University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Monaghan Signs Ten for 2024 Season
Nov 30, 2023 | Women's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Head women's soccer coach Brooks Monaghan and staff is excited to announce the signing of ten new faces for the 2024 season.
"We are extremely excited to have all of these young ladies joining us next fall," Monaghan said. "There is a lot of talent in this group which will be needed with the loss of our graduating players. The future remains bright for Memphis women's soccer."
Abby Kudla | Goalkeeper | Strongsville, Ohio | Strongville High School | Internationals SC
Kudla comes to Memphis after prepping at Strongsville High School where she was a two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection while leading the Mustangs to four consecutive conference and district championships. The school and Ohio state record-holder with 54 career shutouts, Kudla led Strongsville to a 15-1-2 record while recording 15 shutouts.
A four-year player with the Internationals Soccer Club, Kudla led her team to a 20-1-1 record last year and its second consecutive conference championship. Internationals SC has played to the top-4 in the country the past two seasons while Kudla has been named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Why Memphis for Kudla:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of how welcoming and kind all of the people are. They made me feel like I would be cared for, welcomed, and accepted like family."
Ally Casey | Defender | Charlotte, N.C. | Ardey Kell High School | CSA
Casey, a three-time All-Conference First Team selection, comes to Memphis after a decorated prep career at Ardey Kell High School. Last season, Casey helped the team to a 25-3-1 record while being crowned conference, regional and state champions.
An all-state performer, Casey has recorded 24 goals and 28 assists over her high school career while being named as the North Carolina State Championship's Most Valuable Player.
A member of CSA for the past 12 years, Casey was a member of the team that claimed the U13 USYS Regional Championship in 2019 and helped the team qualify for the ECNL Finals round of eight in 2023. Casey would be selected as an All-Conference First Team member during her U15 and U16 seasons.
Why Memphis for Casey:
"I chose the University of Memphis because I liked the style of play, the coaches and the dynamic within the team. I could tell that everyone was close like a family, while being able to hold each other accountable both on and off the field. Everyone at the university made me feel like I belonged there."
Natalie Leibel | Midfielder | Alpharetta, Ga. | Cambridge High School | Concorde Fire Soccer Club
Leibel, an All-State performer, comes to Memphis after prepping at Cambridge High School where she helped the team to back-to-back regional championships in 2022 and 2023. An All-Region selection, Leibel led the team to a 12-1-1 season last year after scoring nine goals and assisting on four.
Leibel currently holds the Cambridge soccer program records for most consecutive starts and minutes played.
A member of the Concorde Fire Soccer Club for the past seven seasons, Leibel led her squad to a National Semifinal appearance this season. She was also named to the All-Conference First Team Southeast during the 2021-22 season.
Why Memphis for Leibel:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that the coaches and players created for me the minute I met them. I wanted to join a team where I knew I would be encouraged and pushed to become the best version of myself on and off the field, which made this program the perfect fit."
Jaileah McPherson | Defender | Burlington, Ontario | Bill Crothers High School | NDC ONT
McPherson comes to Memphis from the National Development Center Ontario where she helped lead her team to a League 1 Second Place finish.
Why Memphis for McPherson:
"I chose Memphis because their ability to develop high-level players and their positive team culture. The team has very good work ethic and is surrounded by a lot of great support systems."
Gillian Poiesz | Defender/Midfielder | New Providence, N.J. | New Providence High School | Match Fit Academy ECNL
Poiesz comes to Memphis after prepping at New Providence High School where she helped lead her team to a State Runner-Up finish during the 2021 season. The two-sport (soccer, lacrosse) athlete has been named as an All-Region athlete all four years while racking up 28 goals and 16 assists during her high school career.
Poiesz had her most notable season this past spring where she scored or assisted on a goal in every match.
A member of Match Fit Academy ECNL for the past seven years, Poiesz was named to the ECNL All-Conference First Team during the 2021 season.
Why Memphis for Poiesz:
"The second I began talking to the coaches, I could see there was something special about the program. The atmosphere the coaches have created for the players is unlike anything I have seen before. I choose Memphis because I know I will be constantly pushed to become the best version of myself on and off the field."
Olivia Silcox | Midfielder | Peachtree City, Ga. | Starrs Mill High School | United Futbul Academy
Silcox comes to Memphis after a prep career at Starrs Mill High School. Most notable, Silcox was called to the 2021 US Soccer YNT Regional Identification Center and 2020 Girls National Team U14 East Region Mini Camp.
