Mississippi State women’s soccer adds eight for spring semester

by Brian Ogden / Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Soccer head coach James Armstrong has signed six transfers that have all enrolled and begun classes for the spring semester, including four midfielders and two forwards. In addition, two high school signees also enrolled early.

“We are very excited by each of the new additions to the roster,” Armstrong said. “They all have the right character to come in to our program straight away and make a positive impact on and off the field. The diversity in their positions ensures that we achieved our aim of building depth across every line. We cannot wait for the spring season to get started!”

A pair of offensive standouts have joined the Bulldogs from the junior college ranks. Cariel Ellis became the first NJCAA All-American in Holmes [Miss.] CC history this fall after finishing third in the nation in goals (48) and points (111). Of the 21 matches she played, she scored multiple goals in 16 as the Lady Bulldogs won the MACJC State Championship and Region XXIII Championship.

Esmeralda Figueroa, out of Jones College [Miss.], was an all-region and all-conference selection and led Jones in goals, points and shots this fall. Her freshman year saw the team win the Region XXIII Championship as she scored a hat trick in the title game. Figueroa opened her collegiate career with a 40-point season and finished with 39 points as a sophomore.

Armstrong drew two experienced midfielders away from South Florida in Kylee Burroughs and Hannah Telleysh. Burroughs started two postseason matches as a redshirt freshman and totaled 35 matches, six starts, one goal and two assists for the Bulls.

Telleysh was a highly-touted prospect out of high school, but missed her freshman season due to injury. She was considered a four-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.com when she graduated and was an IMG Top 150 recruit. This past season she played five matches as a redshirt freshman.

Alyssa D’Aloise comes to Starkville from Texas Tech where she played 25 matches, making five starts and playing in two NCAA Tournament matches. In high school, she helped her squad to two state titles and was named Midfielder of the Year in 2017. This fall she was a First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Macey Hodge joins MSU after spending the fall semester at West Georgia where she did not play soccer. She was a two-star prospect according to TopDrawerSoccer.com and was the Georgia 6A Player of the Year as a sophomore. On the club circuit she spent five years with the Georgia Olympic Development Program and traveled to England with the Southeast Region ODP team.

Additionally, previously announced signees Taylor James (Spring, Texas) and Olivia Simpson (Kingsland, Georgia) have enrolled early and will go through spring practices and exhibition play with the team.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for “HailStateSOC.”