Walker, Falcons Welcome Eight Newcomers to Fold

Bowling Green State University women's soccer coach Jimmy Walker and the Falcons recently announced the addition of eight newcomers to the squad for the coming year. Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio), Brynn Gardner (Whitehouse, Ohio), Emily Hollar (West Liberty, Ohio), Abby Koly (Avon, Ohio), Hayleigh Lewis (Flushing, Mich.), Mary McArdle (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Jayna Searles (Mason, Ohio) and Alaina Uncapher (Whitehouse, Ohio) signed National Letters of Intent to join the Falcon family in the 2022-23 academic year.

Biographical sketches on each of the eight newcomers...

ELLA DEEVERS | 5-3 | D | Streetsboro, Ohio | Streetsboro H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Streetsboro H.S. ('22), where she earned four letters for coaches Ryan Willard and Alyssa Hendrix ... a three-time All-Ohio First-Team selection ... helped the Rockets to three Metro Athletic Conference titles after a second-place league finish in her freshman year ... had double-digit totals in goals and assists in all four seasons ... racked up career totals of 70 goals and 84 assists ... a four-time All-MAC First-Team selection, she was twice named the league's Player of the Year ... three-time all-district first-teamer who earned district P-O-Y honors as a junior ... team captain as a senior ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Streetsboro, Ohio ... daughter of Scott and Cynthia Deevers ... undecided upon a major at BGSU ... has an older brother, Spencer, and an older sister, Faith ... played club ball for Ambassadors FC ... favorite athlete is Joe Burrow ... lists her parents as her biggest influence.

DEEVERS ON BGSU
"My mom went to BG, and the second I stepped on campus I fell in love with it and just felt at home."

COACH WALKER ON DEEVERS
"Ella Deevers is a very athletic defender that can play right or left back. She has great technical ability and attacks well out of the back. Ella is a competitor on the field and will be a great fit for BG both on and off the field."

BRYNN GARDNER | 5-4 | F | Whitehouse, Ohio | Anthony Wayne H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Anthony Wayne H.S. ('22), where she earned four letters for coach Lori Williams (a BGSU alum) ... a two-time All-Ohio First-Team selection, earning the honor as both a junior and a senior ... scored 51 career goals and added 38 assists ... helped the Generals to a four-year record of 67-8-10, including a 25-0-3 Northern Lakes League mark and four NLL titles ... twice was named the NLL Player of the Year, and earned first-team all-league honors in both seasons ... AW advanced to the state semifinals in each of her final three years ... had double-digit goal totals in each of those three years, including 19 as a senior ... a two-year team captain.

PERSONAL
Born in Toledo, Ohio ... daughter of Brian and Angela Gardner ... plans to major in nursing at BGSU ... has an older sister, Emilie – also a member of the Falcon women's soccer team – and a younger brother, Braden ... has played club ball for Pacesetter, helping her team to state titles in both 2018 and '19 ... favorite athlete is Julie Ertz ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

GARDNER ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because the environment felt welcoming from the students, staff and coaches, and that is something I wanted to be a part of."

COACH WALKER ON GARDNER
"We are excited to have Brynn Gardner on board. She is a great athlete with technical ability that can play multiple attacking positions. Brynn is a focused person who will do well in the classroom, in the community and on the field!"

EMILY HOLLAR | 5-6 | M | West Liberty, Ohio | West Liberty-Salem H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends West Liberty-Salem H.S. ('22), where she earned four letters for coach Andy Cotrell ... an all-league (Ohio Heritage Conference) and all-district selection for the Tigers ... also lettered in basketball and track, and holds the school-record times in both the 200m and 400m ... led the track team to state championships in both 2019 and '21 ... soccer team captain as a senior.

PERSONAL
Born in Bellefontaine, Ohio ... daughter of Aaron and Kim Hollar ... plans to major in communication sciences and disorders at BGSU ... would like to become a speech pathologist ... has an older sister, Gabby, and a younger sister, Megan ... Gabby is a member of the women's soccer team at Purdue Univ. ... mother played basketball at Ohio Univ. ... has played club ball for Locker Elite ... favorite athlete is Carli Lloyd ... lists her sister, Gabby, as her biggest influence.

