ECU Soccer Adds 12 Newcomers For 2020

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Following an injury-filled season, the ECU soccer team will increase its depth by signing twelve talented student-athletes for the 2020 season, as announced by head coach Jason Hamilton on Wednesday.

"We are very excited about bringing in this talented group of freshman," Hamilton said. "We wanted this class to be larger to give them an opportunity to be mentored by the large rising senior class. This will help the program move forward when the rising seniors graduate. The experience this incoming class will get will be necessary for the future success of the program. We expect them all to push the returners and compete with them for playing time. There will be some very competitive races for playing time, which in the end pushes everyone in the program and makes us a deeper team."

Annabelle Abbott

Annabelle Abbott spent the past three seasons playing for the NC Courage Development Academy for whom she has competed in the CASL Elite Clubs National League and the ECNL Champions League. Abbott helped NC Courage win the SRPL East Playoffs, the Region III Qualification, and the Adidas Labor Day Shootout. The Holly Springs, N.C., also has experience with UC Club Soccer, earning a spot at the id2 Training Camp, and with US Soccer when she was invited to the Market Training Center. As a freshman at Holly Springs, Abbott was the teams Offensive MVP and was named to the NCHSAA 4A First-Team All-Conference and All-Region teams as well as finishing runner-up for the NCHSAA 4A Conference Player of the Year. She is planning on majoring in Development or Pediatric at ECU.

Why Annabelle Chose ECU: "I chose ECU for the coaching staff and academic programs. Coach Jason, Brad, Emily, and everyone else involved were more interested in me as a person, a student, and not just only a soccer player for the program. ECU allowed me the time to make the right decision and was there for me every step of the way."

Coach Hamilton on Annabelle: "AB is in a really good environment that helps prepare players for the college game. She is a very good athlete that can play both as an outside back and wide forward. This will fit well with our system of pushing numbers forward with our outside backs. Having spent time both as a defender and an attacking player she is comfortable on both sides of the ball. She is quick and scrappy and will push to get on the field right away."

Adison May

Adison May is a defensive midfielder who played for Heritage High School and the NC Courage during her prep career. During her three years with the Courage, she formed into one of the best players in the state of North Carolina, including being selected to the North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) Sub-Regional Team and the Region III Camp. She was selected as a USYSA SRPL Region III Player as well as to the 2019 GDA Cup Team. May helped the Courage finish as NCYSA State Cup semifinalists and qualify for the CASL ECNL Champions League. May was a NAC 6 Academic All-Conference selection at Heritage High School and is planning on studying Exercise Physiology at ECU.

Why Adison Chose ECU: "I love the atmosphere of the school and all of the opportunities and support offered in both academics and athletics."

Coach Hamilton on Adison: "Adie joins current club teammate Annabelle Abbott from NC Courage, Adie has great size and a special range of pass for a holding mid. She is good at finding the ball and keeping her team in possession. If she can come in and play with a physical presence, she will have the opportunity to compete to fill one of the bigger holes created by our graduation class."

Meghan Guter

Meghan Guter is a native of New Bern, N.C., and has played for NCFC and New Bern High School. Prior to her time with NCFC, Guter played for PGSA for two year, scoring 15 goals to go with 24 assists. Guter is coming off a junior season at New Bern High School that saw her score 20 goals and pass out 24 assists on her way to being named to the All-State, All-Region and All-Conference Teams as well as earning Player of the Year honors. It was the second consecutive season she was named Player of the Year and the third straight season she had earned All-Region and All-Conference honors. Guter is planning on studying Exercise Physiology at ECU.

Why Meghan Chose ECU: "It was the best fit for me with academically and athletically."

Coach Hamilton on Meghan: "Meghan is someone that can play in multiple positions and we see as being a utility player that will fit in whatever then needs may be. We have seen her as a center back and a central midfielder and does a very good job at both. Meghan is a local girl that we saw quite a few times and each time we always had positive things to say. She has a very high soccer IQ and sees the game very well. Once she adjusts to the speed of the college game she should do very well."

Maeve English

Maeve English is a local product, having played goalkeeper for D.H. Conley and for NCFC. English had an outstanding 2019 season, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as being named All-State, All-Region and All-Conference. She has 44 career shutouts and 127 saves, good for 5.1 saves per game. While with NCFC, English has helped qualify for the Jefferson Cup and for the State Cup Final four. English is planning on majoring in Biology at ECU.

Why Maeve Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because I grew up going to the soccer games as a kid and couldn't see myself playing anywhere else. I was won over by the impressive coaching staff and the positive direction of program."

