BGSU Women’s Soccer Signs Nine

by TopDrawerSoccer

February 5, 2015

Bowling Green State University women's soccer head coach Lindsay Basalyga is excited to announce the 2015 signing class, which includes a class of nine signees in Morgan Abbitt (Fort Collins, Colorado/Rocky Mountain H.S.), Abbie Bacon (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Northview H.S.), Laura Bozzelli (Mississauga, Ontario/Lorne Park Secondary School), Victoria Cope (Windsor, Ontario/Assumption College Catholic H.S.), Alexis Fricke (Kentwood, Michigan/East Kenwood H.S.), Juli Knapp (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit H.S.), Sophia Moreau (Naperville, Illinois/Neuqua Valley H.S.), Alex Prout (Grand Haven, Michigan/Spring Lake H.S.) and Morgann Williams (Fort Wayne, Indiana/Homestead H.S.) that will all continue both their academic and athletic careers at BGSU come Fall 2015.

"I'm really proud of the class we have put together for 2015. The group will fill holes we currently have, while complimenting the strengths of the current roster. We worked hard to diversify our roster with players with varying skill sets, as well as different academic focuses," commented Coach Basalyga.

Morgan Abbitt	Abbitt, who will come to BGSU from Fort Collins, Colorado, is a three-year letter award winner on the pitch for the Lobos of Rocky Mountain High School under Ron Clark. Named the 2014 Offensive Most Valuable Player, Abbitt was named as the team captain for the 2015 season. Abbitt, who also lettered and served as the team captain for the basketball team, is a member of the Arsenal Colorado Club Team where she was named the 2014-15 Arsenal Colorado Club Team Player of the Year. She was part of the Arsenal teams that were 2013 State Champion Finalists and was crowned the State Champions in 2012, where she was named the 2012 State Most Valuable Player. Abbitt also helped lead her team to the Far West Regional Quarterfinals in 2012. Planning to major in General Mathematics at BGSU, Abbitt is a member of the National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta. "Morgan has an incredible work rate and always seems to find herself on the ball. She is good with both short and long ball distribution and has an urgency to get herself into goal scoring positions."
Abbie Bacon	Bacon is a local product from nearby Sylvania Northview High School coached by Rick Burgin. A three-year letter award winner on the soccer field for the Wildcats, Bacon helped guide her team to become District Champions in both 2014 and 2011, as well as advancing to and competing in the both the Elite Eight and the Final Four in 2011. Also lettering in lacrosse at Sylvania Northview, Bacon participated in the Northwest Ohio All-Star Game and received both the Northwest Ohio Academic Excellence Award as well as the All-Ohio Academic Excellence Award while also earning a spot on the Northern Lakes League All-Academic Team. The Toledo, Ohio native is also a member of the Pacesetter Soccer Club Teams, where she was part of the U18/U19 State Cup Championship Team, the U17 State Cup Finalists squad and the U16 State Cup Semifinalists Team. On top of all her academic awards and recognition, Bacon who is undecided in what she will study at BGSU, is a member of the National Honor Society and has received Academic Performance Honors all four years of her high school career at Sylvania Northview. "Abbie is an extremely competitive flank player with a dangerous left foot, tremendous work rate, and is tough on the defensive side of the ball."
Laura Bozzelli	Bozzelli will head to BGSU from Lorne Park Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada where she has played for four years for the Spartans and head coach Greg Kelly. The three-time team captain from 2012-2014, Bozzelli was the team's top scorer in 2012 and was named the twice named the Junior MVP in both 2012 and 2011. Bozzelli is also a member of the Dixie Soccer Club where she was part of the team that was the 2014 Eastern Ontario Youth Soccer League Champions and 2014 Quebec Cup Finalists. Also competing in lacrosse and volleyball, Bozzelli, who plans to major in Environmental Policy and Analysis while at Bowling Green, is a Gold Award recipient and has been on the Honor Roll all four years. "Laura is a dangerous forward whose speed can threaten back lines as well as break down defenders off the dribble. Along with Morgann Williams, she has a knack for scoring goals which will raise our scoring efficiency in 2015."
