Women's Soccer Announces Seven Signees in 2021 Recruiting Class

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head women's soccer coach Kelly Cook has announced the signing of seven student-athletes who will join the Bison program in the fall of 2021. This year's recruiting class features players from six different states, including one from the local area in Central Pennsylvania, and it provides balance across the field with two forwards, two midfielders and three defenders.

The 2021 recruiting class includes Laura Schmidt (White Hall, Md.), Olivia DeConinck (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Tess Sutter (New York, N.Y.), Kelley Francis (Greenwood Village, Colo.), Teresa Deda (New Rochelle, N.Y.), Paige Temple (Bloomsburg, Pa.) and Reese Evans (Woodbury, N.J.)

"This is an extremely versatile class that covers a whole range of positions," said Cook. "It has the potential to be an impact class with some great goal-scorers along with some strong defensive-minded players. Overall it's a very athletic class and they all seem to have a competitive mentality. They have all been high achievers on the field and in the classroom, and we can't wait to see them here next year."

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

OLIVIA DeCONINCK
Defender | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Marian H.S. | Vardar SC
Born Jan. 2, 2003 … daughter of Lisa and Derik DeConinck … has two older sisters, Elise and Emmelyn … Elise played soccer at Washington University in St. Louis … Emmelyn plays soccer and lacrosse at Kalamazoo College … both parents were student-athletes at Kalamazoo, mother in soccer and father in football … helped led Marian High School to the 2018 and 2019 Michigan Division 2 state championships … elected team captain … earned all-state, all-district and all-league honors … played club soccer for Vardar Soccer Club … four-year team captain … part of 2020 ECNL Ohio Valley Conference Selection Program … U15, U16, U17 ECNL Midwest Conference "Player to Watch" … member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society … received a Certificate of Merit from the Society of Women Engineers … three-year member of the All-Catholic Academic Team.

Kelly Cook on Olivia DeConinck: "Olivia is someone we expect to come in and compete for a role at center back. She is a great leader on the field, a tremendous communicator who can direct the back line. She is a solid defender and good distributor as well."

TERESA DEDA
Midfielder | New Rochelle, N.Y. | New Rochelle H.S. | NYSC
Born July 19, 2003 … parents are Kristina and Noci Deda … has one brother, Martin, who played soccer in high school and with the Manhattan Soccer Club … two-time all-league honoree at New Rochelle High School … 2019 league Player of the Year … earned all-league and all-section honors … elected team captain … named to Journal News 2020 Elite 11 … recorded 24 goals and 13 assists in 2019 … club team, NYSC, has been ranked 11th nationally … named team MVP … also a standout in track and field, where she broke school records in the 5,000 meters and 2,000 meter steeplechase … team's Most Valuable Runner in 2018-19 … earned all-county honors … member of National Honor Society.

Kelly Cook on Teresa Deda: "Teresa is an extremely versatile attacking player. We will be able to put her at midfield or forward and she will generate scoring opportunities. She is very crafty on the ball, she is strong technically, and she can score in tight or from distance."

REESE EVANS
Midfielder | Woodbury, N.J. | Deptford Township H.S. | FC Delco
Born Nov. 21, 2002 … daughter of Pam and Matt Evans … has two older siblings, Haley and Chase … Haley played soccer at Wilkes University and Chase was on the men's soccer team at Widener University … father was a golf professional … two-year team captain at Deptford Township High School … three-time all-conference selection … All-South Jersey honoree … two-time All-New Jersey selection … member of the Positive Coaching Alliance … also participated in basketball and track and field … played club soccer with FC Delco … member of National Honor Society … class Vice President … volunteer at Unforgotten Haven … member of Project Lead the Way at the Academy of Biomedical Science and Allied Health.

Kelly Cook on Reese Evans: "Reese is an attacking center midfielder who has great vision and distribution. She is creative on the ball and can really strike a ball from distance. As a central midfielder she can set up her forwards or create for herself. She is just a very technically strong and creative player."

