Beavers Ink Eight to 2018 Signing Class
February 08, 2018 | Women's Soccer
“This is very athletic class that I think will adapt very quickly to the physical demands and the technical level of the Pac-12,” said Oregon State head coach Linus Rhode. “As a staff we are very excited to have these student athletes joining our program.”
CORVALLIS – The Oregon State women's soccer team has welcomed eight outstanding players into the program, head coach Linus Rhode announced Thursday, as Helena Brown, Emma Deane, Madison Ellsworth, Ilihiananiohawaiiloa Keawekane, Taylie Liddell, Gabrielle Hackbarth, Bridgette Skiba and Sydney Studer will join the Beavers as freshmen for the 2018 season.
"This is very athletic class that I think will adapt very quickly to the physical demands and the technical level of the Pac-12," said Oregon State head coach Linus Rhode. "As a staff we are very excited to have these student athletes joining our program."
Brown (Happy Valley, Ore.) played club soccer for Crossfire United. She was part of the state ODP travel team for four years, as well as a three-year regional camp participant. Brown helped lead her team to a 2012 State Cup. A member of the National Honor Society, Brown played three seasons at Clackamas High School, serving as team captain for two of those seasons. In addition to her club and high school experience, Brown also competed at the US Youth National Training Center.
"Helena is a midfielder or a winger," Rhode said. "She is very fast and tricky on the dribble. She will give us options in the wide positions."
Deane (Yorba Linda, Calif.) has played on the Yorba Linda High School varsity team in all four of her high school seasons. She has been selected to the All-California Interscholastic Federation Division III First Team, and is the first athlete in Yorba Linda High School history to be named First Team All-Orange County. Deane holds school records for saves in a game (20) and in a season (200). The goalkeeper has also played for the club team Pateadores USSDA 99, helping them reach the 2015 National Cup semifinal. Off the field, she has made the principal's honor roll every semester, with a weighted GPA of 4.53.
"Emma is a goalkeeper who has all of the tools to be successful," Rhode said. "She still has room to develop her skills, and we look forward to seeing how she will progress in the future."
Ellsworth (Hillsboro, Ore.) has played for Crossfire United since 2014. She was a national camp participant for the club in 2016, and a regional camp participant in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Prior to that, she spent several seasons with Tualatin Hills United. Ellsworth has played four seasons for Hillsboro High School, earning All-League honors in her junior and senior years. She finished her career with 25 goals and 25 assists, and helped lead the Spartans to two state semifinal appearances. Ellsworth was also selected to play in the Top Drawer Soccer All-America game in 2017.
"Maddie is a centerback or defensive midfielder," Rhode said. "She has a lot of great experience as a youth player. She is a great athlete who can play with either foot. We're excited to have her as a part of our program."
Keawekane (Wailuku, Hawaii) played club soccer for Davis Legacy Girls 99 Red ECNL club. She has been a Top Drawer Soccer Top-150 Selection from 2013-17, and attended the U14 US Women's National Team Camp in Portland, Ore. Keawekane was an All-League All-Star in 2015 and 2016 during high school. She attended the 2014 ODP National Camp, and was a Regional ODP Camp invite from 2012-14.
"Illihia is a versatile player who can play in numerous positions due to her skill set," Rhode said. "She's a very good player with a good soccer IQ."
Liddell (Camarillo, Calif.) is a three-time Team Defensive Player of the Year at Moorpark High School, and earned Coastal Canyon Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017. Liddell earned All-CIF First Team honors in 2017, and led her team to a state title in 2017, as well as state finals in 2015 and 2016. She played her club soccer for Eagles SC, serving as a team captain from 2010-18. Liddell was a scholar athlete from 2015-17.
"Taylie is an excellent defender out of Southern California," Rhode said. "She can play in multiple positions across the back line and in the midfield. She is extremely athletic and I'm looking forward to having her on the team."
Hackbarth (Mililani, Hawaii) plays for the club team Leahi Premier 2000. She has helped the team win the President's Cup Regionals and Nationals in 2015, as well as the Surf Cup in 2016. At Mililani High School, Hackbarth helped her team finish third in the state in 2016 and 2017, as well as winning Oahu Interscholastic Association championships in 2016 and 2017.
"Gabrielle can play in numerous positions across the back line and out wide," Rhode said. "She has game-breaking pace, and she will create a level of competition in our team that will be great for us."
Skiba (Portland, Ore.) helped Sunset High School finish fourth in the state of Oregon in 2017, as she held 12 shutouts in 19 games on the year from the goalkeeper position. Skiba allowed just 11 goals on the season, earning selection as a finalist for Oregon 6A Player of the Year. The net-minder is a three-time 6A All-State selection, including a pair of first-team nods. Skiba played her club soccer for Westside Timbers FC.
"We're really excited about Bridgette coming" Rhode said. "She's excellent with her feet, she's a good shot stopper and a good distributor of the ball. She has all the tools, and I think she will provide a lot of competition from the goalkeeper spot."
Studer (Eastvale, Calif.) played at Roosevelt High School her sophomore and junior seasons, earning First Team All-Conference honors in both seasons, as well as an All-State selection in 2016-17. She was tabbed as a Scholar Athlete for her performance in the classroom as well as on the field. Studer also played for the club team Legends USSDA 99, starting in the midfield. She scored two goals for the club.
"Sydney is a midfielder, who can win the ball in the air or on the ground," Rhode said. "She can cover a lot of ground. I've been watching her play for two years now and she always has a big impact on games."
