CHAMPAIGN – The Fighting Illini soccer program and head coach Janet Rayfield will welcome 11 new players to the roster for the 2018 season as announced on Monday, Feb. 12. The 2018 signing class includes Katelynn Buescher (Naperville, Illinois), Ashley Cathro (Victoria, British Columbia), Amaya Ellis (Monte Sereno, California), Meredith Jo Johnson-Monfort (Mahomet, Illinois), Ashleigh Lefevre (Brighton, Australia), Erin McKeown (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Kendra Pasquale (Naperville, Illinois), Maeve Riordan (Naperville, Illinois), Makena Silber (Crystal Lake, Illinois), Lauren Stibich (Western Springs, Illinois) and Peyton Willie (Yorkville, Illinois).
"The 2018 Illini class will add athletic talent, academic excellence, and great character to the Illini Soccer family," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We are excited about the diverse experiences that these players have had, and look forward to what they will bring to our program. International playing experience, top-level club experience, and successful high school careers will synergistically blend to create a challenging environment that drives this class and this program towards its collective potential. With several proven goal-scorers and top-level defenders, this class will complement a strong returning midfield core and strengthen our game in front of the goal – both ours and our opponents."
Katelynn Buescher | Midfield | Naperville, Illinois
Naperville North High School | NSA Premier
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team honoree
-Two-time Illinois ODP State Team member
-Two-time All-Sectional honoree
-Took second place at the 2015 ODP Championship as part of the 99G Illinois State Team
-Participated in the 2017 Illinois State Cup Championships with NSA Premier
-You Can Make a Difference Award recipient
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "One of two midfielders in this class, Katelynn is the type of player that connects the game and does a lot of the unheralded work off the ball, she will provide some great depth to our returning midfield group. Katelynn understands her midfield role and defends with pride, constantly moves to get in good supporting positions, sees passing options, and makes good decisions with the ball. Technically strong, she already has a good speed of play that will improve as she trains in this high-level environment."
Ashley Cathro | Defender | Victoria, British Columbia
Burnaby Central Secondary School| Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite REX
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Played in the 2018 U20 CONCACAF Championships
-Participated in the 2017 Canada Summer Games
-Represented Canada at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
-Member of Canada's U20 Women's National Team
-2016 BC Soccer Youth Player of the Year
-Played in the 2016 U17 CONCACAF Championships
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "One of Canada's youth national team mainstays and member of the Vancouver REX program, Ashley has high expectations for her soccer career here at Illinois and beyond. Another natural left-footed defender, she can play anywhere along the back line and has a tremendous ability to attack centrally or up the left side and contribute on the offensive side of the ball as well. Competing in international competitions, participating in a residency program, and representing her country on many occasions will give Ashley a maturity on the field beyond most incoming freshmen."
Amaya Ellis | Midfield | Monte Sereno, California
Los Gatos High School | California Thorns
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Early enrollee to the University of Illinois
-Spent three years playing in Germany for FFC Frankfurt
-Played for the Trinidad & Tobago U15, U17 and U20 National teams
-16 International Caps for Trinidad & Tobago
- Named to CONCACAF Girls' U15 Championships 2014 Best XI Team - Cayman Islands, 2014
- Earned the Most Valuable Player award T&T vs. Guatemala CONCACAF U15 Championships, 2014
- Played in the 2013 CONCACAF U17 Women's Championships in Montego Bay, Jamaica
- 2013 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U17 Women's Champion
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "With the exposure to the game abroad and her international experience with Trinidad & Tobago, Amaya brings a unique perspective to the game and expands our exposure to a variety of tactical ideas. As a defensive central midfielder, her ability to read the game and solve problems will be an asset to an already talented midfield group in 2018."
Meredith Jo Johnson-Monfort | Forward | Mahomet, Illinois
Mahomet-Seymour | Illinois Fire Juniors
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Set Mahomet-Seymour's single-season and career scoring records
-2017 NSCAA First-Team All-Region
-2017 IHSCAA First Team All-State
-Played in the 2017 President's Cup National Championships
-2017 Player's Cup Most Outstanding Player
-2017 News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year
-Two-time IHSCAA First Team All-Sectional
-Led Mahomet-Seymour to two Regional titles
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "A true local product, we are excited to have Meredith join the program and continue her development here surrounded by her family, friends and this amazing community. Another phenomenal fit for the Illini culture with her positive attitude and desire to improve, Meredith is a young player with an incredible upside who has proven herself a leader on and off the field. On the field, Meredith has the ability to develop into an attacking presence at the Big Ten level whether in the midfield or as a goal scoring forward."
