Wilson adding 11 newcomers to women's soccer's 2015 roster

Women's Soccer | 2/9/2015 9:19:00 AM

ABILENE - Abilene Christian head coach Casey Wilson Monday announced the addition of 11 newcomers to his women's soccer program. This year's batch of recruits all hail from west of the Mississippi River, including seven Texans, and will be the first to play all four years at the Wildcats' new soccer complex, which is nearing completion.
 
Nine of the 11 newcomers come straight to the Wildcats from the high school ranks, while Danielle Otto and Kileigh Vann are transfers from Folsom Lake College and Butler County College, respectively.
 
"Coach (Stephen) Salas and I are very excited about this signing class," said ninth-year head coach and program architect Casey Wilson, "which has a great mix of experience, technical ability, and athleticism. We always are looking to improve each year and increase our speed of play at the Division I level and this class will compliment an already talented returning group. It's a young class but with a lot of quality playing time under its belt."
 
Short profiles on each of the 11 newcomers are listed below in alphabetical order.
 
Caitlyn Acosta | 5-3 | Defender/Midfielder | Albuquerque, N.M. / Volcano Vista HS
Recognized as one of New Mexico's most decorated high school competitors, Acosta is a four-year letterman, two-year team captain, and MVP who led Volcano Vista High School to four consecutive postseason appearances as an outside back and midfielder.
 
Her freshman-year team won the 2011 district title and finished as the state runner-up at the 1-5A level. The Hawks again reached the state finals in 2012 after winning the metro championship, and they reached the state quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014.
 
Acosta was named all-district Player of the Year at the end of her senior season in addition to being tabbed to the all-district, metro and state first teams. Her junior year awards included a spot on the all-district first team and title of honorable mention all-state. As a sophomore she won her first district Player of the Year trophy along with being named second team all-district and state. 
 
"Caity played against high level competition in elite tournaments," said Wilson, "with her club team being number one in the state. She is a smart defender who can get into the attack and create chances. Her distribution and free kicks are a great strength coming into the team."

Acosta competes at the club level for Rio SC 97 Zia, which has won the New Mexico State Championship each of the last five seasons, dating back to 2010. Her 2010 and 2011 teams reached the quarterfinals of the Far West Regionals, and made it as far as the semifinals of the 2013 Utah Avalanche Invitational.

Acosta is a four-time member of the all-district academic team and plans to study biology at ACU.
 
Kyla Canavan | 5-5 | Midfielder | Boerne, Texas / Boerne HS
Canavan is a four-year letterwinner and center midfielder who won two team MVP awards and served as team captain since 2013. She also has earned spots on the 2012 and 2014 all-district first teams and helped lead her club – Lonestar 97G Red Premier San Antonio – to the Premier League West Championships the last two seasons.
 
"Kyla is a well-rounded athlete that has a lot of grit," said Wilson. "She played many different roles for her club and high school teams. She can cover a lot of space in the middle and is efficient in her play. We are looking for her to connect with her club teammate, Allie Tollette, for a lot of goals for the Wildcats."

Canavan currently is ranked among the top-15 percent of her graduating class and is member of both the National and Spanish Honor Societies. She plans to study communications at ACU with hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster.
 
Canavan's grandfather, William, played basketball at Rice University.
 
Ashley Dozier | 5-3 | Midfielder | Colleyville, Texas / Colleyville Heritage HS
Dozier is an outside and center midfielder for FC Dallas Premier – a program she's competed with for the past several seasons. Dozier's club teams have won championships at Beat The Heat, Sereno and Plano, and reached the finals of the Blue Cup, North Texas and Dallas Texans tournaments.
 
"Ashley is a versatile athlete who can play in almost any position," said Wilson. "We liked her dominant, physical play for her FC Dallas team and we have watched her develop for a longtime now. She has always been a hard worker and we know she will fit into our team right away."

Dozier was awarded Colleyville Heritage High School's award for Most Outstanding Student and made it's A/B Honor Roll. She plans to study psychology at ACU.
 
