The Ave Maria Women’s Soccer program welcomed two transfer students this spring semester and is excited to have 10 new faces join for the fall 2019 season. Head Coach Tyler Rosser says that the fall 2019 roster will be the most talented Ave Maria Women’s soccer has had to date. He goes on to say that he is grateful for the work the women have put into understanding and living the culture that the team has established. With close to 100% retention from last fall, the program strives to be the most joyful collegiate soccer program in the country by living as daughters of God with excellence in all things. The incoming class has nine players from Florida, two players from Michigan, and one player from Maryland.
Joining the team this spring, Beth Staufenberger is from Leonardtown, Maryland. She is a freshman academically. Playing club soccer for Maryland United FC, she also was a four-year varsity starter at St. Mary’s Ryken High School. She won the “most promising freshman” award her freshman year of high school and won the coach’s award her senior year. She plays in the midfield.
Joining the team this spring, Kelsey Samaroo is from Lehigh Acres, Florida, and transferred to Ave Maria from Florida Southwestern State College. She is a Junior academically. She helped the Florida Gulf Coach Dutch Lions win the 2018 Sunshine Conference. She was the champion goal scorer and MVP for the Central America Soccer League in 2017 and 2018 and was the Offensive MVP for Riverdale High School in 2016. She plays midfield and forward.
Emily Brown is from Macomb, Michigan and was homeschooled. She is a member of the Summit Soccer Midwest Regional Championship team and Michigan Lightning Soccer Club. She is a midfielder.
Clare Cuesta is from High Springs, Florida. Captain of her Santa Fe high two-time district championship team, she also won “best newcomer” award her freshmen year of high school and most outstanding defensive player award her senior year. She is a Gainesville Sun all-area player and played up a year with her club team, Gainesville Soccer Alliance. She is an outside back.
Haley Ewing is from Apopka, Florida. A member of the National Honor Society at 5A Apopka High School, she is an all-metro 2nd team member for Orange County and was a member of the Orange County Senior All-Star team. She plays club soccer with Rush Soccer Club, for whom she is also a captain. She is also one of only two ladies in Florida to be named to the 2018/2019 All Rush Team. She is an outside forward or midfielder.
Caylee Feskanin is from Lake Worth, Florida. A member of the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society, she received the Scholar-Athlete Award from Park Vista Community High School for three years running. She made First Team and Second Team-All County and All-Conference for the Sun Sentinel and was a member of the honorable mention soccer team for the Palm Beach Post. She played club soccer with Wellington Wave Soccer Club. She plays in the center of the midfield.
Sandra Garcia is from Immokalee, Florida. She attended Immokalee High School where she was a three-year captain. She was a 2nd team member of the Collier County Athletic Conference All-Conference team her junior year and she made the 1st team of that same conference her senior year. She will be joining the team as a student manager.
Haley Iacona is from Shelby Township, Michigan. A member of the honor roll and boasting a 4.0 GPA, she attended Regina High School. She volunteered as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion there as well. She is a five-year member of the ECNL Vardar Soccer Club, is a high school all-district selection, is the team captain of her high school team, and led Regina to the State semifinals in 2018. She is an outside back who can also play as an outside forward or midfielder.
Sofia Lopez is a goalkeeper from Jacksonville, Florida. She attended Atlantic Coast High School where she was a three-year starter at the goalkeeper position. She played club soccer for Jacksonville Armada FC.
Kateri Millward is from Ave Maria, Florida. Originally from Chester County, Pennsylvania, she moved to Ave Maria, Florida, prior to her senior year of college. She attended Donahue Academy and played soccer there as well. She was a team captain. She will be joining the team as a student manager.
Maria Rodriguez is from Immokalee, Florida, but is transferring to Ave Maria from Broward College. She is the first female soccer player from Immokalee to play collegiate soccer. She was an Honorable Mention Collier County All-Conference team member her senior year at Immokalee High School after finishing with 30 career goals. She plays in the center of the midfield.
Ava Sihler is from Indialantic, Florida. A member of the National Honors Society at Melbourne Senior High School, she also played club soccer for FC Prime Brevard and Space Coast United SC. She helped her Space Coast United team win the Region B championship in 2015. She is an outside midfielder or forward.