CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas women's soccer program bolstered its ranks Wednesday, as head coach Jeremy Bishop announced the addition of four players for the upcoming 2020 season. This group of cubs covers every position on the field in one goalkeeper, one defender, one central midfielder, and an interchangeable striker and is composed of players from California, Oklahoma and Texas.
 
"We are really excited about this class. All of them come from really good, competitive club soccer backgrounds, where they have had success. They are going to be a great complement to our returning players. They will bring competition and depth to all of the areas on the field where that is needed for us this year," said Coach Bishop.
 
Alyssa Aultman, from San Antonio, Texas comes in as a defender, where she was a key component in three consecutive district titles with Louis D. Brandeis High School in 2016, 2017 and 2018. She also spent a lot of time on the basketball court, finishing as a regional finalist with Louis D. Brandeis High in the 2016-17 season. A member of the National Honor Society, she plays her club soccer for Classics Elite ECNL, where she was a Premier National Champion in 2015. She made a second Premier National appearance in 2017 and will give the Bears a different dynamic with her blistering pace, clocking the fastest 40-yard dash amongst the entire Classics Elite Club.


 
"Alyssa is a speedy outside player that can get up and down the sidelines. Look for her to not only be a solid defender, but also someone who can get around the corner and into the attack," Bishop said.
 
Brooke Franklin, from Edmond, Oklahoma, will look to give the Bears a boost on the attacking side, coming in as a midfielder who can also play as a forward. After a year of high school soccer at Edmond Memorial High, Franklin would defer high school soccer to play in the U.S Soccer Development Academy league. She has flourished as a member of OKC Energy's Development Squad, where she has won two Oklahoma State Cup titles and was an SYL Nationals' Finalist. She was also named to Oklahoma's Olympic Development squad.


 
"Brooke is a versatile player that is really strong on the ball," Bishop said. "She is a hold up player that can create possession for us as well as create opportunities in the attack."
 
Sydney Rivera, from Elk Grove, California, will look to insert herself into the goalkeeper rotation for the Bears. Standing at almost 5-foot-10, Rivera will bring some size to this group of keepers and a great amount of athleticism as she also competed on the varsity track team at Franklin High School and is the school's pole vault record holder. A National Honor Society member and a  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Media) student, she plays her club soccer for Davis ECNL and was a four-year letterwinner for Franklin High's women's soccer team, where she qualified for the Delta Section Playoffs three consecutive years.


 
"Sydney is a goalkeeper that has good size and technique," Bishop said. "She can handle balls in the air as well as being able to get out and down on one-on-one situations."
 
Rounding up this fall signing class is Emily Wissel-Littmann. The San Antonio, Texas native comes in as one that can take on a center back or holding midfielder role for the Bears depending on where she's best fit. Despite her more defensive role, she is known as one that likes to get into the attack as she's scored 15 total goals and added 11 assists from 2017-2019. A captain for Churchill High School's women's soccer team, she was named San Antonio Express News Newcomer of the year in 2017 and was voted to the second team all-district squad in 2018 before earning first team all-district honors the following season. She also captains ECNL Classics Elite team, where she has helped them qualify for the ENCL North American Cup in 2018 and the ECNL National Playoffs-Champions League in 2019. A National Honor Society member and National Spanish Honor Society member, Wissel-Littmann hope to provide the Bears with a more physical presence in the upcoming 2020 season.


 
"Emily is a center back that will bring a physical presence to our defending group. She's good in the tackle and at winning balls in the air," Bishop said.