BGSU Women's Soccer Welcomes Nine Newcomers to Falcon Family

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University women's soccer coach Jimmy Walker and the Falcons have announced the addition of nine newcomers to the squad for the coming year. Lizzie Bultynck (Troy, Mich.), Emme Butera (Willoughby Hills, Ohio), Christine Erdman (Mokena, Ill.), Christie Fransen (Wooster, Ohio), Taylor Green (Plainfield, Ill.), Sammie King (Indianapolis, Ind.), Audrey Oliver (Powell, Ohio), Emma Stransky (Copley, Ohio) and Lexi White (Lewis Center, Ohio) have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Falcon family in the 2023-24 academic year.

"We are very excited about this class on multiple levels," said Walker. "All of these kids have great character. Not only are they all good players, but also good people and good students. They tick all the boxes in terms of what we are looking for; getting it done on the field, getting it done in the classroom and being good role models and citizens in the community."

Biographical sketches on each of the nine newcomers follow ...

Gallery: (11-11-2022) 111122 WSOC Signees

LIZZIE BULTYNCK | 5-3 | F | Troy, Mich. | Troy H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Troy H.S. ('23) ... named to the All-Michigan First Team in 2022 after earning all-state second-team honors the previous year ... also has been named to the all-conference, all-district and all-region teams in her first two years (her freshman season was canceled due to COVID) ... helped coach Dan Troccoli's Colts to a 10-3-4 record last spring, with 20 goals in the 17 games ... had 13 goals in 13 games in 2021 ... a two-year captain ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Troy, Mich. ... daughter of Hector and Lisa Bultynck ... plans to major in exercise science at BGSU ... has an older brother, Alex, and a younger sister, Emily ... her mother played softball at Eastern Michigan Univ. ... has played club ball for several teams, including Troy Soccer Club, ECNL Liverpool and Super-Y Liverpool ... favorite athlete is Mallory Pugh ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

BULTYNCK ON BGSU
"I chose to attend BGSU because I fell in love with both the soccer program and the school as a whole. The competitive nature of the soccer program, coaching style and winning record is what led me to commit. I also really liked the campus and how it fit the major I intend to study."

COACH WALKER ON BULTYNCK
"Lizzie is a very skillful, quick winger. She is a great kid, is very competitive and very good on the ball. Lizzie scored a lot of goals, both in high school and in club ball. She is a fast, dangerous and exciting player to watch."

EMME BUTERA | 5-5 | M | Willoughby Hills, Ohio | Willoughby South H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Willoughby South H.S. ('23) after previously attending Lake Catholic ... was an All-Ohio Second-Team selection in 2021 for Lake Catholic ... had 25 points on nine goals and seven assists that season.

PERSONAL
Born in Shelby, Ohio ... daughter of Bryan and Trisha Butera ... currently undecided on a major at BGSU ... has two brothers, Hunter and Chase, and two sisters, Alli and Elle ... mother played college basketball at Siena Heights as well as Lakeland ... has played club ball for Internationals SC ... favorite athlete is Julie Ertz ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

BUTERA ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because the people were very nice and I liked the campus."

COACH WALKER ON BUTERA
"Emme is a kid who has gone under the radar a little bit. She is really good, technically. She has a great soccer IQ and can play a number of different positions for us. We are very excited to add her."

CHRISTINE ERDMAN | 5-4 | D | Mokena, Ill. | Lincoln Way Central H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Lincoln Way Central H.S. ('23) ... in her lone high-school season so far, had 21 goals and 15 assists as a defender ... led the Knights of coaches Sean Fahey and Bree Bembenick to a 25-2 record and a third-place finish in the state ... earned All-Southwest Suburban Conference and all-sectional honors ... also has lettered in basketball ... has captioned both teams ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Palos Heights, Ill. ... daughter of Tim and Maureen Erdman ... plans to major in construction management ... has two older sisters, Caroline and Colleen ... father swam collegiately at Illinois Tech ... mother ran cross country at Saint Xavier ... has played club ball for Eclipse Select Soccer Club ECNL ... favorite athlete is Mia Hamm ... lists her sister, Colleen, as her biggest influence.

ERDMAN ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because of my major, construction management. Also, I want to continue my soccer career, and Coach Walker creates a culture I am looking for both on and off the field."

COACH WALKER ON ERDMAN
"Christine is a very athletic outside back. She is very good on the ball, is very quick and has a good soccer IQ. She has a great amount of energy, is very competitive and will fit in perfectly with our culture."

