Reigning AAC champion Memphis signs 10 recruits following Sweet 16 run

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis women’s soccer head coach Brooks Monaghan and his staff have announced the signing of ten new Tigers for the 2023 season.

“We’re really excited about this incoming group,” said Monaghan. “They have some big shoes to fill with the players that are graduating, but this is a very versatile group and we’re confident that with the returners along with this group can build off of the special season we had.”

See below for more on each of the 10 incoming recruits for the class of 2023.

Anna Hauer

Forward/Midfielder | Calgary, Alberta | Burnaby Central Secondary School | Vancouver Whitecaps Elite REX

Hauer, a native of Calgary, Alberta, comes to Memphis after playing for Vancouver Whitecaps Elite REX where Tanya Boychuk, Mya Jones, Izzy Monck and Shae Taylor all played. Hauer was also with the U17 Canadian National team, along with Monck, where she competed in the 2022 Women’s CONCACAF Tournament in the Dominican Republic where she helped the team to a third-place finish and qualify for the Women’s World Cup in India. At the U17 World Cup, Hauer played and started in every match of the tournament.

During the summer of 2022, Hauer helped the Vancouver Whitecaps Elite REX to the first-ever League 1 BC Inaugural Women’s Championship. She was also selected to Team Alberta for the 2022 Canadian Games held in Niagara.

Why Memphis for Hauer: “Memphis has a great soccer program where I feel I will grow as a player and enjoy the system they play.  The culture the team has is amazing and will be helpful while continuing my education.  I am also fortunate to have a great connection with a current University of Memphis player and I am excited to join them on their exceptional journey.”

Finley Lavin

Midfielder | Jarrettsville, Md. | North Harford High School | Pipeline SC ECNL

Lavin, a 5-1 midfielder from Maryland, comes to Memphis after an impressive prep career at North Harford High School. The four-sport athlete and captain of all four teams competed in soccer, cross country and indoor & outdoor track where she was an All-County, All-Metro and All-State runner for the Hawks. Lavin holds the school record in the 400M, 500M and is a Maryland State 500M Champion. She was named First Team All-County in outdoor track during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, was an All-State runner in cross country in 2021, was named a First Team All-Country Outdoor sprinter in 2021 and was a 2022 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Second Team recipient.

A three-star TopDrawerSoccer prospect, Lavin has spent the past nine seasons with Pipeline Soccer Club where she was part of multiple championship teams. Lavin was named an ECNL First Team All-Conference selection in 2021 and 2022 and was part of a team that was crowned the USYS Eastern Regional Champions in 2018 and 2019 and the USYS State Cup Maryland Champions in 2017 and 2019. Lavin was also named as a captain and named a Golden Ball Winner in 2018 and was Best XI in 2018 and 2019 at the USYS National Championships.

Lavin has also been part of the Washington Spirit program where she was selected to their Advanced Development Program, their ADP ID Camp and was one of only five youth players to have been called to the Washington Spirit College Reserves Team in 2022.

Lavin was called to the U17 Women’s National Team Player Pool Virtual Training Camp in 2021 and the US Youth National Regional Training Center and Team ID Training Center from 2017-20.

Why Memphis for Lavin: “I chose the University of Memphis because I absolutely loved the people and the school. The atmosphere made me feel at home and all the girls on the team were very welcoming.”

Sarah Granno

Forward | Roseville, Calif. | Woodcreek High School | San Juan SC ECNL

Granno, a 5-4 forward from Roseville, Calif. comes to Memphis after prepping at Woodcreek High School where she has been a four-year varsity starter. She has helped lead her team to three consecutive League Championships and has been named as an All-Conference First team selection every year. Granno has been the Timberwolves leading goal scorer all three seasons.

A three-star TopDrawerSoccer prospect, Granno has spent the past six seasons with San Juan Soccer Club where she has helped her team to a 2018 State Cup Championship. Granno was also named as an ECNL First Team All-Conference selection in 2021, was part of the NorCal PDP State Team, an ID2 selection in 2019 and was named to the ECNL National Selection Game in Tennessee in 2021. Granno is joined by San Juan SC ECNL teammate Kennedy Swift as a signee for Memphis this year.

Why Memphis for Granno: “I chose Memphis because of the welcoming environment I felt immediately from the coaching staff and the players along with the determination and commitment they have to achieve success as a team. I am excited to live in a new state and meet new, interesting and genuine people from Memphis and all over.

Macee McKenna

Midfielder | Thornton, Colo. | Broomfield High School | Real Colorado ECNL

McKenna, a 5-6 midfielder from Colorado, comes to Memphis after leading Broomfield High School to back-to-back trips to the Colorado 5A State Championship match. The Eagles were crowned Champions in 2021 and claimed a State Runner-Up finish in 2022. McKenna led the state championship team in assists and was named Second Team All-Conference and is a captain for the upcoming 2023 season.

