NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame women’s soccer program welcomed 10 members of the Class of 2023 as part of Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
The signing class, which consists of athletes from eight states, includes one goalkeeper, two defenders, three midfielders and four forwards.
Head coach Nate Norman is excited to welcome the incoming class and they look to make an immediate impact on a team that has had great production from freshmen over the past few season.
“We are all very excited about our incoming class,” stated Norman. “The incoming student-athletes are very versatile players that we believe can help us in many areas on the field.”
“Collectively they will make an instant impact on this program. They are not only great players but they are great fits for the school and the culture of our program.”
Meet the Class of 2023
Gabrielle “Gaby” Daly, Midfielder, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
- Four-time selection for the Florida ODP State team.
- 2016 and 2017 Region 3 ODP team.
- Selected to the 2016 Boca Interregionals team.
- Member of the National Honor Society and Homeless Helpers club.
- Played club with United Soccer Alliance and coach Luis Torres and Wale Leyimu with fellow signee Tresscott Shamlou.
- Sister, Angeline, plays soccer at Auburn and Dad, Matt, played baseball at Saint Leo University.
- Intends to major in Pre-Med.
Norman on Daly: “Gaby is a very technical center mid. She has a great first touch and vision of the field. She is a great connecting player and does a wonderful job keeping the ball. She is very creative on the ball and is always looking to combine with her teammates.”
Kathleen “Kati” Druzina, Forward, Kirtland, Ohio
- 2017 News Herald Player of the Year.
- Guided Lake Catholic to its first state finals in school history.
- Three-time first team All-Region selection.
- National Honor Society member, honors student throughout all four years of high school.
- Played club for Cleveland Ambassadors under coach Caleb Fortune.
- Two-time club state cup winner, youngest goal scorer for Cleveland WPSL team.
- Attended US Soccer National Training Camp in Phoenix, Ariz. in 2016.
- Older sister, Erika, played soccer and lacrosse at Mount Union.
- Intends to major in business and minor in biology.
Norman on Kati: “Kati is a fast and skillful wide forward. She is very dangerous in 1v1 areas and is always looking to take people on. She not only can serve dangerous crosses but has the ability to drive inside and finish on her own.”
Elizabeth “Bea” Franklin, Defender, Seattle, Wash.
- 2015 Washington State Champion, three-time Seattle Metro Champion.
- Two-time first team All-State selection.
- Participating in the 2018 High School All-American Game in Orlando, Fla.
- 2017 Esmark Soccer All-American.
- Four-year letterwinner in soccer and three-year letterwinner in basketball and tennis.
- Plays club for Crossfire ECNL and coach Steve Crum.
- Member of the National Honor Society and Prep Ambassador Club.
- Made the Dean’s List in each semester.
- Dad, Jesse Franklin IV, was a three-year varsity letterwinner in rowing at Washington University and was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 1999. Brother, Jesse Franklin V, is currently playing baseball at the University of Michigan.
- Undecided on a major.
Norman on Bea: “Bea is a tall and strong center back. She is wonderful in the air and is very steady playing out of the back. She has all the natural traits of a great center back. She is a great 1v1 defender and a wonderful leader back there by being a great communicator.”
Erin Hohnstein, Midfielder, Broomfield, Colo.
- Two-time ODP State and Regional team in 2012 and 2013.
- Participated in US National team pool and camps for U14, U16, U17 and U19.
- Played club U10-U16 with Colorado Rush and coach Eric Bushey.
- Won the Colorado State Cup in 2012 and Region IV Far West in 2013.
- Played club U17-U19 with Real Colorado DA and coaches Lorne Donaldson and Jared Spires.
- Played in the ECNL National Finals event twice and the ECNL National Championship game once.
- Won the Kick It 3v3 World Championship in 2012.
- Participated in the Adams 12 School Superintendent Student Leadership Council.
- Mom, Bethany, played soccer at Regis University and dad, Scott, played golf at Western State University.
- Undecided on a major.
Norman on Erin: “Erin is a versatile midfielder who has a ton of different strengths. She has great attacking attributes, specifically in playing penetrating passes and taking defenders on 1v1. She also has a wonderful defensive mentality, and can greatly impact the game on both sides of the ball.”
Waniya Hudson, Defender, Greece, N.Y.
- Two-time All-State and All-Greater Rochester team selection.
- Named on the All-American player to watch team and will participate in the 2018 High School All-American Game in Orlando, Fla. with fellow signee Bea Franklin.
- Earned Offensive Player of the Year last three years and nominated for Greece HS Athlete of the Year.
- High school letterwinner in soccer and track.
- High Honor Roll and High Honor Roll with distinction throughout high school career.
- Played club for Super 9 Academy BU18 for coach Viktor Paco.
- Two-time Captain of New York West ODP regional champions team and competed in ODP nationals.
- Made the Region 1 ODP team and traveled to Costa Rica, Germany and Amsterdam.
- Selected to the All-Star Top 11 for the Boca Raton inter-regional thanksgiving tournament.
