Moynihan Welcomes Nine New Wildcats on #NSD18
2/7/2018 4:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Northwestern women's soccer program welcomed nine newcomers to the family Wednesday as part of 2018 National Signing Day.
Head coach Michael Moynihan and the 2017 Big Ten runner-ups officially inked Cherish Anderson (Plano, Texas / John Paul II High School), Francesca Docters (Larchmont, New York / Hackley School), Madison Donley (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central High School), Haley Lawson (Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School), Lauren McCaffrey (San Clemente, California / St. Margaret's Episcopal School), Chloe McGhee (Saratoga, California / Saratoga High School), Olivia Stone (Austin, Texas / Regents School of Austin), Julietta Thron (Caldwell, New Jersey / Dwight-Englewood School), and Mackenzie Wood (Granger, Indiana / Penn High School), all of whom will enroll at Northwestern and be eligible for the 2018 fall campaign.
"We are extremely excited about this class," Moynihan said. "As a whole, this class is deep, athletic, and eager, and I love this group's enthusiasm. They all possess a fantastic drive to keep improving their game, and they are all equally excited about the academic challenges that Northwestern will provide. We return a very experienced team in 2018, and these young women will blend in with the culture our returning players have created. There is opportunity for this class to contribute right away, and we believe they have the talent and experience to do so.
"Our program has grown tremendously over the past six years, and this is a class that will certainly help that rise continue."
The Wildcats finished the 2017 season 12-8-3 overall and finished second in the Big Ten regular season and tournament. Northwestern qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a program-record third consecutive season, defeating Butler in the first round and advancing to the Round of 32 for the third straight year as well. The Wildcats have been particularly successful at home, boasting a 17-2-4 record over the past two seasons at Martin Stadium.
Complete bio information for the Wildcats 2018 National Signing Day class is below.
Olivia Stone
5'8 * Center Forward
Austin, Texas / Regents School of Austin
High School: Three-year varsity player … Team captain … Earned 1st Team All-State honors … Team MVP (2016-2017) … Soccer team reached State Final Four in 2017 … Regents Scholar … Academic All-State (2017-2018) … Currently in U18 US National Team Pool … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Lonestar SC … Reached ECNL Finals in 2016 … Also played basketball and track … Three-time state qualifier for track and earned 1st Team All-State honors in 2016.
Personal: Born Olivia Lee Stone … Parents are Susan and Tom Stone … Father Tom Stone played soccer at SIU-Edwardsville … Uncle Jim Stone played soccer at Illinois State … Uncle Kit Mueller played basketball at Princeton and professionally in Switzerland … Anticipated major is Biology.
Haley Lawson
5'5 * F/M
Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School
High School: Four-year varsity player … 2018 ECNL Player of the Year to Watch … Three-time Conference Champion … 57 wins and 3 losses over three years … Soccer team reached State final three years in a row … Dean's list all throughout high school ... US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Concorde Fire … Team Captain.
Personal: Born Haley Quinn Lawson … Parents are Mark and Jamie Lawson … Anticipates a Pre-Law track.
Madison Donley
5'7 * Forward
Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central High School
High School: Two-year varsity player … Earned All-State honors … Division 1 Michigan State High School Champion … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Midwest United … Won two Michigan State Cup Championships … U15 ECNL National Champions … Ran track for one year … Fourth fastest time for 60m dash in school history.
Personal: Born Madison Joy Donley … Parents are Tara and Lawrence Donley … Teammate with Regan Steigleder … Club mate with Marisa Viggiano, Maddy Lucas and Brenna Lovera … Anticipated major is Journalism.
Lauren McCaffrey
5'8 * Forward and Wingback
San Clemente, California / St. Margaret's Episcopal School
High School: Four-year varsity player … League MVP … 37 goals and 35 assists in three years… Earned First-Team All-League and All-CIF SS … Named to NSCAA All-West Region Team … Two-time Academy League Champion ... Four-time track and field letterwinner … Two-time League Champion 4x400… Team MVP … Head of School's Honors … AAU team is Slammers FC … Invited to U.S. Soccer Training Center six times … Qualified for 2015 ECNL National CHampionship finals … 2014 Surf Cup Champion.
Personal: Born Lauren Kate McCaffrey ... Parents are Tom and Susan McCaffrey … Father Tom McCaffrey played football at University of Michigan … Uncle played football at West Point and was its heavyweight boxing champion … Cousin played women's ice hockey at Boston College and was inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame .. Nominated for the 2018 Orange County Register high school "Artist of the Year" … Anticipated major is undecided.
