CONWAY, Ark. – The UCA women's soccer team announces the addition of seven student-athletes for its 2021 signing class. Consisting of two forwards, two midfielders and three defenders, this class looks to bring depth to a team that finished tied for first in the ASUN West in its first season in the conference.
Lea Duus Madsen joins the team from Morud, Denmark, coming in as the lone international player in the class. Duus Madsen brings with her a plethora of international experience, both at the club level and with Danish national youth teams. As a striker, she brings plenty of scoring potential, finishing as a top-two scorer in multiple ranges of competition while in Europe.
One of three players from Arkansas, Rylee Ellis brings in experience as a center back, garnering captain status for two years in high school and three years with her club team. During high school, she has been named to multiple all-conference and all-tournament teams, as well as all-state and All-Arkansas Prep teams. In 2020 and 2021, she has helped lead her team to state semifinal finishes.
A two-time all-district player out of Flowermound, Texas, Nina Mazzola joins the Bears following an impressive high school and club career. At Marcus High School, Mazzola was named to a first-team and a second-team all-district team. With her club team, she collected multiple player of the week awards, and led her team to a second-place finish at the ECNL Nationals.
Marleigh Moss brings a toughness to UCA, earning multiple 6A All-District Honorable Mentions on her high school team's backline. A consistent starter at the high school and club level, Moss earned her way to a US Youth National Team ID camp in 2019, joining a select few high schoolers to receive invites.
Tristyn Pavatt, a hometown recruit, arrives at Central Arkansas after a career that saw her earn multiple championships. While in high school, she led her team to a conference championship in 2019, making it all the way to the Arkansas State Finals. In the club soccer scene, she won state championships in 2020 and 2021, reaching the USYS Southern Regional semifinal and the NPL semifinals as well.
The third recruit from Arkansas, Emma Rehm joins the Bears after an accomplished club career with incoming teammate Pavatt. In the last couple of years, she helped lead the club team to state championships in 2020 and 2021 reaching the USYS Southern Regional semifinal and the NPL semifinals as well.
A defender by trade while at Little Elm High School, Ava Ronsky looks to bolster a defense that recorded seven shutouts during the 2021 season. Ronsky adds to the roster a player that received all-district honors in Little Elm, Texas for three-straight years, including two years of first-team all-district play. A two-time defensive MVP, she led her team to back-to-back district championships in 2019 and 2020.
From Head Coach Jeremy Bishop:
"I am very excited about this group of incoming players. All of them come from outstanding club and high school programs, bringing with them not only a great amount of soccer talent but also being really great students. They are diverse in their skillsets, covering almost every position on the field with incredible athleticism and skill. It's going to be fun watching these student-athletes develop and play, helping us compete for ASUN championships over the next four years."
