive in the competitive environment of the ACC, where her skill and ability will continue to shine.” – Will Heaney, Club Coach

Ashlyn Huie

Forward | 5-3 
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
High School: Lassiter High School
Club Team: Atlanta Fire United 2007 ECNL

Ashlyn comes to Louisville from Roswell, Georgia where she played for Lassiter High School and club for Atlanta Fire United 2007 ECNL and coach Mirza Mustafic. Her dad played baseball at UCF, her mom rowed at UCF and her brother played baseball at Berry College. Her high school team reached the final four twice and was an undefeated state champion in one of those years. She was named Offensive MVP and also earned All-Region honors. For her club, she was the leading scorer in four ECNL seasons.

“Ashlyn is a true wide player who is tricky on the ball and has very good feet! Every game we have seen Ashlyn play she has had an impact in the final third! She is a good finisher, tidy in tight spaces and can get behind you with and without the ball! We are excited to add Ashlyn to our program!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“Ashlyn is a crafty and dynamic player. She is dangerous in the final third, attaching herself to lots of goals and goal scoring opportunities whether it be the cross, the pass, or the final finish. She has a knack for attacking play and elevates the team play. Ashlyn is a well-rounded student athlete who is a leader both on and off the field. Her presence will be missed but I am excited to see what she will do in her college career!” – Robbie Galvin, High School Coach

Taylor Wilson

Defender/Midfielder | 5-8 
Hometown: Germantown, Md.
High School: Northwest High School
Club Team: Northern Virginia Alliance

Taylor comes to the Cardinals from Germantown, Maryland and played for Northwest High School and club for Northern Virginia Alliance and coach Phil Liversedge. Her grandfather played baseball with the Atlanta Braves and her dad played baseball for the Detroit Tigers. Her high school team were three-time division champs, two-time regional finalists and made the state quarterfinals once in her high school career. She was a two-time team captain and was All-State each of the last two years. She has tallied 39 goals and 47 assists in her four years at Northwest. With her club team, they were two-time Mid Atlantic champions.

“Taylor is a left footed player who can play as a wide back or a winger! She plays a variety of positions with her club and high school team and we are excited about the versatility that she will add. Taylor is a tireless worker who is a great teammate and we are excited to add her to our program!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“Taylor’s commitment to development and continued pursuit of excellence both on and off the field sets her apart from other players. Her versatility on the field will allow her to contribute positively to various positions at the next level. She embodies the character we hope to have in future players coming through the ranks at NVA. Taylor is a great role model, and her desire to improve and grow has helped her succeed in the game. Taylor is incredibly studious and loves to analyze her performance via film review. This constant reflection and evaluation has added the next layer of understanding that separates her from the pack. I have no doubt Taylor will be a success at the college level and beyond.” – Phil Liversedge, Club Coach

“Taylor is a gritty, hard-working athlete that contributed to 4 successful seasons for varsity soccer. Her determination, grit and hard work ethics were displayed in every game and practices, the type that gives 100% effort on the field. In addition, she is the type of a player that every coach wishes he had 9 more players like her on the field. As a natural leader and captain in her last 2 years of high school soccer, Taylor embodies excellent leadership with her effective communication on and off the field. As a true athlete, she continues to amaze fans and coaches alike with her outstanding performance and foot skills. With her great peripheral vision, Taylor knows when and where to connect with her teammates on the field in every game. I strongly believe she will contribute to the success of the U. of Louisville soccer program. I will be following her soccer successes and career in college and all the while, she will be sorely missed.” – Christos Nicholas, High School Coach

Nicole Jodoin

Forward | 5-4
Hometown: West Boylston, Mass.
High School: South High Community School
Club Team: FC Stars

Nicole comes to Louisville from West Boylston, Massachusetts and played for South High Community School and club for FC Stars and coach Greame Blackmen. In her senior season at South High, she scored 60 goals and tallied 15 assists to set the record for the most goals scored in a one season in the state of Massachusetts. She earned All-American and All-Star team honors. For her club team, she was named ECNL Second Team All-Conference.

“Nicky J has an excellent attacking mentality and loves to be involved in the goal scoring phase of the game! She’s best in a wide capacity where she likes to run at you 1-v-1 and I’ve seen her score some terrific goals with her club team! We are very happy to add Nicky to our team!” – Karen Ferguson-Dayes

“Nicole is an extremely dynamic forward who beats defenders with ease. Whether it is with creativity or athleticism, the opposition struggles to contain her brilliance, and when left in front of goal, she is a clinical finisher. She is a natural leader who leads by example and holds everyone around her to the highest standard. However, most importantly, she is a tremendous human being who makes those around her better and encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves.” – Greame Blackmen, Club Coach