CONWAY, Ark. – It was a successful National Signing Day for head coach Jeremy Bishop and the Central Arkansas women's soccer team, with ten players signing on for the class of 2024.
 
The 2024 class consists of a ton of talented individuals that have had major successes in their youth careers, which adds a winning mentality to a program that has made three-straight Atlantic Sun Semifinals.
 
"I am so excited to add these fantastic student-athletes to our program. Each of them comes to us from highly competitive and successful club and high school programs," Bishop added. "They are athletic, hardworking, high character individuals that will have an impact on our program right away."
 
Jama Akpanudo joins the Bears from just up the road in Searcy, Ark., after a successful stint at Harding Academy. While in high school, Akpanudo was a 4.0 student, and collected a trophy case full of awards. She was named an all-state player in 2021, and was an all-conference player for three-straight seasons, leading her team to three championships at the conference and state levels, winning a pair of 3A and a 4A title.
 
Her club career also saw her claim multiple championships, winning two state championships and a USYS Southern Regional Championship as a member of the Mighty Bluebirds.
 
Sophia Blackstrom continues a string of Colorado signees, playing at Legend High School in Parker, Colo. The outside forward was captain of her team for her junior and senior seasons, and played club soccer for the Rapids G ENCL.
 
An Owasso, Okla., native, Macey Harter had an award-winning experience playing at Owasso High School. She was named the Defender of the Year as a sophomore before being named an all-district player as a junior. She helped lead her club team, Tulsa SC, to a national championship in the summer of 2023.
 
Kayla Hurley won just about every award available playing at Bentonville High School, claiming over a dozen awards over her high school career. In addition to being an all-conference and -state player, she also claimed multiple player of the year awards, and was named the State Tournament MVP after leading her team to a 6A State title.
 
In addition to all of the awards that she won, Hurley was also named an SBL National Top 20 HS Girls Soccer Player, and was listed by Sports Illustrated as one of its 20 Best High School Soccer Players of 2022-23. The striker was also successful at the club level, leading her Arkansas Comets team in scoring for three years and winning a pair of Conference Championships, a TSC Adidas Showcase Championship and a US Club National Championship.
 
Ashlyn May comes to Conway from way out in Maple Valley, Wash., just over 2200 miles away. But what she brings with her is a talent level that earned her a team captain role for three-straight years. Additionally, she was named a First Team All-League forward and midfielder, claiming a spot on the All-State team as well. In 2021, she was named the Max Preps Player of the Year. During her club career, she led her Pacific Northwest Soccer Club to an ECNL Showcase B National Championship in 2022, with a semifinalist finish in 2023.
 
Kaylee Nguyen signed with the Bears after winning a pair of Bi-District Championships at Keller Central High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Nguyen also was named Utility Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and was a First Team All-District player. At the club level, the forward claimed multiple championships, winning ECRL Texas league and ECRL NTX league titles.
 
Carly Pate is one of two signees from Conway, and played her high school ball at Conway High. The midfielder was a two-time all-conference player, and was named the 2022 Most Improved Player, earning herself the team captaincy. On her Arkansas Rising club team, she was an ECNL All-Regional League team honoree, and helped guide her team to an undefeated record in 2022.
 
Brityn Pavatt, also from Conway, joins the team after an accomplished run at Conway High School. After winning a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021, she repeated the honor in 2023, claiming it along with All-Conference and -State nods as well. The sister of current Bear Trace, Brityn also won state and regional championships on her club team.
 
Yet another Arkansas signee, Kaylee Vorisek was added to the roster out of Bentonville, and has piled up the accolades at Bentonville High. Three times in three seasons, she's been named all-conference, adding two all-state and two all-state tournament team nods. Additionally, Vorisek was named an All-Arkansas Preps 1^st Team, the 6A West Conference Player of the Year, and claimed a pair of 6A West Conference titles and a 6A State Championship.
 
Addylan Wright, out of Jenks, Okla., continues a trend of signing tough, rugged defenders from Oklahoma. Playing at Jenks High School, Wright was twice named Defensive MVP, and led her team to a 6A State Championship in 2023. Her club career has also seen her take her team to the top, winning a Showcase B National Championship.
 
The ten players in this signing class join a Central Arkansas team that looks to continue to make its mark in the ASUN and write its history. This past season saw the program win its 200^th match, and this class looks to be the next group of student athletes to leave a lasting legacy in Purple and Gray.