PROVO, Utah – Eight players signed with BYU women's soccer on Wednesday and will join the team for the 2019 season.
"We are so excited to add this talented group of athletes to our team," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "There is no doubt they will make an immediate impact on our program and will be a significant piece to the future success of BYU soccer."
Utah, Idaho and California are represented by this group of signees. The incoming class will join an experienced team after losing one senior, Madie Siddoway Gates, and freshman Olivia Wade to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"This is a very dynamic recruiting class with a great mix of proven attacking players, play makers and solid defenders," BYU assistant coach Brent Anderson said. "They will have an immediate impact on the team and we are looking forward to getting these amazing young women here on campus and integrating them into our team as we work toward another WCC championship."
SaraJayne Affleck
Forward/Midfielder | Laguna Hills, California | Surf DA
- 2018 DA National Champions
- 2017 3rd place in ECNL National Championships
- 2017 Southern California ODP Regional National Champions
- 2017 Orange County Register’s All-County Team
- 2017 Southern California First Team
- 2016 ECNL/ID 2 Camp
- 2015-16 ECNL National Champions
- 2015-17 Scholar Athlete
- 2015-17 South Coast League Champions
Zoe Jacobs
Defender/Midfielder | Kaysville, Utah | La Roca
- 2x 5A State and National Champion
- 2018 All-State First Team
- 2018 Fox 13 All-UYSA Team
- 2018 High School All-American Watch List
- 2017 Deseret News All-State First Team
- 2017 Region IV ODP All-Tournament Team
- 2016-17 Standard Examiner All-Area First Team
- 2016-17 Salt Lake Tribune 6A All-State First Team
Ellie Maughan
Midfielder | North Ogden, Utah | La Roca DA
- 3x ODP All-Tournament Team
- 2x All-Area First Team
- ODP Region IV Finalist
- Utah State Cup Champion
- 2 years on US Soccer Developmental Academy
- Captain of Region IV and club team
- Playmaker of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
Rachel McCarthy
Forward/Midfielder | American Fork, Utah | Utah Celtic
- 2018 All-State First Team
- 2018 Utah ODP Region Camp and Region Team
- 2017 Utah 6A State Champion
- 2017 All-State Second Team
- 2017 ODP
- 2016 North Coast Selection Champions
- 2015-16 NCS All-State Second Team
- 2015-17 US Club Regionals
- 2015-18 HS Region Champs
- Honor Society
- All-Region Honor Roll
Jamie Shepherd
Midfielder | American Fork, Utah | Utah Celtic
- 2017 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2017 Deseret News Ms. Soccer
- 2017 Daily Herald Utah Valley Player of the Year
- 2017 Salt Lake Tribune All-State First Team
- 2017 6A State Champion
- 2017 UYSA Far West Region Champion
- 2017 UYSA National Semi-Finalist
- 2017 ODP Region Team
- 2017 5A Basketball State Champion
- 2018 Daily Herald All-Utah Valley Girls Soccer Team
- 2018 All-State First Team
- 2018 Top Drawer Soccer Fall All-Region Team
- 2018 All-American High School Team
- 4x Utah State Cup Champion
- 4x Honor Roll
Olivia Smith
Midfielder | Eagle, Idaho | FC Nova ECNL
- 2018 5A Top Goal Scorer and most assists
- 2018 Eagle High School Golden Boot Award
- 2018 All-State First Team
- 2018 All-Conference Team
- 2017-18 Eagle High School MVP
- 2017 All-State Second Team
- 2014-18 ECNL
- 2014-18 Academic All-Star
- 4x State Cup Champion
- 2x ECNL National Playoff Qualifier
Laveni Vaka
Defender | Sandy, Utah | Avalanche ECNL
- No. 20 defender for Class of 2019 by Top Drawer Soccer
- 2015-18 ECNL Player to Watch
- 2018 All-State First Team
- 2016-17 Player Development Program
- 2016 ECNL National Camp
- 2016 Utah 3A State Champion
- 2015 3A All-State and 2017 4A All-State Honorable Mention
- Captain and 4-year starter for Juan Diego
- ECNL Top Goal Scorer
- Participated in Youth National Team Camp
- Junior Olympian in track and field
- Captain of Juan Diego Broadcast
- Honor Roll
Daviana Vaka
Forward/Midfielder | Sandy, Utah | Avalanche ECNL
- 2016 Utah 3A State Champion
- 2016 Top Goal Scorer in Utah
- 2016 Salt Lake Tribune All-State Team
- 2018 All-State Second Team
- 2016-17 Player Development Program
- 2015-17 ECNL Player to Watch
- 4x All-State Team
- 2x All-American Junior Olympics track and field
- Captain and 4-year starter for Juan Diego