Women's Soccer Inks 10 Standouts for 2016

University of Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes announced the signing of 10 standout student-athletes on Thursday afternoon. The 2016 recruiting class is made up of eight players from the high school ranks, as well two transfers.

This year's class boasts seven offensive and three defensive players joining the Cardinals in the fall of 2016. On offense, the class is made up of four midfielders and three forwards. Defensively, the Cardinals added three to the back line and one goalkeeper.

The women's soccer class of 2016:

Daryl Bell
Forward | 5-4 | Sarasota, Fla. (Sarasota HS)
Previous School: West Florida

Accomplishments:
2015 D2CCA All-American second team; 2015 NSCAA All-South Region first team; 2015 D2CCA All-South Region first team; 2015 All-Gulf South Conference first team; Led team with 15 goals and 36 points; Named GSC Player of the Week on November 3; Started all 21 games and scored the game-winner in NCAA Tournament match; 2014 NSCAA All-South Region second team; 2014 All-Gulf South Conference second team; Appeared in 16 games; Scored 5 goals and led team with 24 shots on goal.

Three-time Bradenton all-area player; Three-time Sarasota all-area player; three-time team MVP; three-time offensive MVP; ABC Channel 7 Athlete of the Week selection; Set school record with 37 goals in 11 games

"Daryl is a flat out goal scorer. She has competed for a great Division 2 program at the University of West Florida for the past two years where she has proven to be an absolute game changer. She has garnered numerous accolades in her time at West Florida including being named to the All-America team this past year. She has great size and plays mostly as a forward or attacking midfielder. In her two years at West Florida she scored 20 goals. This production is something we are anxious to see translate to our program."   -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

Lauren Ellis
Defender | 5-7 | Charlotte, N.C. (Providence HS)
Club Team: Charlotte Soccer Academy

Accomplishments:
2015 Team Captain; 2015 MVP; 2015 All-Observer Soccer; 2015 all-state; 2015 all-region; 2015 all-conference; Top Drawer 100 player; Named Top Drawer all-state; Named Top Drawer all-region; 2014 ECNL POP selection; 2014 all-state; 2014 all-region; 2014 all-conference; 2014 MVP; 2013 Rookie of the Year; 2013 all-region; 2013 all-conference; 2012 State Champion; 2015 team was a NC 4A State Finalist; 2015 team was ranked No. 15 in Top Drawer SIMA FAB 50; 2015 conference champion; 2014 conference champion; Top 20% in 2016 class; Played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy

"Lauren comes from the same club as Alison Price, in Charlotte, NC and we are excited to welcome her to our program. She can play multiple positions in the midfield and backline, she is a good athlete, and a possession oriented player. Lauren has a good soccer brain and we are looking forward to watching her develop as a player." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"Lauren is built for college soccer. As her high school coach, I have had the pleasure of working with her daily and watching her grow. The college environment will truly get the best from her. I have enjoyed every second of being her coach. I look forward following her college career and I wish her and her team well." -Nathan Williams, Providence High School

"Lauren has been a huge part of our ECNL program at Charlotte Soccer Academy for a number of years. It has been a pleasure to see her develop and mature as a player. I know Lauren will be a huge asset for the Cardinals on the soccer field, in the classroom and most importantly of all within the community. I have no doubt that with hard work Lauren will quickly adapt to the high level/fast paced soccer of the ACC. It will be great for everyone at CSA to follow her career at Louisville while remembering the huge impact she will leave behind at the club. -Phillip Poole, Charlotte Soccer Academy

Arianna Ferraro
Midfielder/Back | 5-8 |Manalapan, N.J. (Manalapan HS)
Club Team: Match-Fit Academy ECNL

Accomplishments:
2015 1A-North Player of the Year; 2015 second team all-state; 2015 first team all-Shore; 2015 first team all-A-North; 2014 first team all-A-North; 2015 division winner; Scored 21 goals and added 15 assists in 2015; Scored 13 goals with 11 assists in 2014; National Honors Society member; Played for the Match-Fit Academy ECNL

