Women's Soccer Announces 2016 Recruiting Class

Omaha, Neb. - Creighton women's soccer head coach Ross Paule introduced a dynamic 2016 signing class, adding 12 players the upcoming season. Joining the Bluejays on the soccer field next season will be Haylee Blach (Littleton, Colo.), Elizabeth Bolland (Plymouth, Wis.), Jaylin Bosak (Omaha, Neb.), Ashleigh Cearlock (Springfield, Ill.), McKenzie Graybill (Lakeville, Minn.), Kylin Grubb (Odessa, Mo.), Callie Hawkins (Omaha, Neb.), Taryn Jakubowski (Rockford, Ill.), Kate Johnson (Ankeny, Iowa), Cassie Legband (Omaha, Neb.), Caeley Lordemann (Greeley, Colo.) and Hannah Miller (Lenexa, Kan.).

"We have a very large group of very talented players coming in the Fall 2016," said Paule. "We have searched for young women who we believe will make a difference in our program to help us build toward and achieve our big goals. We have focused on bringing in technical, skillful players that are not afraid of putting in the effort to outwork our opponents."

The first signee brings a familiar name back to Omaha, Haylee Blach is the younger sister of former Bluejay hurler Ty Blach. A 5'7'' midfielder, Blach was a Continental League Honorable Mention selection this season and earned All-State First Team Academic Honors.

"Each time I have spoken to Haley, seen her in training and in games, she only gets better technically, physically and mentally," said Paule. "She brings pure determination to make an impact in games as a wide player or wide defender. I expect great things from Haley as her work ethic and determination will take her a long way on the field for us."

A decorated 5'8'' goalkeeper from Elizabeth Bolland earned first time all-conference honors last season. She has already garnered three letters in soccer, two in tennis and another as a member of the Plymouth HS basketball team. Bolland served as the Panthers' team captain as a senior and is a two-time member of the National Honor Society.

"Elizabeth is a goalkeeper that we believe will challenge for a starting goalkeeper role," said Paule. "She has a great attitude, work ethic, and big upside to her as a goalkeeper because she has all the tools to make the game winning saves, routine saves and lead our defense by commanding the box."

Jaylin Bosak comes to Creighton from Millard West HS. A 5'8'' defender, Bosak helped the Wildcats claim the State Championship at Morrison Stadium and hopes to lead her squad back there once more this spring. She was a First Team All-Metro selection by the Omaha World-Herald and a First Team Super State selection by the Lincoln Journal-Star following the 2015 season.

"Jaylin is a local talent that we are excited about joining Creighton! She is a defensive player that has the potential to shut down any attacking threat," said Paule. "She is very athletic and has the technical ability to play multiple positions. Jaylin will be one of those players that will thrive in this environment and I cannot wait to see where she takes her God given abilities."

Standing 5'2'', Ashleigh Cearlock comes to Creighton from Sacred-Heart Griffin HS. She led the Cyclones to a 20-3 record last season, including a conference championship. In her first three seasons she has scored 37 goals and collected 20 assists.

"Ashley is a forward that will bring a very good technical ability to our team," said Paule. "She will also be a player that can play in the midfield because of her skills and running off the ball. She holds the ball very well, makes good decisions and consistently makes great runs that are create space for others as well as insuring the ball gets to dangerous positions."

Joining the Bluejays immediately this spring, Mackenzie Graybill spent her first two seasons of college at North Carolina State. She started 17 contests as a freshman and saw time in 15 games last season. The 5'9'' defender recorded one assist in each season as a member of the Wolf Pack

"Mackenzie is a defender that takes pride in shuttling down any opponent in one on one battles and I am confident she will be impact player within our defense." said Paule. "She will not be outworked and leads with confidence. Joining the team this spring is a huge advantage to start building our defensive chemistry now."

A Missouri import, Kylin Grubb stands 5'8'' and will be an offensive force for the Bluejays. A two-sport athlete in Odessa, Mo., Grubb played high school soccer for the neighboring KC Courage HS and was the kicker for the Odessa football team.

"Kylin has traditionally been a forward, but I see her as a very versatile player that could be successful in many roles," said Paule. "She has a great foundation of technical ability, athletic ability and leadership ability that will be huge for our growth and success as a team."

Another local standout to join the Bluejays, Callie Hawkins comes to Creighton from Gretna HS. Hawkins led the Dragons to the 2014 Nebraska State Title, earning the all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore. Last season she claimed a spot on the All-State Second Team.

"It is my goal to search Omaha for local talent that are a great fit for Creighton. To bring Callie to Creighton from one of the most successful local club teams in Omaha is huge," said Paule. "Callie brings great technical ability to our team that will help us take over control of the midfield in games and make teams chase us. She is a very smooth left footed player that distributes the ball throughout the team while she has the ability to create goals and score them."

A 5'4'' midfielder from Illinois, Taryn Jakubowski plays for Huntley HS in Rockford. A two-time all-conference selection, Jakubowski not only excelled on the field she also enters her final semester of high school with a 3.9 GPA. Both of Jakubowski's parents were division I athletes at Northeastern Illinois.

"Taryn's vision and skills allow her to create goals for others as well as herself," said Paule. "I see Taryn as an attacking threat with great ability to feed our forwards the ball in dangerous positions. On a defensive side she will be the gritty determined player we need to help break up play and win the ball back for us."

Grabbing talent from the Hawkeye state, Kate Johnson joins the Bluejays from Ankeny. A 5'5'' midfielder, Johnson was a First Team all-conference and First Team all-district selection last season. As a freshman she helped the Jaguars claim the 3A State Championships and collected her team MVP as a junior.

"Kate brings the ability to play in our back line defensively and also has the ability to play wide in our midfield," noted Paule. "She is a hard working, technical player that has the ability to change speed with and without the ball to become an attacking threat from a defensive position."

Another local product, Cassie Legband comes to Creighton from Elkhorn South HS. A 5'8'' midfield that was a First Team All-State selection by the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal-Star, Legband led the Storm to the 2015 State Championship, defeating future teammate Callie Hawkins' Gretna squad.

"I have seen Cassie play on numerous occasions and one thing Cassie does is score goals," said Paule. "She is one of the hardest working players I've seen in games as a wide midfielder that can score and create goals. As a forward she makes things happen by pure determination and has proven she is always a threat to score at anytime."

A 5'7'' midfielder from Colorado, Caeley Lordemann was an All-State Honorable Mention last season and earned First Team All-Conference honors in each of her first two years at Greeley West HS. Lordemann is equally amazing in the classroom, entering her final semester with a 3.94 GPA.

"Caeley (KK) is a defensive midfielder that has the potential to be our engine and leader on the field that will help us dictate how we play," said Paule. "I see KK as a specialist in the defensive midfielder role. She is a smart player that can change a game when needed. I expect her to distribute the ball throughout our team, while always being an option for her teammates."

Reaching into the Jayhawk state, Hannah Miller is a 5'7'' forward from Lenexa. A two-time First Team All-State selection, Miller will continue her high school career this spring as a senior. She led the Vikings to the Sunflower League Champions as a sophomore and a junior.

"Miller is an attacking player that I expect to be very successful from the start," said Paule. "She has the ability to score consistently because she can create goals on her own and puts herself in dangerous positions. I expect her to only get better with time and be a difference maker for us in the BIG EAST."

"This class will shape our program for the next several years and I am excited by the potential of each one of them and what they can bring," concluded Paule. "I believe we have the leaders and talent within our returning roster, that will enable this large class to step right in and help launch us to new levels and take big steps forward in competing at a higher level that will be fun to watch."

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