Ohio University announces 2022 women’s soccer recruiting class

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio University women’s soccer team has signed seven student-athletes, head coach Aaron Rodgers announced.

Celeste Sloma (Columbus, Ohio), Scout Murray (Chicago, Ill.), Hailey Jeng (Centerville, Ohio), Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio), Sarah Ardus (Moorseville, N.C.), Rayann Pruss (Perrysburg, Ohio), and Maia Kaufman (Westerville, Ohio) will all join the Bobcats for the 2022 season.

Sloma comes to Athens after attending Worthington Kilbourne High School, where she played four years of soccer, two years of lacrosse, and two years of basketball. On the basketball court, Sloma earned Second Team All-Conference recognition in both her freshman and sophomore years. On the soccer field, Sloma was picked as a team captain for her junior and senior seasons. She also made the Second Team All-Conference her sophomore year, First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-District after her junior season, and First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, and Second Team All-State after her senior season. Sloma’s favorite team is the US Women’s National Team, enjoys baking, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends and family. She plans to major in Sports Management at Ohio.

Murray attended Lane Tech College Prep before signing for Ohio, playing varsity soccer for Lane Tech for all four seasons. She also played for the Chicago City junior team from 2016-2020 and has played for the Northbrook Eclipse since 2020. Murray scored 30 goals during her junior season, leading to an All-State selection. She also helped lead her team to the City Championship in 2019 and 2021. Some of her hobbies include listening to music and going to concert, and her favorite teams are the Chicago Cubs and the US Women’s National Team. Murray plans to major in either psychology or nursing during her time in Athens.

Jeng comes to Ohio via Centerville High School, where she played soccer for the Elks all four years, including three years on the varsity team and as a team captain in 2021. She also swam for the Elks in 2018-19. On the club side, Jeng played for the Cincinnati United Premier Gold team in 2018-19, the Cincinnati United Pre Development Academy in 2019-20, and the Cincinnati United Premier Girls Academy team ever since. Jeng has received a multitude of honors and recognitions due to her play on the pitch, including All-Area MVSSCA First Team (2020, 2021), GWOC First Team All Conference (2020, 2021), GWOC Player of the Year (2020), First Team All-State (2020), MVSSCA South First Team (2020), Special Mention GWOC All-Conference (2019), and Centerville Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Player. Jeng plans to major in Business at Ohio.

Berish played varsity soccer for three years for the Lady Explorers at Hudson High School, earning three varsity letters. She also played for the Cleveland Force Development Academy in 2019, and has now played for the Ambassadors Soccer Club since 2020. Berish scored 11 goals and logged 3 assists during her 2021 season, a campaign in which she was a captain for the Lady Explorers. She helped lead the team to a District Final in 2021, an effort that earned her Division 1 First Team All-Greater Akron, Division 1 All-Star Team, and Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Berish plans to major in Business Marketing at Ohio, and enjoys coaching, cooking, and volunteering during her free time. Her father, Michael Berish, is familiar with the Mid-American Conference, as he played soccer at Akron.

Ardus is a member of the Class of 2022 at Lake Norman High School, where she played varsity soccer for three years. She has played soccer for 12 total years, including with the Lake Norman Soccer Club (2013-19) and currently with the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club. As goalkeeper for the Lake Norman Soccer Club from 2017-19, Ardus finished with a record of 66-6-12, allowing .869 goals per game. During her time with the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, she finished with a record of 8-2-2 and .900 goals allowed per game during the 2019-20 season and has a .846 goals allowed per game mark so far during the 2021-22 season. During the 2020-21 season at Lake Norman High School, she had a 12-3-0 record and just .800 goals allowed per game, earning her All Conference and All Region honors. Ardus captained the Lake Norman Soccer Club from 2017-19, and also helped lead her team to a 3rd place finish out of 56 total teams at the Elite Clubs National League event in Nashville in December of 2021. Ardus plans to major in Sports Management, along with a minor in business during her time at Ohio.

Pruss comes to Ohio after playing four years of varsity soccer at Perrysburg High School. She’s also played for the GTFC Impact for nine years. Through 78 high school games played, Pruss has scored 34 goals, and assisted on 71 more. She has been captain for her GTFC Impact squad since 2015, and was captain of her high school team for her senior year. In her freshman year, Pruss earned Third Team All-League and Most Improved Player. Junior year saw her garner First Team All-League and Second Team All-District recognition. Her senior season led to First Team All-League and First Team All-District honors. Pruss helped lead her team to a District Championship in 2020, scoring the game winner in overtime. Her favorite teams are the Cleveland Browns and Notre Dame, and enjoys swimming and spending time with friends during her free time.

Kaufman joins the Bobcats after four years of varsity soccer at Olentangy Orange High School and club experience at the Ohio Premier Soccer Club. She was captain for her high school team for both her junior and senior years. During her time at Olentangy Orange, she played in a total of 80 games, scoring 30 goals and recording 17 assists. In 2019, Olentangy Orange were OCC champions, district champions, and regional finalists, with Kaufman being named to the Second Team All-OCC team, and also earning a national camp invitation by the Elite Clubs National League.

In 2020, Kaufman earned First Team All-OCC and Second Team All-District recognition while helping her team to another OCC championship and district final. In 2021, Olentangy Orange were district finalists, along with Kaufman being named to the First Team All-OCC, First Team All-District, and Second Team All-District teams, and a selection to the United Coaches Fall All-Region Team. Kaufman plans to major in Education at Ohio, with plans to be an elementary teacher following graduation. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and has been volunteering in an elementary classroom.