The South Dakota women's soccer team announced 13 signees to their 2024 class. The Coyotes added Josie Vande Krol, Anna Hendrickson, Sadie Strait, Meredith Galus, Taylor Mulligan, Sophie Kasel, Gabbie Ryan, Lexi Cerone, Elsie Odney, Riley Reed, Margot Mulhern, Brooke Peotter and Brooke Nelson.
 
"I'm really excited about the 2023 recruiting class," head coach Michael Thomas said. "The entire coaching staff has worked hard pulling this group together. They are a geographically diverse group of good soccer players and good people who we feel will represent the University of South Dakota well on and off the field."
 
Josie Vande Krol | Urbandale, Iowa | Northwest HS | Wing
 
Vande Krol is a four-time varsity letter winner in both athletics and academics for the Northwest High School Wolves. Vande Krol has tallied 16 assists and 14 goals so far in her high school career. Vande Krol is the daughter of Dwayne and Lori Vande Krol and plans to study Sports Management while at USD.
 
"Josie comes to us from Iowa," Thomas said. "She can play on either side, as an attacker or a defender. We think she is someone who can blossom at USD."
 
Anna Hendrickson | Sykesville, Maryland | Marriotts Ridge HS | Midfield
 
Hendrickson was a First Team all-County Player for the Marriots Ridge High School Mustangs. She was a team captain for two years, leading the Mustangs to three county championships. Throughout her sophomore and junior year Hendrickson tallied 16 assists and 25 goals. The Sykesville native plans to study medical biology at USD.
 
"Anna is a box-to-box midfielder that is capable of affecting the game from any of the three midfield positions," Thomas said.
 
Sadie Strait | Saint Michael, Minnesota | Saint Michael-Albertville HS | Forward
 
Strait was a member of the varsity soccer, track and wrestling teams for the Saint Michael-Albertville Knights. She also participated in club soccer where her team won the Soccer State Club Championship back-to-back. Sadie is the daughter of Heather and Matthew Strait.
 
"Sadie is an athletic specimen. She is able to change games both with her pace and with her strength," Thomas said.
 
Meredith Galus | Sahuarita, Arizona | Walden Grove HS | Center Back
 
Galus travels from Sahuarita, Arizona to play with the Coyotes. She earned 4A Region Defensive Player of the Year, First Team all-Southern Arizona player, and First Team all-Region player honors in the 2022-23 season. Galus served as team captain of the Walden Grove High School soccer team last season, leading the Red Wolves to finish runner-up in the 4A State Championship. She has been a Student Council Representative at Walden Grove for the past four years and ranks in the top 10 percent of her class. Galus plans to study kinesiology at USD.
 
"Meredith is capable of playing anywhere in the backline or the center midfield," Thomas said. "She is smooth and composed on the ball as well as athletically gifted."
 
Taylor Mulligan | Urbandale, Iowa | Urbandale HS | Center Back
 
Mulligan was a member of Urbandale High School's varsity soccer and basketball teams. Mulligan played as a starter on her varsity soccer team all four years of her high school career. She also served as team captain of her soccer team last year. Mulligan averages eight goals per season as a center back and holds multiple all-Conference and all-State honors. She is a part of the National Honor Society and boasts a 4.096 weighted GPA. Mulligan plans to join the Beacom School of Business at USD.
 
"Taylor is an athletic defender from Iowa whose movements are very fluid," Thomas said. "We are excited to get her onto campus and working as part of the team."
 
Sophie Kasel | Middleton, Wisconsin | Middleton HS | Center Back
 
Kasel was a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain for the Middleton Cardinals soccer team. She has tallied 10 goals and 14 assists as center back throughout her high school career. In 2023, she was named First Team all-Conference defender and all-State selection. Kasel has been a part of Middleton's academic honor roll since 2021 and plans to study neuroscience at USD next year.
 
"Sophie is a defender who is comfortable with the ball at her feet as well as working on the defensive side of the field," Thomas said.
 
Gabbie Ryan | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Minnetonka HS | Forward
 
Ryan was an all-State 3AAA first team awardee in 2022 and received an honorable mention award in 2021. She was also selected for the ODP Regional ID Camp in 2021. Outside of her high school team, Ryan competed for TonkaFusion Elite 2006 Girls Academy's club team where she played in the USYS Nationals in 2022 and won the state cup in 2021. Ryan is a part of the A/B Honor Roll, National Art Honors Society and Earth Club and plans to study psychology at USD.
 