CHRISTIE FRANSEN | 5-7 | D | Wooster, Ohio | Wooster H.S.
FRANSEN AND THE FALCONS
Fransen plans to enroll early, coming to the University in January of 2023 and participating in spring practices with the Falcons.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Wooster H.S. (December of '22), where she has been named to the All-Ohio Second Team twice to date for the Generals ... a four-time All-Ohio Cardinal Conference First-Team selection for coach Charles Cerniglia ... also named to the all-district first team all four years ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Sterling, Ill. ... daughter of Dylan and Heather Fransen ... plans to major in neuroscience at BGSU ... has a younger sister, Katie ... has played club soccer for Internationals Soccer Club ... favorite athlete is Lionel Messi ... lists her father as her biggest influence.

FRANSEN ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because it gave me the opportunity to work with a team and coaches that strive to push us all to the fullest. It also puts me in an exciting environment that makes me feel motivated to grow academically and athletically."

COACH WALKER ON FRANSEN
"Christie is an outside back who has played on a really good club team that went to the national championship last year. She is an aggressive defender with good size and athleticism, and she is also good on the ball. She should be able to contribute to the program right away. "

TAYLOR GREEN | 5-8 | D | Plainfield, Ill. | Plainfield North H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Plainfield North H.S. ('23) ... has not played high-school soccer to date, but plans to plan for coach Katie Monterosso's Tigers in the spring of 2023 ... a two-time All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection in track and field, earning all-state honors in 2022 ... helped the 4x400 team to a sixth-place finish in the state during the indoor season and a seventh-place finish in the outdoor campaign ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Buffalo, N.Y. ... daughter of Mark and Jill Green ... plans to major in business at BGSU ... has an older brother, Nathan ... has played club soccer for Eclipse Select Soccer Club, captaining the team in both 2021 and '22 ... favorite athlete is Abby Wambach ... lists her brother as her greatest influence.

GREEN ON BGSU
"I decided on BGSU because of the wide variety of academic opportunities and the support provided with job placement following graduation. When I saw the culture amongst the women's soccer team I knew it was something I wanted to be part of and an environment in which I would thrive."

COACH WALKER ON GREEN
"Taylor is a very athletic center back, with really good leadership potential. She's good on the ball, has good size, was a very good club player and was highly recruited by some big programs. She is going to be a great addition to our program."

SAMMIE KING | 5-5 | M | Indianapolis, Ind. | North Central H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends North Central H.S. ('23), where she helped coach Habib Diatta's Panthers to a four-year record of 54-16-9 ... selected to play in the 2022 High School All American game ... a three-time all-district first-team selection, and a four-time All-Marion County honoree ... finished her high-school career with 72 goals and 43 assists ... team won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference title in 2022 ... team captain as a senior ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Indianapolis, Ind. ... daughter of David and Carol King ... plans to major in accounting at BGSU ... has an older brother, Levi ... has played club soccer for FC Pride ECNL ... favorite athlete is Kevin De Bruyne.

KING ON BGSU
"I chose to attend BGSU because I felt very comfortable with the family atmosphere of the team. I also fell in love with the college-town feel of BGSU and its business program, further solidifying my decision."

COACH WALKER ON KING
"Sammie is a center midfielder, and we are really excited about the next few years for her. We feel like her best years of soccer are ahead of her. She is very technical and has a good soccer IQ. She is a quiet kid who goes about her job, and she will be great for our culture."

AUDREY OLIVER | 5-8 | M | Powell, Ohio | Olentangy H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Olentangy H.S. ('23) ... named the conference (OCC) Player of the Year as a junior, earning All-Ohio First-Team honors that fall ... helped the Braves to a four-year record of 60-14-10 ... had career totals of 34 goals and 22 assists for coaches Earl Devanny and Matt Evans ... team posted a state runner-up finish in 2020 ... a three-year team captain ... Scholar Athlete all four years.

PERSONAL
Born in Columbus, Ohio ... daughter of Don and Laurie Oliver ... plans to major in exercise science at BGSU ... has two older brothers, Preston and Landon ... uncle, Mike Lapper, played soccer at UCLA and the US Men's National Team ... has played club ball for Ohio Premier ECNL, earning all-conference honors in both 2021 and '22 ... favorite athletes are Megan Rapinoe and Steph Curry ... lists her parents as well as Megan Rapinoe as her biggest influences.

