Columbia women's soccer head coach Tracey Bartholomew has announced the recruiting class of 11 student-athletes that will join the team for the upcoming 2015 season. Bartholomew, along with fellow assistant coaches Amphone Keovongmanysar and Josh Osit have worked diligently to find the complete student-athlete that is driven in the classroom and on the field.

“I am extremely excited to bring in such an incredible group of young women in our 2015 recruiting class to Columbia women’s soccer. The incoming 11 will make an immediate impact to the program, not just in number, but with their talent and ability with the soccer ball, speed and creativity to help us score more goals. They also possess the tenacity, determination and competitiveness to continue our defensive prowess in conference and in the NCAA. Together they are committed to the success and excellence of our program and they will help push our program to new heights. This will complement the returning players that have established a culture and commitment to success and values we are proud of, ” said Bartholomew.

Joining the Lions are:

Rachel Alexander

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

High School: St. John’s High School College – Washington, D.C.

Club Team: Bethesda United ECNL U18

Position: Forward

Alexander was a four-year soccer letter winner and a two-time WCAC All-Conference selection in her career at St. John’s High School. The midfielder earned first team WCAC honors in 2013 and followed with second team honors in 2014. As a senior captain, Alexander led the team to the DCSAA state finals and capped her career as a DCSAA All-State team honoree.

She played for Bethesda Soccer Club, one of the nations top clubs in the past 20 years, along with fellow Columbia incomer, Stephi Shin. The 2011 and '14 Maryland State Futsal Champion also competed in the 2012 Puma Elite Showcase and the Maryland ODP 2010-2012. Alexander attended the U. S. National Training Center in 2011and 2012 as apart of the U.S. U14 National Team ID camp with fellow incoming player, Reilly Lucas.

Emma Anderson

Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland

High School: Walt Whitman High School

Club Team: MRM Coyotes

Club Team: MRM Coyotes

Position: Forward

A two-sport athlete in both soccer and track, Anderson excelled on the pitch as a four-year letter-winner at Walt Whitman High School. Anderson was a highly decorated forward for the Vikings, including Maryland State ODP Team honors (2012, 2013), first team All-Gazette honors (2014 and honorable mention (2013), first team Maryland All-State team (2014) and second team in 2013. The standout forward led the Vikings to back-to-back Maryland 4A State Champions in 2013 and 2014.

As a member of the MRM Coyotes club team, Anderson grabbed four-straight Maryland State Cup titles from 2011-2014. In 2012, the MRM Coyotes put together an impressive year as U14 USUYSA Regional and National Champions.

Kristy Cotter

Hometown: Long Valley, New Jersey

High School: Morristown Beard School – Morristown, New Jersey

Club Team: PDA ECNL U18

Position: Defender/Forward

An all-around athlete, Cotter earned varsity letters in three sports at Morristown-Beard School, including soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Cotter was a four-year letter winner in soccer as a center midfielder/forward and came on strong as a upperclassmen for the Crimson. In 2013, Cotter earned her first of back-to-back first team Morris County and Prep B selections. En route to a Prep B Championship title, Cotter was named second team NJAC as a junior. She followed up with a sensational senior season in 2014, breaking the school’s single-season scoring record with 27 goals and 10 assists, which lead her to being named a NSCAA High School All-American. The senior captain capped her career with first team NJAC, first team Prep B, first team Non-Public and third team All-State honors. She holds a career total of 44 goals and 27 assists.

Cotter was a member of the PDA ECNL Clash, who according to Topdrawersoccer.com, had more players ranked in the Top-150 than any other team. Her PDA ECNL Clash, Cotter consistently finished in the top-eight nationally, with it’s best finish of fourth-place coming in the 2013 postseason.

Mercedes Fissore-O'Leary

Hometown: Amherst, Massachusetts

High School: Deerfield Academy – Deerfield, Massachusetts

Club Team: FSA ECNL U18

Position: Forward/Midfield

Fissore-O’Leary was a model of consistency throughout her career at Deerfield Academy. The four-year soccer letter winner is a four-time NEPSAC All-star team selection and a two-time Boston Globe All-star selection. Soccer runs in the Fissore-O’Leary family as her father, Rafael Fissore, played for Boca Juniors in the Argentie soccer league. Her twin sister Julia Fissore-O’Leary will join her in the Ivy League as she laces up for the Big Green of Dartmouth in 2015.

Before moving to FSA ECNL, Mercedes played for the prestigious FC Stars of Mass club, which is widely recognized as one of the top girls youth soccer clubs in the country.

