Kansas City Women's Soccer Welcomes Four Freshmen on National Signing Day
11/11/2021 8:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Women's Soccer and Head Coach Jess Smith scored four impact freshmen on National Signing Day.
Holland Hawkins | 5'6 | F | Springfield, Missouri | Central High School
High School/Club: Finished 2021 junior season with 95 shots, 30 goals, 10 assists, and started all 19 games, playing 1545 minutes… Freshman year recorded 27 goals and 21 assists and received All-District MVP honors… Received First Team All-District, All-Conference, and All-Region accolades… Ranks Top 25 in the MSHAA for goals per game (#11 with 7 goals), total points in a game (#7 with 14 points), fastest goal scored in a game (#19 at the 35-second mark), assists in a season (#25 at 21 assists), total points per season (#20 with 75 points), average points per game (#16 with 3.68 per game)… After final high school soccer game, Hawkins's #14 jersey number will be retired… Also earned All-Conference and All-District recognition in volleyball at Central High School… A member of National Honor Society and the All-Academic Team
Personal: Born Oct. 28, 2003 in Columbia, Mo. … Parents Jeff and Heather Hawkins… Eight siblings; Aspen, Ireland, Boston, Finley, Parke, Matilda, Bronx, and Tennessee… Played for Pinnacle FC coached by Alf Bilbao… First in Presidents Cup in 2019, second in State Cup in 2021
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play my collegiate career at UMKC with the Kansas City women's Soccer team because I fell in love with the campus at my first ID camp in 9th grade and from then on I had dreamed of playing soccer here. When I attended the ID camp again this past summer, the field felt like home and that's when I really knew that it was the place for me. I love the environment and the coaching staff was very friendly and welcoming."Â
Coach Smith on Hawkins: "Holland consistently gets herself into dangerous positions in the final third and creates scoring chances. She is really composed inside the box and can finish in different ways, which is going to enhance our attack immediately.  Holland has great pride for our program and a tremendous work rate. We can't wait to have her join the team."
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Olivia Platt | 5'5 | MF | Lawrence, Kansas | Lawrence HS
High School/Club: Played at Lawrence High for three years under coach Matthew McCune … Named All-Conference Sunflower League First-Team… Earned 4A All-State First Team … Named Team Captain junior year… Also participated in basketball and National Honor Society during high school
Personal: Born April 5, 2004 in Overland Park, Kan. … Parents Tim and Mari Platt, both attended the University of Kansas … Middle child with two older siblings, Ellie, and Sam, and two younger siblings, Janie and Emma … Plans to major in Occupational Therapy
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play my collegiate career at UMKC because of how hard-working and kind the coaching staff is. They all have so much passion for the sport and I can see myself having a very successful career with Kansas City soccer. I also love Kansas City; I grew up here and I am excited to go back home to continue playing the sport I love."
Coach Smith on Platt: "We are really excited about Olivia's vision of the game, composure on the ball and ability to play final passes. She's someone who will help us keep possession of the ball and will playmaker for us in the midfield by creating opportunities for her teammates to score. Olivia is going to enhance our team in ways off the field as well and we can't wait to have her join us."
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Brianna Castleberry | 5'1 | MF | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma | Broken Arrow HS
High School/Club: Leading goal scorer the past three seasons at Broken Arrow HS… Averaged 1.26 goals per game in her high school career… Named Team Captain and earned All-District accolades three times … Voted United Soccer Coaches All-American… A member of National Honor Society… Earned the U.S. President Award for Educational Excellence… Received Academic All-District distinctions
Personal: Born June 8, 2004 in Tulsa, Okla. … Parents Mark and Kelly Castleberry… Two sisters, Courtney, and Addison… Played for the Tulsa SC 04 ECNL under the direction of Lewis Amos
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to join the Kansas City Soccer family because Coach Jess and Coach Mark were so supportive and continued to encourage me in my desire to play college soccer. I've been to Kansas City multiple times and enjoyed the area and UMKC's campus as well."
Coach Smith on Castleberry: "We can't wait to have Bri join us because of her dynamic ability on the ball and her relentless work rate. She is a player who can create chances to score just with her athleticism and speed, but also has the skill to finish.  Bri will cause defenders a lot of problems and we look forward to her impacting our attack."
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Madelyn Muhr | 5'7 | D | St. Louis, Missouri | Incarnate Word Academy
High School/Club: Transferred to Incarnate Word Academy for the 2020-21 academic year… Notched six assists in only three games her junior season… Earned All-Conference accolades … Participated in Philanthropy Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Personal: Born Oct. 11, 2003… Parents Jeffery and Laura Muhr… Three older siblings; Alec, Colin, and Lauren… Played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher coached by Tony Kuster… State Cup Finalist and made the USYS Midwest Regional team… Plans to major in Nursing/Health Sciences
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play for Kansas City Soccer because from the first second I was on campus I felt very welcomed by the coaching staff and girls around me. UMKC is a very good school for the program I am looking into and I believe it will help me be successful in both my academic and soccer careers. The Kansas City area is so fun, and I am excited be a Roo!"
Coach Smith on Muhr: "Maddie is a hardworking and tenacious player who can help us at centerback or holding mid. She's a smart player who has the technical ability to stretch the game and create attacking opportunities. She has the size and mentality to help us compete in the Summit League and we can't wait for her to get to work with us."