Victoria Cope	Cope, who hails from Windsor, Ontario, is wrapping up her fourth year at Assumption College Catholic High School where she was a member of the cross country, track & field and volleyball teams. A four-year team captain in volleyball, Cope was twice tabbed the Team MVP in 2013-14 and 2012-13, while she also was awarded the Coach's Award in cross country in 2013-14. A member of the Eastside Kickers Club Team, Cope lead her team to a first-place finish at the 2014 Crossroads of America College Showcase event in April, allowing only one goal for the entire tournament. Prior to that, Cope posted a shutout weekend and led her team to a first-place finish in the top flight of the 2014 Umbro Top Rated College Showcase event in May. Cope posted a 13-2-1 record overall and allowed only eight goals over 16 matches, a league best, to guide her team to a second-place overall finish in the OYSL. The MVP in the Ontario Summer Games in 2012, Cope's squad finished as Silver Medalists at the Ontario Summer Games and was also 2012 Ontario Cup Finalists. Intending to study Art History at BGSU, Cope has received Honors with Distinction for each of the last three years 2011-2014 and is set to receive that recognition once again in her senior year. "Victoria is a tremendous athlete with good hands and shot stopping abilities. Her tool set is different than that of our current three goal keepers which will make this role even more competitive."
Alexis Fricke	Fricke, a senior for the Falcons at East Kenwood High School in Kenwood, Michigan, will continue her career as a Falcon in the fall of 2015 at BGSU. A three-year starter and letterwinner under head coach John Conlon, Fricke will serve as a team captain in her upcoming senior season as her team enters 2015 as the three-time defending OK Red Conference Champions. With her team having been ranked in the top-10 in the State of Michigan in each of the last three years, which included an OK Red District Championship in 2012, Fricke has been named to the All-District Team all three years. As a junior last season, Fricke was named to the Third-Team All-State Team, was a First-Team All-State selection, earned a spot on the OK Red All-Conference Team and was tabbed the Team MVP. Fricke also received All-Area Honorable Mention and All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore and was named the Rookie of the Year during her freshman season. She has totaled seven goals and 16 assists over her first three years at East Kenwood High all while leading the Falcons to a total of 46 wins over the last three seasons. A member of the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors in the MRL Premier League, Fricke has part of the 2013 MSYSA U17 State Cup Championship Team, the 2011 USL Super Y U14 National Championship with the Kalamazoo Kingdom Super Y Team, the 2010 West Michigan Fire Super Y Team that finished as the USL Super Y National Finalist and the 2009 U12 National Indoor Championship Team. A member of the 2010 and the 2009 ODP State Teams, Fricke is a four-time All-Academic Team honoree and plans to major in Gerontology at BGSU. "Alexis is a feisty, hard-working flank player who is technically clean, links up the game well through possession, and does a great job getting forward into the attack."
Juli Knapp	Knapp, who will come to BGSU from Walsh Jesuit High School in Akron, Ohio, lettered on the pitch for the Warriors under coaches Dino McIntyre. Knapp, who was a team captain in 2014, received North Coast League Honorable Mention honors in 2013 and was awarded the Best Assist Award in both 2014 and 2012. During her time at Walsh Jesuit, Knapp's teams have won the State Championship three straight years in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and advanced to the State Championship Final Four in 2011, all while posting an overall record of 82-1-8 over the last four years. A member of the Cleveland Futbol Club Team, Knapp played in the State Championship in 2014 and was part of the National League in both 2014 and 2011. Planning to major in Occupational Therapy at BGSU, Knapp, whose uncle Jason Knapp played football for four years at Mount Union, is a member of the Best Buddies Club and the Justice League. "Juli is versatile, athletic, and technically sharp on the ball. She's a proven winner after numerous State Titles with Walsh Jesuit and could end up seeing time in many different roles."