Ashleigh Lefevre | Defense | Brighton, Australia
Firbank Grammar School | Alamein Football Club
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Australian National U20 team – 2016 ASEAN Football Federation Championships
-Australian National U19 team - 2017 Women's Championship Qualifiers
-Played in the 2017 AIS Tournament of Nations against Canada and the United States
-2016 U17 National All Stars Team
-Played in the 2017 AFF Championship open division
-2017 AFC Championship qualifier
-Also participated in cross country, netball, rowing and the Australian Football League
-Three-time Academic Excellence Award recipient
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "A multi-sport athlete who has worn the jersey for her country and has competed in the most competitive arena in Australia, Ashleigh Lefevre brings more international and national understanding to our program. Naturally left-footed, pacey and a two-sided player, Ashleigh adds to our flank defense and our flank attack. Her ability in that two-way 1-v-1 battle on the flank and the aerobic engine to go with it, Ashleigh will be able to contribute to shutouts and to goals."
Erin McKeown | Defense | Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor Pioneer High School | Michigan Hawks
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-2017 ECNL National Champion
-Two-time ECNL Midwest Division Champion
-2015 ECNL National Semifinalist
-Volunteers with Special Olympics in her spare time
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "A product of one of the top club programs in the country, Erin has a tremendous foundation of technical skills and tactical knowledge. Erin's 1-v-1 defensive ability and her understanding of collective defending immediately adds depth to our defensive unit in 2018. She has the versatility and the athletic ability to play centrally or out wide, and can play in the back or the midfield lines."
Kendra Pasquale | Defender | Naperville, Illinois
St. Francis College Preparatory | NSA Premier
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-GCAC Athlete of the Year
-Two-time All-State and All-Conference honoree
-Three-time All-Area honoree
-Three-time ODP Illinois State Team member
-Three-time ODP Regional Team member
-Helped NSA Premier to a first-place finish at the State Cup
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "A very versatile and intelligent soccer player, Kendra's consistency on the field is rare. Whether a championship game or a camp scrimmage, Kendra competes, looks to improve, makes others around her better, and smiles the entire time. Kendra reads the game exceptionally well and that is her strength when she plays as a defender, stopping things before they ever develop. That same vision and her consistent technical execution makes her great in possession and limiting turnovers coming out of the back."
Maeve Riordan | Forward | Naperville, Illinois
Metea Valley High School | Team Chicago
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Led Metea Valley to a sectional title in her freshman season
-Led Metea Valley in assists in her junior season
-Helped her club team to the North American Cup Championship title
-Also runs track, and was a conference champion in the 4x400 relay
-Three-time Academic All-Conference honoree
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "Whether it is on the track, in the classroom, or on the soccer field, Maeve Riordan has shown that she has the work ethic that it takes to be successful. Maeve will bring that attitude to the Illini program, and her tenacity on the field, her high standard in the classroom and her team-first mentality is a great fit with our team culture. On the field she brings a defensive work rate and a goal-scoring mentality to our forward line."
Makena Silber | Forward | Crystal Lake, Illinois
Prairie Ridge High School | Sockers FC
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Early enrollee to Illinois
-NSCAA All-State honoree
-IHSA All-State and All-Conference honoree
-Three-time District 10 First Team Erie Times News honoree
-Two-time US Youth Soccer National Championship Best 11
-ODP Interregional National Camp attendee
-Three-time ODP State Team member
-Two-time ODP Regional Team member
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "Makena is a strong physical presence that can hold the ball and be a factor in possession. More importantly, she has worked hard to develop her shooting and goal-scoring ability and is a consistent threat around the goal. Both in high school and in club situations she has proven to be a goal-scorer in key moments and a player that is able to affect the outcome of the game. With that same drive, determination and work ethic, she has the ability to continue that trend for the Orange and Blue."
Lauren Stibich | Forward | Western Springs, Illinois
Fenwick High School | Eclipse Select
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-2017 IHSA All-State Forward
-2016 IHSA All-Area Forward
-Two-time IHSA All-Conference
-Two-time Illinois ODP State team member
-Led her high school in goals during her freshman and sophomore seasons
-Led her high school in assists in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons
-Volunteers at Lurie Children's Hospital in her spare time
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "With pace, persistence, and instincts, Lauren is one of those players that defenders both despise and admire. She is relentless on both sides of the ball and creates chances as a result of her pressure. She is opportunistic, unselfish and efficient in the box as her high school stats indicate. One more weapon to make this Illini team a more potent offensive team in 2018."
Peyton Willie | Forward | Yorkville, Illinois
Yorkville High School | Campton United
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Three-time All-Conference honoree
-2017 Kendall County Record Player of the Year
-2015 Yorkville High School team MVP
-Two-time Golden Shoe Award Winner
-Helped Campton United to two appearances at the Illinois State Cup Finals
-Three-time Beacon News All-Area Team honoree
-Has scored 90 goals in three seasons for Yorkville High School
RAYFIELD'S TAKE: "Multiple 30-goal seasons are indicative of the impact this young, attacking-minded athlete can have on our program. Peyton competes with a relentless mentality and does not shy away from the expectation to score goals. She is good in the air and can score with power or finesse. However, a good over-all multi-sport athlete she also has good vision and has played many roles on the field including goalkeeper during her high school career. Despite her versatility, expect her to be near the goal when she dons the Illini uniform."