Francesca Docters
5'6 * Midfielder
Larchmont, New York / Hackley School
High School: Four-year varsity player … Selected for u17 Argentina National Team in 2016 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying ... Earned Ivy League First Team honors … Won New York State Association of Independent Schools Championship … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is PDA.
Personal: Born Francesca Maria Docters … Parents are Fernando and Maria Docters … Brother Fernando plays soccer at Harvard University … Attended same high school as Wildcat lacrosse player Ally Mueller. Anticipated major is Human Biological Studies (Pre-Med).
Cherish Anderson
5'7 * Goalkeeper and Forward
Plano, Texas / John Paul II High School
High School: Two-year varsity player … Played for FC Dallas DA u19 team … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cherish Ranne Anderson … Parents are Clint and Jill Anderson … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
Mackenzie Wood
5'9 * Goalkeeper
Granger, Indiana / Penn High School
High School: Three-year varsity player … High school team captain senior year … Club team captain 2015 and 2016 … 2017 All-American Game … 3 year All-Conference selection … 3 year All-District Team … 2 time All-State selection … Member of the US National U18 and U16 teams ... Holds Indiana record for career shutouts with 49 … ECNL 2016 National Playoffs Best XI … ECNL 2016 National Playoffs Day 2 Standout … High school team 2017 state champions … Member of student council … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born Mackenzie Kay Wood … Parents Matt and Kiley Wood … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Engineering.
Julietta Thron
5'4 * Defender
Caldwell, New Jersey / Dwight-Englewood School
High School: Four-year varsity player … Four time first-team All-League … Member of US National U16 team ... ECNL team is Match Fit Academy FC … Club team captain.
Personal: Born Julietta Jaime Thron … Parents are Philip Thron and Elizabeth Manners … Teammate of fellow commit Fran Doctors … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Creative Writing.
Chloe McGhee
5'4 * Center Midfielder
Saratoga, California / Saratoga High School
High School: Four-Year varsity player … Also four-year varsity track and field … Four time All-League honoree … Team captain senior year ... Club team is California Thorns FC.
Personal: Born Chloe Alexa McGhee … Parents are Andrea Boscoe-McGhee and Michael McGhee … father was a collegiate cyclist at UCLA … anticipated major at Northwestern is Psychology.
Head coach Michael Moynihan and the 2017 Big Ten runner-ups officially inked Cherish Anderson (Plano, Texas / John Paul II High School), Francesca Docters (Larchmont, New York / Hackley School), Madison Donley (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central High School), Haley Lawson (Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School), Lauren McCaffrey (San Clemente, California / St. Margaret's Episcopal School), Chloe McGhee (Saratoga, California / Saratoga High School), Olivia Stone (Austin, Texas / Regents School of Austin), Julietta Thron (Caldwell, New Jersey / Dwight-Englewood School), and Mackenzie Wood (Granger, Indiana / Penn High School), all of whom will enroll at Northwestern and be eligible for the 2018 fall campaign.
"We are extremely excited about this class," Moynihan said. "As a whole, this class is deep, athletic, and eager, and I love this group's enthusiasm. They all possess a fantastic drive to keep improving their game, and they are all equally excited about the academic challenges that Northwestern will provide. We return a very experienced team in 2018, and these young women will blend in with the culture our returning players have created. There is opportunity for this class to contribute right away, and we believe they have the talent and experience to do so.
"Our program has grown tremendously over the past six years, and this is a class that will certainly help that rise continue."
The Wildcats finished the 2017 season 12-8-3 overall and finished second in the Big Ten regular season and tournament. Northwestern qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a program-record third consecutive season, defeating Butler in the first round and advancing to the Round of 32 for the third straight year as well. The Wildcats have been particularly successful at home, boasting a 17-2-4 record over the past two seasons at Martin Stadium.
Complete bio information for the Wildcats 2018 National Signing Day class is below.
Olivia Stone
5'8 * Center Forward
Austin, Texas / Regents School of Austin
High School: Three-year varsity player … Team captain … Earned 1st Team All-State honors … Team MVP (2016-2017) … Soccer team reached State Final Four in 2017 … Regents Scholar … Academic All-State (2017-2018) … Currently in U18 US National Team Pool … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Lonestar SC … Reached ECNL Finals in 2016 … Also played basketball and track … Three-time state qualifier for track and earned 1st Team All-State honors in 2016.