KELLEY FRANCIS
Forward | Greenwood Village, Colo. | Aspen H.S./Cherry Creek H.S. | Real Colorado 02/03 Athletico
Born Aug. 29, 2002 … parents are Ginna and Tim Francis … has an older brother, Rob, who attends the University of Colorado … father played lacrosse and rugby at Vermont … helped Aspen High School to the 2018 semifinals and 2019 quarterfinals of the 3A Colorado Girls High School Championship … team won Colorado Western Slope League titles in 2018 and 2019 (junior season was cancelled due to COVID-19) … 2019 Colorado Western Slope League Player of the Year … 2018 and 2019 First Team All-State selection … also a two-time all-league honoree … has scored 71 career goals in 31 games … logged 39 goals and 15 assists in 15 games in 2019 … holds the season and career scoring records at Aspen H.S. … was the third-highest goal-scorer in Colorado in 2019 and fifth-highest in 2018 … moved to Cherry Creek H.S. for her senior year and played club soccer with Real Colorado ECNL … participated in the Colorado Olympic Development Program … two-year club captain … won the Golden Boot in the 2002 age group at the 2019 Silverlakes Fall Showcase … competed internationally at the Gothia Cup in Sweden and Cup No. 1 in Denmark with Scandia United Soccer Academy … also played varsity basketball as a junior … member of National Honor Society … Academic/Service Letter recipient.

Kelly Cook on Kelley Francis: "Kelley will play up top, where her quickness and creativity make her a potent goal scorer. She has the ability to get in behind the defense off the dribble, and she has shown tremendous finishing ability."

LAURA SCHMIDT
Defender | White Hall, Md. | Hereford H.S. | Pipeline SC
Born Aug. 15, 2002 … parents are Cindy and Kirk Schmidt … has three older siblings, Rebecca, Evan and Kara … Rebecca played field hockey at Roanoke College … Kara is a member of the soccer team at Salisbury University … helped Hereford High School to the state final in 2017 … as a sophomore was a first team all-county and second team all-state selection … as a junior was named first team all-county, first team all-state and second team All-Metro … played club soccer for Pipeline SC ECNL … team was an EDP national finalist in 2019 … three-year club captain … also competed in track and field and holds multiple school records … part of three state championship track and field teams … member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society.

Kelly Cook on Laura Schmidt: "Laura is capable of coming in and playing either center back or outside back. She is a versatile defender with great speed and tremendous track and field accolades. She is a tenacious defender who can impact our back line."

TESS SUTTER
Defender | New York, N.Y. | Poly Prep Country Day School | PDA 03 Blue
Born May 2, 2003 … daughter of Paula and Craig Sutter … has an older sister, Chloe, who also played high school soccer … attends Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn … helped the team to NYSAIS and Ivy League championships in 2019 … 2018 Freshman Athlete of the Year and 2019 First Team All-Ivy League.

Kelly Cook on Tess Sutter: "Tess is an outside back with tremendous speed and athleticism. She is great at getting up and down the flank and getting involved in the attack, and she is also a solid 1v1 defender."

PAIGE TEMPLE
Forward | Bloomsburg, Pa. | Bloomsburg Area H.S. | FC Revolution Rowdies
Born Feb. 12, 2003 … parents are Tami and Patrick Temple … has a younger brother, Ryan … father played collegiate soccer at Longwood University … helped lead Bloomsburg Area High School to the 2017 district championship and 2019 district final … three-time first team all-star and MVP … played club soccer with the FC Revolution Rowdies in Reading and won a state championship and EDP championship in 2018 … has earned Distinguished Honors for her academic work all four years.

Kelly Cook on Paige Temple: "Paige is just a natural goal-scorer. We envision playing her up top as a target striker, where she has great ability in front of the goal. She is a tenacious attacker who can finish crosses or create her own chances."

Women's Soccer Announces Seven Signees in 2021 Recruiting Class

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