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Holland Hawkins | 5'6 | F | Springfield, Missouri | Central High School
High School/Club: Finished 2021 junior season with 95 shots, 30 goals, 10 assists, and started all 19 games, playing 1545 minutes… Freshman year recorded 27 goals and 21 assists and received All-District MVP honors… Received First Team All-District, All-Conference, and All-Region accolades… Ranks Top 25 in the MSHAA for goals per game (#11 with 7 goals), total points in a game (#7 with 14 points), fastest goal scored in a game (#19 at the 35-second mark), assists in a season (#25 at 21 assists), total points per season (#20 with 75 points), average points per game (#16 with 3.68 per game)… After final high school soccer game, Hawkins's #14 jersey number will be retired… Also earned All-Conference and All-District recognition in volleyball at Central High School… A member of National Honor Society and the All-Academic Team
Personal: Born Oct. 28, 2003 in Columbia, Mo. … Parents Jeff and Heather Hawkins… Eight siblings; Aspen, Ireland, Boston, Finley, Parke, Matilda, Bronx, and Tennessee… Played for Pinnacle FC coached by Alf Bilbao… First in Presidents Cup in 2019, second in State Cup in 2021
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play my collegiate career at UMKC with the Kansas City women's Soccer team because I fell in love with the campus at my first ID camp in 9th grade and from then on I had dreamed of playing soccer here. When I attended the ID camp again this past summer, the field felt like home and that's when I really knew that it was the place for me. I love the environment and the coaching staff was very friendly and welcoming."Â
Coach Smith on Hawkins: "Holland consistently gets herself into dangerous positions in the final third and creates scoring chances. She is really composed inside the box and can finish in different ways, which is going to enhance our attack immediately.  Holland has great pride for our program and a tremendous work rate. We can't wait to have her join the team."
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Olivia Platt | 5'5 | MF | Lawrence, Kansas | Lawrence HS
High School/Club: Played at Lawrence High for three years under coach Matthew McCune … Named All-Conference Sunflower League First-Team… Earned 4A All-State First Team … Named Team Captain junior year… Also participated in basketball and National Honor Society during high school
Personal: Born April 5, 2004 in Overland Park, Kan. … Parents Tim and Mari Platt, both attended the University of Kansas … Middle child with two older siblings, Ellie, and Sam, and two younger siblings, Janie and Emma … Plans to major in Occupational Therapy
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play my collegiate career at UMKC because of how hard-working and kind the coaching staff is. They all have so much passion for the sport and I can see myself having a very successful career with Kansas City soccer. I also love Kansas City; I grew up here and I am excited to go back home to continue playing the sport I love."
Coach Smith on Platt: "We are really excited about Olivia's vision of the game, composure on the ball and ability to play final passes. She's someone who will help us keep possession of the ball and will playmaker for us in the midfield by creating opportunities for her teammates to score. Olivia is going to enhance our team in ways off the field as well and we can't wait to have her join us."
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Brianna Castleberry | 5'1 | MF | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma | Broken Arrow HS
High School/Club: Leading goal scorer the past three seasons at Broken Arrow HS… Averaged 1.26 goals per game in her high school career… Named Team Captain and earned All-District accolades three times … Voted United Soccer Coaches All-American… A member of National Honor Society… Earned the U.S. President Award for Educational Excellence… Received Academic All-District distinctions
Personal: Born June 8, 2004 in Tulsa, Okla. … Parents Mark and Kelly Castleberry… Two sisters, Courtney, and Addison… Played for the Tulsa SC 04 ECNL under the direction of Lewis Amos
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to join the Kansas City Soccer family because Coach Jess and Coach Mark were so supportive and continued to encourage me in my desire to play college soccer. I've been to Kansas City multiple times and enjoyed the area and UMKC's campus as well."
Coach Smith on Castleberry: "We can't wait to have Bri join us because of her dynamic ability on the ball and her relentless work rate. She is a player who can create chances to score just with her athleticism and speed, but also has the skill to finish.  Bri will cause defenders a lot of problems and we look forward to her impacting our attack."
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Madelyn Muhr | 5'7 | D | St. Louis, Missouri | Incarnate Word Academy
High School/Club: Transferred to Incarnate Word Academy for the 2020-21 academic year… Notched six assists in only three games her junior season… Earned All-Conference accolades … Participated in Philanthropy Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Personal: Born Oct. 11, 2003… Parents Jeffery and Laura Muhr… Three older siblings; Alec, Colin, and Lauren… Played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher coached by Tony Kuster… State Cup Finalist and made the USYS Midwest Regional team… Plans to major in Nursing/Health Sciences
Why Kansas City?:Â "I chose to play for Kansas City Soccer because from the first second I was on campus I felt very welcomed by the coaching staff and girls around me. UMKC is a very good school for the program I am looking into and I believe it will help me be successful in both my academic and soccer careers. The Kansas City area is so fun, and I am excited be a Roo!"
Coach Smith on Muhr: "Maddie is a hardworking and tenacious player who can help us at centerback or holding mid. She's a smart player who has the technical ability to stretch the game and create attacking opportunities. She has the size and mentality to help us compete in the Summit League and we can't wait for her to get to work with us."
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