HOLLAR ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because I love the family atmosphere and the competitiveness and high-quality soccer. The coaches make me feel like family, and BGSU's Speech Pathology program is one of the best!"

COACH WALKER ON HOLLAR
"Emily Hollar is a very hard-working, ball-playing midfielder. She is a competitor on the field with a huge work ethic in the center of the park. Emily is a fantastic person that aligns with our core values at BGSU!"

ABBY KOLY | 5-6 | M | Avon, Ohio | Avon H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Avon H.S. ('22), where she was a four-year varsity team member for coach Attila Csiszar ... helped the Eagles to the Southwest Conference championship and a regional finals appearance in 2021 ... earned multiple all-conference and All-Greater Cleveland honors ... team captain as a senior ... also earned a pair of letters in basketball ... National Honor Society .... received the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association award for Academic Excellence.

PERSONAL
Born in Cleveland, Ohio ... daughter of Joseph and Lucy Koly ... plans to major in sport management at BGSU ... has played club soccer for Cleveland United and Cleveland Force ... also a Midwest ODP player who has participated in multiple Region Camps as well as the ODP National Training Camp in Tampa, Fla., in 2019 ... has played basketball for multiple teams including Upper 90, SMAC, MAC and 4K ... favorite athlete is Lindsey Horan ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

KOLY ON BGSU
"I chose to attend BGSU because it is a school that has a great soccer program, and the coaching staff really cares about the individual as well as the soccer player. BGSU has outstanding academics and for me has always felt like home!"

COACH WALKER ON KOLY
"Abby Koly is a technical and creative center midfielder with a great soccer IQ. She also possesses athleticism and a good engine for a midfielder. Abby will fit in really well with our team!"

HAYLEIGH LEWIS | 5-9 | GK | Flushing, Mich. | Powers Catholic H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Powers Catholic H.S. ('22) where she played one year of soccer ... also lettered in cross country and track.

PERSONAL
Born in Flint, Mich. ... daughter of Donald and Karla Lewis ... currently undecided upon a major at BGSU ... the youngest of three daughters ... sister, Heather Orlowski, played soccer at Aquinas ... sister, Khrystal Lewis, played both soccer and lacrosse for Aquinas ... has played club soccer for Michigan Hawks ECNL, helping that team to multiple championships including a State Cup title ... also played in CANUSA Games and Super Y League ... favorite athletes are Ronaldinho and Hope Solo ... lists her grandmother as her greatest influence.

LEWIS ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because of the family-like feel when talking to the students. I also really enjoyed the campus and the many majors that are offered at BG."

COACH WALKER ON LEWIS
"Hayleigh Lewis is a technical and athletic goalkeeper. She is coming from a competitive club background and will add depth to our goalkeeper union. Hayleigh will be a great personality to add to our program!"

MARY McARDLE | 5-3 | F | Fort Wayne, Ind. | Homestead H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Homestead H.S. ('22), where she played one year of soccer for coach Rick Link ... helped the Spartans to an 18-4 record in that season (2018), with 15 goals and eight assists ... team won sectional, regional and semi-state championships in Class 3A and finished as the state runner-up in that '18 season ... National Honor Society ... Distinguished Honor Roll.

PERSONAL
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa. ... daughter of John and Christina McArdle ... plans to major in psychology at BGSU ... has an older sister, Samantha, and an older brother, Donald ... father played football and baseball at Hillsdale Coll. ... sister played soccer at Miami Univ. ... brother is on the track and cross country teams at Hillsdale ... has played club soccer for FC Pride 2003G ECNL, captaining her team in 2020 ... favorite athlete is Troy Polamalu ... lists her grandfather as her biggest influence.

McARDLE ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because the first time I stepped foot on campus it felt like home. Everyone on campus was so welcoming and friendly, and I knew right away this was where I was meant to be. My parents always told me to choose a school based on the school, and soccer was the icing. BGSU was the school for me, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to play for the women's soccer team."

