Saint Louis head women’s soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the Billikens’ program. All eight players will have four years of eligibility beginning next fall.
The new Billikens are:
Elli Brunts • F • Plano, Texas (Ursuline Academy of Dallas | Dallas Texans)
Annabelle Copeland • F • Godfrey, Ill. (Alton Marquette Catholic H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Illinois ECNL)
Haley Cox • MF • Cincinnati, Ohio (Oak Hills H.S. | Kings Hammer Academy)
Brionna Halverson • MF/D • Bolivar, Mo. (Bolivar H.S. | FCKC Futura Forte)
Emma Hinson • GK • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit H.S. | Crossfire United ECNL)
Megan Nixon • F • Oakville, Ontario (St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary | Saltfleet-Stoneycreek Soccer Club)
Olivia Petit • D • Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban H.S. | Internationals SC)
Sydney Walker • D • St. Louis, Mo. (Westminster Christian Academy | St. Louis Scott Gallagher)
“We are thrilled with our 2017 recruiting class,” Shields said. “As a whole, this is the most talented, athletic and competitive group of student-athletes we have recruited during our time at Saint Louis University. They will immediately impact our level of play on the field and elevate our core values and culture off the field. I’m looking forward to seeing these players join our veterans in fulfilling our vision of winning an Atlantic 10 Conference championship.”
Elli Brunts • F • Plano, Texas (Ursuline Academy of Dallas | Dallas Texans)
Earned a varsity letter in each of her first three seasons at Ursuline … tabbed first-team All-State as a junior and second-team All-State as a sophomore … Dallas-Fort Worth first-team All-Area in her junior season … first-team All-District as a sophomore and junior … named Offensive Player of the Year in her junior campaign … is a Top Drawer Soccer “Player to Watch” … helped lead the Bears to a state championship last year and second in the state in her sophomore season … plays club soccer for the Dallas Texans … National Honor Society member, first honor roll student, Dean of Students’ Conduct List and Academic Dean’s List.
Shields on Brunts: “Elli’s athleticism, work rate and attitude are first class. Her relentlessness and positivity will make the players around her better and make an impact in our attacking group.”
Annabelle Copeland • F • Godfrey, Ill. (Alton Marquette Catholic H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Illinois ECNL)
Will earn her fourth varsity letter at Marquette this spring … earned All-Conference honors her first three seasons and was an All-Sectional choice as a sophomore and junior … named Small School Area Player of the Year by the Alton Telegraph and the Advantage … helped lead the Explorers to third place in the state last year … Marquette captured regional and sectional titles in each of her first three seasons and a super-sectional crown last year … played for Scott Gallagher club teams that placed second in the ECNL North American League in 2014 and won the Illinois State Cup in 2012 … National Honor Society member and Illinois State Scholar.
Shields on Copeland: “Annabelle is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to make an impact anywhere as an attacking player. We look forward to adding her ability to run at defenders as well as her talent for finding the goal in and around the penalty area.”
Haley Cox • MF • Cincinnati, Ohio (Oak Hills H.S. | Kings Hammer Academy)
Played three years of varsity soccer at Oak Hills … named All-Southwest Ohio and first-team All-Conference as a senior … collected second-team All-Conference plaudits as a junior … helped lead the Highlanders to the Greater Miami Conference championship her final two seasons … played for the ODP Ohio South state team and Region II team … current club team is Kings Hammer Academy … played previously with Cincinnati United Premier … won Ohio South state titles with Kings Hammer Academy in 2016 and Cincinnati United Premier in 2014.
Shields on Cox: “Haley is a relentless box-to-box midfielder. She possesses a combination of technical sophistication and exceptional athleticism to impact the game at a high level. She is outstanding at dictating rhythm in possession with her technical ability and range in passing. Her ability to create and score goals in the midfield will make her an immediate threat in our lineup.”
Brionna Halverson • MF/D • Bolivar, Mo. (Bolivar H.S. | FCKC Futura Forte)
Will earn her fourth varsity letter this spring … first-team All-State selection as a sophomore and junior, honorable mention as a freshman … NSCAA All-Region, district Player of the Year and region co-Offensive Player of the Year in her junior season, when she set Bolivar records for goals (57) and points (125) … region Player of the Year, first-team All-District and among “Best of SW Missouri Preps” as a sophomore … All-Region and second-team All-Ozarks as a freshman and posted 36 goals and 77 points, which were school records until she broke them in her junior campaign … three-time first-team All-Conference honoree … helped lead the Liberators to a district championship in 2016 and a conference crown in 2014 … plays club soccer for FCKC Futura Forte, which achieved a No. 2 GotSoccer national ranking in 2015 … attended the U17 U.S. National Team camp in 2014 … in ODP, played on the 2015 Costa Rica International Tour; was a 2014 national team camp invitee; played in the Thanksgiving Interregional Tournament, was a Region II holdover camp selection and a member of the ’99 Region II team the past four years; and played on the Missouri state team from 2011-15 … also competed in cross country at Bolivar, receiving honorable mention All-State plaudits while helping lead the team to the 2016 state championship … also lettered one year in swimming … honor roll student every semester … recipient of 2015 Teacher Recognition Award … member of Character Council Ounce of Prevention.
