University of Richmond women’s soccer announces 8-player recruiting class

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women’s soccer head coach Marty Beall announced the addition of eight freshmen for the 2020 season on Monday. This class is comprised of three forwards, two defenders, two midfielders and one goalkeeper.

Logan Anderson (Glen Allen, Va.) Hannah Antonick (Virginia Beach, Va.), Riley Haas (Mount Pleasant, S.C.), Elyse Kimball (Westport, Conn.), Casey Merz (Kensington, Md.), Taylor Montague (Durham, N.C.), June Stevens (Newburyport, Mass.) and Lauren Waniel (Clifton, Va.) will enroll at Richmond in the fall and join the Spiders for the upcoming season.

“I am thrilled that these eight amazing young ladies have decided to join Spider Nation to play soccer for this outstanding institution,” Beall said. “Something that I’m especially excited about is that all eight players come from top level clubs where they have received excellent coaching and are proven winners. Each of these players have a clear understanding of our expectations as we continue to elevate our program. We took a huge step forward with this class.”

Logan Anderson – Forward – Glen Allen, Va. – Richmond United ECNL
Anderson is a forward from Glen Allen High School in Glen Allen, Virginia. Anderson was a starter on varsity her freshman and sophomore year prior to sitting out her junior season due to an injury. Anderson is a part of multiple National Honor societies and made honor roll for four years. She is heavily involved in her high school in leadership roles by helping create and volunteer for several mentoring and outreach programs. She was teammates with fellow classmate Hannah Antonick. The Richmond United ECNL U18/19 finished in the top 32 in the league in 2019-20.

Hannah Antonick – Midfielder – Virginia Beach, Va. – Richmond United ECNL
Antonick is a midfielder from Norfolk Academy in Virginia Beach.  She is ranked by Top Drawer as a top No. 20 player in the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is a three-time first team Virginia Independence School Athletic Association (VISAA) member and two-time Tidewater Conference Player of the Year. Antonick is a two-time team captain and has made first team Tidewater Conference three times. Her junior season she scored 17 goals with 15 assists. She has helped her team win three Tidewater Conference Championships and was State runner up in her freshman season. Antonick was chosen for the ODP Regional team from 2015-18 and she competed at evens in Boca Raton, FL and Costa Rica. Antonick played Club soccer for the Richmond United ECNL team. She was selected for the 2019 CSP Training Weekend. This event was comprised of four mix aged teams with top players from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast ECNL Conferences. She has also attended 18 U.S. Soccer training centers.

Riley Haas – Midfielder – Mount Pleasant, S.C. – South Carolina United FC ECNL
Haas is a midfielder from Magnet High School in South Carolina. She is a four-year varsity starter that earned 3A All-State Player of the Year during her junior season. Haas is a two-time 2A All-Region Player of the Year award winner and was named captain for her senior season. She helped her team win two State Championships in 2017 and 2018. Haas had 18 goals and seven assists in her junior season. She played Club soccer for the South Carolina United FC ECNL.

Elyse Kimball – Forward – Westport, Conn. – Connecticut FC ECNL
Kimball is a forward from Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut. She has been the leading scorer on her team since eighth grade and scored 11 goals during her junior season. She helped her team finish runner up at the Fairchester Athletic Association title game. Kimball was an All-FAA, All-New England, NESCAC and WNEISWA All-Star. She is currently the second all-time leading scorer at her high school, reaching the mark of scoring 50 goals. Kimball played Club soccer for the Connecticut FC ECNL, which ranked top five in the country for 2002 ECNL.

Casey Merz – Defender – Kensington, Md. – Maryland United FC ECNL
Merz is a defender from St. John’s College High School in Kensington, Maryland. She is a four-year varsity start and a two-time captain in 2018 and 2019. Merz is a two-time All-Conference selection in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. She helped her team be a three-time District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Champions and won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship in 2017. Merz played Club soccer for Maryland United ECNL.

Taylor Montague – Goalkeeper – Durham, N.C. – NC Courage DA
Montague is a goalkeeper from Orange High School in Durham, North Carolina. She is ranked by Top Drawer as a top No. 40 player in the South Atlantic Region. She has spent the bulk of her high school career playing for North Carolina Courage Academy in Cary. Montague was on the NC Courage’s U18/U19 team in the U.S. Soccer Girls DA Cup. She has posted multiple shutouts and has started six games in goal for the NC Courage. In October, Montague was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Girls DA Weekly Standouts list. In her lone high school season Montague made 60 saves for Orange High School, while other seasons playing Club soccer for NC Courage ECNL and DA.

June Stevens – Forward – Newburyport, Mass. – NEFC
Stevens is a forward from The Governor’s Academy in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is an All-ISL, All-State and Top Drawer Soccer All-America watchlist player during senior year in 2019. Stevens is a two-time All-ISL honorable mention honoree and was named team captain in 2019. She played Club soccer for NEFC, which won the US Club Soccer State Championship in 2019. She was part of the MA State ODP team 2016, 2017 and 2018. Stevens also was on the Region I Italy International team in 2017, the Region I ODP thanksgiving inter regional team and Region I Tournament Champion (MA) in 2018. Stevens also ran track in high school and still holds the school record for fastest 50-meter and 60-meter dash times.

Lauren Waniel – Defender – Clifton, Va. – Braddock Road Youth Club (BRYC) ECNL
Waniel is a defender from James W. Robinson Secondary School in Clifton, Virginia. She is a four-year varsity player and named team captain her senior year. Waniel played Club Soccer for Braddock Road Youth Club ECNL and was a USYS National Finalist in 2016, was one of eight teams making the national final. Waniel helped her team claim the 2016 Virginia State Cup and earn 20 wins in 2016. Her club team is 13-4-1 this season and Waniel has started all 18 games as a defender.