CLEVELAND -- Cleveland State head coach Dallas Boyer announced the addition of eight student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Cleveland State University and compete for the Vikings women's soccer program.
Maria Bashardoust, Isabella Ceepo, Mollie McGuire, Shelby O'Leary, Meaghan Puskar, Kathryn Ramicone, Maia Ransom, Daelynn Rosser each signed an NLI and will join the Vikings in the fall of 2020.
Maria Bashardoust, 5-5, D, Loveland, Ohio (Loveland High School)
On Bashardoust: Currently attends Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio...played soccer and basketball for the Tigers...four-year letterwinner in soccer...First Team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference as a senior...two-time ECC Player of the Week...led team to a district championship and an appearance in the regional final...First Team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference during her junior season...played in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Fall All-Star game...helped lead Loveland to a state championship as a sophomore...was named Second Team All-ECC
Coach Boyer on Bashardoust: "Maria is likely as prepared and ready to go immediately in her upcoming transition to Division 1 soccer as anyone we've had the ability to add the last few years. On top of being very good technically on the ball and athletically with her speed and physicality, she's so prepared tactically with an excellent soccer IQ. Coming from a very good environment with her Ohio Elite ECNL team, her understanding of the game and where she needs to be within it are impressive. I'd anticipate that she works her way quickly into some role either as an outside back or as a wing back depending on the formation with her ability to both defend individually as well as get forward to support the attack from wide areas. Also, she is excellent in her corner kick and set piece service which will make us more dangerous in those areas as well. Like so many in this class she has a very consistent and professional approach which we can't wait to bring into the locker room and continue to build around."
Isabella Ceepo, 5-2, MF, Akron, Ohio (St. Mary-St. Vincent High School)
On Ceepo: Currently attends St. Mary-St. Vincent High School...competed on the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy Elite Clubs National League team...helped lead the club to a Northern American Cup championship in 2017-18
Coach Boyer on Ceepo:"Bella fits our possession based style of play perfectly. As the "glue" in the center midfield of one of the best club teams in the country with her Internationals ECNL team, she is excellent and connecting the defending group to the attacking group to create a cohesive system and helping to get all of the other players around her in situations to succeed. So often in watching her play the last few years, she is responsible for a key pass that maybe isn't credited with the assist, but is the play that initiates her team's attack and got created the perfect situation for her teammate to attack from. She will be able to drop in and help a back line build up to start a possession and switch the point of attack to get us from side to side like we try to execute. The biggest growth in her game is that she's now also defending much better, both in her 1v1 defending on the ball as well as covering a larger area within the shape with her other midfielders. With the graduations of Toni and Sydney who did similar things for us in possession last year, Bella can immediately help fill the void and keep us in our style of play very effectively."
Mollie McGuire, 5-10, GK, Cincinnati, Ohio (Madeira High School)
On McGuire: Currently attends Madeira High School...four-year letterwinner...starting keeper in all four seasons...helped lead the Amazons to four consecutive district titles...recorded 38 shutouts in her high school career and had a career goals against average of 0.89
Coach Boyer on McGuire: "In Mollie, we believe we are adding one of, if not the best, graduating Goalkeeper in Ohio. Her upside is unlimited as her excellent tangibles in her size, frame, athleticism, and skill level are more importantly matched by her intangibles in that she loves to be coached and work hard at getting better. With another year of development playing and training in the excellent environment of the Cincinnati Development Academy, we know that Mollie comes to us absolutely ready to compete and help a team win games at this level. The goal for Mollie is to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Horizon League with some continued experience and polishing at this level, and with her drive and mentality it's the standard she has set for herself as well."
Shelby O'Leary, 5-7, F, Fairfield, Ohio (Fairfield High School)
On O'Leary: Currently attends Fairfield High School...four-year letterwinner...helped lead the Indians to an 11th place finish at the state tournament as a junior...Fairfield captured a league championship in 2017 and a sectional championship in 2016...First Team All-City and First Team All-Greater Miami Conference as a senior...selected to play in the Senior All-Star game...Also earned First Team All-Greater Miami Conference honors as a junior...Second Team All-GMC as a sophomore...second all-time in career assists at Fairfield with 27
Coach Boyer on O'Leary: "Shelby is the epitome of a "coach's kid" having played for her dad in high school and competing every day with the positive energy, work rate, and toughness that any coach loves and can't wait to add to their team. Her tireless work rate is awesome to watch and will give her the opportunity to make an impact somewhere in the attack or midfield depending on our formation. She's improved a lot over the last several years, really cleaning up technically and becoming even more of a threat in the final third as a result, and her move this upcoming year to a very good TFA team will only continue that skill development. Shelby is ultimately a person who raises the level of our environment because she sets a tone of selflessness, energy, and toughness that any winning team is built on and I am thrilled to watch her add that to our group."