- Dad, Woodruff, played basketball at RIT. Mom, Wanda, ran track at Nazareth College. Brother, Woodruff II, played hockey at St. Lawrence University. Sister, Winsom, played soccer at Buff State.
- Intends to major in Pre-Professional studies for Sports Medicine.
Norman on Waniya: “Waniya is an extremely versatile player. She is a phenomenal athlete so it allows her to play almost anywhere on the field. She often times plays as an outside back. Her strength and speed allows her to not only be a great 1v1 defender, but allows her to attack very well out of the back.”
Madison Mercado, Midfielder, San Diego, Calif.
- 2016 CIF Southern California High School Champions.
- Two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American team selection (2016, 2017).
- 2017 Western Conference Player of the Year.
- Member of the U14-U17 US Youth National Team.
- Three-time US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Champions with Cal South Team 2001.
- Won the U16 US Youth National Team “Torneo delle Nazioni” in 2017 and the US Youth National Team CONCACAF championship in 2016.
- Played club for San Diego Surf Soccer Club and coach Mark Spooner.
- Named to the 2018 US Soccer Girls Development Academy U18/19 Best XI.
- Dad, David played tennis at the University of Central Florida. Mom, Shelley, played tennis at the University of Florida and continued on to a professional career. Brother, Michael, was selected in the 2nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Undecided on a major.
Norman on Mercado: “Maddie is an extremely creative and dynamic midfielder. She has a wonderful feel for the game. She not only is a great possession player, but she combines that with a unique ability to drive at defenders and create chances for herself and others.”
Hanna Sellinger, Goalkeeper, Darnestown, Md.
- Four-time All-ISL Conference selection. Also named a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention.
- Named Freshman Athlete of the Year for Connelly School of Holy Child.
- 2017 ISL Soccer Tournament Champions.
- Four-year letterwinner in soccer and basketball. Also earned a letter in lacrosse.
- Winner of the 2016 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year Campaign.
- Played club for Bethesda Tempo ECNL and coach Trey Livingston and Brian Wiese.
- 2016 ECNL Conference Champions. Made the ECNL National Playoffs from 2014 to 2017.
- Dad, John, is a Notre Dame Alumni from the class of 1972.
- Undecided on a major.
Norman on Hanna: “Hanna is a very talented keeper. She is very quick and athletic. She has a wonderful aggressiveness and presence in goal. She is great in 1v1 situations and is also very confident with the ball at her feet.”
Trescott Shamlou, Forward, Ormond Beach, Fla.
- Named a Day 2 Stand-out by Top Drawer Soccer at the PDA ECNL Showcase.
- Participated on the Region III ODP team in 2015 and 2016.
- Member of the International Baccalaureate Program at Spruce Creek High School.
- Earned Honor Roll designation every semester.
- Played club soccer for United Soccer Alliance DA and coach Luis Torres and Wale Leyimu with fellow signee Gaby Daily.
- Intends to major in Engineering.
Norman on Trescott: “Trescott is a very fast and quick attacking player. She is a versatile player who has played as both a midfielder and forward. She does so many things well. She not only is a dynamic attacking player but has a very aggressive defensive mentality. This allows her to be successful in a lot of different areas on the field.”
Kalyssa “Kiki” Van Zanten, Forward, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
- Member of the U17 WNT and competed internationally in China, Mexico, Italy and Croatia.
- Named an All-American by United Coaches Association.
- 2018 Best XI U18/19 from US Soccer DA program.
- Played in the 2016 CONCACAF U15 Championship game.
- Played club for Eclipse Select Soccer Club.
- Three year volunteer coach for Buddy Soccer.
- Dad, Kent, played football at Illinois Wesleyan. Sister, Brianna, plays soccer at Case Western.
- Undecided on a major.
Norman on Kiki: “Kiki is a very dynamic forward who we anticipate will do big things during her career here. She has tons of pace and can not only run at defenders, but also can hold the ball up very well and combine with her teammates. We believe she will be a perfect fit for our program.”
Audrey Weiss, Forward, Greenwood Village, Colo.
- US Women’s National Team Camp U14-U16.
- Leading scorer in ECNL for three straight years (2015-17).
- Selected to the ECNL Best 11 team in 2015.
- Played club for Colorado Rush (U11-17) with fellow signee Erin Hohnstein.
- Currently plays club for Colorado Rapids (U18/19) and coach Peter May.
- Won the Colorado Rush: Golden Boot Award.
- 2017 ECNL Showcase Champion and appeared in the ECNL Nationals tournament.
- Member of the National Honor Society and was awarded the John Lynch Student Athlete Award.
- Intends to major in Pre-Med.
Norman on Audrey: “Audrey is a wonderful wide forward. She combines her quickness and speed with being a very technical player. This makes her very dangerous when on the ball because she not only can threaten to take players on, but is also a threat to combine or slip one of her teammates through with a final pass.”
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish women’s soccer program, follow @NDSoccer on Twitter and @NDWSoccer on Instagram.
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