Illinois State head coach Brad Silvey announced the addition of 12 new Redbirds Wednesday. Ashlee Bakaitis (Chesterton, Ind.), Hannah Bradley-Leon (Naperville, Ill.), Piper Carey (Marion, Iowa), Peyton Dearing (Morton, Ill.), Emily Ehlert (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Haley Glover (Columbia, Ill.), Dani Grgas (Henderson, Nev.), Hanna Jones (St. Louis, Mo.), Arianna Lombardi (Bourbonnais, Ill.), Erica Moline (Prior Lake, Minn.), Madaline Novak (Clinton Township, Mich.) and Caitlin Shilling (South Milwaukee, Wis.) signed National Letters of Intent to attend Illinois State University and compete for the Redbird soccer team in the fall.
"We're excited to welcome such a great group of signees for 2020," said head coach Brad Silvey. "This is a class that brings a lot of talent, high-level experience, personality and work ethic. They will immediately create an element of competition within our team culture, pushing our program to a higher standard. Additionally, we will be adding Dani, Ashlee and Erica to our roster this spring, so the early integration will be both exciting and beneficial. We look forward to working with this class and welcoming them to our Redbird family."
Ashlee Bakaitis
Defender | 5-7 | Chesterton, Ind. (Chesterton HS) | Indiana Fire
- 2x All-Conference selection for Chesterton HS, totaling 31 goals and 21 assists in two seasons playing as both a forward and outside back
- Member of the U19 NPL National Champion Indiana Fire Juniors
- Participated with Indiana ODP
- Her father, Jeff, was a track & field athlete at Indiana State
- Plans to major in business and marketing
Why Ashlee chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because I loved the atmosphere on campus along with the instant connection I made with the coaching staff and players. It just felt like a place I could call home."
Hannah Bradley-Leon
Midfielder | 5-0 | Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS) | Team Chicago
- Appeared in 22 games, netting four goals and adding seven assists in her sophomore season, helping Naperville Central to a sectional championship
- Earned All-Conference honors
- Sat out her junior season due to injury
- Plans to major in accounting
Why Hannah chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because I loved the coaching staff as well as the team culture the coaches created with their leadership. I knew it would be the perfect fit for me."
Piper Carey
Forward | 5-5 | Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar HS) | FC United
- Three-year varsity member of the soccer team at Linn-Mar
- Has earned All-State honors three years, helping high school team to two state tournament appearances\
- Played in 58 games throughout her high school career
- Her brother, Trot, plays football at Upper Iowa and her dad, Dave, played baseball at Mount Mercy
- Plans to major in business
Why Piper chose Illinois State: "The coaching staff and my new teammates have made me feel so welcome ever since I met them and I'm super excited for my future at ISU."
Peyton Dearing
Forward | 5-4 | Morton, Ill. (Morton HS) | Illinois Fire Juniors
- Three-year member of the soccer team at Morton HS, collecting all-conference and all-sectional honors during her junior and sophomore years
- Named the MVPÂ and Best Offensive Player for the Potters in both 2018 and 2019
- Serves as the team captain for her club team, Illinois Fire Juniors, who she lead to the semifinals in State Cup
- Also a three-year member of the girl's basketball team at Morton HS, helping the Potters to a state championship last season while earning the 6th Player Award
Why Peyton chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because of their reputation of having a strong education program, the friendly and energetic soccer coaching staff and to experience the small-college atmosphere with large university opportunities."
Emily Ehlert
Defender | 5-5 | Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls HS) | FC Wisconsin
- Has played in the ECNL National Playoffs in four consecutive years
- Selected for 2018 ECNL Midwest PDP
- Member of National Honor Society who ranks in the top 10 percent of her class academically
- Plans to major in actuarial science
Why Emily chose Illinois State: "The second I walked into the weight training room, the team energy could not be described as anything but electric. From the personality of the coaches to the college-town environment of campus, there was no doubt I wanted to be a Redbird."
Haley Glover
Forward | 5-9 | Columbia, Ill. (Columbia HS) | Scott Gallagher
- Scored 26 goals and 13 assists in her junior season at Columbia HS in 19 appearances, helping her team to a state championship
- Earned St. Louis All-Metro First Team and Metro Cup Tournament MVP
- Her father, Jason, played football at Monmouth College
- Plans to major in business
Why Haley chose Illinois State: "I wanted to not only attend a university with a wide variety of academic opportunities, but I also wanted to continue to play the game I love while being surrounded by amazing coaches and players. I knew ISU was going to be the right place for me from the very first moment I stepped foot on campus, and I am very exited to see what my future brings as a Redbird."
Daniela Grgas
Goalkeeper | 5-7 | Henderson, Nev. (Coronado HS) | Heat FC
- Recognized as a TopDrawer Top 20 2020 goalkeeper with a 3-star ranking
- Attended ECNL Playoffs in Seattle, Wash. and Rockford, Ill.
- Recognized as a 2018 ECNL Phoenix National Event Standout
- Participated in Nevada ODP
- Plans to major in business administration
Why Daniela chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because it felt like home as soon as I stepped foot on campus."
Hanna Jones
Forward/Midfielder | 5-8 | St. Louis, Mo. (Incarnate Word Academy) | Lou Fusz
- Back-to-back Missouri State Cup Champion with Lou Fusz in 2017 and 2018
- Earned all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference honors in her junior year
- Also a four-year member of the Incarnate Word girl's volleyball team, helping the team to a final four finish at state her sophomore year
- Plans to major in nursing or biology/pre-veterinarian
Why Hanna chose Illinois State: "I chose ISU because I connected with the coaches, love the team atmosphere, and like the location and layout of campus. Can't wait to be a part of the Redbird soccer program!"
Arianna Lombardi
Midfielder | 5-8 | Bourbonnais, Ill. (Bradley Bourbonnais Community HS) | Eclipse Select
- Won back-to-back state championships  with her club team
- Serves as captain of Eclipse Select
- Club team was ranked No. 1 at nationals
- Also a member of the girl's basketball team at BBCHS, being named all-conference her sophomore and junior seasons
Why Arianna chose Illinois State: "I loved the great atmosphere, both on and off the field, between the coaches and players. The campus just felt like home."
Erica Moline
Midfielder | 5-0 | Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS) | Salvo
- Member of the ODP State Team from 2015 to 2017
- Was a State Cup runner up in 2018 and a quarterfinalist in 2019
- Made it to quarterfinals at the 2016 Gothia Cup in Sweden
- Plans to major in pharmacy/chemistry
Why Erica chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because of the atmosphere and campus environment. The coaches and team created a welcoming and positive environment and I immediately knew I wanted to be apart of that. In addition, the school feels like home, the size fits me perfectly, and the campus is really beautiful. I can't wait for my journey as a Redbird and the future opportunities it brings me as a student-athlete!"
Madaline "Sissy" Novak
Defender | 5-6 | Clinton Township, Mich. (L'Anse Creuse HS North) | Nationals
- Recent state cup chamption with her club team
- A three-time national champion (2015, 2016, 2017)
- Development Academy National Finalist
- Earned Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman at L'Anse Creuse HS North
- Plans to major in psychology
Why Madaline chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because of the wonderful coaching staff and the amazing culture on campus."
Caitlin Shilling
Midfielder | 5-2 | South Milwaukee, Wis. (South Milwaukee HS) | FC Wisconsin
- Helped lead team to post-season ECNL North American Cup
- Has played ECNL for six years
- Her brother, Calvin, plays football at UW-Oshkosh
- Plans to major in business management
Why Caitlin chose Illinois State: "I chose Illinois State because of the positive environment, great coaching staff and solid academic resources on campus."
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