#0 SHELBY SMITH
Goalkeeper
Hometown: Georgetown, KY
Smith plays collegiate soccer for Bellarmine University, where she just completed her freshman year with the Knights. She graduated from Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Kentucky. Prior to Lexington she also played for Racing Louisville’s academy and USL W League team. Smith is most excited about playing in front of friends and family that she has known for her entire life.
#2 CARSYN PRIGGE
Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Prigge plays NCAA women’s soccer at Ohio University, starting in all 19 games in the 2021 season where she scored one goal and recorded six shots on goal. She played for Lexington FC growing up before attending Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Ky., where she ran track and played soccer. Prigge is most excited about competing with new teammates and representing a city that has given her so much.
#3 ANNA YOUNG
Defender
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Young plays NCAA women’s soccer at the University of Kentucky, appearing in all 18 matches with 16 starts for the Wildcats. She previously played for Maryland United of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) in her youth career. Young is most excited about meeting her new team and trying to learn as much as she can during her time with technical director Alan Kirkup and the rest of the coaching staff.
#5 MALENE DUUS
Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Duus plays collegiate soccer at Tennessee Wesleyan University, where she has started in 29 games and amassed 10 assists. She also formerly played for South Georgia Tormenta FC’s USL W team. Duus is most excited to play at a competitive level, having experience within the league. She said she is excited for the memories she’ll make at Lexington both on and off the field and the relationships that will form from it.
#6 BROOKE DAWAHARE
Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Dawahare is currently a junior at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky, and is already committed to play collegiate soccer. She has accumulated many accolades across her career including being a part of the United States U16 Youth National Team player pool and being named to the KHSAA All-State First Team in 2021 and declared 2021 11th Region Player of the Year. Dawahare is most excited about having the opportunity to compete against some of the best pre-professional players in the country and from around the world. She said she couldn’t think of a better environment to prepare her for the next level than to be trained by Alan Kirkup and take part in the competitive USL W League.
#7 AUDREY RAWLS
Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Rawls plays collegiate soccer for Transylvania University, where she started in 23 games and scored eight goals with six assists. Growing up in Lexington, she graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. In her youth she also played for Lexington FC. Rawls is most excited about being able to represent the city of Lexington on a larger scale and to see what the league is about, competing against some of the best young women in the game at the moment.
#8 SARAH GORHAM
Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Gorham was at Western Kentucky at the NCAA Division-I level for five years where she scored 10 goals. She also played for Lidköpings FK in Sweden, Nea Salamina Famagusta FC (Nea Salamis) in Cyprus, Santa Teresa CD in Spain and Rayo Vallecano in Spain. Gorham said she is most excited to get to know her new teammates and continue to grow soccer in the Lexington area.
#9 ERIN HEIL
Midfielder/Defender
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Heil plays collegiate soccer at Transylvania University, which she transferred to after attending Bellarmine University. With the Pioneers she has started in 28 out of 29 games and has earned a goal and an assist. Heil is most excited about the competition and all of the unknowns, saying she thinks it will create a sense of determination and motivation for being new to the league.
#10 GIANNA CAMUSO
Forward
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Camuso previously played for the ISC Gunners of the Women’s Premier Soccer League in Washington, recording three goals in the league. Camuso said she is ecstatic to play with a new group of girls and to be able to play under a coach that embraces the true meaning of soccer, saying she looks forward to the inaugural season.
#11 EVELYN PAZIENZA
Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Peewee Valley, KY
Pazienza plays collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville, where she finished up her freshman season in 2022. Growing up in Pewee Valley, Kentucky, Pazienza attended South Oldham High School, where she helped lead the school to a state championship appearance. She also played for Racing Louisville’s academy. Pazienza is most excited to meet new people while playing high level soccer in the W League.
#12 TAMEIR GROSVENOR
Forward
Hometown: Desoto, TX
Grosvenor played six seasons for Texas Wesleyan University at the NAIA level of college athletics, starting in every game she played for the Rams and scoring 96 goals. She also played for the Sting and Texans of the Elite Clubs National League. Grosvenor said she is most excited about playing at a higher level than college and being in an unfamiliar place to meet new people.
