HARROGATE, Tenn. - Head coach Matt Carr announced his 2021 class Wednesday afternoon with 19 new players joining the Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer program this fall.
 
The Lady Railsplitters 2021 signing class consists of 17 freshman and two transfers arriving to LMU.
 
"We are excited to finally announce the 2021 incoming class for women's soccer at LMU. After over a year of recruiting and searching for the best potential student-athletes available to us at Lincoln Memorial, we are delighted to welcome this large, yet talented incoming class to campus. Each of these incoming student-athletes embodies the high standards and criteria set forth by institutional leadership and leadership within the athletics department both academically and athletically," coach Carr said.
 
"We have signed an exciting incoming class that brings diverse backgrounds in all areas academically, athletically and socially. We embrace diversity and inclusion within the women's soccer program at LMU as these aid in the culture we are continuing to build within the program," coach Carr said. "With the addition of players domestically from the Appalachian region in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, and other states in Georgia, Florida and Colorado, our program continues to be borderless. We have also bolstered the squad with a few additions coming from across the pond and to the north. Athletes from the Netherlands and Canada will round out the class of 2021."
 
Megan Snider | Defender | Savannah, Ga. | University of South Alabama
The 5'5 transfer redshirt sophomore arrives in Harrogate following two collegiate seasons with the Jaguars of South Alabama. In high school, Snider scored seven goals and had 12 assists for Georgia Connections Academy. She also played seven club seasons for SSA Savannah United and won four straight state titles from 2013-16. Snider was named the club's 2015 player of the year.
 
Kyara Vanheuverswijn | Midfielder | Hoogland, Netherlands | Guide De Bres
The Dutch international joins the Lady Railsplitters after featuring for the Sportinstituut Hoogland, in addition to her club team, VV Hoogland. Vanheuverswijn has spent much of her youth career on the right wing, and will slot into the Lady Railsplitter midfield this fall.
 
Mimi Neijens | MF/DEF | Soest, Netherlands | Het Nieuwe Eemland College
Neijens arrives as the second Dutch signee for the Lady Railsplitters' 2021 class. The 5'8 international brings versatile defensive and midfield experience to Carr's squad. 
 
Ashlee Lewis | Midfielder | Vaughan, Canada | Vaughan Secondary School
A decorated youth international, Lewis joins the Lady Railsplitters after featuring for the U15 Jamaican national team and captaining the U17 Jamaican national team. 
 
Brooke Boucher | MF/DEF | Harrow, Canada | St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic HS
Another international signee for LMU, Boucher joins the squad after featuring as a starting center-mid for her high school from 2018-20. Boucher's school finished fourth in Ontario in 2020, and the midfielder was named MVP of her team in 2018.
 
Emily Rodriguez | Forward | Miami, Fla. | Somerset Academy HS
Rodriguez starred and captained during her junior and senior season, scoring 45 goals and 24 assists in 45 total appearances over a three-year stretch. Rodriguez was named the Offensive Player of the Year and finished as the top scorer of the Class 4A Region.  
 
Bente Latenstein | Goalkeeper | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Blankestijn
The former two-time champion of the North of Netherlands competition at the U-15 and U-17 level joins the Lady Railsplitter goalkeeping ranks this fall.
 
Skylar Daniels | Defender | Port Charlotte, Fla. | Port Charlotte HS
The talented 5'7 center back from the Sunshine State joins Carr's 2021 class after featuring for her high school, GPS Florid West and Florid West FC.
 
Gracie Heilbrun | DEF/MF | Parker, Colo. | Legend HS
In addition to featuring for her high school, the Colorado native appeared for Real Colorado National and Rapids Select before committing to the Lady Railsplitters.
 
Abigail Bode | Midfielder | Lebanon, Tenn. | Lebanon HS
After a stellar career in the classroom, Bode was named a Tennessee Scholar, in addition to featuring for her high school and Tennessee United Soccer Club. The 5'5 Volunteer State native will slot into Carr's midfield this fall.
 
Blakely Hopkins | Forward | Maryville, Tenn. | William Blount HS
The 5'3 Tennessee native racked up impressive honors throughout her high school career, being named as her school's Freshman of the Year, a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-District selection, a four-time All-Blount County Team selection and was named the Player of the Year for William Blount High School.
 
Emily Lowe | FW/MF | Lenoir City, Tenn. | Lenoir City HS
The Lenoir City native arrives in Harrogate after featuring for club team Knoxville Crush. Lowe has not only impressed on the field, but in the classroom as well. She is a member of the National Honors Society and received a Culinary Arts Leadership award.
 
Meggie Farmer | Midfielder | Knoxville, Tenn. | Karns HS
Another Knoxville arrival in Carr's 2021 class, Farmer featured for Karns, KUSA and the Knoxville Reds FC in her high school career. Farmer works just as hard in the classroom, as a member of the National Honor Society she received the Principal's Award for her high school, in addition to being a four-year varsity letterman in soccer.  
 
Tori Hinds | Goalkeeper | Cookeville, Tenn. | Livingston Academy
The 5'10 goalkeeper arrives in Harrogate after receiving numerous awards throughout her time in Tennessee high school soccer. Hinds was named Goalkeeper of the Region, Goalkeeper of the District, First Team All-District and First Team All-Region. Yet another National Honor Society member for the 2021 class, Hinds graduated from Livingston Academy Summa Cum Laude.  
 
Meg Anderson | DEF/MF | London, Ky. | North Laurel HS
The Bluegrass standout completed a distinguished high school career at North Laurel before committing to the Lady Railsplitters, earning four selections to the All-District Team, four All-Region Team selections and was named to the 2020 Second Team All-State. Anderson also featured for club team FC Alliance ECNL.
 
Francesca Mendieta | Midfielder | Boca Raton, Fla. | St. John Paul II Academy
Another representative of the Sunshine State in the 2021 class, Mendieta arrives in Harrogate after playing for club teams Boca United, Parkland FC and Team Boca. The 5'2 center midfielder received Second-Team All-District honors.  
 
Ellie Bowen | Forward | Hendersonville, N.C. | Hendersonville HS
The lone recruit from North Carolina in the 2021 class, Bowen comes to LMU after being named to the All-Region 2A Team and the 2019 All-WNC Girls' Second Team. Bowen also featured for club team CESA in Greenville.
 
Madison Amstutz | DEF/FW | Nashville, Tenn. | Rossview HS
A distinguished high school career on the pitch and in the classroom, Amstutz is a member of the 4.0 club, in addition to featuring for the Tennessee Soccer Club. She was also her high school football team's kicker.
 
Ryan Branson | Midfielder | Knoxville, Tenn. | Karns HS
The 5'5 Knoxville native midfielder arrives to LMU after featuring for Karns High School and club team Knoxville Reds FC, alongside fellow signee Meggie Farmer.
 
"As a coach, I like having options and different skill sets. With this group, we have accomplished bringing in a variety of different types of players to bring a whole new dynamic to our current returning squad. I am excited to see the different skill sets all come together in hopes that we can put a team out there that is tough to play against," coach Carr said. "We will do this all while continuing to set the academic standards within the department and across the South Atlantic Conference and I believe we have done just that with the addition of this class. As it is my first fall season as a head coach, I'm excited to see what this group can accomplish."
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter soccer leading up to the 2021 season.