Women's Soccer Announces New Signees
7/16/2021 12:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Roos will bring in 11 new student-athletes for the 2021 season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Women's Soccer and Head Coach Jess Smith have officially announced their signing class of 2021, complete with three transfers and eight incoming freshman.Â
"We're excited to welcome our newest class into our program and look forward to getting started with them in a couple weeks," Smith said. "We will look to get all of our new players acclimated quickly with our returners, as we enter a rigorous preseason camp and prepare for a successful season. Our group will have a ton of potential and our staff is anxious to build a strong foundation during camp as we teach ideas, improve fitness and strengthen our culture."
Emma Byrne | 5'5 | F | West Des Moines, Iowa | Valley HS
High School/Club: Played at Valley High under coach Rob Chapman … Won Iowa State Title in senior year … Earned All-State, All-Conference and All-State Tournament Honors … Also played for Sporting Iowa under coach Rich Bywater
Personal: Born Oct. 1, 2002 in Dallas, Tex. … Parents Robin and James Byrne … Father James wrestled at Northern Iowa … Earned a silver cord for volunteer work in high school … Earned an academic varsity letter in high school … Also ran track … Favorite color is purple … Plans to major in Health and Exercise Science
Taylor Cumblidge | 5'7 | MF/D | Lincoln, Neb. | North Star HS
High School/Club: Played at North Star High under coach Edward Meitzen … Four-year varsity starter … Two-year team captain … Two-time All-State award winner … Four-time All-Conference award winner
Personal: Born Mar. 6, 2003 in Lincoln, Neb. … Parents Cami and Jeff … Has one sibling, Kelsey … Member of Student Council, National Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Boy's and Girl's Club … Earned Highest Distinction and Summa Cum Laude … Four-year academic letter winner … Earned Serve Nebraska Step Forward Award … Spoke at high school graduation ceremony … Favorite food is cheesecake … Would like to be friends with Chris Pratt … Plans to major in Business Administration
Kassi Ginther | 5'5 | F | Lee's Summit, Mo. | Summit Christian Academy | Iowa State
2020 (Iowa State): Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award winner … Played in nine games for the Cyclones, totaling 485 minutes … Took three shots on the season … Scored in 51st minute versus Oklahoma State on Sept. 18 … Played season-high 76 minutes in win over Baylor on Sept. 25, also dishing an assist
2019 (Iowa State): Academic All-Big 12 First Team… Appeared in 15 games, making three starts … Totaled 557 minutes … Took 22 shots, placing five on goal … Tallied an assist at Kansas State on Oct. 11 … Played a season-high 66 minutes versus Oklahoma on Oct. 17
2018 (Iowa State): Academic All-Big 12 First Team … Appeared in 20 games, making 12 starts … Started in final 12 games of the season … Scored a team-high four goals on the year … Ranked second on the team with nine points … Took 17 shots, placing seven on goal … All four goals came in Big 12 play … Logged an assist in win over South Dakota State on Aug. 17 … Scored first career goal at TCU on Sept. 21 … Scored in back-to-back games at Oklahoma (Oct. 19) and Oklahoma State (Oct. 21)
2017 (Iowa State): Played in 10 games, recording 193 minutes of action … Played season-high 34 minutes at Creighton on Aug. 18, recording one shot
High School/Club: Four-year letter winner … Broke Missouri state record for goals in a season with 89 in 2016 … 1A Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 … Two-time First Team All-State … Second Team All-State in 2014 … Played club soccer for FCKC Forte Elite and coach Goran Karadzov … Two-time State Champion … Regional Champion … Third place at nationals
Personal: Elementary Education major … Favorite movies are Remember the Titans and High School Musical 3 … Favorite musical artist is Justin Bieber
Lily Hollis | 5'3 | F | Kearney, Mo. | Kearney HS | Kansas State
2020 (Kansas State): Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll … Played in four matches, totaling 58 minutes
High School/Club: 2019 TopDrawerSoccer.com Spring State Star in Missouri … Two-time All-Suburban Kansas City Blue Conference First Team selection … Two-time All-District selection … Played for Sporting Blue Valley SC … Named to the Missouri Olympic Development Program and the Midwest Region ODP
Personal: Born Dec. 29, 2001 in Michigan … Parents Brent and Megan Hollis … Has one sibling, Dayton … Loves all things potato, besides sweet potatoes … Would like to live in Iceland … Plans to major in Psychology
Kayda Kamolz | 5'8 | MF | Holden, Mo. | Lone Jack HS
High School/Club: Played at Lone Jack High for coach Caycee Kamolz … Earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-State Honors … Was a team captain … Holds school records for most goals and most assists scored in a year
