SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's soccer coach Kirk Nelson announced Wednesday that 10 student-athletes secured financial aid agreements for the 2025 season.
 
Joining the Bears are:

• Ava Batiuk • M • 5-4 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Transcona Collegiate (Winnipeg South End United/Manitoba Rex Program)
• Emily Cole • F • 5-8 • Manchester, England • St. Nicholas Catholic High (Everton Women)
• Ellie Feigl • F/M • 5-11 • Frankfort, Ill. • Lincoln-Way East High (Galaxy Soccer Club)
• Joree Houdeshell • GK • 5-9 • Olathe, Kan. • Olathe West High (KC Athletics ECNL/Union KC GA)
• Rowann Law • F • 5-9 • Chatham, Ill. • Glenwood High (Central Illinois United)
• Ellie Neath • M/D • 5-4 • Edwardsville, Ill. • Edwardsville High (St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Navy)
• Caroline Orf • D • 5-6 • St. Louis, Mo. • Eureka High (St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Navy)
• Kendra Roberts • D • 5-4 • Parkville, Mo. • St. Pius X High (Alliance FC/Union KC)
• Addy Rozycki • F/M • 5-4 • Lee's Summit, Mo. • Lee's Summit West High (KC Athletics)
• Emma Shields • F • 5-6 • St. Louis, Mo. • Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Navy)

"These are very exciting times here at Missouri State University and with the women's soccer program," Nelson said. "We have set a high standard of excellence both on and off the field and we expect this 2025 class to come in and strengthen that foundation. This group is quality in all lines on the field and will compete immediately. This class comes in as we embark on new adventures moving over to join Conference USA. We expect this class to help us with that transition, while continuing to maintain this program at a high level. We are fired up and can't wait for them to join our Bears' family on campus in 2025!"
 
Ava Batiuk
Batiuk played for Winnipeg South End United and Manitoba Rex Program for three years. She was invited to Canada Selects, a country wide nation development competition twice. Batiuk was also invited to trial and train with NDC Ontario and the Vancouver Whitecaps elite girls. She is the captain of her club.

Associate Head Coach Cory Herchenroeder on Batiuk:
"Ava is a midfielder that can impact the game in all 4 moments of the game. Very good in possession. Athletic enough to get out and take advantage of transition moments going forward. Also works extremely hard defensively. She is going to be a huge addition to our midfield core. We can't wait to have Ava as a part of the Bears family!"
 
Emily Cole
Cole's career has taken her around the UK with stops at Stoke City Academy, Wales U17s and U19s, Crewe Alex Women, Liverpool Feds Women and most recently Everton Women. Coached by Rebecca Pilkington, Cole has represented Wales on the national stage. She was named Player of the Match when she faced Portugal earlier this year. Cole led Crewe Alex Women in goals scored for 2023-24 and she won Everton's best teammate award the same year.

Coach Herchenroeder on Cole:
"Emily is a player that can impact the game at a very high level in many different positions. For her club and national teams, she has played in the back line at times, in the midfield at times and also as a wide forward at times.  She is someone that we believe can come in and make an immediate impact in our program from day one.  Her ability to read the game and then utilize her athletic ability and technical skills will make her a top player for years to come.  We're very excited to add Emily to the Bears family!"
 
Ellie Feigl
Feigl has led the Lincoln-Way East High Griffins to two regional championships and a state finals appearance. The Frankfort, Ill. native has amassed over 35 goals in three years of varsity play. As a sophomore, Feigl was an all-conference honoree who led her team with 17 goals in 24 games.

Coach Herchenroeder on Feigl:
"Ellie is a strong, athletic central forward that not only scores goals, but does a great job of making her teammates around her better. She is going to be someone that her teammates will immediately love to play with because of her strong hold up play and her vision of the game.  We are extremely excited to add Ellie as a part of our Bears family!"

Joree Houdeshell
Houdeshell has made four appearances at nationals for KC Athletics ECNL and Union KC GA. She was named to the ECNL Midwest All-Conference second team for her efforts between the posts. As a freshman, Houdeshell was chosen for the KC WOSO Youth Development Program and invited to a USYNT ID camp. She recorded 11 shutouts her sophomore season.

Coach Herchenroeder on Houdeshell:
"Joree is a tall athletic goalkeeper that has all the tangibles to be great.  She is someone that will day in and day out lead by example.  She will expect a lot from herself and from her teammates around her, and that leadership quality is contagious.  We are extremely excited to add Joree to our Bears family!"
 
