Soccer To Welcome Six in 2024; Learn More About The Latest Recruiting Class

MUNCIE, Ind. -- A high-powered offensive star, a pair of play-making midfielders and a trio of lockdown defenders make up the six highly talented student-athletes set to join the Ball State soccer program for the 2024 season according to head coach Josh Rife.

"It is great to announce the newest members of our program," head coach Josh Rife said. "This is a group that brings a wealth of experience and championship pedigree. Their unique skills will help add to the group we are returning, and I look forward to getting them here on campus. I'm excited about the future of Ball State Soccer."

The latest Ball State soccer recruiting class includes:
- Forward Aleyna Quinn (Newburgh, Ind./Castle HS/Indy Eleven Academy)
- Midfielder LG Moncrief (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS/FC Dallas)
- Midfielder Lexi Watkins (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central HS/Indy Eleven Academy)
- Defender Caroline Kennard (Chatham, Mass./Nauset Regional HS/SS Select GA)
- Defender Ava Napieralski (Keller, Texas/Keller HS/Renegades SC)
- Defender Ainsley Schaufele (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS/Ohio Elite)

Below is a little more about each of the student-athletes set to join the Ball State soccer squad for the 2024 campaign.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome Aleyna Quinn (@aleyna_quinny) to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/xLxYZsdBmC
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 9, 2023

Aleyna Quinn | Forward | Newburgh, Indiana | Castle HS | Indy Eleven Academy

RIFE ON ALEYNA: Aleyna is a four-sport athlete who loves to compete. She has a great combination of speed, strength and soccer IQ. She will be a great addition to our current attacking group.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner on the Castle varsity team for coach Michael Fauerbach … helped guide the Knights to a 57-13-2 record over her career, including sectional championships and regional finalists as a sophomore and senior … finished her career at the program's all-time leading scorer with 106 career goals and 34 career assists … scored 27 goals as a freshman, 32 as a sophomore, 19 as a junior and 28 as a senior … tallied five assists as a freshman, 10 as a sophomore, seven as a junior and 12 as a senior … team captain for her final three seasons … was a four-sport star for the Knights, earning four letters in basketball, two in track and two as the placekicker for the football team.

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
Southern Indiana Athletic Conference Player of the Year
First Team All-Conference
All-District
Castle Offensive Player of the Year

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
First Team All-Conference
All-District
All-Region
Castle Offensive Player of the Year

SOPHOMORE YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
First Team All-Conference
All-District
Castle Offensive Player of the Year

FRESHMAN YEAR AWARDS
Second Team All-Conference
All-District
Castle Offensive Player of the Year

CLUB: Played four years for the Indy Eleven Academy.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because it has everything I need to become the best version of myself. I couldn't be more excited to be attending Ball State to play soccer. On my visit, I felt so welcome by the coaches and current players.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome LG Moncrief (@LG_Moncrief) to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/PkgG6fEPwe
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 8, 2023

Lillie Grace (LG) Moncrief | Midfielder | Frisco, Texas | Wakeland HS | FC Dallas

RIFE ON LG: LG is a smart, savvy midfielder. She has wonderful vision and can pick out passes that can break lines and open up defenses. In addition, she can contribute on the defensive end though her ball winning and intercepting passes.

HIGH SCHOOL: Moncrief enters her senior season at Wakeland as a three-year letterwinner for coach Jimmy Lankford … an 11-goal scorer so far over her varsity career, to go along with one assist, Moncrief was a key starter for the Wolverines has a sophomore, helping guide the program to a 24-1-3 record and a 5A State Championship … her freshman campaign saw Wakeland finish the year as the 5A State Runner-Up … as a junior varsity player, Moncrief scored 10 goals and dished out 10 assists … named team captain as a junior and senior.

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS
TASCO Honorable Mention All-State Girls 5A
United Soccer Coaches All-State
Texas Girls Coaches Association 2022-23 Soccer All-State
All-District First Team
Academic All-District
Leadership Award
Fighting Heart Award

SOPHOMORE YEAR AWARDS
All-District Second Team
Academic All-District

FRESHMAN YEAR AWARDS
Newcomer of the Year

CLUB: Has played 11 years of club soccer for FC Dallas … Helped guide her club to the 2022 and 2023 ECNL/RL National Championship … Earned ECNL All-Regional League Texas Team.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because of the athletics and academics.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome Lexi Watkins (@lexwatkins12) to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/0F4BMwcoMy
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 10, 2023

Lexi Watkins | Midfielder | Lawrenceburg, Indiana | East Central HS | Indy Eleven Academy

RIFE ON LEXI: Lexi is a crafty attacking player who can play out wide, or central. She is dynamic on the ball and can deliver a great final pass. She will help ensure our aggressive attacking brand of soccer will continue for year to come.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four letterwinner for coach Bill Volker at East Central High School … helped guide the Trojans to a 60-11-7 record over her career, as well as sectional championships in each of her final three seasons … program's all-time leader in both single season (25 in 2023) and career (54) assists … played in 54 career games, missing her sophomore season due to injury, tallying 52 career goals and 158 career points … scored 28 goals and credited with 25 assists as a senior, scored nine goals and claimed 22 assists as a junior, registered 15 goals and seven assists as a freshman … team captain as a senior.

