VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota soccer head coach
Michael Thomas has announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2019 season.
The nine signees are Bella Alessio, Mackenzie Anderson, Vivian Boukhalil, Shaylee Gailus, Anna Hossfeld, Caroline Lewis, Emily Mikkelsen, Isabelle Sorge and Becca Zimmerman.
Bella Alessio | Goalkeeper | Channahon, Ill. | Minooka Community HS | Nursing
Alessio earned a national championship with the NSA Shock club team where she totaled three shutouts at the national event. At the prep level, she has started 58 games in net for Minooka Community High School, collecting 30 shutouts. She has earned Southwest Prairie Conference accolades on three occasions with her senior season set to begin this spring.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Bella brings high-level club experiences and was part of a team that won a national championship last summer. We feel that those experiences will help her compete at the University of South Dakota.
Mackenzie Anderson | Defender | Rosemount, Minn. | Rosemount HS | Undecided
Anderson, an all-state honoree from Rosemount High School, played at the varsity level for four seasons. She helped the Fighting Irish earn state runner-up honors in 2016. She started all four years and was named a team captain. She was also named the Defensive Player of the Year for Rosemount High School. On the club level, Anderson was a Midwest Regional Champion and was a captain for the Minnesota Thunder Academy.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Mackenzie is solid on the ball and will be a presence for us as a center defender. She comes to us from the Minnesota Thunder Academy which has a strong presence in the Minneapolis area."
Vivian Boukhalil | Midfielder | Yorba Linda, Calif. | Yorba Linda HS | Kinesiology and Sport Management
Boukhalil played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Yorba Linda High School, earning an honorable mention from the California Interscholastic Federation. Transitioning to club ball, she played for the Fullerton Rangers Club fulltime. Over the past season, she totaled nine assists and six goals for the Rangers.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Vivian brings a lot of fight and athleticism to the team. She can play as an attacker or a defender and we are excited to get her on campus."
Shaylee Gailus | Forward | Broomfield, Colo. | Broomfield HS | Nursing
Gailus is a two-time Colorado State Cup Champion with the Broomfield Soccer Club. In 2018, she was named the Colorado Youth Soccer U18 Most Valuable Player while leading the team in scoring. In her prep career, Gailus helped Broomfield High School to the 5A State Championship game in 2018 while ranking 12
th in the league for points. She totaled eight goals and five assists during her junior campaign. She is a teammate of fellow signee Isabella Sorge.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Shaylee is an athletic target forward. Her club team has won several state championships and she will have the ability both to hold the ball and get behind the defense."
Anna Hossfeld | Midfielder | Parker, Colo. | Chaparral HS | Business
Hossfeld is an honorable mention to the Continental all-League team and a four-year varsity player at Chaparral High School. Over her first three years, she has tallied 31 points from 12 goals and seven assists. At the club level, Hossfeld plays for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) where she helped the Storm to the Final Four of the Colorado State Cup in both 2017 and 2018.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Anna is an athletic player who comes from a good club environment. We are excited to continue our success with Colorado players and have her join the Coyote family."
Caroline Lewis | Goalkeeper | Adrian, Mich. | Adrian HS | Finance
Lewis is a two-time team MVP at Adrian High School with her senior season to begin in the spring. She was named a team captain for her junior campaign and was named first-team all-Southeastern League. She was also named all-county in her sophomore and junior campaigns. Lewis is also a member of the Michigan Olympic Development Program pool in both 2017 and 2018.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Caroline is an athletic goalkeeper. She came to our camp and did a great job. We are excited to get her onto campus and in our environment."
Emily Mikkelsen | Forward | Pierre, S.D. | T.F. Riggs HS | Physical Therapy
Mikkelsen is a two-time state champion with T.F. Riggs High School. She earned first-team all-state accolades in both 2017 and 2018 while tallying 54 goals and 43 assists over her career. In her four-year varsity career, Mikkelsen helped T.F. Riggs to a 46-6-6 overall record. At the club level, she plays for Oahe FC.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Emily is a local product from Pierre. She is a fast and wide player who is capable of providing service or scoring goals herself."
Isabelle Sorge | Midfielder | Thornton, Colo. | Broomfield HS | Undecided
Sorge is a three-year varsity letter winner at Broomfield High School, where she helped the Eagles advance to the 5A State Championship game. She has totaled seven goals and six assists in her prep career. At the club level, Sorge is a two-time Colorado State Cup Champion and helped Broomfield Soccer Club reach the quarterfinals of the Far West Regional. She is a teammate to fellow signee Shaylee Gailus.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Isabelle is a tricky attacking player. She is capable of playing inside or out and is capable of bringing a different element to our attack."
Becca Zimmerman | Midfielder | Oconomowoc, Wis. | Oconomowoc HS | Business
Zimmerman is a six-time Wisconsin State Cup Champion with North Shore United, where she was named a team captain. Playing for Oconomowoc High School, Zimmerman has been twice named all-conference before committing herself to the club level beginning with her junior campaign. She led the Raccoons in scoring both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Coach Thomas' Take: "Becca plays for one of the best club teams in the region. She has a rangy athleticism that allows her the ability to play several positions. Her high-level club experiences will serve her well here."