Sophia Moreau	Moreau is coming to Bowling Green from Naperville, Illinois where she has lettered for three years under her father Joe Moreau at Neuqua Valley heading into her senior season this year. A 2014 Upstate 8 All-Conference selection and a 2013 All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree, Moreau has helped guide her Wildcats team to back-to-back Regional Championships in 2013 and 2012, as well as a Conference Championship in 2012, while posting a total of 42 wins over the last three years. Moreau is also a member of the Team Chicago Internacional Club and was on the State ODP Team from 2013-14. A three-year Academic All-Conference recipient, Moreau is an Indian Prairie Scholar, an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the French National Honor Society. Moreau, whose father played soccer at Central Michigan and had an uncle play baseball at Akron, plans to major in Flight Technology and Operations while at BGSU. "Sophia is a solid back with good vision, is consistent through distribution, and has great composure. These abilities could find her playing somewhere along the back line."
Alex Prout	Prout, who will head to BGSU from Grand Haven, Michigan, has lettered for each of the last three years at Spring Lake High School under head coach Jeremy Thelen. Heading into her senior season, the two-time All-District and All-Conference Team selection in both 2014 and 2013, will look to help her team defend their 2014 League Championship. Prout was also key in the Lakers strong 2013 season that saw her team become League Champions, District Champions, Regional Champions and make it all the way to the State Semifinals. Also a member of the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Club Team, Prout served as a team captain from her U12 team all the way to her U18 Team. Her club teams were the 2014 Midwest Regional League – Premier 1 Champs, the 2013 Michigan State Cup Champions, the U13 Super Y North American National Champions and the U12 National Indoor Soccer Champions in which was tabbed the National Indoor Soccer Finals MVP. Prout was also a member of ODP '96 Michigan State Team and attended the Super Y ODP 95/96' National Team Camp. Prout, whose father David played football at Grand Valley State University, is a three-time member of the National Honor Society, as well as a Scholar-Athlete, and intends to major in Accounting. "Alex will more than likely find herself in the center back role. She has tremendous long ball distribution, is tough on tackles, and strong in the air. She's a teammate of Alexis (Fricke) and both have experienced great success with their club teams."
Morgann Williams	Williams, a four-year letter award winner on the pitch at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana under head coach Katie Metz, is a two-time Northeast Hoosier Conference All-Conference Team honoree in 2014 and 2013, as well as a Northeast Hoosier Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2012. Williams, who was elected as a 2014 team captain, helped to lead her team to four straight Sectional Championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) and three consecutive All-Conference Championships (2011, 2012, 2013). In 2013, the Spartans won the Regional Championship and advanced all the way to the Semifinals of the State Championship before losing on penalty kicks. Williams, who also lettered in track & field for two years, totaled 25 goals and 15 assists in her four-year career at Homestead. An ODP Indiana All-State Team pick in 2011, Williams is also a member of the Fort Wayne United Club Team, formerly known as the Fort Wayne Fever, which was crowned the 2013 Indiana State Champions and won the championship at the 2012 Fort Wayne Express Track event. Williams, whose uncle Chuck Robinson played baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates and is in the Hall of Fame at Marietta College, is a four-time Academic Honors recipient (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) and a member of the National Achievers Society – Urban League 2013. She plans to major in Health Sciences while at Bowling Green. "Morgann is a tremendous athlete with a knack for scoring goals. Her pace will be dangerous in the attacking third of the game."

"Overall, with this class, we have raised our soccer IQ and our overall athleticism while complementing our current roster with nine highly competitive athletes," continued Basalyga. "Every player has the ability to compete for playing time as soon as they get on campus in August and help us take the next big step in our process of working towards MAC Championships."

The Falcons, who made huge strides last season in Coach Basalyga's second season at the helm of the women's soccer program, will return 17 players from the 2014 squad who combined with the nine newest Falcons mentioned above will look to continue the program's resurgence and growth in the years to come.

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