University of Oklahoma reveals nine-player signing class

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head soccer coach Mark Carr announced Monday nine incoming freshmen who have signed with the Sooners for 2021.

The Sooners signed on talented prospects from across the U.S. and internationally. Three future Sooners join the program from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, two from Ontario, Canada, two local products from the state of Oklahoma and one signee a piece from Minnesota and Stavanger, Norway.

QUOTABLE: COACH CARR ON 2021 SIGNING CLASS

“We are very excited to announce our 2021 recruiting class and welcome them with open arms to our OU soccer family. I want to thank Coach (Kat) Mertz, Coach (Maryse) Bard-Martel and all our extended support staff that were an integral part of the process in securing all of these incredible young women here at Oklahoma. The detailed virtual work, attention to detail,  level of connection and overall recruiting strategy that took place during this process (in a pandemic) was truly remarkable and a total team effort.

The 2021 class is a high-character group, immensely talented, has varied unique skillsets, is balanced and diverse with top regional players, state and high school winners, players with international experience and local Oklahoma standouts.”

ANNISTON FLAKE

Forward | Frisco, Texas

• Frisco High School
• Solar Soccer Club ECNL
  • Played in 17 games, starting nine and recording four goals.
• FCD in US Development Academy League

Head Coach Mark Carr on Flake: “Anniston plays for one of the top clubs in Dallas, the Solar Soccer Club. She will fit right in to our team and how we want play. She’s an athletic kid, a fighter, a kid that wants to get better and strives to improve every day. She’s a forward that can play central or wide but will always want to get in behind, whether that’s with or without the ball.”

UNE HEBNES GEORGSEN

Goalkeeper | Stavenger, Norway

• Wang Toppidrett Stavanger High School
• U19 Norwegian National Team

Head Coach Mark Carr on Georgsen: “Une is one of the top youth goalkeepers coming out of Norway. She’s a Norwegian national team member. Really, really big signing for us. She played in women’s football in Norway from a young age and also played on the Norwegian youth national teams. When you see her, you will see she has a physical presence and is a monster in the goal. Her kicking game is incredible and it’s really important to have a big personality in the goal and she certainly is that.”

MADISON MCMAHAND

Midfielder | Round Rock, Texas

• Round Rock High School
• Lonestar Soccer Club GA
  • Played in 74 games for Lonestar, recording four goals.
  • 2016-20 Team Captain
  • 2018 All-Region honors

Head Coach Mark Carr on McMahand: “Madison hails from Lonestar Soccer Club, one of the top clubs in Texas. She’s a midfielder, very steady, and a hard worker. She’s a competitor and she often does the things not everybody sees that are glamorous. She a grinder and a doer.  She’ll be a great addition to our team.”

KEERA MELENHORST

Attacking Center Midfielder | Ottawa, ON, Canada

• Bill Crothers Secondary School
• Canadian National Regional Excel Program
  • 2017-19 Team Ontario
• U17 Canadian National Team

Head Coach Mark Carr on Melenhorst: “Keera is a midfielder who has Canadian youth national team experience and is currently preparing to make the roster for the U17 FIFA World Cup.  She’s a true competitor, creator, playmaker and technician. She will get between the lines, face forward, dribble and make the last pass. She is also not afraid of arriving in the box late to score and assist. She plays to win at all cost and will fit perfectly into our style of play principles.”

SHERIDAN MICHEL

Defender/Center Back | Ottawa, ON, Canada

• Bill Crothers Secondary School
• Canadian National Regional Excel Program
• U17 Canadian National Team

Head Coach Mark Carr on Michel: “Sheridan is a Canadian youth national team experience. She is in the process of preparing to make the U17 Canadian World Cup roster. She’s a physical monster, powerful, aggressive, athletic and hyper-competitive. On the ball, she is very calm, composed and makes good decisions to initiate the attack from the back. What I do know is that you will not get in behind Sheridan.”

ELLA PAPPAS

Forward | Edmond, Okla.

• Deer Creek High School
  • Registered five goals and one assist in one season at Deer Creek
  • First team All-District, Second Team All-Conference honors
• Oklahoma Energy ECNL
  • Scored 12 goals in three seasons

Head Coach Mark Carr on Pappas: “Ella is another local kid from Oklahoma. She grew up in and around OU so she already has that passion for OU. I know her family has immense pride in the University of Oklahoma. Ella is a deceptively quick, agile, fast forward who always wants to find ways to get in behind, whether that’s with or without the ball. She looks to create and looks to score goals in the final third. Here are OU, we look for proactive players that want to take initiative and she certainly is that.”

ANNA PERRY

Defender/Center Back | Tulsa, Okla.

• Broken Arrow High School
• Oklahoma Energy ECNL
  • Team Captain
  • 2018 ECNL Player to Watch

Head Coach Mark Carr on Perry: “Anna is a local standout. She’s been around the University of Oklahoma growing up so she has that connection to the school and bleeds crimson. She’s a warrior,  a fighter and she’s deceptively quick. It’s very hard for people to beat her in the 1v1 duel. Furthermore, it will be very hard to run by her and she will add lightning speed onto our backline.”

OLIVIA ROWE

Goalkeeper | Ramsey, Minn.

• Anoka High School
  • Played in 42 games from her sophomore to senior year, registering 446 saves and allowing 54 goals.
  • 2020 All-State honors
  • 2018-19 All-Conference honors
  • 2017 Tornado Award recipient
  • 2017 team MVP
• Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL
  • Played in 73 matches in three seasons

Head Coach Mark Carr on Rowe: “Olivia will add depth to the goalkeeping team. She’s from Minnesota and is a tough, aggressive kid who is super athletic, strong, powerful. We see so much potential in her and we look forward to working alongside her to help her reach her full potential.”

BAILEY WESCO

Forward | Midlothian, Texas

• Midlothian High School
• Dallas Texans ECNL
  • Played in 82 games in three seasons, starting in 60 matches and scoring 53 goals.
• Played in 82 games in three seasons, starting in 60 matches and scoring 53 goals.
• 4 Star Top Drawer Soccer recruit
• Girls Development Academy top scorer
• Multi Girls Development Academy weekly standout

Head Coach Mark Carr on Wesco: “Bailey is one of the most talented forwards coming out of Dallas. She’s powerful, quick and aggressive. Bailey is a nightmare for any defender she plays against and with her athleticism, relentlessness and mentality she will wear you down constantly. In attacking, she puts herself into some incredible positions, is a natural goal scorer and at times she’s unplayable on the field. We look forward to developing her game to new levels her at OU.”