"Ari plays for a great Match-fit team out of New Jersey. She is a tidy, technical player who is very good in tight spaces. She has played both wide at the back, in the front line, and as a central midfielder. Her versatility is certainly something that makes her extremely valuable but her technical abilities and tactical savvy are also attributes that we are very excited to see her bring to our team." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"Ari is a tireless worker, she is exceptional technically, and seems to always be involved in everything good that we do as a team." -Jordan Raper, Match-Fit Academy ECNL

Sanela Hodzic
Forward/Midfield | 5-4 | Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Thunderridge HS)
Club Team: Colorado Storm
Accomplishments:
2015 Continent All-League Athlete Midfielder; 2015 team went 17-2 and were ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the state of Colorado; Scored six goals and eight assists in junior year; Earned second team All-Continental League honors in 2015; 2015 Honor Roll; Played for the Colorado Storm ECNL; Advanced to the 2014 and 2015 U18 Playoffs.

"Sanela is a technically gifted forward who can score goals. She will bring a game changing ability to not only score goals but create chances for her teammates. She is very good with both feet and has the ability to dictate the pace of the game due to her calming presence and technical qualities. She is a creative front player who we are hoping will be to add an increased level of finesse and quality to our attack." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"Sanela is a true follower of the game. She lives and breathes soccer. Always the first one to the field and the last one to leave hours later." - Rafa Amaya, Colorado Storm Coach

Gabrielle Kouzelos
Goalkeeper | 5-7 | Wadsworth, Ohio (Cuvahoga Valley Christian Academy)
Club Team: International Soccer Club

Accomplishments:
National Honors Society member; Ranked 59th in the IMG Top 150 Players of 2016; Super Y U14 National Champions, 2012; USYSA U15 National Championship, 2012 - Bronze Medalist; Super Y U13 Nationals, 2011; State Cup Semi Finalist 2012, 2011; State Cup Champions 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007; Continental Cup Champions, 2011; U18 US Women's National Team; ECNL PDP member; Puma Women's Elite Showcase, 2014; ECNL, Michigan PDP, Rosters & Schedule, 2014; ECNL, San Diego U15 All Event Team, 2013; Super Y National ODP Camp selection, 2012; Super Y National ODP Camp selection, 2011; 97/98 Girls Super Y ODP Select B Team, 2011; US Soccer Training Center, 2011

"Gabby brings a vast amount of club and national team experience. She will be a great addition to our current core of goalkeepers. We can't wait to see how she will develop during her time here. She is a very technically sound goalkeeper who can make saves and her distribution is something that really stands out. Gabi has a ton of potential, works extremely hard, and is a very focused and disciplined soccer player. All of these qualities are things we put a great amount of value in with our program here at the University of Louisville." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"Gabby is a technically sound and athletic goalkeeper with good soccer instincts and is a player you can count on to step up in big moments. She is extremely coachable and holds herself to the highest standards as she works tirelessly and relentlessly to pursue excellence on a daily basis. Gabby is natural leader and through her work rate, discipline, positive attitude, and character she is an inspiration to those around her, both on the field and off. With her competitive spirit, training habits, grit, and her passion for the game, there is no doubt that Gabby is ready to make an impact in the ACC. I am excited to see how far she will grow as a player and as a person as she takes the next step of her soccer journey at Louisville." -Keri Server, Internationals Soccer Club Director of Coaching

Andie Lakin
Midfielder | 5-2 | Wayne, N.J. (Wayne Hills HS)
Previous School: Vanderbilt

Accomplishments:
During the 2015 season at Vanderbilt, played first four games before season-ending injury; 2015 SEC Academic Honor Roll; Played in all 19 games, including 10 starts, as a junior; 2014 SEC Academic Honor Roll; 2013 SEC Soccer Preseason Watch List; Scored a goal and added a assist; Ranked No. 73 in Midseason Top-Drawer Soccer Women's College Freshman Top 100 Players; 2013 SEC Academic Honor Roll; Played in all 20 games, including 19 starts; Added two assists as a freshman; 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll; Five-time Dean's List selection.