#13 BELLA NELSON
Forward
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Nelson plays collegiate soccer at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where she has started 25 games in three seasons and scored 10 goals with three assists. She also played youth soccer for the Baltimore Armour Developmental Academy and Maryland United FC. Nelson is most excited about competing at a high level and meeting new people while continuing to develop as a soccer player.
#14 BRYNN BRADLEY
Midfielder
Hometown: Nicholasville, KY
Bradley played collegiate soccer at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky. Growing up in Nicholasville, Kentucky, she graduated from West Jessamine High School. Bradley is most excited about getting the opportunity to play the game again at a high level, having had her collegiate career come to an end.
#15 ISABELLA WHITE
Forward
Hometown: Lexington, KY
White plays collegiate soccer for Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, which she committed to after graduating from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington. In her youth career she competed for Lexington FC and Racing Louisville’s academy. She started all 16 games for the Pioneers as a freshman, amassing eight goals and four assists. White is most excited about seeing what the club is capable of and competing in a high-end competitive league of soccer.
#16 KAILEY UTLEY
Forward
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Utley played collegiate soccer at West Virginia University for two seasons, scoring 17 goals for the Mountaineers in 45 starts. After leaving WVU she also played for both Fire & Ice SC and Pacific Northwest SC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Outside of soccer she graduated Optometry School and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Utley is most excited to continue competing with and against high level athletes and to build relationships within the team and community.
#17 MARZ JOSEPHSON
Goalkeeper
Hometown: Apex, NC
Josephson spent four years at the University of North Carolina, playing at the NCAA Division-I level before transferring to the University of Kentucky in the offseason, where she will play in the 2023 Fall season. She also played at Wake FC in the USL. Josephson expressed excitement about her signing, citing great interactions with the club and saying she can’t wait to meet the team and staff in person and get to work.
#18 MAYA MAXWELL
Midfielder
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Maxwell plays collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville, finishing her freshman season in 2022. As a freshman she played in nine games for the Cardinals, putting up four shots and three shots on goal in a total of 197 minutes. Growing up in Louisville, she attended Ballard High School. Maxwell is most excited about improving her game while incorporating the club’s identity as well.
#20 MELISSA FERNANDEZ
Midfielder
Hometown: New Hill, NC
Fernandez played collegiate soccer at East Carolina University, which she transferred to after leaving Auburn University-Montgomery. At AUM she started in 14 of 18 games in 2018 and scored one goal with three assists. She also played for Oak City United of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Fernandez is most excited to get to play with a group of women that all have similar goals and will strive to win not just for each other but for the program and coaching staff as well, citing the upcoming season as an opportunity for girls to be a part of something bigger.
#21 ALEXANDRA SHIMASAKI
Midfielder
Hometown: Redlands, CA
Shimasaki plays collegiate soccer at Southwest Mississippi Community College, starting in 15 games for the Lady Bears and leading the team in scoring with 18 points in 2021. She also played for Heavy Hitters / Nutrition Mission Heat in Guam. Shimasaki is most excited about playing alongside skilled players with similar goals and aspirations, entering the inaugural season with confidence.
#22 KAELA DICKERMAN
Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
Dickerman played NCAA Women’s Soccer at the University of Louisville, starting in all 16 games in 2016 for the Cardinals. She also played for Afturelding (Ungmennafélagið Afturelding) in Iceland, FF Lugano in Switzerland and most recently the Cincinnati Sirens of the Premier Arena Soccer League. Dickerman herself is most excited about training and playing at a high level for the upcoming USLW League season at Lexington. She was excited by the prospect of surrounding herself with other motivated players who are looking at honing their craft daily and seeing the group and club grow from the beginning of their first season until the end, saying it’s going to be an incredible journey.