Meaghan Puskar, Concord, N.C. (Jay M. Robinson High School)
On Puskar: Currently attends Jay M. Robinson High School...four-year letterwinner on the soccer team...team most valuable player as a junior
Coach Boyer on Puskar: "Meaghan is a true box-to-box central midfielder who can play very effectively on both sides of the ball. She's uniquely capable of both winning possession back as a very good defender and ball-winner, and then turning possession into scoring opportunities by getting into the attack. Similar to several in this class, Meaghan is always competing incredibly hard and brings a real toughness and athletic physicality to our midfield group. As she adapts to our style of play, I look forward to her giving us some very valuable flexibility to find the best combinations in midfield as someone who can fill all of those roles rather than be as either a "defensive midfielder" or an "attacking midfielder". Meaghan has been so excited to join our Viking family for awhile now and I am equally excited to bring her qualities and winning mentality to the group."
Kathryn Ramicone, 5-8, MF, Strongsville, Ohio (Walsh Jesuit High School)
On Ramicone: Currently attends Walsh Jesuit High School...four-year letterwinner...helped lead Walsh Jesuit to a 16-1-3 record this season and a district championship and a berth in the regional final...helped lead the Warriors to a state championship in 2016...First Team All-North Coast League and second team all-district selection
Coach Boyer on Ramicone: "Kat is a dynamic attacking presence as one of the focal points of the offense on both a national championship winning club team as well as for one of the top high school programs in the country. So we look forward to her to do the same and immediately make our attacking group better as she can do the same at our level as well. She checks off all the boxes in that she has great size and athleticism, is very technical in her ability to create chances for herself and others off the dribble or making a variety of passes, she's a committed defender who works hard and can win tackles, and she's very intelligent as a leader of multiple teams that win at a very high level. She can help either in midfield as an excellent player building possession and creating chances, or move up top and be someone who is ready to score goals at this level immediately. In either position, she brings a real upgrade in overall talent and potential that I'm very excited to work with and watch grow."
Maia Ransom, 5-5, D/F, Fairlawn, Ohio (Copley High School)
On Ramson: Currently attends Copley High School...four-year letterwinner in soccer...helped lead the Indians to a Suburban League title and a district championship as a senior...Copley advanced to the regional final in 2019...also helped lead Copley to a Suburban League title in 2018...was selected as the Greater Akron District Player of the Year in 2019...was selected as the Suburban League Player of the Year as a junior...first team all-state and first team all-district as a junior...named first team all-district as a sophomore...finished her career with 52 career goals
Coach Boyer on Ransom: "Maia has an infectious energy level in the way that she competes and fights on a soccer field. It's normal to watch players raise their level during games, but in watching Maia for years her consistency in energy and work rate is there every single time she has the opportunity to play regardless of the circumstance. She brings an awesome level of versatility in that she is both an All-Ohio 1st Team performer as a forward having scored over 50 goals in her last few high school seasons, but is also an excellent central defender on one of the best club teams in the country. Whether it be in bolstering our attacking options or filling in for some of the holes we will have in defense, Maia is certainly going to find an opportunity to have an impact for us immediately and I can't wait to work with someone who is as committed and tough as she will certainly be."
Daelynn Rosser, 5-4, MF/F, New Albany, Ohio (Buckeye Valley High School)
On Rosser: Currently attends Buckeye Valley High School...three-year letterwinner...helped lead the Barons to a sectional championship in 2017...two-time first team all-league selection...scored 16 goals as a sophomore and 15 goals as a junior
Coach Boyer on Rosser: "Daelynn is a proven goal scoring threat who both creates chances and ultimately has the unique skill of finishing from a variety of ways. Over the years, we've seen Daelynn in a variety of attacking roles either as a central forward who can play with her back to goal and link up, out wide and able to run at defenders in 1v1 situations off the dribble, or underneath other forwards as an attacking midfielder making final passes and getting into the box to join them. In each circumstance, she makes an impact in creating chances and scoring goals in the style similar to how we like to play. So regardless of formation, Daelynn will give us another dangerous option as a proven talent in and around the box with a nose for scoring goals which I anticipate she will continue to do at this level."