UNC Wilmington women’s soccer program signs six to NLIs for 2020

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNC Wilmington head women’s soccer coach Chris Neal has announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Seahawks in 2020.

The incoming class features six standouts from North Carolina, including Madison Henry (China Grove), Hayley Magnussen (Greensboro), Kara Mills (Wallburg), Kaitlin Neighbour (Wilmington), Makaya Parham (Raleigh), and Bentley Settin (Charlotte).

A two-time all-state performer at South Rowan High School, Henry earned All-Region, All-County and All-Conference honors three times while setting the program single-game, single-season and career goals records. The 5-5 midfielder, who also participated on the South Rowan cross country team, competed at several club events as a member of 01/02 NC Fusion ECNL and earned ECNL All-Conference honors in 2018-19.

Magnussen is a three-time All-Conference and All-Region selection at Northern Guilford High School and scored 86 goals with 16 assists in her career. In addition, she received All-State notice as a junior and was the team’s Offensive MVP. The 5-7 forward has also tallied four goals with three assists for NC Fusion ECNL.

A 5-7 defender, Mills is a two-time All-County, All-Conference and All-Region pick for Ledford High School who netted 28 goals with eight assists as a sophomore. In addition, she has notched a goal with three assists while playing for the 01/02 NC Fusion ECNL club team. Mills will graduate from Ledford in December and begin classes at UNCW in the spring semester.

A four-year letter winner for Hoggard High School, the 5-6 Neighbour is an All-Conference and All-Region forward and midfielder for the Vikings who has tallied nine goals with nine assists. She has also registered two goals with five assists while playing for Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL and played for the Hoggard basketball team as a freshman and sophomore.

Parham is a two-time All-Region selection at Millbrook High School who tallied six goals with three assists during her senior campaign. A three-time team captain at Millbrook, she has earned All-Conference distinction the last three years. The 5-2 defender was named as a Mid-Atlantic Player to Watch in each of the last three years while playing for NCFC ECNL 01-02.

Settin spent her freshman season playing for Ardrey Kell High School, earning First-Team All-State and All-conference accolades. The 5-foot-11 defender has served as a team captain for the Charlotte Soccer Academy U-15, U-16 and U-19 teams and was ranked as the No. 2 defender in the Southeast Division by Top Drawer Soccer in 2017-18.