Soccer Signs Seven Newcomers
11/9/2023 2:50:00 PM | Soccer
Cougars sign seven in incoming freshman class
HOUSTON – Coming off its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference, the University of Houston Soccer program signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, Head Coach Jaime Frias announced Friday.
"We are excited to welcome the 2024 recruiting class to the University of Houston," Frias said. "This group of young women brings a wealth of high-level club and high school playing experiences with them.
"They are exemplary student-athletes who have the desire to contribute to our culture on and off the field. The common denominator with this class is that they all
value development, are humble and hardworking and have a selfless, team-first mentality. We can't wait to start working with them when they arrive on campus."
AMANDA ADMAS | Forward | Keller, Texas | TOVO Academy
Club Soccer: Played for TOVO Academy in Barcelona, Spain, under Head Coach Todd Beane.
High School: Tabbed the 2020-21 Offensive Player of the Year and the 2022-23 MVP… Appointed team captain in 2022… Won the National Homeschool Championship in 2020 and 2022, earning MVP honors on both occasions… Was a three-time member of the Olympic Development Program South Region Team… Tallied 80 goals and 48 assists in high school.
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Berry Adams… Has a sister, Natalie ... Enjoys drawing, rock climbing and playing the violin… Wants to be a professional soccer player.
ELIZABETH BIGALA | Forward | Concord, N.C. | Charlotte Soccer Academy
Club Soccer: Played club soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy… Earned All-Conference Team honors twice… Named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Personal: Daughter of Wendy and Aggrey Bigala… Has a brother, Broderick Mitchell… Member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars at West Cabarrus High School… Wants to become a Neurosurgeon.
BRYN GEPPERT | Midfielder | Wylie, Texas | DKSC
Club Soccer: Played club soccer for DKSC and twice advanced to the ECNL National Playoffs.
High School: Named to the 6A Texas State Tournament team in 2023… Tabbed as the District Midfielder of the Year and an All-State Midfielder in 2023… Garnered First Team All-District and District Defensive Player of the Year in 2022… Earned District Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-District as a Freshman in 2021… Named to the Academic All-District team all four years at Wylie East High School.
Personal: Daughter of Andrea and Jay Geppert… Has one brother, Garrett… Mother played soccer at SMU, advancing to the Final Four… Enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends… Wants to work in a career in sales.
CASEY MADDOX | Midfielder | Snellville, Georgia | Concorde Fire
Club Soccer: Played for Concorde Fire Soccer Club with two trips to the ECNL Final Four.
Led her club in assists and was third in goals scored… Invited to the United States National Team Pool.
High School: Garnered Player of the Year and Co-Midfielder of the Year honors at Shiloh High School… Region 6A Player and Co-Midfielder of the Year… Named to the DiVarsity All Star Team.
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Anthony Maddox… Has a sister, Camryn who is a sophomore on the UH soccer team… Wants to be a professional soccer player
MAGGIE MANNING| Goalkeeper | Prosper, Texas | DKSC
Club Soccer: Played club soccer with DKSC, winning the National Futsal Championship in 2023… Named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023… Competed in the USWNT GK Camp in Sept. 2022 and June 2023… Earned a spot in the ECNL National Selection Game.
High School: Recorded an 11-2 record in 2023 for Prosper High School on way to a Bi-District Championship… Won a pair of penalty kick shootouts.
Personal: Daughter of Deborah and John Sefcik… Was a member of the National Honor Society and Health Occupations Students of America… Has career ambitions to work in sports medicine.
KAYLA SMITH | Defender | Lee's Summit, Missouri | KC Athletics
Club Soccer: Played club soccer at KC Athletics in 2023 and 2024 under the direction of Vasil Ristov.
High School: Tabbed as a First Team All-Conference selection at Lee's Summit Senior High School all four years (2020-2023) … Named the 2023 Conference Player of the Year… Garnered First Team All-Region, All-District and All-State recognition in 2023… Scored 15 goals and tallied seven assists as a freshman… Also played golf and basketball for the Tigers.
Personal: Daughter of Roxie and Timothy Smith Sr… Has two brothers, Jeremy and Timothy Jr… Timothy Jr. plays soccer at Maryville University… Was a member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society… Wants to work in the medical field.
SAVANNAH TAFIREYI | Forward | Frisco, Texas | Solar
Club Soccer: Tabbed a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer… Selected to the Olympic Development Program from 2019-2022… Played for Solar Soccer Club and advanced to two ECNL Final Fours and the North American Cup Playoffs… Named an ECNL Girls National Finals Standout.
Personal: Daughter of Pauline and Howard Tafireyi… Has a brother, Brian… Was a member of National Society of High School Scholars and National Honor Society… Garnered College Board Recognition… Aspires to be a political figure or an entrepreneur.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the COUGAR RESERVES
Fans are invited to join the Cougar Reserves to support Houston Soccer. Cougar Reserves members provide financial support directly to Houston Soccer for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information about levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSoccer on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSoccer or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarsoccer.
