Women’s Soccer Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head women's soccer coach Kelly Cook has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. These seven current high school seniors will join the Bison in 2019: goalkeeper Kaylee Donnelly (Warren, N.J.), defenders Emily Den Haese (Clarence Center, N.Y.) and Leanne Engemann (Long Valley, N.J.), midfielders Abby Gearhart (Windsor, Colo.) and Peyton "Petie" Nassetta (Arlington, Va.), and forwards Annabelle Heisel (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) and Rylee Donaldson (Allentown, Pa.).

"I am very excited to welcome seven outstanding individuals to our Bison family," said Cook. "I can't wait to see the potential in this group of very talented student-athletes who will be joining us in Lewisburg from all across the country. This group covers a variety of positions and will look to make an impact on the team right away with their combination of athleticism and skill."

The incoming class joins a Bucknell program that has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years. The Bison captured back-to-back Patriot League championships in 2016 and 2017, and this past fall they finished in fourth place in the 10-team league despite losing eight starters from the previous season.

Here is more information on each of Bucknell's seven signees.

EMILY DEN HAESE
Defender | Clarence Center, N.Y. | Nardin Academy | Western New York Flash ECNL
Daughter of Diane and Ryan Den Haese … father played soccer at Niagara … has three younger siblings: Mia, Joseph and Siena … All-Catholics Team selection at Nardin Academy … High Honor Roll student … plays club soccer for Western New York Flash ECNL.

Kelly Cook on Emily Den Haese: "Emily is a versatile player who can excel at a variety of positions. We are really excited about her tenacious style of defense and her ability to get forward and contribute to the attack."

RYLEE DONALDSON
Forward | Allentown, Pa. | Salisbury H.S. | West Mont United
Daughter of Jessica and Glenn Donaldson … older brother, Mason, is a wide receiver on the football team at Connecticut … helped Salisbury H.S. to district and league finals in 2016 … broke the school records for career goals, assists and points … Pennsylvania All-State selection in 2018 … two-time First Team All-Area pick … four-time team Offensive MVP … 2018 Scholar-Athlete selection … Coordinated Health Athlete of the Week, and two time Lehigh Valley Live Athlete of the Week … has received Distinguished Academic Honors all four years … National Honor Society member … received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award … West Mont United club team was a 2017 State Cup finalist … also competes in track and field and is a two-time team MVP … has medaled twice in the 400-meter run and once in the long jump in league and district championship meets.

Kelly Cook on Rylee Donaldson: "Rylee is a pacey forward who is very dangerous in the attacking third. She is adept at both creating opportunities and finishing herself."

KAYLEE DONNELLY
Goalkeeper | Warren, N.J. | Watchung Hills Regional H.S. | Match Fit ECNL
Daughter of Kathy and Robert Donnelly … has one sister, Geanna, who played soccer at Mount St. Mary's … helped lead Watchung Hills Regional H.S. to four straight Skyland Conference championships and the 2016 Somerset County title … team captain … earned Third Team All-State honors and was on the All-America watch list … also earned all-division, all-conference and all-county honors … MSG Varisty All-NY/NJ selection … four-year honor roll student … member of French National Honor Society … plays club soccer with Match Fit ECNL … part of a U15 team that won the North American Cup.

Kelly Cook on Kaylee Donnelly: "Kaylee brings good size and experience to the goalkeeper group. She possesses a great combination of athleticism, skill, and knowledge of the position."

LEANNE ENGEMANN
Defender | Long Valley, N.J. | West Morris Central H.S. | PDA ECNL
Daughter of Laurie and Glenn Engemann … has one brother, Greg … First Team All-County and All-Conference at West Morris Central H.S. … part of two conference championship teams and one state sectional championship side … team was a three-time county finalist … has made High Honor Roll all four years … National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member … Players Development Academy (PDA) ECNL club team captured the 2016 Jeff Cup and was a top-eight playoff qualifier in 2016 and 2017 … the team made the 2018 DA playoffs … also competed in varsity winter track and field and was voted "best all-around athlete."