Personal: Born Sept. 9 in Woodward, Okla. … Parents Caycee and Eric Kamolz … Has one sibling, Thatcher … Was an academic letterer … Favorite food is sushi … Loves NBA basketball … Plans to major in Education
Madison Page | 5'9 | F | Shawnee, Kan. | DeSoto HS
High School/Club: Played at DeSoto High … Was a team captain … Also participated in track and cross country … Played for KC Fusion Academy and coach Sara MatthewsÂ
Personal: Born Feb. 4, 2003 in Lenexa, Kan. … Parents Tammie and Michael Page … Father Michael played football at Kansas … Mother Tammie played softball at Kansas City (1994) … Has two siblings, Olivia and Isabella … Participated in Relay for Life … Earned A Honor Roll honors … Favorite celebrity is Beyoncé … Can juggle … Plans to major in Health Sciences
Natasha Richardson | 5'7 | GK | Lee's Summit, Mo. | Center HS
High School/Club: Played at Center High under coach Steve Mattson … Three-time All-State performer … Broke school record for saves in freshman and senior year … Holds school record for most career saves … Also played basketball, golf and tennis … Played under Premier Academy ECNLÂ
Personal: Born Dec. 31, 2002 in Kharviv, Ukraine … Parents Cathy and Joe Richardson … Has two siblings, Alex and Andrew … Favorite movie is Grease … Would choose super speed as a superpower … Can solve a Rubik's Cube … Plans to major in Mechanical Engineering
Gabrielle Simms | 5'10 | MF | Freeport, Bahamas | James Madison HS
High School/Club: Played for GBSC Dortmund and the Bahamian Women's National Team … Played under coach Donnie Knowles … Three-time league champion … Two-time MVP … Golden Boot Award winner … Bahamian Women's National Team 2019 U17 captain
Personal: Born May 1, 2003 in Freeport, Bahamas … Parents Craig and Della Simms … Has three siblings, Hannah-joy, Abigail and Asher … Favorite musical artists are Popcaan and Shenseea … Also plays tennis … Plans to major in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Lily Stedman | 5'5 | F | Millstadt, Ill. | Belleville West HS
High School/Club: Played at Belleville West under coach Jason Mathenia … Four-year starter … Earned Freshman of the Year honors … Third-Team All-Conference … Team Captain … Also played volleyballÂ
Personal: Born Aug. 28, 2002 in St. Louis, Mo. … Parents Kelly and Randy Stedman … Has three siblings, Katherine, Ben and Jake … She, Katherine and Ben are triplets … Member of German National Honors Society, Renaissance Club, National Honors Society, Student Council and Pep Club … Was Valedictorian of her class … Favorite show is One Tree Hill … Favorite color is gray … Plans to major in Biology
Katie Stephens | 5'7 | F | Oceanport, N.J. | Shore Regional | Purdue
2019 (Purdue): Played in two games, totaling 19 minutes … Saw a season-high 11 minutes against Toledo on Aug. 25
2018 (Purdue): Appeared in 13 games, totaling 175 minutes … Logged a season-high 34 minutes against Eastern Michigan on Aug. 17 … Had three shots on the year, including two on goal
2017 (Purdue): Appeared in all 19 games as a freshman … Scored first collegiate goal in win at Michigan State … Played a season-high 41 minutes at Indiana … Recorded two shots in win over Dayton
High School/Club: Played at Shore Regional High for coach George Moutis … Finished career with 31 goals and 20 assists … Recorded 16 goals and 16 assists as a junior, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors and leading team to state title … Won Rookie of the Year award with nine goals in 2013, when Shore Regional also won state title … Also participated in track, running anchor leg for school's record-setting 4x100 relay team … Participated in ODP and club camps in Rhode Island and Long Island … 2014 NYCSL NPL PDP All-Tournament Team
Personal: Born in Red Bank, N.J. … Parents Richard and Laurie Stephens … Has two siblings, Richard and Liam … Was an Honor Roll student in high school … Recognized with a presidential citation from the Rotary Club of Greater Long Branch for volunteer work with the Challenger Soccer League … Studying Law
Meghan White | 5'7 | F | Ankeny, Iowa | Ankeny Centennial HS
High School/Club: Played at Ankeny Centennial HS under coach Chris Allen … Earned unanimous First Team All-Conference honors … First Team Academic All-State honoree … Was a team captainÂ
Personal: Born June 3, 2003 in Des Moines, Iowa … Parents Andrea and Ryan White … Both parents attended the University of Iowa … Has one sibling, Michael … Participated in Garden Club, Student Council, Student Ambassadors and Prom Committee … Was Secretary of National Honors Society … Earned a silver cord … Winner of Spirit of the Jaguar, Principal's Rigor and Principal's Scholar awards … Favorite musician is Olivia Rodrigo … Would like to live in Europe … Plans to major in Biology/Pre-Med