Amaris Hemmings

Hometown: Bronx, New York

High School: Riverdale County School

Club Team: Manhattan River Plate U18

Position: Forward

A dual athlete throughout high school, Hemmings was a four-time letter winner in Track and a three-year letter winner in soccer. The center-forward was named a NYC All-Ivy selection from 2012 to 2014. Hemmings will join the Lions on the field after a stellar high school career, including All-Bronx Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors for her senior season that included 22 goals.

To go along with her soccer accomplishments, Amaris has been regarded as one of the top track performers winning an Ivy Championship in 100m and competing in the 100m & 200m in the NY State Championships.

Reilly Lucas

Hometown: Freeport, New York

High School: Sacred Heart Academy

Club Team: Albertson Fury ECNL

Position: Defender

Lucas, a member of the U14 US National Team, was a four-year starter at Sacred Heart Academy, earning All-Conference honors every season she played. Lucas was also a member of the Region 1 ODP team from 2012-2014. Lucas was called into the U14 National Camp alongside fellow incoming player, Rachel Alexander. She played club soccer for the highly recognizable Albertson Fury, where she was the team’s captain, leading them to third place in the North American League in 2013.

Marie Matthews

Hometown: Camas, Washington

High School: Camas High School

Club Team: Crossfire United ECNL

Position: Goalkeeper

Matthews was a four-year varsity letter winner at Camas High School in Washington, captaining the team in 2014. During Matthews time at Camas , she led the team to four League Championships and district titles. Marie was an All-League, All-region, and All-State selection in both 2013 and 2014. Along with competing for the Crossfire United ECNL team out of Oregon, Matthews was also a member on the Region IV ODP team.

Stephanie Shin

Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland

High School: Quince Orchard High School

Club Team: Bethesda United ECNL U18

Position: Midfield

The Gaithersburg, Maryland native is a four-year letter winner in soccer as a midfielder for the Quince Orchard Cougars, in addition to earning a varsity letter in Track and Field her senior year. In 2014, Shin was named to the All-South Region Team and the MD All-State first team, in addition to second team honors in 2013. The Cougars claimed and maintained the Regional Champion title from 2011 through 2014.

As a member of the Bethesda United ECNL U18 team, ranked 12th in the Mid-Atlantic Region, she has led her club in assists since the 2013-2014 seasons. Shin was named Team MVP for the MD State and Region I Futsal Championships in years 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014, helping win the Championship in 2011 & 2014. Shin, was also a member of the 2013 Region I ODP Team.

Carlisle Topping

Hometown: McMinnville, Oregon

High School: Sheridan Japanese School

Club Team: FC Portland ECNL U18

Position: Midfield

A multi-sport athlete, Topping had great success competing for the Sheridan Grizzlies. She earned one varsity letter in both track and softball, in addition to four varsity letters in swimming and soccer. A co-captain since 2013, Topping has racked up accolades throughout her soccer career. In 2014 alone, she was named to the All-League First Team, the 6A All-State First Team, and also garnered League Player of the Year honors.

A member of FC Portland ECNL U18, Topping and her team finished runner-up at the U.S. Club Nationals in 2012 and were Oregon State Champions in 2014.

Topping won’t be the first varsity athlete to take the soccer field in her family. Sidonie Winfield, Topping’s mother, also played collegiately for Mount Holyoke College.

Erin Trapp

Hometown: Bayville, New Jersey

High School: Central Regional High School

Club Team: PDA ECNL U18

Position: Midfield

Trapp, a four-year letter winner and two-time captain of Central Regional High School, led the Golden Eagles to three B-South Jersey Championships, State Sectional Finals and Shore Conference Final. She finished her career as one of the school’s all time points leaders racking up 41 goals and 39 assists out of the midfield. For her efforts, Trapp earned 2012 and 2013 Coaches All-Division Team honors, first and second team All-Ocean Awards, and All-Shore selections.

Trapp played for the nation’s top girls club, according to Soccer America in PDA. TopDrawersoccer.com recognized her squad as the top recruited team in the country, with nine players ranked in the top 150. Trapp was named a four-star recruit by the same publication and as a starter and 90-minute player for PDA, she led her team to three consecutive top-eight finishes. Trapp also played alongside fellow Columbia incomer Kristy Cotter.

Sophie Whitehouse

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

High School: Washington International School

Club Team: Potomac Hotspur U18

Position: Goalkeeper

A multi-sport athlete, Whitehouse is a four-year letter winner in soccer, basketball, and softball at the Washington International School. Every year of her high school career, Whitehouse has been named to the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference for every sport that she competed in. Beginning her high school career as a goalkeeper, Whitehouse transitioned to starting midfielder her junior and senior seasons, earning the title of Team Captain in her junior season. Whitehouse also earned All-Met Honorable Mention in 2012-2013. The Red Devils were soccer conference champions in 2011 and 2012, finishing runner-up in 2013.