Madeline Grimes | 5-8 | Goalkeeper | Bakersfield, Calif. / Frontier HS
Grimes provides the Wildcats with a third option at goalkeeper entering the 2015 season to go along with junior-year incumbents Kelsey Dombrowski and Sydney Newton. 
 
Grimes started between the pipes all four years at Frontier High School and pitched 20 consecutive shutouts during the 2013-14 season, in which her school went 23-3-1 and won the CIF D11 Championship. Her accomplishments earned her a spot on the all-area team and recognition from the Bakersfield Jockey Club. She also was named Kern County Athlete of the Week.
 
Grimes' club team, LA Galaxy-Bakersfield competes in the SCDSL top tier division.
 
"Madeline has a big presence in goal and is agile at the same time," said Wilson. "She has impressive numbers for her high school and club teams. We liked what she did at our summer camp and will compete for playing time with Kelsey and Sydney."

Grimes is a National Honor Society member who currently ranks in the top-seven percent of her graduating class. She is interested in studying business at ACU.
 
Grimes is the daughter of ACU alumni Lance and Ashley and granddaughter of alumni Whit and Barbie Herrington.
 
Meagan Kurosky | 5-3 | Midfielder | Hurst, Texas / Birdville HS
Kurosky is a two-year captain and four-year letterwinner at midfield for Birdville High School, one of the area's top teams over the past four years.
 
Kurosky's freshman-year team went 24-4-3 and reached the 2012 regional semifinals, and won back-to-back area championships the following two years behind a combined record of 40-13-3. Birdville is off to a 12-0 start this season.
 
"Meagan is a relentless midfielder who will bring strong, consistent play to our team," said Wilson. "She played for a very good Sting club team and is well coached. Her high school team, Birdville, is a powerhouse in high school soccer and she is a staple for that team. Meagan fits the mold of an ideal ACU student and athlete."

Kurosky's individual awards include first and second team all-district honors, a spot on the all-district academic team, and title of Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Kurosky is secretary for the National Honor Society, ranks fifth in her high school class and is a recipient of an ACU Presidential Scholar Award. She plans to study business management during her time at Abilene Christian.
 
Dylan Owens | 5-6 | Forward | Willard, Mo. / Willard HS
A striker, Owens has been expert at finding the goal throughout her high school career at Willard, tallying 25 scores as a freshman, 30 as a sophomore and 32 as a junior. Her scoring expertise not only helped her team win 10 consecutive matches in 2013, but also the 2014 district championship.
 
"Dylan's speed and athleticism will be a great addition to our attack up front as we strive to have more of a diversified offense," said Wilson. "She is able to put a lot of pressure on defenses with her quick first few steps pressuring the ball as well. Dylan is quite the competitor with an excellent work ethic and we're excited for her to join us."

Owens is a first team all-district, region and area honoree and recipient of an Ozarks Sports Zone Athlete of the Week citation. She also has been recognized as the best offensive player in the district and best goal scorer in the area.
 
Owens additionally lettered in volleyball and basketball as a freshman. She is an honor roll student and plans to concentrate on international studies at ACU.
 
Danielle Otto | 5-7 | Defender/Midfielder | Roseville, Calif. / Creekside HS / Folsom Lake College
Otto lists herself as a center midfielder and during her two seasons at Folsom Lake College, she has provided 31 points on 10 goals and 11 assists through 44 starts. 
 
Otto's Folsom Lake teams have posted a combined 36-6-3 record during her tenure in addition to winning consecutive Bay Valley Conference titles in 2013 and 2014.
 
"Danielle is a very exciting player to watch because she can get it done on both sides of the ball," said Wilson. "She received Defender of the Year honors tallying 10 goals and 11 assists for her Folsom Lake College team so we are blessed to have a talent like Danielle to join the Wildcats."

Otto was selected to play in last fall's California Community College Sophomore Showcase after being tabbed as the conference's Defender of the Year. The year previous she was named first team all-Conference and won her team's Falcon Award, which is presented to the MVP.
 
Otto plans to study business management at ACU.
 