Personal: Born Olivia Lee Stone … Parents are Susan and Tom Stone … Father Tom Stone played soccer at SIU-Edwardsville … Uncle Jim Stone played soccer at Illinois State … Uncle Kit Mueller played basketball at Princeton and professionally in Switzerland … Anticipated major is Biology.
Haley Lawson
5'5 * F/M
Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School
High School: Four-year varsity player … 2018 ECNL Player of the Year to Watch … Three-time Conference Champion … 57 wins and 3 losses over three years … Soccer team reached State final three years in a row … Dean's list all throughout high school ... US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Concorde Fire … Team Captain.
Personal: Born Haley Quinn Lawson … Parents are Mark and Jamie Lawson … Anticipates a Pre-Law track.
Madison Donley
5'7 * Forward
Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central High School
High School: Two-year varsity player … Earned All-State honors … Division 1 Michigan State High School Champion … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is Midwest United … Won two Michigan State Cup Championships … U15 ECNL National Champions … Ran track for one year … Fourth fastest time for 60m dash in school history.
Personal: Born Madison Joy Donley … Parents are Tara and Lawrence Donley … Teammate with Regan Steigleder … Club mate with Marisa Viggiano, Maddy Lucas and Brenna Lovera … Anticipated major is Journalism.
Lauren McCaffrey
5'8 * Forward and Wingback
San Clemente, California / St. Margaret's Episcopal School
High School: Four-year varsity player … League MVP … 37 goals and 35 assists in three years… Earned First-Team All-League and All-CIF SS … Named to NSCAA All-West Region Team … Two-time Academy League Champion ... Four-time track and field letterwinner … Two-time League Champion 4x400… Team MVP … Head of School's Honors … AAU team is Slammers FC … Invited to U.S. Soccer Training Center six times … Qualified for 2015 ECNL National CHampionship finals … 2014 Surf Cup Champion.
Personal: Born Lauren Kate McCaffrey ... Parents are Tom and Susan McCaffrey … Father Tom McCaffrey played football at University of Michigan … Uncle played football at West Point and was its heavyweight boxing champion … Cousin played women's ice hockey at Boston College and was inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame .. Nominated for the 2018 Orange County Register high school "Artist of the Year" … Anticipated major is undecided.
Francesca Docters
5'6 * Midfielder
Larchmont, New York / Hackley School
High School: Four-year varsity player … Selected for u17 Argentina National Team in 2016 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying ... Earned Ivy League First Team honors … Won New York State Association of Independent Schools Championship … US Soccer Developmental Academy team is PDA.
Personal: Born Francesca Maria Docters … Parents are Fernando and Maria Docters … Brother Fernando plays soccer at Harvard University … Attended same high school as Wildcat lacrosse player Ally Mueller. Anticipated major is Human Biological Studies (Pre-Med).
Cherish Anderson
5'7 * Goalkeeper and Forward
Plano, Texas / John Paul II High School
High School: Two-year varsity player … Played for FC Dallas DA u19 team … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cherish Ranne Anderson … Parents are Clint and Jill Anderson … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
Mackenzie Wood
5'9 * Goalkeeper
Granger, Indiana / Penn High School
High School: Three-year varsity player … High school team captain senior year … Club team captain 2015 and 2016 … 2017 All-American Game … 3 year All-Conference selection … 3 year All-District Team … 2 time All-State selection … Member of the US National U18 and U16 teams ... Holds Indiana record for career shutouts with 49 … ECNL 2016 National Playoffs Best XI … ECNL 2016 National Playoffs Day 2 Standout … High school team 2017 state champions … Member of student council … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born Mackenzie Kay Wood … Parents Matt and Kiley Wood … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Engineering.
Julietta Thron
5'4 * Defender
Caldwell, New Jersey / Dwight-Englewood School
High School: Four-year varsity player … Four time first-team All-League … Member of US National U16 team ... ECNL team is Match Fit Academy FC … Club team captain.
Personal: Born Julietta Jaime Thron … Parents are Philip Thron and Elizabeth Manners … Teammate of fellow commit Fran Doctors … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Creative Writing.
Chloe McGhee
5'4 * Center Midfielder
Saratoga, California / Saratoga High School
High School: Four-Year varsity player … Also four-year varsity track and field … Four time All-League honoree … Team captain senior year ... Club team is California Thorns FC.
Personal: Born Chloe Alexa McGhee … Parents are Andrea Boscoe-McGhee and Michael McGhee … father was a collegiate cyclist at UCLA … anticipated major at Northwestern is Psychology.
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