The NC State women’s soccer program received a big boost with its 2015 signing class on Thursday, announcing the addition of six student athletes for the upcoming season.

Maxine Blackwood, Ella Bonner, Crystal Cordova, Hannah Keogh, Taylor Porter, and Sydney Wootten will suit up as freshmen during NC State’s 2015 season.

Four student athletes in this class of NC State recruits currently reside in California. NC State has only had one California resident on its roster throughout the last 10 seasons and hasn’t had multiple Wolfpack members hail from the Golden State since 2004.

“In ACC women’s soccer, NC State needs to be a national brand and this class demonstrates that,” said head coach Tim Santoro. “Southern California has the top talent pool in the country and our recruiting ties to the Northeast were a key reason we also landed two top players from New Jersey and Virginia.

“Not only are we excited for this group to join us but the group is excited to make its mark at NC State. This class consists of very driven and competitive student athletes who have experienced success.”

Maxine Blackwood | Forward | Somerville, N.J. | Match Fit ECNL

A native of Somerville, N.J., Maxine Blackwood joins the Wolfpack after playing with club side Match Fit ECNL from 2011-15. She played for the New Jersey Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2010-12 and was also a National Training Center invitee in 2011 and 2012.

“Maxine is an all-around, ACC type forward who can pass, move, create and finish,” Santoro said. “She has become such a complete player in the few years we’ve recruited her and will have an immediate impact up front for us. She’ll make a name for herself at NC State and in the ACC.” 

Blackwood’s club team has experienced significant success during her time on the roster, finishing third at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Her side qualified for the ECNL regional playoffs in 2014, was a league champion in 2013, won the Region I Premier League and the New Jersey State Cup in 2012, and followed up a 2012 Disney College Showcase title with an appearance in the finals during the 2013 season.

Her high school soccer team (Somerville HS) posted a four-year record of 61-15-4 while she was on the roster and won four conference championships and one state sectional title. Blackwood was the team MVP in 2012 and 2014 and set new program marks in career goals (65) and assists (44). Individually, she was named first team all-area in 2014, second team all-area in 2012 and 2013, and first team all-conference during all four seasons. 

Ella Bonner | Midfielder | Chesapeake, Va. | Virginia Beach FC

A native of Chesapeake, Va., Ella Bonner joins the Wolfpack after playing with club side Virginia Beach FC for the past five years. She was a member of the Virginia ODP from 2009-14 and was also invited to a US Soccer Federation camp. While competing with the ODP, she was selected to the Inter-Regional Team (2012) and the Regional Pool (2013).

“Ella is a smooth and athletic player who can play any position,” Santoro said. “Adding to that versatility is the fact she can play great with either foot. We’re going to push Ella to maximize her ability because she has so much of it. She’ll find a place on the field for us.”

During two seasons of varsity soccer (freshman and sophomore years), Bonner was named to the Southeast District second team (2012) before earning first team SE District, first team All-Tidewater, first team All-SE Region, and honorable mention all-state honors in 2013.

Part of a very athletic family, Bonner’s father Carl is a former soccer player at Howard University and her sister Cheryl played basketball at Norfolk State University. In addition to her skills on field, she is also capable of playing five musical instruments.

Crystal Cordova | Midfielder | San Diego, Calif. | Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks

A native of Hartford, Conn., but currently living in San Diego, Calif., Crystal Cordova joins the Wolfpack after playing with fellow signees Hannah Keogh and Sydney Wootten at club side Del Mar Carmel Valley for the last six years. She has been a part of ODPs in two states, representing North Carolina from 2008-10 and California (South) from 2011-13.

“Crystal is a very technical, savvy player with an endless engine who can play in any midfield spot in any formation we choose,” Santoro said. “She gives a coach so many options because of her game and will be a fun player for people to see.”

Cordova’s club seasons were very successful. Her side was a 2013 and 2014 US Youth Soccer national champion, a 2013 and 2014 USYS league champion, a 2012 and 2013 Cal South National Cup champion, a 2011 Far West Regional League champion, and claimed two tournament titles (Surf Cup and Manchester Nike Cup) in 2011. In 2013, Cordova was named to 2013 USYS National Championship Best XI.