2011 North Jersey Player of the Year by Star Ledger; 2011 first team all-state; 2011 first team all-area; 2011 Passaic County Champions; 2011 first team All-Big North Conference; 2011 first team All-Passaic County; 2011 Big North Conference Champions; 2009 Tri-County League Champions; 2009 Passaic County Champions; 2009 second team All-Passaic County; 2009 first team All-Tri County Conference; 2008 All-Passaic County honorable mention; 2008 All-League NBIL honorable mention; Selected to USL W-League National Team of the Week (July 2012); 2010 & 2011 Team Captain for ODP; 2010 National ODP Tournament Champions; 2011 National ODP Tournament finalist; 2011 Region I ODP Tournament Champion; 2010 Region I ODP Tournament Champion; 2009 Region I ODP Tournament Champion; 2012 NJ State Cup Champion with Real NJSC; 2011 Chelsea Match Fit Tournament Champion; 2011 NEWSS College Showcase Finalist; Ranked No. 80 in Top Drawer Soccer Class of 2012 Top 100 National Girls.

"We are thrilled to have Andie join our program for her last year of eligibility. She was a standout player in the SEC during her time at Vanderbilt while competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.   We will look to Andie to provide depth in the midfield for us and will count on her leadership and experience to help push the team towards our goal of an ACC Championship." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"What we saw in Andie was the ability to run at people with the ball and to be a good attacking personality. She is an excellent distributor of the ball with all surfaces of her feet and she has really good vision. She has the ability to solve pressure in tight spaces, so we see her coming in as an attacking midfield type player that can break people down on the dribble. Andie has been on the Region I team for four years, so she has played in nearly every big-time event that she has been a part of." -Derek Greene, Ex-Vanderbilt Soccer Coach

Niamh Nelson
Defender/Midfielder | 5-11 | San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic HS)
Club Team: San Diego Surf

Accomplishments:
2015 Scholar Athlete; 2013-14 team went 23-2-3 and won Western League and CIF Championship; 2014-15 team went 22-4-2 and won Western League Championship; Scored two goals and added two assists as a junior; San Diego Surf ECNL Academy U-16 Currently Ranked #8 Nationally; ECNL SoCal Conference 2011-12 First Place; Manchester Nike Cup Portland 2012 Finalist; ECNL Championship Chicago 2012 Finalist; Surf Cup 2011, 2012 Finalist; Surf Thanksgiving Cup 2010, 2011, 2012 Champions; Blues Cup 2011 Finalists; Blues Cup 2009 and 2010 Champions; .Presidio League 2009 and 2010 Champions; Plays on U19 Irish National Team.

"We are excited to bring in a player of Niamh's quality from the west coast. She played with the San Diego Surf in the ECNL and has featured with the Irish Youth National Teams throughout her prep career. She was recently called into the full Irish National Team Camp ahead of their friendly against the United States. We firmly believe that her experience both domestically and Internationally will benefit her as well as our program when she comes here in August." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"I have been very impressed with Niamh Nelson's energy and found her to be a very reliable soccer player. With her dutiful attitude to responsibilities, aligned with a strong worth ethic, I feel Niamh will have a bright future in soccer."   -David Connell, U19 Head Coach/Women's ETP Coordinator

Brooklynn Rivers
Forward | 5-11 | Fort Thomas, Ky. (Highlands HS)
Club Team: Ohio Elite

Accomplishments:
2013 KHSGSCA all-state honorable mention; 2013 KHSGSCA Region 9 Coaches first team; 2013 Highlands HS Most Valulable Offensive Player; 2013 Kentucky Enquirer first team all-city; 2012 Highlands MVP; 2012 36th District all-tournament team selection; Four-time honor roll selection; 2016 ECNL PDP Midwest Invitee; 2015 ECNL/ID2 National Training Camp Invitee; 2015 ECNL PDP Midwest Invitee; 2014 ECNL PDP Midwest participant.