Chelsea Reedy | 5-4 | Midfielder | Pflugerville, Texas / Pflugerville HS
Reedy is a two-year letterwinner at Pflugerville High School who played at both attacking and defensive center midfielder. She has been selected as her team's MVP two straight years in addition to being named first team all-district.
 
Reedy also is a two-time Academic all-District honoree who plans to major in kinesiology at ACU.
 
"Chelsea is another experienced and athletic player with diverse qualities on the field," said Wilson. "She reads the game we having great touch on the ball with the ability to finish well around the perimeter. We are excited to have here at ACU."
 
Reedy is the daughter of Scott Reedy, who played football for the Wildcats from 1983-85.
 
Sophie Standifer | Midfielder | Southlake, Texas / Liberty Christian HS
A two-year team captain and leading goal scorer for Liberty Christian, Stander is a center midfielder who led her team to a state quarterfinal appearance in 2012 and follow-up trip to the state semifinals in 2013 all while recovering from ACL surgery. She also is a TAPPS 5A honorable mention and MVP of the 2012 and 2014 Thanksgiving Showcase.
 
At the club level, Standifer was part of the D'Feeters ECNL team that reached the International Cup finals in 2012. She later competed at 2014 nationals with Solar-Chelsea ECNL.
 
"Sophie comes from a very competitive soccer background playing ECNL for both Solar and D'Feeters over the years along with having a great career at Liberty Christian High School," said Wilson. "Her technical ability and strong shot, and great touch along with the way she sees the field defines the type of player she is…quality. We are looking forward to what she will bring to ACU."

Standifer's athleticism extends to track and field, in which she helped set a school record in the 4x100-meter relay and qualified for regionals in the long jump. Her 4x100 relay additionally placed third at the 2013 state championships.
 
Standifer is a National Honor Society member who ranks among the top-10 percent of her class. She plans to study mathematics at ACU.
 
Allie Tollette | 5-3 | Midfielder/Forward | San Antonio, Texas / Churchill HS
Toilette is a three-year letterwinner who can play the forward and left midfield positions and has scored as many as 21 goals in a single season. 
 
A former second team all-state and first team honorable mention all-district selection, Tollette has helped lead her school to consecutive runner-up showings at the 2013 and 2014 regional tournaments and a fourth-place finish at the 2012 26-5A state championship.
 
"Allie is an explosive forward/midfielder who puts defenders on their heels," said Wilson. "She is a strong left-footed player who is lethal in front of goal. Allie also has great character, which will fit into our team right away. She was the first player to commit in this recruiting class and we are blessed to have her be a part of our program."

With club team Lonestar Red San Antonio, Tollette and her squad won the Region 3 Premier League West Championship in the fall of 2012 and 2013. In the spring of 2013, they placed fourth at the state tournament and second at the National Cup.    
 
A member of her school's A/B Honor Roll, Tollette is on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude this spring. She is interested in studying kinesiology at ACU and becoming a physical therapist.
 
Kileigh Vann | 5-6 | Defender/Midfielder | Fort Worth, Texas / Azle HS / Butler County College)
A 2014 First Team Defender in the Jayhawk Conference, Vann has been part of two exceptional teams at Butler County College in Kansas – a nationally ranked junior college power. Her 2013 club went 21-3-2 overall and 13-0 vs. the conference en route to winning the league and Region VI titles and reaching the NJCAA national semifinals.
 
The following year, Vann and her teammates won their second straight regional championship behind an overall record of 16-5-3 and 9-1-1 vs. the Jayhawk Conference.
 
Vann started 35 matches over the past two seasons and contributed 26 points on two assists and 12 goals, four of which were game-winners.
  
"Kileigh is capable of playing most positions on the field but has spent a majority of her last couple seasons on the back line at BCC," said Wilson. "We are looking forward to what she brings to this program in many ways especially her being a threat on set pieces in the air."

Vann was a defender and four-year letterwinner at Azle High School, where she earned three MVP honors and four District Utility Player of the Year certificates.
 
Vann intends to pursue a degree in psychology at ACU with plans on becoming a marriage and family counselor.