MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State soccer team is welcoming 11 new faces to its roster in 2019 after having a very successful signing period in the fall. Eagles head coach Warren Lipka calls the group that consists of players from four different states the most "nationally experienced" group he has recruited in his 10 seasons at the helm of the program.
 
"Overall this is the most experienced group of players with a high level of national club experience we have ever brought to Morehead State," said Lipka. "I know that is a bold statement but I have a lot of confidence in this class"
 
The signing class, who will join 18 returning players beginning in the 2019 season, is made up of four in-state signees with three additional newcomers from both Ohio and Michigan and one player from Maryland.
 
Abby Bischoff (Lexington, Ky.), Chelsea Elmore (Middleburg, Ky.), Cori Riegler (Union, Ky.), and Grace Gaffney (Danville, Ky.) make up the four players who will remain in Kentucky to play collegiately.
 
Katelynn Setters (Liberty Township, Ohio), Kate Larbes (Liberty Township, Ohio), and Eva Kiper (Mason, Ohio) make up the three signees from Ohio who each played club soccer for Cincinnati Development Academy.
 
Sarah Faloon (Macomb, Mich.), Nicole Fiantaco (Sterling Heights, Mich.), and Kayla Landman (Sterling Heights) join the class after all playing for the Nationals 01 Union Red club team in Michigan.
 
Gabby Nastasi (Owings, Md.) becomes an Eagle after playing on one of the nation's top high school program's at St. John's College High School in Maryland and a national powerhouse club program in McLean U17 of the Elite Clubs National League.
 
Nastasi, who was invited to participate in the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in 2018, enjoyed a heap of successes at the club level. Her McLean U17 squad won the ECNL, which is regarded as one of the top club systems' in the U.S., Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2018.  At St. John's College HS, Nastasi was her team's captain and helped the team finish the season ranked 13th nationally. The midfielder was twice named to the Washington Post All-Metro Team and was a two-time District of Columbia State Athletic Association Champion
 
"Gabby is a tireless midfielder," said Lipka. "She is a hard worker on and off the field and will provide us with someone who can control the middle of the park with great vision and an outstanding ability to distribute the ball."
 
The trio of standout signees from Michigan's Nationals 01 Union Red club team feature's a forward, back-line defender, and a goalkeeper. With Fiantaco, Faloon, and Landman competing, the Nationals advanced to the Michigan State Cup Finals in 2016-17 and finished third in the Michigan State National League while advancing to the State Cup Quarter Finals in 2017-18.

Fiantaco was an attacking forward for the nationals while also having a standout-prep career at Henry Ford II HS. Fiantaco led her high school team in goals back-to-back seasons which included a trip to the Michigan State Finals in 2016-17. Fiantaco was also a member of the State All-Academic Team in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
 
"Nicole is a dynamic attacker who will be a handful for teams to deal with," said Lipka. "She's able to create shots and has a great center of gravity which makes her tough to knock off the ball."
 
Landman, who was Fiantaco's club and high school teammate, is a goalkeeper who has experience winning as well. The goalkeeper was a member of Henry Ford II HS 2016-17 State Runner-Up team in Michigan as well as the goalkeeper for Nationals 01 Union Red club team that was a state finalist and a third-place finisher in the Michigan State Cup in 2017-18.
 
"Kayla is a very strong goalkeeper who is fearless in the net," said Lipka. " She also has a fantastic kicking game, making her a very solid all-around keeper."
 
Rounding out the group of three from Michigan is a defensive player, Sarah Faloon. The Macomb, Mich., native played her prep career at Eisenhower HS where she named All-Conference, First Team All-Academic, and tabbed as the league's Most Valuable Defender. Faloon battled beside Landman and Fiantaco at the club level as well for the National 01 Union Red club team and was a member of both the 2016-17 runner-up squad and third place finishing squad in 2017-18.
 
"Sarah is a very technical athlete who has great size," said Lipka. "She's going to help solidify our back line due in large part to her ability to win balls in the air."
 
Kiper, who is a native of Mason, Ohio, comes to Morehead State following a championship club career and a decorated high school career. The attacker was a four-year varsity starter at Little Miami HS where she scored 96 goals and racked up 32 assists. Kiper was the 2016 Southwest Ohio Confrence's Athlete of the Year and was voted three times to the Cincinnati.com All-City First Team. Kiper's club team, the Cincinnati Development Academy, was the 2017 National Champions after winning the United States Youth Soccer Association Championship. Kiper and the CDA also finished second in 2016 while claiming third in 2015 & 2018 in the USYSA national tournament.
 
"Eva has the ability to get up-and-down the field as a true wide attacker," said Lipka. "She is very good with her left foot and can cause problems for defenses with her ability to pass and find her own shot."
 
Larbes is another member of the CDA 2017 USYSA National Championship team to become an Eagle. The forward played high school soccer at Lakota East where she was a Greater Miami Conference First-Team player from 2015-18. Larbes was a top-five goal scorer in GMC and was voted MVP in '15, '16, and '17.
 
"Kate gives us a great target to play through in the front," said Lipka. " She (Larbes) can take care of the ball and be someone we can really play through up front."
 
Setters rounds out three players joining the Morehead State roster who were 2017 USYSA National Champions at the CDA. The defender from Liberty Township, Ohio, was also a High School State Champion in 2018 at Cincinnati Country Day.
 
"Katelynn is a wide back who can attack and has a skill set that allows her to be great in one-on-one situations," said Lipka. "Having played against the best in the club level I see her making a smooth transition to the next level here at Morehead State."
 
Bischoff, who is a native of Lexington, Ky., comes to Morehead State after having a successful 2018 for both her high school and club squad. Bischoff was named First Team All-State during her senior campaign at Tates Creek and was a part of the 2018 Kentucky State Cup Champion Lexington Futbol Club.
 
"Abby is a smart and determined player who is very versatile," said Lipka. "She plays a very technical style that will allow her to be played in the back or the middle of the park."
 
Elmore stays in-state to become an Eagle after playing for a successful high school and club program. The speedster, who was a part of the 2017 state championship 4x200 meter relay team that broke a state record, comes from Middleburg, Ky., prepped at Boyle County and was a Kentucky State Cup finalist in 2018 as a member of the United 1996 FC club team.
 
"Chelsea is a pacey player that has a great work rate," said Lipka. "Her success in high school and in club soccer gives her that winners mentality that will help our team out and she will contribute to our success up front."
 
Gaffney and Riegler round out the in-state signees and are both goalkeepers.
 
Riegler played high school soccer at St. Henry where she notched 27 career shutouts. Reigler also competed at the club level for CDA where she was a 2017 Ohio South State Champion.
 
"Cori makes things look effortless in the goal," said Lipka. "Her kicking game out of the goal is a weapon and will be something we use in our attack."
 
Gaffney was voted All-State Second Team in 2017-18 while prepping at Danville. Gaffney was also a member of the Lexington Futbol Club team that won the Kentucky State Cup in 2018.
 
"Grace is a very sound goalkeeper who has played in some big matches," said Lipka. She is very technically sound and is a great shot stopper."

The prospect of coaching these 11 signees has coach Lipka excited for the future of the Eagles.

"The addition of these 11 players who have competed with some of the best talents in the nation is huge for our program," said Lipka. "I think their abilities combined with the terrific group of returning players we have will help move us up the table in the Ohio Valley Conference."
 
The group of 11 signees will arrive on campus in the fall semester of 2019.