University of Evansville women’s soccer announces 2021 signing class

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team announced the signing of five student-athletes for the 2021 season.

“I am excited about the incoming class and what each player can bring to our program,” head women’s soccer coach Chris Pfau said. “They will all give us great experience and push our program. This class will give us depth in each position and have the ability to come in and challenge for starting positions.”

The first signee, Hailey Autenrieb, comes to Evansville from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lettered four years in soccer, one year in track and competed in basketball. Autenrieb, a four-year varsity starter and captain of her high school program her senior year also earned GGCL third team offensive player with 12 goals and seven assists. She also earned Seton High School MVP Award in and Southwest District All-Star Team in 2020.

Next is Mackenzie Folk from Las Vegas, Nev., who lettered all four years at Faith Lutheran High School, highlighted by an undefeated season in 2019 and earning varsity captain during her senior year. Competed in the ECNL Championships League Playoffs in 2017 and 2018 and made it to the Surf Cup finals in 2019 with her club team Heat FC.

Jasmine Hauser is a transfer from Marietta College, who played in 26 games while accumulating 1,768 minutes in two seasons. Hauser is a native of Powell, Ohio and scored her first career goal in college against Oberlin during her freshman campaign.

Sophie Linder a native of Vienna, Austria, was a key player for her club team SKN St. Pölten. Winning conference and earning best goalkeeper in her academy twice and winning an indoor tournament championship during her time. As a team they reached the U18 finals in champions league.

Reese Simmons rounds out the Evansville signing class. Simmons comes to UE from Las Vegas, Nev. and the Heat FC club team, teammates with Folk. Simmons made the ECNL team during her freshman and sophomore seasons, while earning a Surf Cup Championship in 2020 and 2019, Vegas Cup finalist and Mayors Cup finalist in 2019.

“Not only do these players come from great clubs and have done some amazing things on the field but they are even better people,” Phau said. “All of them are very driven on and off the field.  They will not only make our soccer program better but they will represent UE on the soccer field and in the classroom.”

The UE women’s soccer program is set to return to action in early August for the 2021 season.