OLIVER ON BGSU
"I chose to attend BGSU because of the competitive environment that the program brings, as well as the positive culture and support that everyone on the campus has."

COACH WALKER ON OLIVER
"Audrey is a very good player, and is very good on the ball. She's got a very good IQ, is very competitive and is a great kid from a character standpoint. She will be a great addition to our program."

EMMA STRANSKY | 5-2 | F | Copley, Ohio | Copley H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Copley H.S. ('23), where she has played two years of soccer ... as a freshman in 2019, she had 13 goals as the Indians won the Suburban League title and the district crown ... again helped the team to league and district titles in 2022 ... this season, has totals of 44 goals and 20 assists after scoring four times in Tuesday's (Nov. 8) 7-1 state semifinal win ... her coaches included Wally Senk, Hannah Seeman and Brooke Moran.

PERSONAL
Born in Akron, Ohio ... daughter of Chris and April Stransky ... plans to major in exercise science at BGSU ... has an older brother, Ryan ... Ryan played soccer at Baldwin Wallace ... has played club ball for Internationals SC ... favorite athlete is Mallory Pugh ... lists her brother as her biggest influence.

STRANSKY ON BGSU
"BGSU offered the ability to play soccer at a high level while being surrounded by supportive coaches and a great community."

COACH WALKER ON STRANSKY
"Emma plays as a winger, but could also play as a 10. She is a smart player with a really good skill level and IQ. She's got a great change of pace. Emma scored a lot of goals in both club and high school, and she also gained experience playing in the US Under-15 national team as well. We think she will be able to contribute right away."

LEXI WHITE | 5-9 | F | Lewis Center, Ohio | Olentangy H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attends Olentangy H.S. ('23), where she was a teammate of Audrey Oliver ... an All-Ohio Second-Team selection and an All-OCC First-Team honoree in in 2021 ... helped the Braves to 60 wins in four years ... had 10 goals in 2020, as the team won the OCC, district and regional titles and advanced to the state final ... the next season, scored 20 goals as the Braves repeated as OCC champions ... had nine goals and seven assists as a senior, earning all-league honorable mention despite missing four games due to injury ... played for coaches Earl Devanny and Matt Evans ... team captain ... National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Naperville, Ill. ... daughter of Chuck and Corinne White ... plans to major in education at BGSU ... has an older sister, Mickayla ... Mickayla played two years of collegiate soccer at Findlay ... has played club ball for Ohio Premier ECNL, scoring 26 goals for that team in 2020-21 ... favorite athlete is Cristiano Ronaldo ... lists her mother as her biggest influence.

WHITE ON BGSU
"I chose BGSU because when I first visited the campus, I instantly loved it. It has a great soccer program and great career options. I got to meet the team and students, and everyone was very welcoming. It just felt like the right place for me."

COACH WALKER ON WHITE
"Lexi is a good-sized target center forward. She has a good first touch, is good with her back to goal, has a very good first touch and is good at getting behind. Lexi has a good scoring record in both high school and club."

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BGSU finished with an overall record of 9-5-5 and a Mid-American Conference mark of 6-2-3, good for third place in the 12-team league. The Falcons ended the season on a six-match unbeaten streak, going 6-1-2 over the last month of the year. In those nine games, BGSU outscored the opponents, 21-4.

The Falcons, who won the MAC regular-season and tournament titles from 2018-21, are now 67-31-16 overall, 45-11-5 in MAC regular-season matches and 55-12-8 in all games vs. conference foes since the start of the 2017 season.

Since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Falcons are 54-24-15 overall, 39-7-4 in MAC regular-season action and 47-7-7 in all games vs. league opposition.

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

Lizzie Bultynck | 5-3 | F | Troy, Mich. | Troy H.S.
Emme Butera | 5-5 | M | Willoughby Hills, Ohio | Willoughby South H.S.
Christine Erdman | 5-4 | D | Mokena, Ill. | Lincoln Way Central H.S.
Christie Fransen | 5-7 | D | Wooster, Ohio | Wooster H.S.
Taylor Green | 5-8 | D | Plainfield, Ill. | Plainfield North H.S.
Sammie King | 5-5 | M | Indianapolis, Ind. | North Central H.S.
Audrey Oliver | 5-8 | M | Powell, Ohio | Olentangy H.S.
Emma Stransky | 5-2 | F | Copley, Ohio | Copley H.S.
Lexi White | 5-9 | F | Lewis Center, Ohio | Olentangy H.S.

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