FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (July 25, 2019) – Head coach Kylie Louw and Northern Arizona soccer staff are welcoming 12 new student-athletes to their team. Taylor Fu, Maddie Wheelock, Abby Donathan, Whitney Winans, Jordyn Pacheco, Kalea Gurfield, Kiana Miyazato, Lexy Aguilar, Randalyn Hunter, Rylie Curran, Taylor Gomez, and Taylor Hazlett will all be representing gold and blue on the field this upcoming season.
LEXY AGUILAR - ATTACKING MIDFIELDER - THUNDERBIRD HIGH SCHOOL – EXCEL SOCCER ACADEMY
Moving away from the Phoenix heat is Aguliar, a freshman who started for four years at Thunderbird High School, scoring 101 goals and 27 assists. She broke the record for most career goals at her high school. AZCentral declared her as Athlete of the Week and nominated her for Girl Soccer Player of the Year. Lexy played on one of the top club teams in the state of Arizona. While playing for Excel Soccer academy, she led the team to 5 consecutive Arizona State Cup Final Four appearances.
Head Coach Louw on Aguilar: "Lexy is a unique player and will bring dynamic attacks for our team. She is a high level player from Excel soccer Academy in Phoenix and has an incredible soccer IQ. We are very happy and lucky to have her with us. Welcome Lex!"
KIANA MIYAZATO – DEFENDER – MILLENNIUM HIGH SCHOOL – EXCEL SOCCER ACADEMY
Miyazato, a four-year letter-winner, four-year starter, and two-year captain at Millennium High School in Glendale join the Lumberjack family this upcoming semester. In high school, she had a total of 39 goals, 12 of which were game winning goals, as well as 35 assists. For the 2017-2018 year, she was named Player of the Year. The following year, Miyazato was the Defensive Player of the Year. Her team were finalists in the 2019 State Cup. A teammate of fellow freshman Aguilar, Kiana was instrumental in her club teams success. Miyazato helped guide Excel Soccer Academy to 5 consecutive Arizona State Cup Final Four appearances.
Head Coach Louw on Miyazato: "Kiana, alongside Lexy came from Excel Soccer Academy and will add greatly to our level of soccer IQ. She will bring calmness and reliability in the center of the field for us and has incredible ability in her range of passing and decision making. We are happy to have her with us! Welcome Keeks!"
ABBY DONATHAN – DEFENDER – SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR – UTAH ROYALS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
After playing at Sandra Day O'Connor for three years, Donathan will be continuing to play in blue and gold during the 2019 soccer season. She played for three years, starting two, earned two letters and captained for one year. Donathan received an Eagle Award during the 2017-2018 school year. Abby comes to NAU with great playing experience as she had the opportunity to play in arguably two of the toughest club leagues in the country. First in ECNL with Sereno Soccer Club and then with the UTAH Royals DA.
Head Coach Louw on Donathan: "Abby is a hard-nosed defender who will help us keep the ball out of the net, she brings great experience with her from her club team, Utah Royals DA. We are excited that she will be a relentless player for us who will contribute to our defensive mentality. Welcome Abs!"
MADDIE WHEELOCK – FORWARD – ST MARY'S SCHOOL – ROGUE VALLEY TIMBERS
Wheelock will be starting her first season for NAU after playing for St. Mary's School in Medford, Oregon. She started for four years at St. Mary's, earning a letter each year and was a captain for two years. Wheelock was a 2 time First Team All State MVP, 3 time First Team All League and was granted as Female Athlete of the Year by the Southern Oregon Sports Commission. As a team, they were a three time state semi-finalist. Maddie brings very good club experience as she played club soccer for the Rogue Valley Timbers.
Head Coach Louw on Wheelock: "Maddie brings a different kind of energy to this team, she is incredibly driven and will bring great athleticism and winning mentality to our team. She represents her club Rogue Valley Timbers and is a fantastic representative from Oregon. We are excited to have her with us! Welcome Wheels!"
WHITNEY WINANS – FORWARD – SOUTH MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL – ROGUE VALLEY TIMBERS
Also coming from Medford, Oregon, Winans played for South Medford High School for four years, being a forward letter-winner and starter for all four, as well as a captain for two. She earned 1st Team All Conference Selection her sophomore, junior and senior year. Both Table Rock Sports and Medford Mail Tribune declared her as Athlete of the Week. Her team broke the school's season scoring record in 2017, and in 2018, they were declared Oregon 6-A Southwest Conference Champions. A teammate fellow of incoming freshman Wheelock, Whitney also played club soccer for the Rogue Valley Timbers.
Head Coach Louw on Winans: "Whitney has shown commitment to our program from the get go, she will bring a dynamic quality to our attacking force with her powerful runs and ability to be dangerous in front of goal. She joins her teammate Wheelock from Rogue Valley Timbers SC. We are happy to have her with us! Welcome Whit!"
JORDYN PACHECO – MIDFIELDER – HILO HIGH SCHOOL – HAWAII SURF SOCCER CLUB
Pacheco comes to NAU's mountain town from The Big Island. She graduated from Hilo High School with a 4.2 GPA earning Valedictorian and graduating Summa Cum Laude. After playing soccer for four years at Hilo High School, she was titled 2019 Player of the Year. She was also the leading goal scorer on the Big Island for both 2016 and 2018. For three years, her and her team were the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion. Jordyn played club soccer for Hawaii Surf soccer club.
