SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana women's soccer team had a busy National Signing Day on Wednesday morning as ten student-athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at Augustana. The ten athletes will enroll as freshmen in the fall of 2021. Wednesday is the first day of the signing period for all NCAA soccer programs. 

"This is an incredible class for our program, our University and our coaches," head coach Brandon Barkus said. "We are excited to welcome these student-athletes to the Augustana University Soccer program. It is an extremely talented group that I am very optimistic will impact our program immensely. 

"It obviously has been an extremely challenging year in recruiting, however, in our mind it has also been a very special year, when you can recruit a group of players with this level of ability from your home state and in the region. It is truly a testament to the quality and commitment of their club and high school coaches who have more than prepared them to compete at the highest level. These ten young women are tremendous role models of what we look to recruit here at Augustana. Our program takes pride in being a group of amazing young people, tremendous competitors, and courageous leaders with an undying passion to be the absolute best! Plus, they come to Augustana accustomed to winning and with high ambitions, and we look forward to helping them realize their dreams. Our coaching staff is extremely excited for the Augustana Soccer recruiting class of 2021!"

Meet The Class
 

Emma Thompson	Forward	5-6	West Des Moines, Iowa	Sporting Iowa
Larissa Pelley	Defender	5-6	Glenwood, Iowa	Evolution Soccer Club
Cecilia Burroughs	Midfield	5-6	Ankeny, Iowa	Iowa rush
Brooke Oberbroekling	Defender	5-4	Sioux Falls, S.D.	Dakota Alliance SC
Delaney Kost	Defender	5-6	Rapid City, S.D.	Black Hills Rapids
Erika Leeman	Defender	5-5	Burnsville, Minn.	Salvo SC
Summer Greene	Forward	5-4	Omaha, Neb.	Omaha United
Sierra Barkus	Midfield	5-5	Sioux Falls, S.D.	Dakota Alliance SC
Mia Baltzell	Forward	5-5	Omaha, Neb.	Evolution SC
Macie Haggerty	Midfield	5-6	Sioux Falls, S.D.	Dakota Alliance SC

Emma Thompson | Forward | 5-6 | West Des Moines, Iowa | Sporting Iowa

Barkus on Thompson: "Emma is a player that we have had the pleasure of watching develop first-hand as she was a regular participant in the camps that we host throughout the summer. Emma is a gifted athlete who has the ability to play multiple positions and also the fitness to get up and down the field with energy and determination. She has natural attacking instincts and combined with her speed and quickness I am extremely excited to see her beat defenders off the dribble and with combinations. Emma competes for one of the best club teams in Iowa and we are excited about the things that Emma will bring to our attack."

High School: Thompson will graduate from Valley High School in May of 2021. As a sophomore, Thompson garnered Academic All-Conference honors while helping her team to a 15-4 record and state tournament appearance. 

Personal: Thompson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to parents Jim and Tina Thompson. She has three younger siblings and plans to major in chemistry or computer science while at Augustana. 



Larissa Pelley | Defender | 5-6 | Glenwood, Iowa | Evolution Soccer Club

Barkus on Pelley: "Larissa will be a player who will both impact and add to our depth for us in the back. She is very athletic and competitive, which are two qualities we really love. Also, as an added bonus, she is left-footed and can play centrally. Her work rate on both sides of the ball and willingness to get up and down the field have really stood out and we are excited about what her growth in our program can look like over the next four years."

High School: Pelley will graduate from Glenwood High School in May of 2021. As a sophomore, Pelley started 15 out of 16 games while tallying four goals, three assists, 41 shots and 27 shots on goal en route to 2nd Team All-District and Team MVP honors. 

Personal: Pelley was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to parents Scott and Nici Pelley. She has four younger siblings and enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, reading, baking, track, basketball and crafts. While at Augustana, she plans to major in psychology. 



Cecilia Burroughs | Midfield | 5-6 | Ankeny, Iowa | Iowa Rush

Barkus on Burroughs: "Cecilia, or as she goes by Ceci, is a player with a tremendous soccer IQ. She is versatile and can play anywhere in the midfield but plays with great composure, awareness and confidence. As we continue to build our possession-based play, players like Ceci will help us retain the ball, but she is equally adept as a ball winner. She is so solid on both sides of the ball. With her ability to read the game and contribute both offensively and defensively, she has a very bright future at the collegiate level." 

High School: Burroughs will graduate from Ankeny Centennial High School in May of 2021. As a sophomore, Burroughs garnered Academic All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-Conference honors while helping her team to a 16-4 record, conference championship and state semifinals appearance. 

Personal: Burroughs was born in Ankeny, Iowa. She has a younger sibling and enjoys volunteering, reading and watching movies. While at Augustana, she plans to major in government, international affairs and political science while minoring in spanish. 



Brooke Oberbroekling | Defender | 5-4 | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

Barkus on Oberbroekling: "Brooke, who is another left-footed player, is as tough as they come and she is super competitive as well. What I love is her grit, determination and willingness to sacrifice for her team. I love how Brooke can play in the middle and on the flank in the back and it's this versatility that will help get her on the field for us sooner than later. We are excited to get her here and to start working her into our system and style of play. We believe that Brooke will have an incredible career here at Augie!" 

High School: Oberbroekling will graduate from O'Gorman High School in May of 2021. As a senior, she scored two goals and tallied four assists as her team made a state semifinals appearance. She was named to the Metro All-City Conference Team her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. 