#23 SOPHIA ZINN
Defender
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Zinn plays collegiate soccer at Louisville where she recently completed her sophomore season in 2022. Outside of the collegiate game she also played for Florida United (Weston FC) where head coach Jerome Samuels spoke highly of her, saying she excels in 1-on-1 situations. Zinn is most excited about meeting a new group of players to train with and seeing how well the club does in its inaugural season, saying she wouldn’t want to be doing anything else this summer and can’t wait to get to work.
#24 ELLA ABRAHAM
Forward
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Abraham plays collegiate soccer at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Finishing her sophomore year in 2022, she scored six goals across her first two seasons. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, she graduated from Lafayette High School. Abraham is most excited about meeting all of her new teammates at Lexington Sporting Club.
#25 RAVIN ALEXANDER
Forward
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Alexander played collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville for five seasons, redshirting her freshman year in 2018. During her five years she started in 56 out of a possible 57 games for the Cardinals. She was also a member of Kings Hammer FC in the USL W League in 2022. Alexander is most excited for the opportunity to compete with and against high level players, having witnessed first hand the quality of the league. She is also excited for the opportunity to win games and represent Lexington Sporting Club in its inaugural season.
#27 POPPY DERHUN
Forward
Hometown: Hastings, England
Derhun plays collegiate soccer at Delta State University, where she appeared in 17 matches and started in seven in 2022. She joined Delta State after leaving UNC Charlotte. She also previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion’s WSL Academy in her home country of England. Derhun is most excited about playing her first ever USL W League season and competing against some of the top women’s soccer players.
#28 KACEY SMEKRUD
Midfielder/ Forward
Hometown: La Grange, KY
Smekrud played collegiate soccer at the College of Charleston for four seasons where she started in a total of 21 games and scored three goals. She also played for Cincinnati Sirens of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL), as well as the Racing Louisville USL W League team in the summer of 2021. Smekrud is most excited for the opportunity to learn and play in a new and competitive environment with her teammates.
#29 SHAYE SEYFFART
Midfielder
Hometown: Ringoes, NJ
Seyffart competed at the NCAA Division-I level at three different universities, beginning her journey with Villanova University before transferring to the University of Florida and finally the University of Washington. She also joined the Player’s Development Academy (PDA). Seyffart said she looks forward to playing for Coach Alan Kirkup again after the two’s time at Florida. She said Kirkup’s level of training is demanding, yet rewarding and his playing style aligns with what she is most familiar and comfortable with.
#30 HADLEY CYTRON
Forward
Hometown: Creve Coeur, MO
Cytron plays collegiate soccer at Morehead State University, which she joined after a two-year stint with Saint Louis. She also briefly spent time at the University of Tennessee before leaving at the semester break for the Billikens. She started in all 17 games for Morehead State last season, leading the team in assists and co-leading the team in goals scored, earning herself a place on the All-OVC Newcomer Team. Outside of the college game Cytron also became the first ever high school athlete to earn a spot on the roster of Fire & Ice SC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League.
#31 KATE LARBES
Forward
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Larbes plays collegiate soccer at Morehead State University, starting in all 17 matches last season and putting up 11 shots on target. She also recorded two goals as a Covid sophomore in 2021. Away from the collegiate game she also played for the Cincinnati Sirens. Larbes is most excited about training with amazing players at Lexington SC.
#33 AVERY REDMON
Midfielder
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Redmon plays collegiate soccer at Morehead State University, starting all 17 games for the Eagles last season as a sophomore. She led the team in minutes played with 1,400, being named to the All-OVC Tournament Team for her efforts. As a freshman in 2021 she played in 14 games, starting in two, and attempted two shots with one on target. A native to Kentucky, Redmon grew up in Louisville, graduating from Eastern High School.
#36 LESLEY KIESLING
Forward
Hometown: North Canton, OH
Kiesling currently plays for the Kentucky Wildcats at the NCAA Division-I level after three years at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she scored 10 goals in the 2021-22 season. Kiesling said she is most excited for training at a high level while also having fun and playing a lot of games. She added that the summer offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the game and play with different people you don’t normally play with, saying she is excited to learn and grow with new people.