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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Head coach Chris Fox & the Falcons have announced the signings of four student-athletes
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
Fox, Falcons Add Four to Family
November 14, 2025 | Women's Soccer
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University women's soccer coach Chris Fox and the Falcons have announced the addition of four student-athletes newcomers to the squad for the coming year. Paige Baird (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Sophie Khelashvili (Upper Arlington, Ohio), Tatum Mailander (Elmhurst, Ill.) and Hailey Trzaska (Hinckley, Ohio) will join the Falcon family in time for the 2026-27 academic year.
Both Baird and Khelashvili plan to graduate from their respective high schools in December and enroll at BGSU in time for the Spring 2026 semester.
"All four of these players suit the game model, they're all tactically good, and they've all got a mindset that fits in with what we are trying to accomplish," said Fox. "They are hard-working, good culture kids who we think will thrive in this environment, and we are excited to add them to our program."
Baird, a native of Oconomowoc, Wis., attends Oconomowoc H.S. and has played for Eclipse Select SC ECNL for the last three years. She has also played for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Wisconsin state team for three years and has participated on the ODP Midwest Region Team for two years. Baird, a forward, has also played for RKC Third Coast in the USL W League, and was one of the youngest players in that league when she began her tenure as a high-school freshman.
"We recruited Paige as a winger, but she's also comfortable playing as a 9 in the striker role," said Fox. "In Paige, we are adding someone who is a student of the game, works really hard both on and off the field, has a high IQ and is a great culture kid. We are thrilled to have her join the Falcon family."
Khelashvili, who attends Upper Arlington H.S., helped her team to league and district titles in 2025, and converted a penalty kick in the state championship game as the Golden Bears won the Ohio Division I title last weekend. The team went 19-1-2 in '25. An All-Ohio First-Team selection as a junior, Khelashvili set the program record with 22 assists that fall, and she also set the school's career record in that category, with 40. Khelashvili had 108 career points to rank sixth in school history. She also has international experience, having played with the Georgia National Team at the U17 and U19 levels as well as with the first team.
"Sophie is a very technical, high-IQ forward who is very good with her back to goal," said Fox. "She fits that mold as a 9 or a false 9, linking the play, and the fact that she is capped on the international level gives her experience that will be invaluable.
Tatum Mailander, a native of Elmhurst, Ill., attends York Community H.S. She has played club soccer for Eclipse Select ECNL. The defender helped Eclipse to the ECNL national finals, and was team captain. She suffered an ACL in 2024, and missed her junior season of high-school soccer in the spring of 2025, but returned to the pitch this past summer.
"Tatum was a very highly-recruited outside back, and suffered an ACL injury," said Fox. "She is very athletic, from a physical and speed standpoint, and is a highly-touted player who can get forward and can defend really well. She is comfortable in possession and certainly has a lot of the attributes that we are looking for. Tatum has recovered from her injury and started playing in the summer, and I think she's getting back to full strength and is going to be very good for us."
Trzaska, a native of Hinckley, Ohio, attends Medina Highland H.S., and has helped her team to three Suburban League championships, three district titles and one regional crown. The Greater Akron Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024 after posting a school-record 17 shutouts, she has been named to the GASSCA First Team twice, and also is a two-time All-Suburban League First-Team choice. A four-year varsity starter, she has allowed one goal in 21 league games over the last three years, and has posted 52 career shutouts. She has played club soccer for Cleveland Force SC for five years.
"Hailey is an athletic goalkeeper who is good with her feet, comfortable in the build, and fits all of the things we're looking for," said Fox. "She is well rounded and has a high ceiling, and we're very excited for what she's going to bring to our program."
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BGSU finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 10-3-9, and the Falcons went 4-1-7 in Mid-American Conference play. BG finished sixth in the 13-team conference, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami to advance all the way to the MAC Tournament's championship match. BGSU had just two seniors on the 2025 roster.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer) and Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer), as well as on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.
Both Baird and Khelashvili plan to graduate from their respective high schools in December and enroll at BGSU in time for the Spring 2026 semester.
"All four of these players suit the game model, they're all tactically good, and they've all got a mindset that fits in with what we are trying to accomplish," said Fox. "They are hard-working, good culture kids who we think will thrive in this environment, and we are excited to add them to our program."
Baird, a native of Oconomowoc, Wis., attends Oconomowoc H.S. and has played for Eclipse Select SC ECNL for the last three years. She has also played for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Wisconsin state team for three years and has participated on the ODP Midwest Region Team for two years. Baird, a forward, has also played for RKC Third Coast in the USL W League, and was one of the youngest players in that league when she began her tenure as a high-school freshman.
"We recruited Paige as a winger, but she's also comfortable playing as a 9 in the striker role," said Fox. "In Paige, we are adding someone who is a student of the game, works really hard both on and off the field, has a high IQ and is a great culture kid. We are thrilled to have her join the Falcon family."
Khelashvili, who attends Upper Arlington H.S., helped her team to league and district titles in 2025, and converted a penalty kick in the state championship game as the Golden Bears won the Ohio Division I title last weekend. The team went 19-1-2 in '25. An All-Ohio First-Team selection as a junior, Khelashvili set the program record with 22 assists that fall, and she also set the school's career record in that category, with 40. Khelashvili had 108 career points to rank sixth in school history. She also has international experience, having played with the Georgia National Team at the U17 and U19 levels as well as with the first team.
"Sophie is a very technical, high-IQ forward who is very good with her back to goal," said Fox. "She fits that mold as a 9 or a false 9, linking the play, and the fact that she is capped on the international level gives her experience that will be invaluable.
Tatum Mailander, a native of Elmhurst, Ill., attends York Community H.S. She has played club soccer for Eclipse Select ECNL. The defender helped Eclipse to the ECNL national finals, and was team captain. She suffered an ACL in 2024, and missed her junior season of high-school soccer in the spring of 2025, but returned to the pitch this past summer.
"Tatum was a very highly-recruited outside back, and suffered an ACL injury," said Fox. "She is very athletic, from a physical and speed standpoint, and is a highly-touted player who can get forward and can defend really well. She is comfortable in possession and certainly has a lot of the attributes that we are looking for. Tatum has recovered from her injury and started playing in the summer, and I think she's getting back to full strength and is going to be very good for us."
Trzaska, a native of Hinckley, Ohio, attends Medina Highland H.S., and has helped her team to three Suburban League championships, three district titles and one regional crown. The Greater Akron Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024 after posting a school-record 17 shutouts, she has been named to the GASSCA First Team twice, and also is a two-time All-Suburban League First-Team choice. A four-year varsity starter, she has allowed one goal in 21 league games over the last three years, and has posted 52 career shutouts. She has played club soccer for Cleveland Force SC for five years.
"Hailey is an athletic goalkeeper who is good with her feet, comfortable in the build, and fits all of the things we're looking for," said Fox. "She is well rounded and has a high ceiling, and we're very excited for what she's going to bring to our program."
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BGSU finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 10-3-9, and the Falcons went 4-1-7 in Mid-American Conference play. BG finished sixth in the 13-team conference, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami to advance all the way to the MAC Tournament's championship match. BGSU had just two seniors on the 2025 roster.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer) and Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer), as well as on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.
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