"We are excited to welcome the 2024 recruiting class to the University of Houston," Frias said. "This group of young women brings a wealth of high-level club and high school playing experiences with them.
"They are exemplary student-athletes who have the desire to contribute to our culture on and off the field. The common denominator with this class is that they all
value development, are humble and hardworking and have a selfless, team-first mentality. We can't wait to start working with them when they arrive on campus." AMANDA ADMAS | Forward | Keller, Texas | TOVO Academy
Club Soccer: Played for TOVO Academy in Barcelona, Spain, under Head Coach Todd Beane.
High School: Tabbed the 2020-21 Offensive Player of the Year and the 2022-23 MVP… Appointed team captain in 2022… Won the National Homeschool Championship in 2020 and 2022, earning MVP honors on both occasions… Was a three-time member of the Olympic Development Program South Region Team… Tallied 80 goals and 48 assists in high school.
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Berry Adams… Has a sister, Natalie ... Enjoys drawing, rock climbing and playing the violin… Wants to be a professional soccer player.
ELIZABETH BIGALA | Forward | Concord, N.C. | Charlotte Soccer Academy
Club Soccer: Played club soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy… Earned All-Conference Team honors twice… Named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Personal: Daughter of Wendy and Aggrey Bigala… Has a brother, Broderick Mitchell… Member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars at West Cabarrus High School… Wants to become a Neurosurgeon.
BRYN GEPPERT | Midfielder | Wylie, Texas | DKSC
Club Soccer: Played club soccer for DKSC and twice advanced to the ECNL National Playoffs.
High School: Named to the 6A Texas State Tournament team in 2023… Tabbed as the District Midfielder of the Year and an All-State Midfielder in 2023… Garnered First Team All-District and District Defensive Player of the Year in 2022… Earned District Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-District as a Freshman in 2021… Named to the Academic All-District team all four years at Wylie East High School.
Personal: Daughter of Andrea and Jay Geppert… Has one brother, Garrett… Mother played soccer at SMU, advancing to the Final Four… Enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends… Wants to work in a career in sales.
CASEY MADDOX | Midfielder | Snellville, Georgia | Concorde Fire
Club Soccer: Played for Concorde Fire Soccer Club with two trips to the ECNL Final Four.
Led her club in assists and was third in goals scored… Invited to the United States National Team Pool.
High School: Garnered Player of the Year and Co-Midfielder of the Year honors at Shiloh High School… Region 6A Player and Co-Midfielder of the Year… Named to the DiVarsity All Star Team.
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Anthony Maddox… Has a sister, Camryn who is a sophomore on the UH soccer team… Wants to be a professional soccer player
MAGGIE MANNING| Goalkeeper | Prosper, Texas | DKSC
Club Soccer: Played club soccer with DKSC, winning the National Futsal Championship in 2023… Named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023… Competed in the USWNT GK Camp in Sept. 2022 and June 2023… Earned a spot in the ECNL National Selection Game.
High School: Recorded an 11-2 record in 2023 for Prosper High School on way to a Bi-District Championship… Won a pair of penalty kick shootouts.
Personal: Daughter of Deborah and John Sefcik… Was a member of the National Honor Society and Health Occupations Students of America… Has career ambitions to work in sports medicine.
KAYLA SMITH | Defender | Lee's Summit, Missouri | KC Athletics
Club Soccer: Played club soccer at KC Athletics in 2023 and 2024 under the direction of Vasil Ristov.
High School: Tabbed as a First Team All-Conference selection at Lee's Summit Senior High School all four years (2020-2023) … Named the 2023 Conference Player of the Year… Garnered First Team All-Region, All-District and All-State recognition in 2023… Scored 15 goals and tallied seven assists as a freshman… Also played golf and basketball for the Tigers.
Personal: Daughter of Roxie and Timothy Smith Sr… Has two brothers, Jeremy and Timothy Jr… Timothy Jr. plays soccer at Maryville University… Was a member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society… Wants to work in the medical field.
SAVANNAH TAFIREYI | Forward | Frisco, Texas | Solar
Club Soccer: Tabbed a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer… Selected to the Olympic Development Program from 2019-2022… Played for Solar Soccer Club and advanced to two ECNL Final Fours and the North American Cup Playoffs… Named an ECNL Girls National Finals Standout.
Personal: Daughter of Pauline and Howard Tafireyi… Has a brother, Brian… Was a member of National Society of High School Scholars and National Honor Society… Garnered College Board Recognition… Aspires to be a political figure or an entrepreneur.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the COUGAR RESERVES
Fans are invited to join the Cougar Reserves to support Houston Soccer. Cougar Reserves members provide financial support directly to Houston Soccer for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information about levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSoccer on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSoccer or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarsoccer.
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