For updates on Oregon State women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter or Instagram @BeaverWSoccer.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
"This is very athletic class that I think will adapt very quickly to the physical demands and the technical level of the Pac-12," said Oregon State head coach Linus Rhode. "As a staff we are very excited to have these student athletes joining our program."
Brown (Happy Valley, Ore.) played club soccer for Crossfire United. She was part of the state ODP travel team for four years, as well as a three-year regional camp participant. Brown helped lead her team to a 2012 State Cup. A member of the National Honor Society, Brown played three seasons at Clackamas High School, serving as team captain for two of those seasons. In addition to her club and high school experience, Brown also competed at the US Youth National Training Center.
"Helena is a midfielder or a winger," Rhode said. "She is very fast and tricky on the dribble. She will give us options in the wide positions."
Deane (Yorba Linda, Calif.) has played on the Yorba Linda High School varsity team in all four of her high school seasons. She has been selected to the All-California Interscholastic Federation Division III First Team, and is the first athlete in Yorba Linda High School history to be named First Team All-Orange County. Deane holds school records for saves in a game (20) and in a season (200). The goalkeeper has also played for the club team Pateadores USSDA 99, helping them reach the 2015 National Cup semifinal. Off the field, she has made the principal's honor roll every semester, with a weighted GPA of 4.53.
"Emma is a goalkeeper who has all of the tools to be successful," Rhode said. "She still has room to develop her skills, and we look forward to seeing how she will progress in the future."
Ellsworth (Hillsboro, Ore.) has played for Crossfire United since 2014. She was a national camp participant for the club in 2016, and a regional camp participant in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Prior to that, she spent several seasons with Tualatin Hills United. Ellsworth has played four seasons for Hillsboro High School, earning All-League honors in her junior and senior years. She finished her career with 25 goals and 25 assists, and helped lead the Spartans to two state semifinal appearances. Ellsworth was also selected to play in the Top Drawer Soccer All-America game in 2017.
"Maddie is a centerback or defensive midfielder," Rhode said. "She has a lot of great experience as a youth player. She is a great athlete who can play with either foot. We're excited to have her as a part of our program."
Keawekane (Wailuku, Hawaii) played club soccer for Davis Legacy Girls 99 Red ECNL club. She has been a Top Drawer Soccer Top-150 Selection from 2013-17, and attended the U14 US Women's National Team Camp in Portland, Ore. Keawekane was an All-League All-Star in 2015 and 2016 during high school. She attended the 2014 ODP National Camp, and was a Regional ODP Camp invite from 2012-14.
"Illihia is a versatile player who can play in numerous positions due to her skill set," Rhode said. "She's a very good player with a good soccer IQ."
Liddell (Camarillo, Calif.) is a three-time Team Defensive Player of the Year at Moorpark High School, and earned Coastal Canyon Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017. Liddell earned All-CIF First Team honors in 2017, and led her team to a state title in 2017, as well as state finals in 2015 and 2016. She played her club soccer for Eagles SC, serving as a team captain from 2010-18. Liddell was a scholar athlete from 2015-17.
"Taylie is an excellent defender out of Southern California," Rhode said. "She can play in multiple positions across the back line and in the midfield. She is extremely athletic and I'm looking forward to having her on the team."
Hackbarth (Mililani, Hawaii) plays for the club team Leahi Premier 2000. She has helped the team win the President's Cup Regionals and Nationals in 2015, as well as the Surf Cup in 2016. At Mililani High School, Hackbarth helped her team finish third in the state in 2016 and 2017, as well as winning Oahu Interscholastic Association championships in 2016 and 2017.
"Gabrielle can play in numerous positions across the back line and out wide," Rhode said. "She has game-breaking pace, and she will create a level of competition in our team that will be great for us."
Skiba (Portland, Ore.) helped Sunset High School finish fourth in the state of Oregon in 2017, as she held 12 shutouts in 19 games on the year from the goalkeeper position. Skiba allowed just 11 goals on the season, earning selection as a finalist for Oregon 6A Player of the Year. The net-minder is a three-time 6A All-State selection, including a pair of first-team nods. Skiba played her club soccer for Westside Timbers FC.
"We're really excited about Bridgette coming" Rhode said. "She's excellent with her feet, she's a good shot stopper and a good distributor of the ball. She has all the tools, and I think she will provide a lot of competition from the goalkeeper spot."
Studer (Eastvale, Calif.) played at Roosevelt High School her sophomore and junior seasons, earning First Team All-Conference honors in both seasons, as well as an All-State selection in 2016-17. She was tabbed as a Scholar Athlete for her performance in the classroom as well as on the field. Studer also played for the club team Legends USSDA 99, starting in the midfield. She scored two goals for the club.
"Sydney is a midfielder, who can win the ball in the air or on the ground," Rhode said. "She can cover a lot of ground. I've been watching her play for two years now and she always has a big impact on games."
For updates on Oregon State women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter or Instagram @BeaverWSoccer.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
Oregon State Women's Soccer Doernbecher Children's Hospital Visit
Tuesday, March 14
Oregon State's McKenzie Redberg finds herself through Air Force service, returns home to Corvallis
Thursday, March 02
Recap: Oregon State women's soccer closes out season with win over Oregon
Thursday, March 02
Recap: Cal women's soccer tallies three goals in win over Oregon State
Thursday, March 02