A three-star TopDrawerSoccer prospect, McKenna has spent the last four years with Real Colorado ECNL where she helped the team to a 22-2-4 overall finish last season and a 2022 ECNL National Championship. She also helped her former team, Colorado Rush, to a National Championship in 2019. McKenna was also invited to the US Training Center in Colorado from 2016-19.

Why Memphis for McKenna: “I chose the University of Memphis because it was a school that felt like I would not only succeed at, but also improve as an individual. Memphis is a very competitive program that would push me to become better every day. One thing that really stuck out to me was how great the coaching staff was to me and my family. They were very welcoming and felt like family.”

Victoria Dupont

Forward | Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec | Champlain College | Celtix Haut-Richelieu

Dupont, a 5-7 forward from Quebec, comes to Memphis after spending the last decade with Celtix Haut-Richelieu where she helped her team to a Final Four finish in the 2021 season. She was selected to Team Quebec for the 2022 Canadian Games, held in Niagara, and led the team to a Silver Medal.

Why Memphis for Dupont: “I choose Memphis because I think that they have great school programs and a very great soccer team.”

Delaney Tellex

Forward | Penfield, New York | Penfield High School | Western New York Flash ECNL

Tellex, a 5-5 forward from New York, comes to Memphis after leading Penfield to a 15-2 record last season and Sectional titles in her freshman and junior seasons. Tellex has been named to the All-County team for the past four seasons and has been tabbed to the All-Region and All-State teams as well. She has amassed 50 goals, and counting, during her high school career.

In club soccer, Tellex has spent the past four years with Western New York Flash ECNL where she helped the team to claim the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2021 and was an ECNL Second Team All-Conference selection.

Why Memphis for Tellex: “I chose the University of Memphis because the second I stepped onto campus I loved the overall atmosphere but on the soccer field, I loved the competitive spirit and everyone striving to get better every day.”

Kennedy Swift

Defender | Granite Bay, Calif. | Granite Bay High School | San Juan ECNL

Swift, a 5-8 defender from California, comes to Memphis after leading Granite Bay to a 12-3-4 overall record last season where she was named All-League in her sophomore and junior years. Swift has spent the last decade with San Juan Soccer Club.

Swift is joined by San Juan SC ECNL teammate Sarah Granno as a signee for Memphis this year.

Why Memphis for Swift: “I liked the location a lot and programs the school has to offer. I also really liked the coaches, team, style of play and environment.”

Lulie MacFarlane

Forward/Midfielder | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Burnaby Central Secondary School | Mountain United SC

MacFarlane, a 5-4 midfield/forward from Vancouver, British Columbia, comes to Memphis from Mountain United SC.

MacFarlane prepped at Burnaby Central Secondary where she helped her team to a District win while scoring three goals in the British Columbia High School Provincial Tournament. MacFarlane currently holds the school record for fastest goals scored in a game with four goals in 19 minutes. She has also spent time with the U17 and U19 Ireland teams where she was called to the U17 camp in Dublin in 2021 and U19 camp in Limerick in 2022.

She was also selected to Team British Columbia for the 2022 Canadian Games, held in Niagara, where they made it to the semi-finals. Fellow signee, Amanda Clauzel, also played for Team British Columbia.

Why Memphis for MacFarlane: “I chose Memphis because of the culture of success, high intensity training, great coaches and players and they offer the desired program I’d like to study.”

Amanda Clauzel

Defender | Langley, British Columbia, Canada | Langley Christian High School | Surrey United SC

Clauzel, a 5-4 defender from Langely, British Columbia, comes to Memphis after spending the past four years with Surrey United SC. Clauzel helped her team to a 12-1 overall record last season and played in, and won, the Canadian National Championship and represented British Columbia during the 2022 Canadian Games.

She was also part of the team that were named Provincial British Columbia Champions in 2016, 2017 and 2022.

Why Memphis for Clauzel: “I chose the University of Memphis because the team felt like a family and a sense of sisterhood.  I love the competitive atmosphere on the field and the way the girls push each other to be their best on and off the field.  Coach Brooks and the coaching staff are great people to be around and talk to.”

Honoka Hamano

Forward/Midfielder | Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Japan | Futaba Mirari Gakuen | JFA Academy Fukushina

Hamano, a 5-2 forward/midfielder from Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Japan, comes to Memphis after helping lead her JFA Academy Fukushina team to back-to-back League Championships in 2020 and 2021. She ranked fourth on the team in individual scoring and first in shot determination rate last season.

Hamano also spent time with the U14 and U15 Japan teams and competed in China’s CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament Weifang in 2018 and Korea’s EAFF U15 Girls Football Festival in 2019. She was also called into the JFA Elite Program Women’s U14 Expedition to China and the U15 Japan Women’s Selective Expedition to Korea.

Why Memphis for Hamano: “Memphis is an esteemed soccer program and, after talking with the great coaching staff, made the choice easy.”