(MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Nine new players will call Montana State University Billings home in the fall of 2018, as women’s soccer head coach Stephen Cavallo announced his class of signings on Wednesday.
“We are excited to welcome the 2018 recruiting class into our MSUB family,” said Cavallo. “Each of these young ladies brings something different and will help add to the depth and quality of our program as we continue to build towards higher levels of success in our conference. Our incoming players will complement our returning group and we are excited about the direction of the program as we continue to build for the future.”
All nine recruits will enter MSUB’s program as freshmen in the fall of 2018, with five hailing from Washington, two from Wyoming, one from Montana, and one from Germany. Among the recruits is Billings native Lexie Bloyder, who is completing her career at Billings West High School.
Brooke Berg
Spokane Valley, Washington
University High School
5’8” – Forward
Intended Major: Biology
Berg earned three letters in soccer under head coach Megan Perkins at University High School. She earned her team’s offensive award as a freshman, and was an all-conference selection during her senior season.
Coach Cavallo on Berg: “Brooke is a versatile attacking player who can play anywhere across the front three. She possesses good strength and size that should see her game translate well to the college level.”
Berg on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it is the perfect area for me to achieve my long-term goals. I also fell in love with the athletics at MSUB, knowing it would be a great fit for me. Choosing MSUB is the right choice because I know I will succeed both academically and athletically.”
Lexie Bloyder
Billings, Montana
Billings West High School
5’5” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Communications
Bloyder won’t stray far from home for her collegiate career, as the Billings West Bear is wrapping up a three-sport career. She earned four letters in soccer as a midfielder, and was named the player of the year after leading her team in goals in the fall of 2017. Bloyder also received all-state and all-conference honors, as well as the Golden Bear award and the Fair Player award.
In addition to soccer, Bloyder competed in tennis for three seasons and basketball for one year at West.
Coach Cavallo on Bloyder: “Lexie is a creative player with the ability to play a number of positions in the attack. She is a strong one-on-one dribbler, and possesses good field vision. She is a player with strong upside, and we are happy to have a local player in our recruiting class.”
Bloyder on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because of the communications department, as I know through the department and networking I will be able to find a job that fits me. I have also heard that the student-teacher relationship is very good, and the professors are very helpful. This is a very important aspect for me, and I was also impressed with all of the internships the university offers. I also have the opportunity to play soccer at MSUB, which has been a dream of mine. I got along very well with the team and coaching staff, and it felt like a great fit. MSUB offered everything I wanted, and I am very excited to call myself a Yellowjacket.”
Josie Corbin
Richland, Washington
Richland High School
5’5” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Biology
A four-year letterwinner in soccer at Richland High School, Corbin was team captain during her senior season. She was a two-time all-Mid-Columbia Conference selection, and also received honorable mention all-area recognition. In addition to her high-school soccer, she competed for the Three Rivers Soccer Club RCL.
Aside from soccer, Corbin was a star on the track for two years as well. Corbin was the 2015 800-meter district champion, and lettered twice for the Bombers.
Coach Cavallo on Corbin: “Josie is a strong technical player who will add depth to our midfield core. She is very good at receiving the ball, distributing, and just keeping the ball and moving as a 6. Josie is a strong, academically-driven student who we see fitting in very well here in our program.”
Corbin on choosing MSUB: “I chose to go to MSUB because I thought all of the students and staff were very friendly and made me feel like I belonged when I went on my visit. It was the exact environment that I wanted, and I loved the fact that the school was a very close community. I was also very excited to continue playing soccer with a coaching staff that was easy to connect with, and teammates who were very welcoming.”
Emily Gaines
Leavenworth, Washington
Cascade High School
5’7” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Psychology
Another versatile high-school athlete, Gaines competed in three different sports at Cascade High School. On the pitch, she was a four-year letterwinner playing primarily as a midfielder and forward under head coach Glen Stephanko. In the fall of her senior season, Gaines was an all-state selection and led her team to a runner-up finish at the state tournament. She holds the Bears’ school records for most assists in a season and career, as she was a three-time first-team all-Caribou Trail League selection.
Gaines also earned three letters as a sprinter on the track and field team, where she helped her team to the state title in the 4×200 meter relay in 2016. She was a two-time first-team all-league sprinter, and helped her relay squads to the school records in both the 4×100 meters and 4×200 meters. Gaines earned one letter in basketball as a point guard as well.
Coach Cavallo on Gaines: “Emily is an attacking player who can score goals from the 9 or 10 position. She is an intelligent, hard-working player who is very technical with the ball. She possesses a great attitude both on and off the field.”
