Saint Louis head women’s soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play for the Billikens. All seven players will have four years of eligibility beginning next fall.

The new Billikens are:

• Carli Bond • D • St. Peters, Mo. (Francis Howell North H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
• Erin Emmanuel • MF • Livonia, Mich. (Livonia Churchill H.S. | Michigan Hawks ECNL)
• Karley Kucera • MF • Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest H.S. | Sporting Blue Valley ECNL)
• Isabella Palazzolo • F/MF/D • Shelby Township, Mich. (Eisenhower H.S. | Vardar ECNL)
• Maddie Pokorny • F/MF • Webster Groves, Mo. (Webster Groves H.S. | Lou Fusz SC)
• Lindsay Sands • F • Lorain, Ohio (Amherst Steele H.S. | Ambassadors FC)
• Rachelle Topolewski • D • Waterford, Mich. (Our Lady of the Lakes Parish School | Michigan Hawks ECNL)

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2015 recruiting class into our program,” Shields said. “This is a talented and competitive collection of players who are committed to building a championship-level program at Saint Louis University. I am confident they will make an immediate impact next fall as we compete for an A-10 championship.”

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Carli Bond • D • St. Peters, Mo. (Francis Howell North H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)

Four-year member of the Francis Howell North team ... team captain who helped the Knights place fourth in the state last season … also captains her St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team … helped her SLSG squad win a state championship … has been invited to the Olympic Development Program in each of the past three years … has a grade point average above 4.0.

Shields on Bond: “Carli is one of the best defenders to come out of the St. Louis area in recent years. She is a very athletic and hard-nosed defender who possesses a deep understanding of the game. Carli’s work ethic and competitiveness will make her and those around her an asset on our backline.”

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Erin Emmanuel • MF • Livonia, Mich. (Livonia Churchill H.S. | Michigan Hawks ECNL)

Has been a member and co-captain of the Michigan Hawks MRL and ECNL club team since 2008 … helped the squad to an ECNL top-16 finish in 2014, State Cup runner-up spot in 2011, State Cup and Region II titles in 2010, and a No. 4 national ranking … was an ODP state team member from 2011-12 and attended the 2012 ODP Region II camp … at Livonia Churchill, earned All-Conference honors and led the team in assists … four-year letter winner and Scholar-Athlete … earned magna cum laude academic honors and is a National Honor Society member.

Shields on Emmanuel: “Erin joins us from the highly regarded Michigan Hawks club along with club teammate Rachelle Topolewski. We want to possess the ball as a program, and Erin fits that model perfectly. She is a smart and tactically sophisticated soccer player with strong leadership qualities. Her soccer IQ and technical abilities will continue to push our program to a championship level.”

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Karley Kucera • MF • Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest H.S. | Sporting Blue Valley ECNL)

A four-year starter at Blue Valley Northwest … team captain this season … helped lead the Huskies to the 2013 and 2014 6A state titles … has captained her Sporting Blue Valley club team since 2010 … helped lead the squad to second place at the 2013 ECNL national tournament … Principal’s Honor Roll student every year … member of National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.

Shields on Kucera: “Karley is our first recruit out of the very talented Kansas City-based Sporting Blue Valley ECNL club. She possesses a combination of technical sophistication and tactical understanding of the game at a high level. Karley’s tremendous left foot and competitiveness will make her an invaluable part of our team moving forward.”

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Isabella Palazzolo • F/MF/D • Shelby Township, Mich. (Eisenhower H.S. | Vardar ECNL)

Earned All-County and All-Conference plaudits in 2013 and 2014, helping lead Eisenhower to the conference crown both seasons … the Eagles were state runners-up in 2014 … her Vardar club team was an ECNL national qualifier in 2013 and 2014, and a 2011 State Cup semifinalist.

Shields on Palazzolo: “Bella is a spark plug. Whether she is flying up and down the left flank getting a service off or playmaking in the midfield, she has an infectious energy to her game. As a naturally left-footed player who can play in any functional line, she will provide us with a dynamic attacking threat on the left flank.”

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Maddie Pokorny • F/MF • Webster Groves, Mo. (Webster Groves H.S. | Lou Fusz SC)

Has started for Webster Groves since her freshman season, and is a two-year team captain … amassed 61 goals and 27 assists in her first three campaigns … first-team All-State, first-team All-Metro and Suburban South Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014 … selected the 2014 St. Louis region Offensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association … three-time first-team All-Conference choice … set school records for career goals (61), single-season goals (26 in 2013) and single-season points (64 in 2014) … has helped the Statesmen win 62 games and a conference title in her first three seasons … her Lou Fusz SC team won the State Cup and the Disney Showcase in 2014 … named a St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame Future Soccer Star last year … three-year Scholar-Athlete at Webster Groves.

Shields on Pokorny: “Maddie is a dynamic, attack-minded player who has the ability to be a playmaker in the midfield or a goal scorer up front. She is a fierce competitor with a winner’s mentality who will make an immediate impact on our team in the fall.”

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Lindsay Sands • F • Lorain, Ohio (Amherst Steele H.S. | Ambassadors FC)

Four-year varsity starter at Amherst Steele … three-time All-Conference and All-County selection, including first-team nods in 2013 … made the All-Greater Cleveland second team in 2013 and 2014 … member of Ambassadors FC, the No. 2-ranked team in the Midwest Region and among the top 50 in the nation … previously played several years of club soccer for Ohio Premier … her 2013 team won the Ohio State Cup … was a national id2 camp participant … has earned Academic All-Ohio accolades … National Honor Society member.

Shields on Sands: “Lindsay is a fast and dynamic player. She has the ability to beat players 1v1 and get in behind an opponent’s defense. Lindsay adds a new dimension of speed to our program. With her speed and ability on the ball, she will be an immediate attacking threat for our team.”

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Rachelle Topolewski • D • Waterford, Mich. (Our Lady of the Lakes Parish School | Michigan Hawks ECNL)

Has played the past four years for the Michigan Hawks club team, which qualified for three consecutive ECNL national tournaments … the U-18 team won the State Cup … four-year Michigan ODP player who helped her team place third at the 2013 national tournament and win the 2012 Region II title … a Top Drawer Soccer “Player to Watch” since 2013 … played as a freshman at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish School, where she was All-State honorable mention, All-Catholic and All-District … has a 4.0 grade point average.

Shields on Topolewski: “Rachelle is a smart and technical defender who will fit perfectly into our style of play. She has the perfect combination of grit and poise to allow us to win and keep the ball out of the back. Rachelle has natural leadership qualities that have been honed through years of anchoring the backline of the highly successful Michigan Hawks club program.”