Rowann Law
Law has played for Central Illinois United for three years, during which time she has led her club to the Illinois State Cup. Law was named to the prestigious USYS National Best 11 team and the Presidents Cup Team. During her three seasons at Glenwood High, Law has won one state championship and two conference championships. She was awarded Athletic All-Conference and Academic All-Conference nods for soccer and basketball her sophomore and junior seasons.

Coach Herchenroeder on Law:
"Rowann is someone that I would describe as the energy of every team she plays for.  She will never be outworked, and she will always be a loyal teammate. Rowann does a great job whether she is playing as a forward or a midfielder of defending with a passion, but also impacting the game in a very positive way in the attack.  We are very excited to add Rowann to our Bears family!"
 
Ellie Neath
Neath has played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Navy for 11 years. She has led the team to five straight ECNL playoff appearances and the ECNL Finals in 2023. Neath was named to the ECNL Midwest Conference first team in 2023 and 2024 and the second team in 2022. As a junior, Neath led the Edwardsville Tigers to a fourth-place finish in the Illinois state tournament with 19 goals, 16 assists and the most minutes played. She was an All-State first team selection, Southwestern Conference First Team Honoree, EHS Offensive Player of the Year and EHS Female Athlete of the Year.

Coach Herchenroeder on Neath:
"Ellie is the 'Swiss army knife' of this group. The best way I can describe her is – Ellie is a 'soccer player'.  Her athleticism allows her to play multiple positions, her game understanding helps her find ways to break defenses down from anywhere on the field, and her deep skillset allows her to execute her tasks at a high level.  We are extremely excited to add Ellie to our Bears family!"
 
Caroline Orf
Orf has played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher for 10 years where she has qualified for the Top 8 and won the Midwest Conference (2021). In her three years with the Eureka Wildcats, Orf has twice been named to the all-conference second team. She led her team to a second-place finish in the state finals as a junior.

Coach Herchenroeder on Orf:
"Caroline is a center back that takes defending personally.  She is never afraid to put her body on the line to put in a massive tackle for her team.  She has great communication skills, and she is an incredible leader on every team she plays on.  We are so excited to add Caroline to our Bears family!"
 
Kendra Roberts
Roberts has played for Alliance FC for seven years and is in her first year with Union KC. She finished second in the state cup with alliance and has been invited to the Missouri ODP team, Regionals ODP and nationals ODP. Roberts has led the Parkville Warriors to three straight conference championships and a second-place state finish. As a junior, she was named defensive player pf the year and received all conference first team and all district honors.

Coach Herchenroeder on Roberts:
"Kendra is an outside back that could come in an make an immediate impact.  She is someone that possesses a great deal of athleticism to get up and down the line, but she is another one that thrives in 1v1 defending.  Kendra is someone who will come in and her work ethic will be one of the first things people notice about her and that will be contagious within this group.  We are extremely excited to add Kendra to our Bears family!"
 
Addy Rozycki
Rozycki has played for Kansas City Athletics for four years. During that time, she won two ECNL Regional Championships. In 2022-23 and 2023-24, Rozycki was named to the Midwest Region All-Conference list. She was also the lead goal-scorer for both years. Rozycki has received an all-conference honorable mention, second team and first team nod in her three years with the Lee's Summit West Titans.

Coach Herchenroeder on Rozycki:
"Addy is another player that could play in multiple positions at the next level.  She is someone that over the last couple of years has really grown into a phenomenal player.  She has incredibly deep skillsets on the attacking side of the ball, but also it will be hard to find an attacker that will work harder defensively.  We are extremely excited to add Addy to our Bears family!"
 
Emma Shields
Shields has played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher for 12 years. She has led her team to a Midwest Conference Championship in 2021 and a SLSG Navy ECNL Elite 8 in 2022. She was named to the ECNL Midwest Region All-Conference in 2022 and invited to two U.S. Soccer Girls WNT Regional ID Sessions in 2021 and 2022. Shields led the Cor Jesu Chargers to a state championship as a junior. She was an all-conference honorable mention.

Coach Herchenroeder on Shields:
"Emma is the type of player that you always know what you are going to get every time she steps on the field.  She is a midfielder that brings a calming presence when she's on the ball.  She brings great leadership and communication to her group defensively.  Emma is someone that you could meet one time, watch her play, and immediately see the impact she makes on her teams, both as a player and as a leader.  We are extremely excited to add Emma to our Bears family!"