EVANSTON, Illinois – The Northwestern women's soccer program welcomed five newcomers to the family on 2017 National Signing Day. Head coach Michael Moynihan and the 2016 Big Ten regular-season champions officially inked Kylie Fisher, Mikayla Hampton, Madi Kennel, Kayleigh, Stahlschmidt and Regan Steiglader, all of whom will enroll at Northwestern this summer and be eligible for the 2017 fall campaign.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the quality in this recruiting class, both in terms of soccer talent and in terms of personal character," said Moynihan on Wednesday. "We are adding student-athletes that have played at the highest levels for club, and they have experienced tremendous success in their careers already. They come to Northwestern accustomed to winning and with high ambitions, and we look forward to helping them realize their dreams."
"There is a lot of attacking flair in this class, as well as great soccer intelligence. Players that can help in our build-up play, as well as our decision-making ability in the final third. These players are comfortable on the ball and show great composure under pressure. They will surely help us generate more scoring opportunities through combination play, as well as through moments of individual brilliance. This class will be a tremendous compliment to our returning players, many of which return from our 2016 team that led the nation in several defensive categories."
"I also see a lot of flexibility in this class. While most play in the midfield and attacking positions, many have experience playing out of the back as well, and will help us attack from anywhere on the pitch."
"Most importantly, they will all fit in beautifully at Northwestern University and within our team culture. While they all come to us with high levels of athletic talent and ambition, they are also extremely driven in their academic pursuits. They are all well equipped and eager, to flourish in a demanding environment that truly offers the best both athletically and academically. They are also 'team' players that bring their best every day and show a hunger to keep improving. I can't wait to start working with them!"
Led by All-American goalkeeper Lauren Clem and a trio of All-Region honorees, Northwestern captured the first Big Ten title in program history last fall and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The honors earned by the squad extended to the sideline, as head coach Moynihan, associate head coach David Nikolic and assistant coach Shannon Neely, where named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Great Lakes Regional Staff of the Year.
The Wildcats finished the season 16-3-4 overall to tie the renowned 1998 team for most wins in a single season. The Wildcats did not drop a single match against a team ranked outside the RPI Top-22. Clem anchored a back end that posted an NCAA-leading 17 shutouts and .271 goals-against-average.
Complete bio information for the Wildcats 2017 National Signing Day class is below.
KYLIE FISHER
Midfielder
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chaparral High School
Ranked the No. 9 recruit in the Southwest Region, and the among Top-75 recruits in the nation, by Top Drawer Soccer … Rated as the No. 31 midfielder in the nation by TDS … Led state of Arizona in assists as a senior … All-City honoree … Three-time winner of Firebird Award for sportsmanship … Competed for eight seasons with SC Del Sol ECNL club … Three-year captain … Olympic Development Program Region IV Championship All-Tournament Team … Played four seasons of high school basketball, serving as team captain … Honor Roll … Spanish Honor Society.
MIKAYLA HAMPTON
Forward
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wyoming High School
Established a Wyoming record with 79 career goals in 69 career games, to go along with 20 career assists … Three-time team captain … Led the Cowboys to four consecutive Sectional championships, the 2014 District championship and a pair of District runner-up finishes (2015, '16) … Two-time Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year … Three-time All-State … Four-time First Team All-Conference … Four-time First Team All-City … MVP of the 2016 All-City All-Star Game … 2016 NSCAA All-Region … Played ten years with Ohio Elite Soccer Academy … Played two seasons of high school basketball, earning Second Team All-CHL honors … Honor Roll … CHL Academic Award … Spanish Honor Society.
MADI KENNEL
Midfielder
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Redondo Union High School
Ranked by Top Drawer Soccer as a Top-35 regional player … Two-time team captain … Registered 33 goals in four-year varsity career … Led Seahawks to CIF playoffs all four years … Three-time All-League selection … Three-time Redondo Union Female Athlete of the Year … Part of the CalSouth Olympic Development Program Regional Player Pool for fie straight years … Competed for five years with Beach FC Academy club, winning 2014 USYS national championship and a pair of California Regional League titles … Honor Roll … 2014 English Student of the Year … Ranked 12th in class of 629 … Anticipated major is economics.
KAYLEIGH STAHLSCHMIDT
Forward
St. Charles, Mo.
Visitation Academy
Helped lead Vivettes to 2014 Missouri State Championship, and a third-place result in the state tournament as a senior … Set Visitation Academy record with 24 goals as a freshman … Played five seasons with St. Louis Scott Gallagher club, the 2016 North American ECNL champions … Played one season of high school softball … National Honor Society … St. Michael's College Book Award … Anticipated major is biology.
REGAN STEIGLEDER
Midfielder
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City West High School
Recorded 60 goals and 18 assists in four-year high school career … Team captain led the Trojans to the 2015 Iowa state championship, and a runner-up finish in 2016 … Two-time First Team All-State (2015, '16) … Three-time First Team All-Mississippi Valley Conference (2014, '15, '16) … Two-time MVC Soccer Athlete of the Year (2015, '16) … Two-time Iowa City Press Citizen Soccer Athlete of the Year (2015, '16) … 2016 Des Moines Register All-Iowa Girls Elite Soccer Team … Captain of the 2015 Iowa Class 3A All-Tournament Team … Played two seasons with the Michigan Hawks, winning 2016 U17 ECNL National Championship … Club teammate of Wildcats teammate Maddie Lucas … Played one season of high school basketball, starting at point guard for Iowa City West as a freshman … National Honor Society.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the quality in this recruiting class, both in terms of soccer talent and in terms of personal character," said Moynihan on Wednesday. "We are adding student-athletes that have played at the highest levels for club, and they have experienced tremendous success in their careers already. They come to Northwestern accustomed to winning and with high ambitions, and we look forward to helping them realize their dreams."