A member of the United Futbul Academy for the past four season, Silcox helped the team to a 12-1-3 record last season. She has also been named as a First Team All-Conference selection the past two years.
Why Memphis for Silcox:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of the high academics the University has to offer, the amazing coaching staff as well as the powerhouse soccer program."
Carli Crews | Defender | High Point, N.C. | Southwest Guilford High School | NC Courage
Crews come to Memphis after spending the last three seasons with NC Courage where she helped the team to a national ranking of 16 while making it to the Sweet 16.
Why Memphis for Crews:
"I loved the coaching staff and the girls were so welcoming that it felt like a family."
Élise Perron | Forward | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | St-Hubert
Perron, a silver medalist at the Canadian Championships with Champlain College, comes to Memphis after helping lead her team to a First Place finish in their division.
Perron has spent the past three season with St-Hubert where she was part of the team that won bronze at the Canadian Championships this past season and led her team to a 12-1-1 overall record. The U17 AAA Golden Ball winner finished in the top-10 in total goals for Quebec last season.
Why Memphis for Perron:
"I chose Memphis because when I visited, I really loved the vibe of the team and how good and competitive the soccer program is."
Evelyn Mackay | Defender | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | Academie du CF Montreal
Mackay comes to Memphis after spending the past two years with Academie du CF Montreal where she helped lead the team to an 8-2-1 record last season. A recipient of a bronze medal at the National Championship this past year, Mackay and the team also won League 1 Quebec.
Why Memphis for MacKay:
"I chose this program since it has an extremely competitive team. The coaching staff was also very honest, and their values were very much aligned with mine. I believe that I will be able to achieve my personal and collective goals with this program.
Alex Mackay | Forward | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | Academie du CF Montreal
Mackay comes to Memphis after playing for Academie du CF Montreal for the past two seasons where she helped lead the team to a first-place finish in the Quebec Semi-Pro League. Mackay also helped her team to a second-place finish at the Canadian Championship in 2023.
Why Memphis for MacKay:
"I chose the Memphis Soccer program because I believe the coaching staff will help me become a greater player during my college career. I also realized that their presence at any of my competitions motivates me even more to step out of my comfort zone."
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We are extremely excited to have all of these young ladies joining us next fall," Monaghan said. "There is a lot of talent in this group which will be needed with the loss of our graduating players. The future remains bright for Memphis women's soccer."
Abby Kudla | Goalkeeper | Strongsville, Ohio | Strongville High School | Internationals SC
Kudla comes to Memphis after prepping at Strongsville High School where she was a two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection while leading the Mustangs to four consecutive conference and district championships. The school and Ohio state record-holder with 54 career shutouts, Kudla led Strongsville to a 15-1-2 record while recording 15 shutouts.
A four-year player with the Internationals Soccer Club, Kudla led her team to a 20-1-1 record last year and its second consecutive conference championship. Internationals SC has played to the top-4 in the country the past two seasons while Kudla has been named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Why Memphis for Kudla:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of how welcoming and kind all of the people are. They made me feel like I would be cared for, welcomed, and accepted like family."
Ally Casey | Defender | Charlotte, N.C. | Ardey Kell High School | CSA
Casey, a three-time All-Conference First Team selection, comes to Memphis after a decorated prep career at Ardey Kell High School. Last season, Casey helped the team to a 25-3-1 record while being crowned conference, regional and state champions.
An all-state performer, Casey has recorded 24 goals and 28 assists over her high school career while being named as the North Carolina State Championship's Most Valuable Player.
A member of CSA for the past 12 years, Casey was a member of the team that claimed the U13 USYS Regional Championship in 2019 and helped the team qualify for the ECNL Finals round of eight in 2023. Casey would be selected as an All-Conference First Team member during her U15 and U16 seasons.
Why Memphis for Casey:
"I chose the University of Memphis because I liked the style of play, the coaches and the dynamic within the team. I could tell that everyone was close like a family, while being able to hold each other accountable both on and off the field. Everyone at the university made me feel like I belonged there."
Natalie Leibel | Midfielder | Alpharetta, Ga. | Cambridge High School | Concorde Fire Soccer Club
Leibel, an All-State performer, comes to Memphis after prepping at Cambridge High School where she helped the team to back-to-back regional championships in 2022 and 2023. An All-Region selection, Leibel led the team to a 12-1-1 season last year after scoring nine goals and assisting on four.
Leibel currently holds the Cambridge soccer program records for most consecutive starts and minutes played.
