TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State head women's soccer coach Chase Wooten announced the addition of ten signees in the program's 2023 fall signing class. 

"The amount of work and time that was put into creating the 2024 class has been epic. So many things fell into place for this class to come together. We have players in '24 who want to be here and can truly compete in their freshman year. This class will likely go down as the strongest and most complete class we have ever assembled. Certainly, every class has good players in it, but this one from top to bottom is special," said Wooten.

"They all must come in and grow as players and teammates with each other and the returners; as they get comfortable with college soccer they will be fun to watch grow. With our last year of COVID players potentially graduating and not returning, we had to find defenders that could come in and play in year one. We had midfield players to replace, specifically in the spine of the field. And we needed some offensive punch that could produce goals for our program in 2024. I did not really want to use the portal, I wanted to craft a class that had 4 years to grow together. I have not been this excited about a complete class in years and now it is about getting them here and getting to work."

Annabella Trotter |  Bixby, Okla. | Tulsa Soccer Club

Trotter comes to Tahlequah after receiving multiple accolades at the high school level, winning All-District Honorable Mention honors as a freshman, while snagging All-District honors as a sophomore. Trotter also excelled in the classroom, as she was a three-time Academic All-Conference recipient. She played club with Tulsa SC; her parents are Steven and Elizabeth Trotter.

"Annie is coming off of a junior year injury but with some fortunate timing [if it was going to happen] has all of her senior year to get back into form. She is a tough and hard-nosed forward who works and produces offense. She is a huge piece for us over the coming years and we are thrilled to have her in an NSU jersey. She is a fun personality off the field and a battler on it." - Coach Wooten

Brooke Dodd |  Broken Arrow, Okla. | West Side Alliance 05/06 RL

Dodd will enter her collegiate career off a successful run at the club and high school levels. She was part of a regional championship team with WSA 05 in 2022, while she represented 2023's Team Oklahoma against Team Kansas. Meanwhile, she was a four-time varsity letter winner at Broken Arrow HS, taking All-District honors in 2023. Her parents are Brandon and Trisha Dodd.

"I have known Brooke longer than most of our recruits and she has grown into such a good player over the years. Good with the ball at her feet, covers space well, and completes passes as an organizing midfielder. We expect her to come in and help solidify our midfield next year as she jumps into our program." - Coach Wooten

Brynn Baldon |  Kingwood, Texas. | Challenge 06 ECNL

Baldon joins the program after a high school and club career in the Lone Star state. She immediately made an impact at Kingwood Park HS, taking 2021 High School All-Conference Newcomer of the Year alongside her first First Team All-District nod. She would go on to take two more First Team honors while claiming MVP awards at the high school level in 2022 and 2023. At the club level, she made the 2021 ECNL National Quarterfinals top 7, while being named to First Team All-Conference that same year. Her parents are Gregory and Tiffany Baldon.

"Brynn was our first verbal for this class and I literally put my arms up in celebration when she told us she was coming on the phone. She is a really good center mid, plays soccer at a high level, and sees the field at a college speed. She has a crazy high upside for the next four years for our program."  - Coach Wooten

Gillian Wilson |  The Woodlands, Texas | Challenge SC 06 ECNL

Wilson played at The Woodlands HS, where she was named Newcomer of the Year in 2022. She continued the momentum into 2023, claiming Defensive MVP as well as District MVP, in addition to All-Conference Defender MVP. At the club level, Wilson played for Challenge SC 06 ECNL, where she made the 2021 ECNL National Quarterfinals top 7. Her parents are Gretchen and Sam Wilson.

"Gillian is a really good defender and we feel very lucky to have her next fall. She has a great soccer mind, hardworking, a good ball-winner and a complete player. She should be able to challenge for a starting role on a backline likely to graduate multiple players on it. We are really excited about her being at NSU." - Coach Wooten

Hannah Anderson |  Broken Arrow, Okla. | Tulsa Soccer Club ECNL

Anderson will stay relatively close to home to play for the RiverHawks, as she spent her high school playing career in nearby Broken Arrow, while she played club soccer in Tulsa. She won a 6A District Championship in 2022 with the Tigers, while she was an All-District selection in 2023. Anderson also displayed consistent academic success, taking Academic All-Conference honors three times (2021-23). She was part of an ECNL playoff champions team at the 2023 Showcase Cup, while she was a member of a Youth National Team ID Center roster in 2019. Her parents are Robert and Tamara Anderson.

"Hannah is a key piece for us in recruiting for the 2023 class because she allows us to have some flexibility on where she plays. She is good enough to be an outside back or an outside mid in our system next fall. A complete player and good athlete – her ceiling for her college soccer is really high." - Coach Wooten

Jaclyn Barritt |  Sherwood, Oreg. | Portland Thorns Academy

Barritt joins the program after a playing career in Oregon, where won First Team All-Pacific Conference honors. She was a member of numerous successful teams, as she is a four-time Pacific Conference Champion, while Barritt was also a member of a Northwest ECNL Conference Championship team. Her parents are Greg and Julie Barritt.

"Jaclyn comes in next year with really high hopes from the staff. She is overcoming an injury, but she will be ready for the fall. She is clever and dynamic with the ball going at players and has a huge engine to run everywhere. She is literally a fun player to watch play soccer. We think she will be a great attacking center mid for us next fall." - Coach Wooten

Kendall Stejskal |  Noble, Okla. | Oklahoma Celtic

Stejskal comes to Tahlequah after playing at Noble HS, where she was a team captain and recipient of All-District honors for three seasons (2021-23). She played club soccer with Oklahoma Celtic. Her parents are Dusty and Heather Stejskal.
 

"Kendall comes in and provides some critical depth in our center mids She sees the game at a high level already and her style of play will be an ingredient that we have been missing in 2023. She is an accomplished player and we expect her to make a difference in her first year." - Coach Wooten

Lilliana Ibarra |  Tulsa, Okla. | Tulsa Soccer Club

Coming to NSU after a playing career in Tulsa, Ibarra was named Offensive MVP and was a two-time All-District selection (2022-23). 

"Lily is a quick attacking player that can cover tons of space. Hard-working and creative as she attacks in the final third. She puts her body on the line to win balls and competes for everything. She will provide a nice dynamic as a wide mid or wide forward for our program in 2024." - Coach Wooten

Lillian Meeks |  Renton, Wash. | Washington Premier FC

Meeks played high school soccer at Liberty HS, where she was a captain her junior and senior years. Meeks joins the program after receiving club experience through Washington Premier FC. Her parents are Ryan and Bernice Meeks. 

"Lillian is a quality defender. She plays at a high level, reads the game well, and is an energy giver by the standards she sets. She is a disciplined player who is capable of having the game run through her out of the back. She should be an impact for us next year." - Coach Wooten

Rachel Reed |  Federal Way, Wash. | PACNW ECNL

Reed played at the high school level at Thomas Jefferson HS, while she played club at PACNW ECNL. Immediately making an impact, she took Freshman Year First Team honors. She went on to receive accolades for her efforts on both ends of the pitch, winning Offensive and Defensive MVP across her playing career in Washington. Her parents are Tony Reed and Meshell Lauer. 

"Rachel can play both up top and in the back. She has great speed, creative on the ball, and a big work ethic. Her personality shines and will likely grow into a wonderful leader over the years. We are expecting goals from Rachel next year." - Coach Wooten