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-District
First Team All-Conference
Team Offensive MVP

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS
Second Team All-District
First Team All-Conference
Team Midfield MVP

FRESHMAN YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-Conference
Team Offensive MVP

CLUB: Played six seasons for the Indy Eleven Academy … Member of the Olympic Development Program National Team, a Top Drawer Soccer 3 Star and a Top Drawer 6 Regional selection.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because the coaching staff is amazing, as is the team culture. I love that campus is big, but not too big, and how close it is to home for me.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome Caroline Kennard to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/aQie8fGMW2
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 8, 2023

Caroline Kennard | Defender | Chatham, Massachusetts | Nauset Regional HS | SS Select GA

RIFE ON CAROLINE: Caroline is a tough 1v1 defender who is confident playing out of the back. She has experience in championship settings and brings a calm confidence to those around her.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner for coach Evan Botting at Nauset Regional High School … finished her career for the Warriors with 57 goals and 56 assists … helped guide the program to a 50-11-7 record over her career and to state tournament appearances in each of her final three seasons … the Warriors advanced to the second round of the D2 State Tournament her junior seasons … tallied 10 goals and six assists as a freshman, 25 goals and 12 assists as a sophomore, 14 goals and 17 assists as a junior and eight goals and 21 assists as a senior … team captain as a senior … USYNT Regional ID Center in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
Cape and Islands League All-Star

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
Cape and Islands League All-Star

SOPHOMORE YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-State
Cape and Islands League MVP
Cape and Islands League All-Star
Boston Herald All-Scholastic

FRESHMAN YEAR AWARDS
Cape and Islands League All-Star

CLUB: Played five seasons for the SS Select GA … helped guide her club to a 2022 GA Finalist spot and a top eight performance to advance to the 2023 GA Playoffs.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because of the incredible coaching staff who made me feel like a family and I felt right at home when I stepped on campus. I also wanted to join a successful team looking to win more MAC titles.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome Ava Napieralski (@Ava_napieralski) to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/KUgCZ25Hvz
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 8, 2023

Ava Napieralski | Defender | Keller, Texas | Keller HS | Renegades SC

RIFE ON AVA: Ava is a natural left-footed player who does a great job in wide spaces to put defenses on their heels and can deliver great service or combine in wide space. She is smart in how she uses her pace that makes her multi-dimensional and effective.

HIGH SCHOOL: Did not play soccer for her high school program … earned two letters in track & field / cross country at Keller High School … placed fifth at districts in the triple jump as a junior.

CLUB: Played 13 seasons for the Renegades SC.

WHY BALL STATE: Ball State has an excellent Architecture Program, and I am able to play Division I soccer while pursuing my degree.

?? NEW CARDINAL ALERT ??

We're very excited to welcome Ainsley Schaufele (@AinsleyS_15) to the Ball State Soccer Family ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly x #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/HY7VmAyIep
— Ball State Soccer (@BallStateSoccer) November 8, 2023

Ainsley Schaufele | Defender | Mason, Ohio | Mason HS | Ohio Elite

RIFE ON AINSLEY: Ainsley is a strong defender and communicator and is versatile to play as either a center back or an outside back. She has been a part of many successful programs through club and high school, and I trust that her experience will add to our program.

HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Mason for coach Sami Rutowski … helped lead the squad to a 32-12-9 record over her career, including a 14-4-1 mark her sophomore season in which the Comets earned a Greater Miami Conference championship and a district title … scored three goals and tallied three assists her senior season, while helping the defense tally 12 shutouts and allow only six goals against during the regular season … team tallied 10 shutouts her junior season and nine her sophomore year … named team captains as a junior and senior.

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-Conference

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS
First Team All-Conference

CLUB: Member of the Ohio Elite … four-year team captain … ECNL Second Team All-Conference and two-time ECNL SuperCup Selection … helped guide her team to a 2022 Ohio Valley South Championship and the 2022 Champions League Qualifier.

WHY BALL STATE: I had a good connection with the coaches and I am excited to play with this amazing group of players. Academically, I loved the option of a Pre-Dentistry major. I also loved the campus, and it's close to home!

Soccer To Welcome Six in 2024; Learn More About The Latest Recruiting Class

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