A member of the Concorde Fire Soccer Club for the past seven seasons, Leibel led her squad to a National Semifinal appearance this season. She was also named to the All-Conference First Team Southeast during the 2021-22 season.
Why Memphis for Leibel:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that the coaches and players created for me the minute I met them. I wanted to join a team where I knew I would be encouraged and pushed to become the best version of myself on and off the field, which made this program the perfect fit."
Jaileah McPherson | Defender | Burlington, Ontario | Bill Crothers High School | NDC ONT
McPherson comes to Memphis from the National Development Center Ontario where she helped lead her team to a League 1 Second Place finish.
Why Memphis for McPherson:
"I chose Memphis because their ability to develop high-level players and their positive team culture. The team has very good work ethic and is surrounded by a lot of great support systems."
Gillian Poiesz | Defender/Midfielder | New Providence, N.J. | New Providence High School | Match Fit Academy ECNL
Poiesz comes to Memphis after prepping at New Providence High School where she helped lead her team to a State Runner-Up finish during the 2021 season. The two-sport (soccer, lacrosse) athlete has been named as an All-Region athlete all four years while racking up 28 goals and 16 assists during her high school career.
Poiesz had her most notable season this past spring where she scored or assisted on a goal in every match.
A member of Match Fit Academy ECNL for the past seven years, Poiesz was named to the ECNL All-Conference First Team during the 2021 season.
Why Memphis for Poiesz:
"The second I began talking to the coaches, I could see there was something special about the program. The atmosphere the coaches have created for the players is unlike anything I have seen before. I choose Memphis because I know I will be constantly pushed to become the best version of myself on and off the field."
Olivia Silcox | Midfielder | Peachtree City, Ga. | Starrs Mill High School | United Futbul Academy
Silcox comes to Memphis after a prep career at Starrs Mill High School. Most notable, Silcox was called to the 2021 US Soccer YNT Regional Identification Center and 2020 Girls National Team U14 East Region Mini Camp.
A member of the United Futbul Academy for the past four season, Silcox helped the team to a 12-1-3 record last season. She has also been named as a First Team All-Conference selection the past two years.
Why Memphis for Silcox:
"I chose the University of Memphis because of the high academics the University has to offer, the amazing coaching staff as well as the powerhouse soccer program."
Carli Crews | Defender | High Point, N.C. | Southwest Guilford High School | NC Courage
Crews come to Memphis after spending the last three seasons with NC Courage where she helped the team to a national ranking of 16 while making it to the Sweet 16.
Why Memphis for Crews:
"I loved the coaching staff and the girls were so welcoming that it felt like a family."
Élise Perron | Forward | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | St-Hubert
Perron, a silver medalist at the Canadian Championships with Champlain College, comes to Memphis after helping lead her team to a First Place finish in their division.
Perron has spent the past three season with St-Hubert where she was part of the team that won bronze at the Canadian Championships this past season and led her team to a 12-1-1 overall record. The U17 AAA Golden Ball winner finished in the top-10 in total goals for Quebec last season.
Why Memphis for Perron:
"I chose Memphis because when I visited, I really loved the vibe of the team and how good and competitive the soccer program is."
Evelyn Mackay | Defender | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | Academie du CF Montreal
Mackay comes to Memphis after spending the past two years with Academie du CF Montreal where she helped lead the team to an 8-2-1 record last season. A recipient of a bronze medal at the National Championship this past year, Mackay and the team also won League 1 Quebec.
Why Memphis for MacKay:
"I chose this program since it has an extremely competitive team. The coaching staff was also very honest, and their values were very much aligned with mine. I believe that I will be able to achieve my personal and collective goals with this program.
Alex Mackay | Forward | St-Hubert, Quebec | College Francais | Academie du CF Montreal
Mackay comes to Memphis after playing for Academie du CF Montreal for the past two seasons where she helped lead the team to a first-place finish in the Quebec Semi-Pro League. Mackay also helped her team to a second-place finish at the Canadian Championship in 2023.
Why Memphis for MacKay:
"I chose the Memphis Soccer program because I believe the coaching staff will help me become a greater player during my college career. I also realized that their presence at any of my competitions motivates me even more to step out of my comfort zone."
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Women's Soccer: Finley Lavin Press Conference- July 29, 2025
Tuesday, July 29
Women's Soccer: Brooks Monaghan Press Conference- July 29, 2025
Tuesday, July 29
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Women's Soccer Edition - April 28, 2025
Monday, April 28
Women's Soccer: AAC Quarterfinal vs. Tulsa-November 5, 2025
Tuesday, November 05