Personal: Oberbroekling was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to parents Kelly and Kathy Oberbroekling. She has an older sibling and enjoys running, biking and boating. While at Augustana, she plans to major in nursing.



Delaney Kost | Defender | 5-6 | Rapid City, S.D. | Black Hills Rapids

Barkus on Kost: "Delaney is a fantastic athlete that has only begun to scratch the surface of her abilities as a soccer player. She defends with a great sense of responsibility, trains with incredible focus and competes with intensity. Delaney's ability to play out wide in the back and her ball-winning ability could see her competing for playing and starting time immediately. Delaney has a big personality and is so fun to be around. I am also excited to continue a tradition of great West River players coming to Augustana!" 

High School: Kost will graduate from Central High School in May of 2021. As a junior, Kost earned the Most Improved Player award on her team. 

Personal: Kost was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, to parents Martin and Jodi Kost. She has two older siblings, one of which wrestles at Augustana, and enjoys running, hiking, going to the lake and spending time with family and friends. While at Augustana, she plans to major in biology. 



Erika Leeman | Defender | 5-5 | Burnsville, Minn. | Salvo SC

Barkus on Leeman: "Erika has continued to impress me with her growth, determination and development. She primarily plays center back but can slip into the midfield if called upon. She has a massive engine and works at maximum effort with a terrific attitude. She is a hard-nosed tackler that is incredible in supporting angles and distances. Salvo SC is proving that they consistently develop outstanding defenders that have moved on to be very successful and Erika is yet another one. Her emphasis on having a strong 1v1 defensive mentality and patience are characteristics that will lead her to a tremendous collegiate career!" 

High School: Leeman will graduate from Burnsville Senior High School in June of 2021. She received First Team All-Conference and team MVP honors during her junior and senior seasons. 

Personal: Leeman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to parents Kelli and Larry Leeman. 



Summer Greene | Forward | 5-4 | Omaha, Neb. | Omaha United

Barkus on Greene: "Summer is as complete a defender as we have recruited here at Augustana. She has a fantastic combination of athleticism, tactical awareness and technical ability. What I really love is that Summer brings a calming presence in the backline with her leadership and communication. She has all the tools to impact right away."

High School: Greene will graduate from Concordia High School in 2021. As a freshman, Greene earned First Team All-State honors. 

Personal: Greene was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to parents Kelly and Matt Greene. She has two younger siblings and plans to major in nursing and minor in biology while at Augustana. 



Sierra Barkus | Midfield | 5-5 | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

Barkus on Barkus: "Sierra has 'being a Viking' in her blood! She possesses a tremendous passion for life and for soccer that is contagious. Sierra is very versatile and can play in any position in the midfield, up top and in the center back if needed. Her passing acuity and possession are points of pride and will blend immediately with our returning players. Sierra has a unique ability to dictate the pace of a game as she can bring calm amidst chaos. She has a strong ability to establish a rhythm to a game and plays with fierce pride. I love that she sets high goals and explodes forward with an excellent attitude."

High School: Barkus will graduate from O'Gorman High School in 2021. During her junior and senior seasons, Barkus made the First Team All-State Team and was named Second Team All-State as a sophomore. She also made the Metro Conference Team from her sophomore through senior seasons. 

Personal: Barkus was born in Overland Park, Kansas, to parents Brandon and Jen Barkus. She has an older sibling on the Augie soccer team and enjoys golfing when not on the soccer pitch. 



Mia Baltzell | Forward | 5-5 | Omaha, Neb. | Evolution SC

Barkus on Baltzell: "Versatile and talented is how you describe Mia. She has played many positions and many roles during her youth and high school careers. As she enters our program, we see a tremendous player who can play up top and as an attacking mid for us and I'm excited to see Mia use that versatility to be a great offensive player with a tremendous presence in our front line. I am excited to see Mia wearing the Navy and Gold next fall!" 

High School: Baltzell will graduate from Elkhorn South High School in May of 2021. 

Personal: Baltzell was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to parents Beau and Amy Baltzell. She has two siblings and enjoys show choir and shopping. While at Augustana, Baltzell plans to major in biology and minor in spanish. 



Macie Haggerty | Midfield | 5-6 | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

Barkus on Haggerty: ""Macie is an attacking center midfielder from Sioux Falls that I had the pleasure to see play a ton. Macie may be one of the most athletically gifted players we have had here at Augie. She has the speed, technique and agility to be a special player in the midfield and she works magic with the ball at her feet. There will be some big expectations to fill in the midfield with the departures of Kelly Partington and Izzy Hedge, but Macie certainly has the ability to handle it. I am really excited to see Macie playing here at Augie!"

High School: Haggerty will graduate from Roosevelt High School in May of 2021. As a senior, she helped lead her team to a state championship game appearance with 13 goals on the season. She earned All-Metro Conference honors and is a scholar-athlete. As a junior, she scored eight goals, received scholar athlete honors, offensive MVP honors, All-Metro Conference honors and was named Second Team All-State. She also made the All-Metro Conference team as a sophomore. 

Personal: Haggerty was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to parents Terrin and Amy Haggerty. She has an older sibling and her hobbies include hanging out with friends and family, running, bible study, being outside and hiking. While at Augustana, she plans to major in nursing.