Head Coach Louw on Pacheco: "Jordyn is a tough player who is not afraid to get stuck in and win tackles defensively. She brings experience with her from Hawaii Surf SC and will contribute to our commitment of a great defensive mentality. We are glad to have her with us. Welcome to the mountains Jords!"
KALEA GURFIELD – FORWARD – SERRA HIGH SCHOOL – REBELS SOCCER CLUB
Athletic Gurfield not only played soccer for four years at Serra High School in San Diego, but also participated in field hockey for two years, tennis for one year, and track and field for two years. She started for four years for their varsity soccer team, playing in 54 games and scoring 36 goals. In her senior year of high school, she was given 7 different awards: Women's Soccer City League Champions, Tennis Eastern League Singles Finalist, Tennis' "Most Improved," Varsity soccers' "MVP," Women's Soccer CIF runner-up, CIF Sportsmanship award, and the San Diego Union Tribune All Academic Team for achieving a 4.75 GPA. Kalea brings very good club playing experience as she played for the Rebels Soccer club which plays in the Elite Clubs National League.
Head Coach Louw on Gurfield: "Kalea adds to our attack by bringing athleticism and dangerous attacking plays. She is an extremely hard worker and high achiever both academically and athletically. She contributed greatly to her Rebels SC teams success. We are excited to have Kalea push the boundaries of our team. Welcome Kalea!"
RANDALYN HUNTER – DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER – LEGENDS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Hunter didn't play for her high school team. Instead, she played for the U.S. Developmental Academy for two years, starting both years. In her career as a midfielder, she scored 6 goals and had multiple assists. Hunter was awarded Top Drawer Soccer Development Academy Standout in the 2018-2019 season. She graduated with a 4.2 GPA and ranked 95 of 750 for her class.Randalyn played club soccer for Legends FC. She brings excellent club playing experience from the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Head Coach Louw on Hunter: "Randalyn knows hard work! She brings great experience from the Legends FC DA program and will bring leadership and incredible effort and commitment to our team. She will be a force to be reckoned with in the air. We are excited to have her with us. Welcome Randy!"
RYLIE CURRAN – DEFENDER – ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE – REBELS SOCCER CLUB
Born in San Diego, Curran will be playing defense on the field for NAU. At the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, she started for three years, captained for one, and was a letter-winner for three. She was the assist leader on her team and ranked in the top 10 for all California Interscholastic Federation leaders. Curran also played club soccer in the Elite Club National League for Rebels Soccer club, winning the ECNL National Championship in 2018.
Head Coach Louw on Curran: "Rylie has played at the highest level and won a National championship with Rebels SC, as a defender she has the ability to be a threat from an attacking standpoint too. We are happy and excited to have Rylie with us. Welcome Ry!"
TAYLOR GOMEZ – MIDFIELDER - WEST HILLS HIGH SCHOOL – REBELS SOCCER CLUB
After playing soccer for at least 12 years of her life, Gomez will be coming from San Diego to score for NAU. Her career started by playing club soccer for Rebels Soccer club, where she started four 12 years and was a captain for 5. She also played for the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks and the Crusaders Soccer Club. In high school, she was placed on the varsity soccer team for West Hills High School, starting and earning a letter for four years as well as being a captain for two. She was the top goal scorer for her team with 17 goals.
Head Coach Louw on Gomez: "Taylor is a very smart player who brings valuable abilities with her from Rebels SC. Taylor amongst other aspects will bring a level of sophistication to our forward line and has fantastic ability on set pieces. We are very glad to have her with us. Welcome T!"
TAYLOR HAZLETT – DEFENDER – FLAGSTAFF HIGH SCHOOL – FLAGSTAFF SOCCER CLUB
Hazlett, a local from Flagstaff, will be starting her freshman year on NAU's turf this fall. As a four year letter-winner, three year starter, and two-year captain, she helped lead Flagstaff High School to state during the '17 and '18 season, getting into 2nd place both times. Taylor played club soccer locally for Flagstaff Soccer Club.
Head Coach Louw on Hazlett: "Taylor is a homegrown product of our local club Flagstaff United SC. She has been invested in NAU and our program for many years, we know she will bring strength, competition and drive to our culture on and off the field. We are happy to keep her home! Welcome T!"
TAYLOR FU – MIDFIELDER – HONG KONG
These new players will be coming from all over the United States, but also out of the country. Fu, a transfer student from Hong Kong, will be coming to NAU as a junior after playing for one year at Eckerd College. Fu comes with international match accomplishments as she played for the Hong Kong National Team, including qualifying to Round 2 in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament in 2020 against Uzbekistan. In 2018, she was awarded by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong a Talent Development Scholarship for sports.
Head Coach Louw on Fu: "Taylor is an experienced international player that will bring a number of tools with her to add to our arsenal. She is an elite player from Hong Kong and has the drive to be impactful for our team. We are very happy and lucky to have her with us. Welcome Taylor!"
