Back-to-Back B1G Champion Women's Soccer Welcomes Top-20 Class on National Signing Day

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's soccer head coach Jeff Hosler has announced the signing of nine incoming student-athletes to the Spartans' 2024 roster on National Signing Day. The Spartans welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, earning recognition from Prep Soccer as the 12th-ranked class while landing at No. 17 in the TopDrawerSoccer recruiting class rankings.

"Julia brings calm, composure, toughness and big game experience to the backline as a center back while already competing at a very high level. She is skilled and can play make on the ball, elite in the air and always a threat on set pieces." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/hT37NxPX4d
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Julia Belli | Defender | Dublin, Ohio | Ohio Premier ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for Ohio Premier ECNL under coaches Becky Broering, Kevin Dougherty, Chris King and William Gage … Ranked No. 63 in the TopDrawerSoccer IMG 150 (four-star prospect) and No. 72 in the Prep Soccer rankings for the class of 2024 … Three-time ECNL Ohio Valley First Team All-Conference selection (2021-23) … Named an ECNL U-16 All-American in 2022 … 2022 ECNL Arizona National Selection Game participant … Selected for ECNL National Training Camp in 2022 … 2019 id2 Selection Camp participant … Four-year honor roll student and National Honor Society member at Dublin Jerome High School.

Personal: Daughter of Brandon and Jackie Belli … Has two older siblings, Lindsay and Trent … Plans on studying kinesiology at Michigan State.

"Cassidy can fly up and down the line and is lethal overlapping in the attack. Even as one of the best players in the country for the 2024 class, Cassidy remains a determined player that is dedicated to a growth mindset & work ethic." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/o75YVCPrao
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Cassidy Corcione | Defender | Howell, N.J. | PDA ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for coaches Nick Heinemann and Mike O'Neil with Players Development Academy (PDA) ECNL … Ranked No. 12 in the Prep Soccer rankings and No. 68 in the TopDrawerSoccer IMG Top 150 (four-star prospect) for the class of 2024 ... Named an ECNL Northeast Player to Watch … ECNL National Champion in 2019 with PDA, while also a finalist in 2021 … 2018, 2019 and 2021 ECNL Northeast Conference champion … 2019 International Champions Cup finalist … Has experience with the U.S. Youth National Team as a member of the player pool, while also participating in ID camps since 2016 … Named to U.S. National Team U-16 and U-17 rosters … Four-year varsity soccer starter at Freehold Township High School … Selected to play in the High School Senior All-American game in December 2023 … USA Today Girls Soccer Player of the Year nominee … Three-time Division and Central Jersey Group 4 Champion (2020-22), two-time Shore Conference Champion and state finalist (2021-22) and 2022 New Jersey High School State Champion with Freehold Township … Individually, collected All-American and NJ Player of the Year honors and was named First Team All-State, All-Group 4, All-Conference and All-Division in 2021, while earning First Team All-Shore and All-Division honors in 2020 for Freehold Township … Also ran varsity winter and spring track & field at Freehold Township in the 2020 and 2021 seasons … Named to the Principals Honor Roll all four years in high school.

Personal: Daughter of Anthony and Kelly Corcione … Mother played soccer at Rutgers … Has two older brothers, Cristian and Connor … Cristian played baseball at Kean University … Uncle, Jeff Mussleman, played baseball at Harvard and spent time with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB … Cousins Maddie and Alex Musselman played water polo at UCLA, while Maddie plays for Team USA … Intends to major in kinesiology at Michigan State and plans to become a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon.

"Lexi's style of play fits in so well to what we do. She is comfortable and very good with her feet in the build out phase. Her size and range allows her to be a great shot stopper with an overall big presence in goal." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/iHvWlPuvU1
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Lexi Grundler | Goalkeeper | Brentwood, Tenn. | Tennessee Soccer Club ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for Tennessee Soccer Club ECNL under Greg Warden … Ranked No. 196 by Prep Soccer for the class of 2024 … 3-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer... Named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-American Watch List … Named to 2022 ECNL Tennessee National Selection Game roster … Two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American (2021-22) … Two-time ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference selection … 2020 ECNL Ohio Valley Conference Selection Program participant … Three-year (2019-21) Olympic Development Program Tennessee State Team member … Part of the 2021 Olympic Development Program South Region Team … Four-year varsity soccer player at Ravenwood High School... 2023 Girls High School All-American … Two-time Tennessee District 11 Goalkeeper MVP of the Year (2022-23) ... Selected to play in the High School Senior All-American game in December 2023 … Three-time Tennessee All-District 11 Team (2021-23) … Named 2020 TSSAA All-Mid State … TSSAA D1 AAA State Champion in 2020 and State Runner-Up in 2023.