"There is a lot of attacking flair in this class, as well as great soccer intelligence. Players that can help in our build-up play, as well as our decision-making ability in the final third. These players are comfortable on the ball and show great composure under pressure. They will surely help us generate more scoring opportunities through combination play, as well as through moments of individual brilliance. This class will be a tremendous compliment to our returning players, many of which return from our 2016 team that led the nation in several defensive categories."
"I also see a lot of flexibility in this class. While most play in the midfield and attacking positions, many have experience playing out of the back as well, and will help us attack from anywhere on the pitch."
"Most importantly, they will all fit in beautifully at Northwestern University and within our team culture. While they all come to us with high levels of athletic talent and ambition, they are also extremely driven in their academic pursuits. They are all well equipped and eager, to flourish in a demanding environment that truly offers the best both athletically and academically. They are also 'team' players that bring their best every day and show a hunger to keep improving. I can't wait to start working with them!"
Led by All-American goalkeeper Lauren Clem and a trio of All-Region honorees, Northwestern captured the first Big Ten title in program history last fall and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The honors earned by the squad extended to the sideline, as head coach Moynihan, associate head coach David Nikolic and assistant coach Shannon Neely, where named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Great Lakes Regional Staff of the Year.
The Wildcats finished the season 16-3-4 overall to tie the renowned 1998 team for most wins in a single season. The Wildcats did not drop a single match against a team ranked outside the RPI Top-22. Clem anchored a back end that posted an NCAA-leading 17 shutouts and .271 goals-against-average.
Complete bio information for the Wildcats 2017 National Signing Day class is below.
KYLIE FISHER
Midfielder
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chaparral High School
Ranked the No. 9 recruit in the Southwest Region, and the among Top-75 recruits in the nation, by Top Drawer Soccer … Rated as the No. 31 midfielder in the nation by TDS … Led state of Arizona in assists as a senior … All-City honoree … Three-time winner of Firebird Award for sportsmanship … Competed for eight seasons with SC Del Sol ECNL club … Three-year captain … Olympic Development Program Region IV Championship All-Tournament Team … Played four seasons of high school basketball, serving as team captain … Honor Roll … Spanish Honor Society.
MIKAYLA HAMPTON
Forward
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wyoming High School
Established a Wyoming record with 79 career goals in 69 career games, to go along with 20 career assists … Three-time team captain … Led the Cowboys to four consecutive Sectional championships, the 2014 District championship and a pair of District runner-up finishes (2015, '16) … Two-time Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year … Three-time All-State … Four-time First Team All-Conference … Four-time First Team All-City … MVP of the 2016 All-City All-Star Game … 2016 NSCAA All-Region … Played ten years with Ohio Elite Soccer Academy … Played two seasons of high school basketball, earning Second Team All-CHL honors … Honor Roll … CHL Academic Award … Spanish Honor Society.
MADI KENNEL
Midfielder
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Redondo Union High School
Ranked by Top Drawer Soccer as a Top-35 regional player … Two-time team captain … Registered 33 goals in four-year varsity career … Led Seahawks to CIF playoffs all four years … Three-time All-League selection … Three-time Redondo Union Female Athlete of the Year … Part of the CalSouth Olympic Development Program Regional Player Pool for fie straight years … Competed for five years with Beach FC Academy club, winning 2014 USYS national championship and a pair of California Regional League titles … Honor Roll … 2014 English Student of the Year … Ranked 12th in class of 629 … Anticipated major is economics.
KAYLEIGH STAHLSCHMIDT
Forward
St. Charles, Mo.
Visitation Academy
Helped lead Vivettes to 2014 Missouri State Championship, and a third-place result in the state tournament as a senior … Set Visitation Academy record with 24 goals as a freshman … Played five seasons with St. Louis Scott Gallagher club, the 2016 North American ECNL champions … Played one season of high school softball … National Honor Society … St. Michael's College Book Award … Anticipated major is biology.
REGAN STEIGLEDER
Midfielder
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City West High School
Recorded 60 goals and 18 assists in four-year high school career … Team captain led the Trojans to the 2015 Iowa state championship, and a runner-up finish in 2016 … Two-time First Team All-State (2015, '16) … Three-time First Team All-Mississippi Valley Conference (2014, '15, '16) … Two-time MVC Soccer Athlete of the Year (2015, '16) … Two-time Iowa City Press Citizen Soccer Athlete of the Year (2015, '16) … 2016 Des Moines Register All-Iowa Girls Elite Soccer Team … Captain of the 2015 Iowa Class 3A All-Tournament Team … Played two seasons with the Michigan Hawks, winning 2016 U17 ECNL National Championship … Club teammate of Wildcats teammate Maddie Lucas … Played one season of high school basketball, starting at point guard for Iowa City West as a freshman … National Honor Society.