"Gabbie is a technical attacker with a roadmap to the goal," Thomas said. "Every time we watch her play, she seems to find a way to score."
 
Lexi Cerone | Gretna, Nebraska | Gretna HS | Forward/Midfield/Defender
 
During Cerone's freshman, sophomore and junior season, her team won the Nebraska State Soccer Class A Championship each year. She is also a three-time letter winner for soccer and received all-State honorable mentions for the 2021 and 2023 seasons. As a Gretna Dragon, Cerone also competed in basketball and was a member of the National Honor Society. Cerone plans to join the Beacom School of Business at USD.
 
"Lexi is a versatile player who can play either wing, the center forward position or in the back," Thomas said. "She is very two-footed and capable of going at players 1 vs 1."
 
Elsie Odney | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Harrisburg HS | Outside Back/Winger
 
Odney was a Metro and ESD Conference First Team member during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons. She was also named to the South Dakota All-State First Team in 2022 and 2023. During her time as a Tiger, Odney was the third leading scorer with 9 and second assist leader with 15. Odney also competed in track and cross country and was in the National Honor Society and HOSA at Harrisburg High School.  Odney plans to study biology at USD.
 
"Elsie is another local product who is capable of making an impact out wide with her athleticism in the back," Thomas said.
 
Riley Reed | Covington, Washington | Kentwood HS | Forward
 
Reed was a co-captain for the Conquerors where she was awarded an All-League Mention and All-League First Team. She helped lead her team to 16^th in the state tournament. During her freshman season, Reed was the leading scorer. She also tallied the most assists both her sophomore and senior seasons. For her club team, Reed's team was an ECNL Showcase B National Playoff Champion. Reed plans to study psychology at USD.
 
"Riley is a quick attacker from Washington," Thomas said. "She is capable at playing several spots on the field and running at defenses."
 
Margot Mulhern | Arvada, Colorado | Ralston Valley HS | Goalkeeper
 
Mulhern was a four-time Varsity soccer player where she was named to the All-Conference First Team and was an Honorable Mention All-Conference Girls Soccer Team MVP. Mulhern was also a captain her final two seasons. Along with her soccer success, Mulhern played basketball as a freshman and sophomore. She also was named to the Jeffco Academic All-State First Team and received the Ralston Valley Outstanding Academic Athlete Award. Mulhern plans to study marketing at USD.
 
"Margot is an athletic goalkeeper from Colorado," Thomas said. "She has a frame that will allow her to compete at a high level."
 
Brooke Peotter | Spearfish, South Dakota | Spearfish HS | Attacking Midfielder
 
Peotter was a varsity starter from seventh grade until 2023 and lettered in soccer each of those years. Throughout her many years on the field, she was named to the Black Hills All-Conference Team, Second Team All-State, All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All-State and received a Golden Boot two times. Peotter was also able to tally 65 career goals which broke the Spearfish school record. Along with being a soccer captain for two years, Peotter also excelled in the classroom where she lettered in academics in 2023 and was selected to represent Spearfish at Girls State 2023. She was also an active member in the National Honors Society and on the Basketball and Track teams. Peotter plans to study Computer Science at USD.
 
"Brooke is another South Dakota product joining our team," Thomas said. "She is capable of playing almost anywhere down the center of the field and we are excited to get her on campus."
 
Brooke Nelson | Stillwater, Minnesota | Stillwater Area High School | Forward
 
Nelson was an All-State First Team Awardee for the 2022 and 2023 season. She was also a part of the All-Tournament Team and an All-Conference award winner in 2022 when her high school team placed fourth. Nelson is currently a captain for the Ponies and received Conference Player of the Year and is a Ms. Soccer Finalist. When not on the field, Nelson excelled in the classroom, boasting a GPA above 3.0 her entire academic career. Nelson also competed in hockey. She is considering pursuing a Health Sciences degree at USD.
 
"Brooke is a wide attacker with a great skill set," Thomas said. "She has a combination of size and speed that opposing defenses will hate."