Gaines on choosing MSUB: “I chose to play soccer at MSUB because when I visited, I instantly felt like part of the team’s family. The girls were extremely kind, fun, and encouraging, and the coaches were amazing. As soon as I practiced with the team and felt the chemistry, I knew MSUB was the place for me. I had great encounters with many of the staff members, and I enjoyed the area and campus as well.”
Haylee Gunter
Buckley, Washington
White River High School
5’7” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Nursing
Gunter was a four-year letterwinner at White River High School, where she starred as a central midfielder. In her senior season, her team finished with a record of 20-1 and advanced to the state semifinals.
Coach Cavallo on Gunter: “Haylee is an athletic midfielder who will help us on both sides of the ball. She is skilled and versatile enough to aid our attack, and physical and disciplined enough to make us stronger defensively.”
Gunter on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I really liked the atmosphere of the team, and I think this would be a great place to continue my passion for soccer.”
Abby Hamilton
Lander, Wyoming
Lander Valley High School
5’9” – Goalkeeper
Intended Major: Pre-Medicine
Hamilton earned all-state honors in soccer as a senior in 2017, her fourth year as a letterwinner under head coach Gabe Joyes. She was also named her team’s captain in soccer, and ranked second in the state with 183 saves on the year. Hamilton was a star swimmer for the Tigers, as she was a two-time all-state selection and placed first in the 50 freestyle and 200 medley relay in 2017. She was a six-time academic letter recipient, and also competed in basketball for two seasons while at Lander Valley High School.
Coach Cavallo on Hamilton: “We are excited about the potential Abby brings to the goalkeeping corps. She is brave, athletic, and has good size. She is a hard worker, and we believe she will develop into a strong goalkeeper here at MSUB.”
Hamilton on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I loved the school when I visited and really enjoyed myself on the tour. The campus is beautiful, the people were great, and the academics are strong. I also enjoyed training with the team and interacting with the girls. I really liked the coaches, and am excited for what I will be able to learn and accomplish with their help. I am excited to grow under their expertise, and my goal for my time on this team is to improve every day.”
Julia Keller
Munich, Germany
Rainer-Maria-Rilke-Gymnasium Icking
5’8” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Undecided
A German international, Keller has played soccer competitively since her early youth. During the 2017-18 season, she was her team’s leading goal scorer, after also leading the team in 2016 with 22 goals. She earned recognition as the top player at the indoor regional championships in 2013, and has played primarily as an attacking midfielder and winger during her prep years.
Coach Cavallo on Keller: “We are excited to see Julia joining our program. She will be the first international player we have had in awhile. She will being awesome experience and tremendous skill to our program. Julia is strong with the ball, possesses good speed, and has scored at every level she has played at.”
Keller on choosing MSUB: “Montana is a beautiful state, MSUB has a great coach, and the players were nice and friendly which all made the decision easy for me. I am really excited about MSUB, and I am looking forward to being a part of the team.”
Lindsey Meyer
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie High School
5’5” – Midfielder
Intended Major: Undecided
Meyer won three letters while competing in soccer at Laramie High School. She also competed in cross country both as a runner and on the slopes as a skier. In addition to her athletic plaudits, Meyer was listed among the 4.0 honor-roll students.
Coach Cavallo on Meyer: “Lindsey is a great kid, who will add a lot to our team both on and off the field. She might be shy in her nature, but on the field Lindsey has strong technical ability and can play on both the left and right sides of the field.”
Meyer on choosing MSUB: “I think MSUB is a good-size school and I like the campus. The soccer coaching staff is amazing, and I think it will be exciting to experience college outside of Wyoming. I am excited to continue playing soccer and begin studying my interests.”
Abby Peterson
Sammamish, Washington
Skyline High School
5’5” – Defender
Intended Major: Education
Though she attended Bellevue College for one season, Peterson’s most recent experience on the pitch was at Skyline High School as she enters MSUB’s program with freshman eligibility. Peterson served as team captain for her entire prep career, and she helped the Spartans capture back-to-back state titles in 2015 and 2016. After her first year at Bellevue College, Peterson enters MSUB with a stellar grade point average of 3.9.
Coach Cavallo on Peterson: “Abby is a very athletic defensive player who can play anywhere across the back four. She has good speed of play, and looks to connect well with the midfield and forward lines out of the back.”
Peterson on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I really liked the environment that was created by the athletes and Coach Cavallo. It was very welcoming and from the visit I could see myself going here. Overall, the program was a good fit for me academically and athletically. I cannot wait to pursue my dreams of playing soccer at a more competitive level, while growing as a player and person.”