COACH WALKER ON McARDLE
"Mary McArdle is a technical, creative forward with a great soccer IQ. She is good with both feet and does well with her back to goal. Mary has a great personality and will be a tremendous addition to BG!"

JAYNA SEARLES | 5-5 | M | Mason, Ohio | William Mason H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends William Mason H.S. ('22) where she played for coach Andy Schur ... helped the Comets to three Greater Miami Conference titles and a 31-1-4 record in league play during her four years ... a two-time All-GMC First-Team selection who also earned all-county and All-Southwest Ohio First-Team accolades twice

PERSONAL
Born in Mason, Ohio ... daughter of Pete and Jennifer Searles ... plans to major in pre-physical therapy/exercise science at BGSU ... has a younger brother, Cooper ... has played club ball for Cincinnati United CUP 04 Gold ... favorite athlete is Rose Lavelle ... lists her father as her biggest influence.

SEARLES ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because it felt like home. I loved the people, the academic programs and the campus."

COACH WALKER ON SEARLES
"Jayna Searles is a blue-collar and hard-working central midfielder. She is a great teammate that will be a competitor on and off the field. Jayna is also a fantastic student and bright young person!"

ALAINA UNCAPHER | 5-5 | F| Whitehouse, Ohio | Anthony Wayne H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Anthony Wayne H.S. ('22), where she earned four letters for coach Lori Williams (a BGSU alum) ... an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a senior ... helped the Generals to a four-year record of 67-8-10, including a 25-0-3 Northern Lakes League mark and four NLL titles ... had double-digit goal totals in all four years, and finished her career with 52 goals and 42 assists ... a three-time All-NLL First-Team choice after earning second-team honors as a freshman ... named to the All-District First Team three times ... AW advanced to the state semifinals in each of her final three years.

PERSONAL
Born in Toledo, Ohio ... daughter of David and Laura Uncapher ... plans to major in dietetics at BGSU ... would like to become a nutritionist ... has two older brothers, Ben and Zach ... has played club ball for Pacesetter SC ... favorite athlete is Lionel Messi ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

UNCAPHER ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because I wanted to play for a school that was close to home and had a comfortable and fun atmosphere. BGSU also has a very good soccer program and I have been attending games since I was little."

COACH WALKER ON UNCAPHER
"We are looking forward to having Alaina Uncapher with us. She is a creative attacking player with great technical ability. Alaina is a competitor on the field. She aligns with our core values at BGSU!"

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BGSU (11-7-3, 8-2-1 MAC) won both the MAC regular-season and tournament crowns for the fourth-straight season, and the Falcons advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in as many years.

The Falcons are 58-26-11 overall, 39-9-2 in MAC regular-season matches and 48-10-4 in all games vs. conference foes since the start of the 2017 season.

Since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Falcons are 45-19-10 overall, 33-5-1 in MAC regular-season action and 40-5-3 in all games vs. league opposition.

There were 29 players on the 2021 roster. No fewer than 28 of those 29 players have seen the Falcons advance to the NCAA Championships in every season in which they've been a part of the program.

For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUWSoccer), Instagram (bgsuwsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoccer) as well as on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.

BGSU WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNEES

Ella Deevers | 5-3 | D | Streetsboro, Ohio | Streetsboro
Brynn Gardner | 5-4 | F | Whitehouse, Ohio | Anthony Wayne
Emily Hollar | 5-6 | M | West Liberty, Ohio | West Liberty-Salem
Abby Koly | 5-6 | M | Avon, Ohio | Avon
Hayleigh Lewis | 5-9 | GK | Flushing, Mich. | Powers Catholic
Mary McArdle | 5-3 | F | Fort Wayne, Ind. | Homestead
Jayna Searles | 5-5 | M | Mason, Ohio | William Mason
Alaina Uncapher | 5-5 | F | Whitehouse, Ohio | Anthony Wayne

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Walker, Falcons Welcome Eight Newcomers to Fold

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