"We are very excited to be able to get Brooklynn on campus and representing the University of Louisville. She has extensive state and regional ODP experience to go along with her club experience playing with Ohio Elite in the ECNL. She has proven to be an extremely dangerous player around goal and has a knack for being able to get in good positions to score. Her size and athleticism are a separating factor for sure in addition to her goal scoring prowess." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"I've had the pleasure of coaching Brooklynn for the past four years and she is one of the most technical, dynamic, dribbling players we've ever had step on the field for Ohio Elite. She is a natural finisher and has scored goals against every level of competition. Because of her focus and competitive nature, she has been a dream to coach. We are very proud of Brooklynn at Ohio Elite and know she will have a great career with the Cardinals." - Tim Lesiak, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy

Maddie Spencer
Defender | 5-7 | Louisville, Ky. (Assumption HS)
Club Team: Kentucky Fire Juniors

Accomplishments:
2015 first team all-region; 2015 second team all-state; Named to 2015 Watch List for High School All-American Game; 2014 all-state West Region honorable mention; Named to 2013 Region All-Tournament Team; 2013 second team all-region; 2012 all-district team; 2012 team went 19-4-4 and made it to the state quarterfinals; Region runner-up in 2013, 2014, and 2015; Scored nine goals and four assists in 2015; Scored eight goals and three assists in 2014; Played for the Kentucky Fire Juniors

"Maddie is coming to us after a great career at Assumption HS and with the Kentucky Fire Juniors soccer club. She is a lifelong Louisville fan and is living out her dream playing for our program. She is a tough, athletic, hard-nosed outside back who makes things very difficult for her opponents. We are excited to coach Maddie and watch her develop during her career at Louisville." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"Over my 13 years of coaching, I've coached some very competitive players, but no one that has a more competitive spirit than Maddie. She hates to lose more than she loves to win which is simply not something you can teach. Her competitiveness makes her an excellent teammate and a valuable asset to any program she plays for -- she holds her teammates accountable and to a high standard, and she raises the play of those around her. Additionally, no one is harder on Maddie, than Maddie. I think her combination of mental and physical toughness is going to bring her back from her ankle surgery stronger than ever, and I know she's going to bring a lot to the table at the University of Louisville." -Jaclyn Puntillo, Kentucky Fire Juniors

Allison Whitfield
Forward | 5-9 | Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual HS)
Club Team: Kentucky Fire 98 Premier Red Team

Accomplishments:
All-American High School Team Member; 2014 Kentucky Youth Soccer Player of the Year; 2015 all-state; 2015 Team Captain; 2014 all-state; 2013 all-state; 2012 all-state; Set school record with 44 goals in 2015; Scored 13 goals and added eight assists in 2014; 2014 team went 17-4 and won districts; 2015 team went 15-5 and won districts; Named Student of the Month in October 2015; Advanced Program Student; Named to 2015 ODP All-Star team; 2015 ODP Region II Team selection; 2014 ODP Region II Team selection.

"Allison first and foremost will carry a great amount of passion and pride as she becomes a member of our program. She grew up in Louisville, came to soccer camps here as a kid, watched her sister play here for four years and now will have the opportunity to wear the Cardinal red and black herself. She is a versatile player who can help us in a number of ways. She can play both wide as a forward and in the back line. She is very good technically and has great size and speed that will allow her to compete for playing time right away." -Karen Ferguson-Dayes, University of Louisville

"I've been watching Allison play soccer since she was 12 years old, and she has always stood out because of her soccer IQ, her speed, and her effectiveness in the final third -- whether that's finishing or creating opportunities for her teammates. While those assets are still extremely valuable parts of her game, over the past two years I have watched Allison work and work on other parts of her game, including a commitment to becoming a stronger defender which has truly made her a complete player. I am confident that I can put her at any of the 10 field positions and she will have a positive impact on the game. I truly believe that versatility, as well as the willingness to constantly push herself to be better, is going to be imperative to the success she will inevitably have at the University of Louisville." -Jaclyn Puntillo, Kentucky Fire Juniors

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Alison Price

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