Kelly Cook on Leanne Engemann: "Leanne brings great pace and an attacking mentality to our back line. She has an incredible work rate to go along with a high level of skill."

ABBY GEARHART
Midfielder | Windsor, Colo. | Windsor H.S. | Colorado Storm ECNL
Parents are Cindy and Roy Gearhart … Cindy was a state champion volleyball player in high school … played varsity soccer at Windsor H.S., which was the Colorado 4A State Champion in the spring of 2018 (junior year) after advancing to the state semifinals in both 2016 and 2017 … part of three Tri-Valley Conference championship teams … First Team All-State selection as a sophomore and junior … All-State honorable mention as a freshman … three-time Tri-Valley All-Conference selection and 2018 Tri-Valley Player of the Year … Coloradoan All-Area Team in 2017 … in 2018 ranked third in Colorado 4A with 32 goals … also ranked third in 2017, when she broke the school record with 33 goals … National Honor Society … received Windsor Academic Letter in 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Colorado Storm club team was an ECNL national semifinalist in 2017 and 2018 … 2017 Colorado State Cup champion … also part of a U13 team that made the State Cup finals.

Kelly Cook on Abby Gearhart: "Abby is a skillful, creative attacking player. She can play in the midfield or on the forward line for us, and she has the ability to both create and score goals."

ANNABELLE HEISEL
Forward | Pacific Palisades, Calif. | Harvard-Westlake H.S. | LA Breakers Development Academy
Parents are Angela and Kurt Heisel … has dual citizenship, as her mother hails from England … father is a UCLA graduate who has climbed the three tallest peaks in North America … younger sister, Maia, dances for Brentwood Academy of Dance … part of a Harvard-Westlake H.S. soccer team that was ranked in the top-20 nationally and top-5 in the state of California in 2015 and 2016 … team captured league titles in both seasons and advanced to the quarterfinals and semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 … team's leading scorer twice … First Team All-League selection … in 2015 was the only freshman named to the Daily News Los Angeles All-City Team … named school's Freshman Girl Athlete of the Year … has played club soccer with the LA Breakers Development Academy and Real So Cal … latter team was ranked in the top 20 in the ECNL each year from 2014-17 … reached the Sweet 16 of the ECNL National Championships in 2017 … ranked seventh nationally in the ECNL in scoring at the U14 level … as an eighth-grader placed third in the 100-yard dash at the LA Open track meet.

Kelly Cook on Annabelle Heisel: "Annabelle is a strong, athletic forward who is dangerous on the wing and in the center. She is able to use her speed and athleticism to create opportunities and be dangerous in the attacking third."

PEYTON "PETIE" NASSETTA
Midfielder | Arlington, Va. | Yorktown H.S. | Washington Spirit Development Academy
Parents are Paige and Chris Nassetta … the fifth of six sisters in the Nassetta family … has older sisters Bailey, Mason, Kirby and Sydney, and a younger sister, Avery … all six have played soccer and competing in swimming/diving … Sydney was a teammate on the Yorktown H.S. team that captured the 2017 Virginia state championship … it was the school's first-ever state title in women's soccer … that team also won the 6A Liberty Conference title … National Honor Society student … AP Scholars … received the VHSL Academic Excellence Award and made the 6A North Region Athletic Honor Roll for both swimming and soccer … plays for the Washington Spirit Development Academy … in the program's first year in 2017-18, qualified for the DA Summer Showcase playoffs … played in all 34 games with 32 starts during the 2017-18 season, and started all 10 games in the 2018 fall season … is a national level swimmer who holds the school record in the 200-yard butterfly … competed in the VHSL State Championships in 2017.

Kelly Cook on Petie Nassetta: "Petie is a strong central midfielder with great defensive abilities. She has a terrific sense of the game, she tackles hard, and she is very skillful in her play."

Women’s Soccer Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent

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