Coach Hamilton on Maeve: "A goalkeeper from right here out of Greenville, Maeve made the move with Meghan Guter to NCFC after both played for Pitt Greenville Soccer Association the past few years. Maeve is extremely athletic and has a very high ceiling as keeper. She has great natural abilities and has come a long way over the past year. She has a very high ceiling and we are excited to see her growth over the next few years."

Kylie Alvarez

Kylie Alvarez is a product of South County High School in Lorton, Va., and BRYC Elite academy. Alvarez played with BYRC in both the 2018 and 2019 ECNL National Tournament as well as playing in the NPL National Tournament in 2015 and 2016. She was the Exact Sports ID Camp Spotlight Player in 2018 and was selected to the VYSA ODP European Team that played in Austria and Hungary in 2016. Along with playing for BYRC, Alvarez was a captain of the South County team during her junior season and was named Second-Team All-District in her sophomore and junior seasons. As a sophomore, she helped South County win is first ever District Championship and reach the state tournament. Alvarez is planning on studying marketing at ECU.

Why Kylie Chose ECU: "ECU provided me with the best balance of academics, athletics, and campus life. I was nervous during my first visit, but the coaching staff and players made me feel at ease and it became my most enjoyable college visit. I was very impressed with Coach Hamilton's ability to teach and mentor the players. The coaching staff was well synchronized and I knew that I could contribute to the program's goals. Although ECU is a large university, it still feels welcoming and accommodating."

Coach Hamilton on Kylie: "Kylie comes to us from BRYC out of Virginia and competes at the ECNL level. Kylie is another athletic outside back that will suit our style of attacking out of the back. She has the ability to get up the field and be involved in the attack. Athletically and physically she has the ability to come in right away and compete, she just needs to grow in the tactical aspects of the game to be well rounded and ready to help us right away."

Sydney Schnell

Sydney Schnell arrives in Greenville from Loudoun, Va., where she played for Loudoun County High School and for the Loudoun Soccer Club. Schnell was a prolific scorer for both her high school and club teams. She bagged 38 goals during her junior year at Loudoun County, earning 2019 Virginia Player of the Year honors. That came a season after she led Loudoun to a 2018 State Championships. For Loudoun Soccer Club, Schnell has been the team's captain for three years, scoring 33 goals and handing out 21 assists. She was named to the 2017 National Championships Best 11 team and has earned a spot in the ODP Region 1 Pool. She is planning on majoring in nursing during her team at ECU.

Why Sydney Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because the second I saw the campus I knew it was home. I got a feeling that was indescribable and I knew ECU was where I wanted to be. After meeting the coaching staff and getting a tour around campus I knew ECU was for me."

Coach Hamilton on Sydney: "A former teammate of current Pirate Taylor Kibble, Syd is technical player who is very comfortable on the ball," Hamilton added. "She does some of the little details very well and that's sets her apart from others. She will need to adjust to the physicality of the college game and once she does that she will fit right in with the direction of the program."

Ashton Kudlo

Ashton Kudlo joins ECU after playing for Lake Central High School and Eclipse Select. Kudlo helped Eclipse finish as the ECNL Midwest Champions and earn the top seed in the playoffs. She racked up nine shutouts in that run. In the 2017-18 season, Kudlo has 12 clean sheets as Eclipse earned a spot in the DA Playoffs. Kudlo has also honed her skills in the futsal field, where she has been chosen for the US Youth National Futsal Team. Kudlo won the 2018-19 Illinois Futsal State Cup and was the 2016-17 US Youth Futsal National Champion and Midwest Runner-ups. Kudlo is planning on majoring in Exercise Physiology at ECU.

Why Ashton Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because the campus and atmosphere felt like home to me and I felt like I could truly make a difference in the program."

Coach Hamilton on Kudlo: "Ashton may be the technically cleanest goalkeeper of the three coming in this class. She is quick and an explosive shot stopper. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and connecting passes. Her work rate is fantastic and I think she will be key in keeping the energy level high with a large group of goal keepers."

Kiley Endres

Kiley Endres is a forward from Shawnee High School and FC Delco. Endres was chosen for the Generation Adidas Olympique Lyonnais Select Program in 2018 as well as being a ECNL 2018 ODP Regional Selection. Endres has also racked up honors for Shawnee, including recently being named All-South Jersey. In 2018, she was named First-Team Olympic Conference and First-Team All-American Division. She also earned a spot on the Burlington County Times All-County Team, the All-South Jersey Third-Team and the New Jersey Girls Soccer Coaches Association All-State team. Endres is planning on studying Business at ECU.

Why Kiley Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because I fell in love with the campus, the sports atmosphere, and I love the color purple."

Coach Hamilton on Kiley: "We are excited about Kiley and think she is one of those players who has continued to impress us and grown as a players since committing to us. She is a left footed player that is comfortable playing on either side of the field. She is a hard working player and makes the game difficult for her opponents. She is good around the goal not just as a scorer but also creating opportunities for her teammates."

