Women's Soccer Bolsters Current Core With Exciting Newcomer Class

WASHINGTON - GW women's soccer Head Coach Michelle Demko proudly shared her incoming student-athletes today, who will join an exciting group of returnees for the 2023 fall season.

"I am incredibly excited to welcome nine new players to Foggy Bottom," said Demko. "They join a talented returning group of players who continue to lay the foundation of our culture with a commitment to development. From our players' perspective, there is a readiness to receive these new players, and a desire to help them integrate quickly for our success. You will see new faces on each line that will increase our talent level and depth. These new Revolutionaries will help make our environment highly-competitive so we can continue to push the performance side of things while consistently calling each other up to the standard."

The 2023 newcomers feature:

Emma Lillback, Stockholm, Sweden

Played for Barry University ... was named 2019 All-Sunshine State Conference First Team and 2019 Second Team All-South Region by United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA ... won the SSC Regular Season Championship and was named to the 2021 Athletic Directors List.

Coach Demko's take: "Emma is a strong defender with international experience and a very high soccer IQ. Being a veteran player, she brings leadership, discipline, and attention to details to our environment. She loves to generate the attack by getting forward. In possession, her vision and ability to play penetrating balls higher up the field make her a big threat as an outside back. We are excited to add her to our backline."

Hope Ku-Di Pietro, Oakton, Va.

Named Second Team All-District in her sophomore and junior year ... earned First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and First Team All-State as a senior.

Coach Demko's take: "Hope is a true competitor who will greatly impact our defending unit. She organizes well, can break up plays, and is willing to do what it takes to win the ball. Her impressive commitment to her development and studying the game is what sets her apart from most players her age. She is in pursuit of excellence at all times, which is evident by the way she trains and plays with such passion. We are thrilled to watch her play in the Buff & Blue this Fall."

Kate McGrath, Coronado, Calif.

Earned the Top Senior Athlete Award at Coronado High School ... named Top Gun Offensive Player of the Year in her junior and senior year ... recognized on SD City League All-League Team in 2022-23 ... led CHS in points as a junior and senior ... was ECNL Rebels U19 top goal scorer last season.

Coach Demko's take: "Kate is a powerful target striker who plays with confidence back to goal or faced up on opponents. She has the ability to hold balls up when needed or spin defenders creating space for shots on goal. She brings a goal-scoring mentality in and around the box with her to D.C. We are excited to have her talent with us at GW."

Rose Vigran, Cincinnati, Ohio

Named First Team All-League, All-Cincinnati, All-Ohio and All-Central Region at Indian Hills High School

Coach Demko's take: "Rose has a high engine to cover good ground as a competitive box to box midfielder, and makes things happen based on her commitment to movement. She has good vision that allows her to play penetrating balls that threaten the game. She also brings a strong physical presence that will help us win balls so we can go forward in the attack. We look forward to welcoming her to Foggy Bottom."

Abby Caoile, El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Played for San Juan soccer club in the ECNL from 2019-2023 ... helped take ECNL team to the national playoffs in 2021 ... spent three years at Oak Ridge High School on the varsity soccer team where she helped her team with the San Joaquin section championship and Northern Cal regional championship ... was a team captain in her senior year ... voted MVP in 2022-23 ... was First Team All-League and was nominated for Oak Ridge Athlete of the Year

Coach Demko's take: "Abby is a crafty midfielder who is very comfortable with the ball at her feet. Her speed and athleticism in tight spaces are a big part of her game, giving her tremendous success as a player. She also brings good vision and a high speed of play, making it natural for her to be on the ball often to help maintain possession in the attack. She will add great excitement to our midfield line."

Charlotte Li, Golden Valley, Minn.

Earned All-Conference Award honors in 2021 and 2022 ... received 2020 All-Conference Honorable Mention Award ... was a 2023 playoff qualifier ... earned 2022 USYS National Championship second place and 2022 USYS Midwest Regional Championship first place ... also was on 2021 USYS National Championship second place team

Coach Demko's take: "Charlotte is a pacey outside back who thrives going forward to build in the attack. She reads the game well with a tactical understanding of her movement, dropping to absorb pressure when needed and will also step in to intercept passes. Her ability to connect passes higher up the field will help us generate more attacking opportunities and threaten the game in our opponents' half. I look forward to coaching her."

Alexa Meinen, North Port, N.Y.

All-League player and two time All-County recipient ... earned New England All-Conference ECNL Second Team honors as a junior

Coach Demko's take: "Alexa has a gift of finding pockets of space between lines that give her time and space on the ball to make dangerous decisions. She has been successful as a midfielder and forward because of her ability to understand where pressure is coming from and how to escape it. She likes to link play in the midfield but prefers to run at goal as a forward. Because of her abilities on the ball, she gives us multiple options on the field and for that we are excited to see what this fall brings with Alexa."

Addi Verdon, Chesterfield, Va.

Plays for Metro ASA ... played ECNL in 2018 and 2019 and GA from 2020-23 ... was on the GA Advisory Panel for one year

Coach Demko's take: "Addi is an explosive left-footed athlete who can play in the midfield or anywhere up top. As a midfielder, she is a playmaker who can stretch teams with her unbalancing runs and ability to change the point of attack quickly. When she plays as a forward, her commitment to getting her team to get shots on goal is very high. On either line, she has an extremely high competitive mentality and will leave her feet to make a tackle or regain possession. She also has incredible range on the field which will be helpful in transitional moments. We are excited she decided to join us in D.C."

Liz LoForte, Benicia, Calif.

Played for West Coast FC ... played GA from 2020-23 ... was league's Most Honorable Mention in high school

Coach Demko's take: "Liz joins our GK unit with a strong desire to learn, develop, and compete. She is intrinsically motivated in these areas and continuously seeks ways to improve her game. Her leadership and communication with her backline will enhance our GK core as well as hold our field players accountable by calling them up to the standard. We are thrilled to have Liz join us between the posts."

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