Personal: Daughter of George and Lea Grundler … Has one sister, Addison … Intends to double major in business and biology at Michigan State and plans to become a dentist.

"Grace is a highly technical player that is dangerous on the dribble, in combination play and lethal around the box. Those great attacking qualities paired with a commitment to defending make her one of the top midfielders in the country for 2024." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/FFdypejQXg
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Grace Jackson | Midfielder | Hudson, Ohio | Internationals Soccer Club ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays for coaches Zdravko Popović and Keri Sarver with Internationals Soccer Club ECNL … Ranked No. 50 in the TopDrawerSoccer IMG 150 and No. 57 in the Prep Soccer rankings in the class of 2024 … 2022 ECNL Florida Selection Game participant ... Two-time ECNL National Training Camp participant (2022-23) … Three-time ECNL Ohio Valley First Team Selection (2020-22) … 2019 and 2022 ECNL Ohio Valley champion … Four-time Ohio State Cup champion (2014-18) … 2018 USL Super Y League champion … Three-time ECNL Champions League (2018, 2022-23) … Member of the US Youth National Team player pool from 2019 to 2023 … Two-time US Youth National Team National Camp participant (2019-20) … Seven-time Regional US Youth National Team ID Camp participant (2017-22) … Played varsity basketball at Walsh Jesuit High School, where she was an All-Conference honorable mention in 2021 … Also earned an AAU Basketball national championship in 2020 … Two-year National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society member at Walsh Jesuit.

Personal: Daughter of Scott and Noreen Jackson … Has two older brothers, Ryan and Will … Father played football at Adrian College from 1989-91, while brother Will played soccer at Akron … Intends on majoring in finance and sports business management at Michigan State and plans on building her own business at the conclusion of her soccer career.

"Sam comes with incredible pedigree through her National championship performances with one of the top club teams in the ECNL. She's very confident and smooth on the ball, while also dynamic in her elite ability to defend." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/Dg71iEbUUx
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Samantha Maroni | Defender | Centennial, Colo. | Colorado Rapids Soccer Club ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays for coach Sebastian Giraldo with Colorado Rapids Soccer Club ECNL … Ranked No. 164 in the TopDrawerSoccer IMG Top 150 (3-star prospect) and No. 192 in the Prep Soccer rankings in the class of 2024 … ECNL national semifinalist in 2023 and national runner-up in 2022 … Invited to multiple US Youth National Team camps, including the 2022 and 2023 USYNT Tryout Camps … Also invited to the USYNT Regional ID Camp in 2021 and USYNT U-14 ID Camp in 2020 … 2018 Olympic Development Program Regional Camp participant in 2018 … Four-year varsity soccer player at Grandview High School … 2022 CHSAA 5A State Champion and two-time First Team All-State Honorable Mention ... Two-year varsity soccer captain at Grandview … Three-year honor roll student at Grandview.

Personal: Daughter of Paul and Nikki Maroni … Has a brother, Anthony … Intends to major in interior design at Michigan State and plans to be an architect or interior designer.

"Kaleigh has a great motor, full of quality on the ball and is a proper footballer. She has a really high soccer IQ, gets into great spots and is dangerous going forward on the dribble and in combination play. A very reliable and versatile player." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/No4dxZfMVq
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Kaleigh McPherson | Midfielder | St. Charles, Mo. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL under the direction of Scott McDoniel … Two-time ECNL First Team All-Conference (2021-22) … Earned top-50 rankings from TopDrawerSoccer (3-star prospect) during her U-15 and U-16 seasons … Missouri State Cup Champion in 2019 … id2 Training Camp and National Camp participant in 2019 … Named to ICC Futures Tournament and Midwest All-Star Team in 2019 … 2018 US Club Soccer PDP Event participant … Attended Youth National Team ID Sessions in 2019, 2020 and 2022 … Three-time Missouri State Olympic Development participant (2018-20) … Four-time Olympic Development Regional ID Camp participant (2018-21) … 2019 Olympic Development Program Midwest Sub-Regional All-Star and Midwest Regional Team … 2020 Olympic Development Inter-Regional Event participant … Played one season of varsity soccer at Saint Dominic High School, where she was a state and district champion in 2021 and named First Team All-Conference and Newcomer of the Year … National Honor Society Member at Saint Dominic.