Shields on Halverson: “Bri is a winner. She epitomizes everything we look for in a player for our program – an incredible work ethic, a strong desire to develop herself and a tremendous leadership presence on and off the field. She has played at the highest level and is technically and athletically gifted enough to make an impact for us right away anywhere on the field.”
Emma Hinson • GK • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit H.S. | Crossfire United ECNL)
Earned four varsity letters at Jesuit … posted 42 career shutouts, an Oregon state record … named second-team All-Metro and earned USA Today All-America recognition as a senior … winner of the Golden Glove as a junior, when she turned in 14 clean sheets to help lead the Crusaders to the 6A state title, a Metro League championship and a 16-2-1 mark … the team registered a 15-2-1 record and reached the state semifinals in her senior campaign … in her freshman season, Jesuit won the conference crown, advanced to the state semifinals and finished 14-1-3 … her Crossfire United ECNL club team holds the Oregon state record for wins … during her time with Crossfire, the club won USCS NPL national titles in 2013 and 2014, captured four NWCL regional championships and claimed four OPL state titles … two-time All-State Academic Award recipient … has made the High Honor Roll or Honor Roll several times.
Shields on Hinson: “Emma is an excellent goalkeeper with top pedigree. A high school All-American, Emma comes to us from the powerhouse Jesuit High School in Portland, Ore. She has the size, power and athleticism to make game-changing saves. We are excited to see her continue to develop as a high-level goalkeeper in our program.”
Megan Nixon • F • Oakville, Ontario (St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary | Saltfleet-Stoneycreek Soccer Club)
Was the 2016 OYSL West top scorer with Saltfleet-Stoneycreek Soccer Club, which was an Ontario Cup finalist and a National Championships qualifier … invited to the provincial ID camp … the club achieved the No. 1 ranking in Ontario in 2013, 2014 and 2015 … Saltfleet-Stoneycreek won the PDA Showcase and earned the Disney Showcase bronze medal in 2015, captured the Ontario Summer Games and Ontario Cup crowns in 2014, and took home Quebec-Ontario Cup and OYSL championships in 2013 … competed in soccer, cross country and volleyball at St. Ignatius of Loyola … named 2015 Female Athlete of the Year … as a freshman, won a regional title and was team captain and lead runner in cross country … has earned academic honors two years.
Shields on Nixon: “Megan is a dynamic attacking player who is both a playmaker on the flank and a goal scorer. She has an ability to beat players 1v1 and get in behind an opponent’s defense. Megan’s pace and goal-scoring ability will be immediate attacking threats for our program.”
Olivia Petit • D • Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban H.S. | Internationals SC)
Called up to the U18 national camp in September 2016 … earned three varsity letters at Archbishop Hoban … as a junior, helped lead the Knights to a state championship and was named first-team All-District, second-team All-North Coast League and Touchdown Club special mention … in her sophomore season, garnered second-team All-District, first-team All-NCL and Archbishop Hoban Most Versatile Player laurels as the Knights won district and regional crowns and reached the state final … played in the 2014 and 2016 ECNL national tournaments with her Internationals SC club team … also lettered twice in basketball at Archbishop Hoban and played on district championship teams in 2013 and 2014 … has made the honor roll all four years and is an Archbishop Hoban Student Ambassador.
Shields on Petit: “Olivia is a smart and technical central player who will fit perfectly into our style of play. She has a special combination of grit and grace that will allow us to win possession and keep the ball in build-up. Her growth and development over the past year leave no doubt that she will do great things in our program.”
Sydney Walker • D • St. Louis, Mo. (Westminster Christian Academy | St. Louis Scott Gallagher)
Plays club soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher … was a member of an SLSG team that won a national championship in the North American League and attended the Champions League … earned scholar-athlete accolades.
Shields on Walker: “Sydney is a local product coming to us from a very talented St. Louis Scott Gallagher team. She will continue the tradition of strong central defenders who anchor our backline. Sydney is an athletic and versatile defender who covers a tremendous amount of ground and is incredibly difficult to beat.”
