by Reading United A.C.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Ten players ink their commitment to return for 2024 squad.
Consistency, experience, dedication are all features of the makeup of great organizations – and soccer teams. As Reading United starts its second season of women’s soccer, the team is looking to avoid a sophomore slump. There is no better way to avoid that than bringing in a solid core of players who featured for the playoff experienced inaugural team squad. Reading United staff were very excited to ink the commitments of 10 players who featured for the 2023 inaugural season team. Abby Frew, Sophia Chipriano, Ryleigh Cook, Emma Elwell, Melissa Martin, Mikayla Moyer, Olivia Thompson, Natalee Vicari, Emme Wolfel, and Maddie Zielke return to the team for the 2024 season.
Abby Frew, a Pine Grove native, returns to the United midfield after another successful collegiate season at Penn State Harrisburg. After a strong freshman year that saw her named to the United East All-Conference Second Team, she featured as a stalwart of the PSU lineup and was named a United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region IV Second Team and United East Volt Division All-Conference Second Team.
Sophia Chipriano returns to the team after a stellar career at Blue Mountain HS, where she was a two time All State selection and All Schuylkill League MVP. She finished her senior season at Blue Mountain with 26 goals. The FC Delco ECNL player will continue her playing career at Fordham University.
Ryleigh Cook, a junior midfielder at Shippensburg University, returns to Reading to continue her first year form. The Pottsville, PA native is a former FC Revolution Dynamo player and set the Pottsville HS all-time assists record with 54 assists. She was a four-time Schuylkill County Coaches First Team and named a three time Schuylkill County All-Area First Team selection.
Emma Elwell brings her experience as a former PIAA 4A State Championship (Boyertown HS) and Millersville University All-PSAC East Second Team selection to her second season with Reading. The feisty Gilbertsville native will provide seasoned leadership to a young Reading team.
Along with Elwell, Melissa Martin, the former Governor Mifflin and PSU Berks star, also brings a veteran presence to the Reading squad. The 2017 NEAC Rookie of the Year, played collegiately at PSU Berks after a stellar multi-sport career at Governor Mifflin HS.
Mikayla Moyer, a Seton Hill University junior defender, returns to a solid Reading defense. The Boyertown HS graduate was a two time Mercury All-Area First team selection and part of the 2019 Boyertown HS state championship winning side. While at Seton Hill, Moyer has been an All PSAC West First Team selection, D2CCA All Atlantic Region Second Team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All District Team selection.
Olivia Thompson, a Pottstown native and Owen J Roberts HS graduate completed her freshman year at Bloomsburg University where she featured in six games, scoring one goal and one assist. The two-time First Team All League HS player will look to build on her collegiate experience and continue to be a spark on the Reading United squad.
Natalee Vicari returns to Reading after appearing in 18 games her sophomore year for the Division 1 St. Josephs Hawks. The Wilson HS graduate was a 2021 Berks Player of the Year and All State Selection. The three time all Berks selection registered a county-high 32 goals and 16 assists for 80 points for the Bulldogs in her senior season at Wilson.
A WPSL All Division GK of the Year, Emme Wolfel, returns her leadership and poise to the Reading United defense. The Pottstown HS alum and Kutztown University senior is a three time PSAC Scholar Athlete and four times Deans List candidate. While at Pottstown HS she was a two time Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All Star Team selection. She is 5th on the Kutztown University shutouts leader list and third all time in wins and goals against average.
Maddy Zielke is a Millersville junior and Perkiomen Valley HS alumn. While at Perkiomen Valley she was a PAC First Team All-Conference (2020), Mercury All-Area Second Team (2020), First Team All-Division (2019), and Mercury All-Area Student Athlete (2019). Her Millersville career has seen her feature all three years of her career and was a 2022 PSAC Scholar-Athlete nominee and a 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District nominee for her combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
“The key to our success last year was the blending together of players from various, clubs, colleges, high schools, ages and hometowns. These returning players all played a huge role in our success on the field and their ability to blend together was the key. Emme Wolfel was the GK of the year, but the others also played major minutes in the most critical games leading to our inaugural season success” outlined head coach Tom Gosselin on his returning players. Reading United women, begin their 2024 home slate on Friday, May 24, at Alvernia University Stadium when they face LVU Rush. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Season Tickets for the 2024 WPSL season as well as single game tickets are available at readingunitedac.com/tickets.
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