In three years of soccer at Serra High School, Cordova earned three all-league honors (two first team, one second team) and led her 2014 team to a San Diego Section CIF Division 4 championship. Cordova netted 41 goals and distributed 24 assists in just three seasons.

Hannah Keogh | Defender | Carlsbad, Calif. | Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks

A native of Carlsbad, Calif., Hannah Keogh joins the Wolfpack after playing with fellow signees Crystal Cordova and Sydney Wootten at club side Del Mar Carmel Valley. She also played with Cordova on the California (South) ODP team from 2011-13.

“Hannah is a strong, tough left-footed defender who will add a lot to our backline. She’s mature for her age and has the qualities to be a natural leader. She’s a kid who will thrive in our evolving program.”

Keogh’s club seasons were very successful. Her side was a 2013 and 2014 US Youth Soccer national champion, a 2013 and 2014 USYS league champion, a 2012 and 2013 Cal South National Cup champion, a 2011 Far West Regional League champion, and claimed two tournament titles (Surf Cup and Manchester Nike Cup) in 2011.

In addition to her stellar club career, Keogh plays soccer at Carlsbad High School. She helped lead her team to three league championships and earned all-league honors (two on the first team) in three seasons. As a sophomore, Keogh was named league MVP.

A member of the 2013-14 San Diego Union-Tribune’s All-Academic Girls’ Soccer Team with a 4.07 grade point average, Keogh plans to major in mechanical engineering at NC State.

Taylor Porter | Midfielder | San Diego, Calif. | San Diego Surf

A native of San Diego, Calif., Porter joins the Wolfpack after playing at club side Del Mar Carmel Valley (2005-08) and most recently at San Diego Surf Soccer Club (2009-15).

“Taylor is a simple, solid two-way midfielder who just gives you the same workmanlike performance every 90 minutes. She’s a blue collar player that does so many little things right and is the type of player that is so hard to find. She’ll be a valuable and effective player for us for four years.”

Porter boasts a very accomplished club career with San Diego Surf SC. Her 2014 side finished No. 3 in the nation at the ECNL Championship and claimed its second consecutive Surf College Cup. Her team won the Surf Thanksgiving Tournament in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and was ranked by TopDrawerSoccer.com among the top five teams in the country from 2011-15.

Currently in her fourth season representing Patrick Henry High School, Porter is a three-time recipient of first team all-league honors. She was the team MVP in 2013 and 2014 while earning area all-academic honors in each season. Prior to the beginning of her senior season, Porter had scored 18 goals and distributed 27 assists in 62 career high school matches.            

Sydney Wootten | Goalkeeper | San Diego, Calif. | Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks

A native of San Diego, Calif., Sydney Wootten joins the Wolfpack after playing with fellow signees Crystal Cordova and Hannah Keogh at club side Del Mar Carmel Valley from 2011-15. She also played with the California (South) ODP program in 2010.

“Sydney has been so consistent over this entire recruiting cycle, which is such an important trait for this position. The ball does not go in the goal. That might seem too simple an analysis but she makes all types of saves and is sound in all other areas of goalkeeping. She’ll push hard to make her mark next year.”

Wootten’s club seasons were very successful. Her side was a 2013 and 2014 US Youth Soccer national champion, a 2013 and 2014 USYS league champion, a 2012 and 2013 Cal South National Cup champion, a 2011 Far West Regional League champion, and claimed two tournament titles (Surf Cup and Manchester Nike Cup) in 2011. Individually, she was a member of the Best XI at the 2014 USYS national tournament and earned the coveted Golden Glove award as the competition’s best goalkeeper.

Currently in her fourth season of high school soccer with Scripps Ranch High School, Wootten’s teams have won three league titles and advanced as far as the finals of the state tournament. Her junior season may have been her most impressive to date, as she recorded more shutouts (13) than goals allowed (11), averaging less than 0.70 goals conceded per contest. Wootten has earned first team all-league honors on two occasions and one second team all-league nod.