Maggie Leland

Maggie Leland comes to ECU from Gwinnett, Ga., where she played for Buford High School and Gwinnett Soccer Academy (GSA). As a goalkeeper, Leland has been key to her teams' successes, helping Buford reach its first ever State Championship in 2017 and helping GSA finish in the top-five in the conference. Leland has just a 0.65 goals against average for her high school career and she was named to the All-Region team in 2017 and 2019 as well as to the Gwinnett County All-County Team in 2019. She was team captain for GSA and had a goals against average of 1.1.Leland is planning on studying Nursing at ECU.

Why Maggie Chose ECU: "Having a lot of extended family in eastern North Carolina, ECU has always been on my radar as a solid option. I love the college town atmosphere with big city advantages not too far away. When the new coaching staff came to ECU I knew this was the perfect fit for me."

Coach Hamilton on Maggie: "Maggie is a goal keeper that people stop and watch. She has a presence in goal, she is very vocal and a good organizer. Her size allows her to deal very well with crosses in the box. As with the other two keepers she is comfortable with the ball at her feet which is big for us. She has the ability to keep opponents honest with the length of balls she hit as well as the ability to connect passes with the back line."

Ashlynn Lutz

Lutz is from Highlands, Co., where she played for ThunderRidge High School and the Colorado Rapids. Lutz helped the Rapids win the 2018-2019 ECNL Northwest Region. Prior to joining the Rapids, Lutz was a team captain for the Texas Rush, who she helped win the Texas State Cup. She also competed for the Nike ID2 and ODP teams. For ThunderRidge, Lutz was named to the First-Team All-District defensive team and helped her squad reach the third round of the 5A State Playoffs. Along with her accomplishments on the soccer field, Lutz also earned Academic Letter Awards in 2018 and 2019 as well as earning a spot in the National Honor Society and the President's Academic Award. Lutz is also a runner on ThunderRidge's track and field squad. Lutz is planning on studying Biology at ECU.

Why Ashlynn Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because of the high level of competition on the soccer field and the large amounts of potential to continue to grow and improve the program. Also, ECU is a good academic fit based upon my interests in medicine, and I love the city of Greenville."

Coach Hamilton on Ashlynn: "Ashlynn is a very composed center back who is comfortable in possession. She is not flashy, she just brings consistency to the game. Being able to work with two very good senior center backs next season will be instrumental in her development and help her in adjusting to the college game of having to deal with extremely challenging attacking players in this conference."

Rachael Wilsynski

Rachael Wilsynski is a striker who played for Perry Hall High School and for the Baltimore Armour Academy. She was the captain of the Baltimore Armour and helped them win the Maryland state title. She has taken trips to England and Spain to play as well as earning a spot on the Maryland ODP team. While with Perry Hall, she was also a team captain. Wilsynski helped Perry Hall win both Regional and County titles and finish as finalists in the State Championship. She is planning on majoring in Nursing at ECU.

Why Rachael Chose ECU: "I fell in love with the school as soon as I stepped onto campus. It felt like home and I couldn't see myself spending the next four years anywhere else. The environment, coaches, and community were unmatched. My favorite color is also purple so It was meant to be!"

Coach Hamilton on Rachael: "Rachael has come a long way over the past few years. I think some injuries she occurred caused her to fall between the cracks in the recruiting process. As she got closer and closer to 100% you could see the potential she has. She is a grinder and has a knack for finding the ball in goal scoring opportunities. She is not afraid to be physical and make her presence known."

Brooke Burzynski

Brooke Burzynski is a midfielder from Mountain View High School and Stafford Virginia Commonwealth FC. Burzynski has been Commonwealth FC's captain since 2012 and has played in the Region 1 District and State ODP teams. She took trips overseas with ODP, heading to England and Costa Rica to play. Burzynski was also captain of Mountain View where she is coming off a season in which she earned the Best Playmaker award as well as First-Team All-State, All-Region and All-District honors. Burzynski helped Mountain View win the Commonwealth District Championship in 2016-17 and finish as the Virginia Class 5 State Runner-ups.

Why Brooke Chose ECU: "I chose ECU because I loved the on and off campus atmosphere and the welcoming coaching staff and teammates and the competitive environment. It felt like my home away from home."

Coach Hamilton on Brooke: "Brooke has a lot of good attributes that can translate to success in the college game. She is long and scrappy and not afraid to battle. She is clean on the ball and has the ability to create things for herself and others around her. She can strike the ball from distance and has potential to compete at the college level right away. She has a very high soccer IQ and sees the game very well."

Players Mentioned

Taylor Kibble

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