Personal: Daughter of Jim and Michelle McPherson … Has one brother, Kade … Cousin, Grace, attends Michigan State … Father played soccer at Missouri State, while her cousin, Brooke Scheurmann currently plays lacrosse at Elon … Plans to major in nursing at Michigan State.

"Ava has a great motor, loads of pace and is a handful to deal with in space. She is a proven goal scorer and can impact the game in many ways on both sides of the ball because of her relentless attitude and toughness." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/DhSM0X6o8v
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Ava Panduren | Forward | Almont, Mich. | Nationals Girls Academy

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for Nationals Girls Academy under coach David Robertson … Ranked No. 212 in the class of 2024 by Prep Soccer … 3-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer... 2023 Girls Academy U-17 National semifinalist and Mid-America Conference champion … Three-time Girls Academy Mid-America ID Camp participant (2021-23) … 2022 Girls Academy U-16 National quarterfinalist and Mid-America Conference champion … 2022 Girls Academy Champions League club champion … 2021 Girls Academy U-15 National quarterfinalist and Mid-America Conference champion … USYS Midwest Regional Championship finalist, MSYSA State Cup Champion and Las Vegas Mayor's Cup Invitational Finalist in 2019 … Super Y North American Finalist, MSYSA Junior State Cup finalist, CUP Elite Invitational champion and Jefferson Cup Champion in 2018 … Three-year varsity basketball player and captain at Almont High School … Also runs varsity track & field at Almont, where she broke the school record and was named All-State in the 4x100m relay … LINKS Program participant at Almont.

Personal: Daughter of Chad and Angela Panduren … Has two older siblings, Alayna and Nolan … Great aunt, Valerie Sulfaro (Heldt) graduated from MSU in 1983, while great uncle, David Irwin, graduated in 1977 … Plans to major in either special education or communications at Michigan State and career plans include becoming a professional sports team manager.

"G is a very technical player that has the ability to control a midfield through combination play. Her creativity, style of play and size all offer good depth because of her positional versatility." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/O62PzWuyB3
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Gabriella Paonessa | Midfielder | Rochester Hills, Mich. | Nationals Girls Academy

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for Nationals Girls Academy under coaches Gronthik Chatterjee and David Robertson … Named to Girls Academy Mid-America Talent ID rosters … Attends Stoney Creek High School.

Personal: Daughter of Paul and Eva Paonessa … Has two brothers, Luca and Cristiano, and a sister, Alessia … Both parents attended Michigan State and were graduates of the Class of 1995 … Plans to major in human biology at Michigan State.

"It's easy to admire Shelby's commitment to her development. She has a great work ethic, strength, toughness and humility. She is a proven goal scorer and a handful to deal with around the box whether the ball is at her feet or in the air." -Jeff Hosler#GoGreen | #nsd pic.twitter.com/SGmgO5Tgy0
— Michigan State Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) November 8, 2023

Shelby Vaughn | Forward | Creston, Ohio | North FC

Prior to MSU: Plays club soccer for North FC … US Club Soccer and NPL National Champion … Named to the Olympic Development Program National Team … Four-year varsity soccer player at Norwayne High School … Two-time high school district champion (2022-23) … Three-time WCAL Conference champion (2020-22) … Two-time WCAL Player of the Year (2022-23) … Four-time All-Daily Record Team (2020-23) … Daily Record Player of the Year in 2022 and Norwayne Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023 … Also played three years of varsity basketball and ran two years of varsity track & field at Norwayne.

Personal: Daughter of David and Lynn Vaughn … Has two siblings, Savannah and Austin … Intends to major in business at Michigan State and plans to own her own business.

Back-to-Back B1G Champion Women's Soccer Welcomes Top-20 Class on National Signing Day

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