(March 19, 2020) Mena, Arkansas - Bucks Athletics and Coach Brian Byrd is proud to announce the 2020 signing class for women's soccer. The second signing class in school history features 16 student-athletes from Texas, Oklahoma, and England. Along with this signing class, Coach Byrd will have 8 returning players that all played significant minutes in the first season of Bucks Soccer. Coach Byrd is very excited about his second recruiting class and where his program is heading into its sophomore season. "I started working on this class late into our season last fall. We knew that we needed to add depth, and that is what we tried to do. We are ready for August to arrive so these 13 athletes can hit the field with our returners to continue to build a championship program."
Elizabeth Rochen – Goalkeeper – Arlington, Texas
Liz is a very good goalkeeper from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Her height and size are a big plus in women's soccer. She has the attitude and aggressiveness that a goalkeeper requires. She comes off her line hard and is not easy to beat high. Liz is also a joker. A teammate that will work hard on the field and be the practical joker in the locker room. Should be fun!
Bailey Tillotson - Midfielder/Striker - Sherman, Texas
Bailey was one of the first recruits in the class of 2020. She is very versatile in the positions she can play. I am confident as a coach to make her a role player and put her anywhere on the field to create success. Do not let the shyness and quietness fool you. There is some attitude in her when the whistle blows. Bailey is very family oriented and will be well like with in the Western Arkansas community.
Jessica Douglas – Defensive Mid - Gateshead, England
Jessica is part of what will be the famous Newcastle Four. When Jessica is on the field, you're going to know it right off the bat! She is a hard nose player. When Jessica goes forward with the ball at her feet, she will go around you at speed or go through you. She also has good vision and can distribute the ball very well. Fans will notice that black ponytail flying around full speed at the games!
Kaylee Richardson – Center Mid - Gateshead, England
Kaylee is a scrappy player that can be physical and does not get knocked of the ball easily. Her composure under pressure is impressive. Kaylee likes flying down the flank and looks to serve the ball in the box. She does not give up on the play and hustles back to defend. A true box to box midfielder that will help us in many ways! Kaylee is also part of the Newcastle four.
Rhiannon Holmes – Center Mid - Newcastle, England
Rhiannon is the third of four in the Newcastle four. Buck fans will come to know Rhiannon as the player that comes off the field with scratched up, bloody knees. Rhiannon is not scared to leave her feet and make a challenge. She is very solid in shoulder to shoulder contact and is not only good at it, she welcomes it. Go shoulder to shoulder with Rhiannon and you may end up picking up one of your teeth. Western Arkansas will enjoy watching her play.
Aimee Wood - Striker /Midfielder - Newcastle, England
Aimee is a pure goal scorer. Her right foot is a cannon. When she gets the ball at her feet, she will do two things: rip on goal or make the defender look silly. Aimee is super-fast and very skilled. She will turn the ball on a dime and then go at speed with good vision and distribution as well. If you take the ball from Aimee, you need to get away quickly as she will track you down to get it right back! A fun player for Bucks fans to watch as will be a vital piece in our success! She is also part of the Newcastle four.
Madison Tyler – Midfielder/Defender - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Madison comes from Union High School and the Tulsa Hurricane Soccer Club. She is a very versatile player that can play any position in the Midfield and can also play Left Back. Madison left foot is a bomb. She is very intelligent on when step to pressure a defender and not diving in. I look for Madison to play more Outside Mid for us and get the ball forward. Madison is very athletic and is exciting to watch. Look for her to not only be a key piece in the run of play but also on our set pieces. Madison's smile can light up a building and her play will make her a fan favorite.
Remmie Ferla - Striker – Corby, England
Remmie is a passionate player that will be evident right off the bat for Bucks fans. She is a striker who can also check back and be a great target player. Remmie is very smart on the ball with good vision. Remmie is very strong and can also hold of defender making it look easy! When it comes to shooting on goal, you don't need ask her twice. My expectations for her is to not only score goals but also be a team leader. She has a great personality and will be a fan favorite for sure.
Courtney Wernli - Defender/Midfielder - Arlington, Texas
Courtney comes from the soccer rich tradition of Martin High School. Courtney is versatile in what she can play on the field. She has a great delivery in to the box, and I expect her to be at the top of our assist stats by year end. Courtney is also going to be key on our set pieces with her right footed cannon. As a Defender or a Outside Mid, Courtney will be streaking up and down the field making great things happen for the Bucks!
Melanie Glossup - Goalkeeper/Midfielder - Allen, Texas
Melanie is one of the rare players that can play goalkeeper and on the field. She is a very good athlete all around. As a Defensive Mid she is very smart and aggressive. Melanie wins most of her tackles from her strength! In Goal Melanie is very physical and demanding. The loose balls in the box on the ground and in the air are a dangerous area for all others on the field. Melanie is also a joker!! Loves to create a bit of chaos now and then. I think her and I will butt heads during the season a few times and enjoy ever second of it.
Kaitlyn Long – Striker - Anna, Texas
Kaitlyn is a striker from the small but growing town of Anna, Texas. She led her high school team in scoring and with her leadership. She looks to go to goal quickly and can shoot from distance with good accurancy! Kaitlyn is going to be a player that comes in as a very good striker, but also also greatly improve quickly due to her work ethic and ability and desire to listen and learn. I fully expect Kaitlyn to hit the back of the net during the season and also add to her leadership skills in the locker room!
Jazmin Villalta - Midfielder/Striker - Houston, Texas
Don't let Jazmin's size full you! She plays twice her size. Jazmin lets her speed and soccer IQ make things happen. Jazz is very composed on the ball and has very good vision. She only holds the ball when it is needed and distributes very quickly with great supporting movement after words. Her quickness is fun to watch and her attitude is even better! Her ability to settle the ball out of the air is impressive as well. Buck fans will enjoy watching Jazz play and love her even more in the community.
Isabelle Ryan – Striker/Defender/Midfielder - Mansfield, Texas
Isabelle comes from the Dallas Texans Soccer Club and is from my hometown of Mansfield, TX. Isabelle has a very high soccer IQ that can play multiple position and be good at all of them. She has great pace and is very technically gifted! Her work ethic is contagious and as good as she is now the sky is the limit for Isabelle. I firmly believe Isabelle will be a big contributor to our success next season.
Kayli Grant - Goalkeeper - Salpulpa, Oklahoma
Kayli's is a very talented goalkeeper, and she has grown into the position and became one of the top goalkeepers in the state of Oklahoma. She has a work ethic and attitude to train like no other. She has a nose for the ball and will do whatever it takes to keep it out of the goal. I strongly believe Kayli will have great success in the Bucks program!
Cassandra Cervantes - Midfield - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Cassandra is an agile player. She might be small in size but has a huge heart to play the game. Cassandra is a coach's dream in that she is always hungry to learn and you will see her stay behind and do extra work. She helped the Northside reach the playoffs every year she has been on the team. Above all, Cassandra is a great person and very family oriented as she comes from a tight knit family.
Yvette Martinez - Midfield - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Yvette might be small in size, but she makes up for that with her intelligence to play the game. She has a nose for the goal, and her ability to read the game allows her to be at the right place at the right time. Yvette's individual skills allow her to hold the ball and distribute well, as she had many assists in her high school career. Yvette also enjoys training and focuses while she is on the field. She comes from a tight knit family and is a great person.
#GOBUCKS