Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Signs Five with National Letters of Intent
February 15, 2017 | Women's Soccer
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green women's soccer team has signed five student-athletes for the upcoming season with National Letters of Intent. The incoming class includes Sophia Barnes, Talia Brown, Paige Casto, Nikhita Jacob and Gabriella Magallanes.
"I have been incredibly impressed with each interaction I have had with all five of these young women in my short time here," Bowling Green women's soccer head coach Matt Fannon said. "I am confident that they are going to make a positive impact on our program moving forward."
A native of Medina, Ohio, Barnes is a four-year letter winner at Buckeye High School. Barnes has accumulated 55 goals and 42 assists over the course of her four years with the Bucks, and led the team to the Patriot Athletic Conference title every season in which she competed. Barnes has been acknowledged as First Team All-PAC and as a Scholar Athlete on four occasions, in addition to four First Team All-County honors. In 2014, Barnes was named Second Team All-District prior to back-to-back First Team All-District accolades in 2015 and 2016. In addition to serving as the team captain in 2015 and 2016, Barnes was named Patriot Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player. In addition to her high school accolades, Barnes led her Cleveland FC team to the State Championship title in 2014.
A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Brown is a four-year varsity letter winner at Lakota East High School. While with the Thunderhawks, Brown led the team to 36 wins over the course of her career, and a season-best of 11 wins in her junior campaign in 2014. Brown served as team captain in the 2016-17 season in addition to being a National Honor Society member. Outside of her time with the Thunderhawks, Brown also competed with the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.
Casto comes to the Falcons with three years of varsity experience at Magnificat High School. The Strongsville, Ohio native acquired two goals and 10 assists on her way to helping the Blue Streaks to 34 wins in three seasons. Casto earned Greater Cleveland Coaches Association Honorable Mention accolades in 2015 and 2016, in addition to earning the 2015 Magnificat High School Coaches Award. With her team, Casto and the Blue Streaks were 2014 District Champions, Regional Champions and State Semifinalists, while in 2015 the squad defended its District Champion and Regional Semifinalist titles. In addition to her playing time at Magnificat High School, Casto competed with the Internationals Soccer Club ECNL and most notably was the 2013 U14 Super Y National Champions.
A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Jacob is a four-year letter winner at Pioneer High School in the South Eastern Conference. Jacob and the Pioneers most recently claimed the 2016 District Champion title, after which Jacob earned All-State Honorable Mention. In addition to a pair of All-District Team accolades in 2015 and 2016, Jacob was named to both the 2016 All-Conference Team In addition to the 2016 All-Regional Team. A four-year honor roll and National Honor Society member, Jacob also played soccer with Vardar ECNL in which she and the team became 2016 Champion League qualifiers. Also in 2016, Jacob participated in the U.S. U16 and U18 National Futsal Team, after competing on the ODP Region II state team in 2014.
Coming to the Falcon squad with four years of varsity playing experience is Magallanes, from Ruben S. Ayala High School. A native of Pomona, Calif., Magallanes served as team captain for the Bulldogs in both her junior and senior campaigns. In 2014, Magallanes and her team earned third place in the league, prior to becoming Palomares League Champions in 2015. Individually, Magallanes has earned three consecutive Second Team All-League honors in addition to being named Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2016. Outside of her time with the Bulldogs, Magallanes also competed for the Slammers FC and played in the 2016 Final Four.
The Bowling Green women's soccer team will begin competition for the upcoming season in August of 2017.
"I have been incredibly impressed with each interaction I have had with all five of these young women in my short time here," Bowling Green women's soccer head coach Matt Fannon said. "I am confident that they are going to make a positive impact on our program moving forward."
A native of Medina, Ohio, Barnes is a four-year letter winner at Buckeye High School. Barnes has accumulated 55 goals and 42 assists over the course of her four years with the Bucks, and led the team to the Patriot Athletic Conference title every season in which she competed. Barnes has been acknowledged as First Team All-PAC and as a Scholar Athlete on four occasions, in addition to four First Team All-County honors. In 2014, Barnes was named Second Team All-District prior to back-to-back First Team All-District accolades in 2015 and 2016. In addition to serving as the team captain in 2015 and 2016, Barnes was named Patriot Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player. In addition to her high school accolades, Barnes led her Cleveland FC team to the State Championship title in 2014.
A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Brown is a four-year varsity letter winner at Lakota East High School. While with the Thunderhawks, Brown led the team to 36 wins over the course of her career, and a season-best of 11 wins in her junior campaign in 2014. Brown served as team captain in the 2016-17 season in addition to being a National Honor Society member. Outside of her time with the Thunderhawks, Brown also competed with the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.
Casto comes to the Falcons with three years of varsity experience at Magnificat High School. The Strongsville, Ohio native acquired two goals and 10 assists on her way to helping the Blue Streaks to 34 wins in three seasons. Casto earned Greater Cleveland Coaches Association Honorable Mention accolades in 2015 and 2016, in addition to earning the 2015 Magnificat High School Coaches Award. With her team, Casto and the Blue Streaks were 2014 District Champions, Regional Champions and State Semifinalists, while in 2015 the squad defended its District Champion and Regional Semifinalist titles. In addition to her playing time at Magnificat High School, Casto competed with the Internationals Soccer Club ECNL and most notably was the 2013 U14 Super Y National Champions.
A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Jacob is a four-year letter winner at Pioneer High School in the South Eastern Conference. Jacob and the Pioneers most recently claimed the 2016 District Champion title, after which Jacob earned All-State Honorable Mention. In addition to a pair of All-District Team accolades in 2015 and 2016, Jacob was named to both the 2016 All-Conference Team In addition to the 2016 All-Regional Team. A four-year honor roll and National Honor Society member, Jacob also played soccer with Vardar ECNL in which she and the team became 2016 Champion League qualifiers. Also in 2016, Jacob participated in the U.S. U16 and U18 National Futsal Team, after competing on the ODP Region II state team in 2014.
Coming to the Falcon squad with four years of varsity playing experience is Magallanes, from Ruben S. Ayala High School. A native of Pomona, Calif., Magallanes served as team captain for the Bulldogs in both her junior and senior campaigns. In 2014, Magallanes and her team earned third place in the league, prior to becoming Palomares League Champions in 2015. Individually, Magallanes has earned three consecutive Second Team All-League honors in addition to being named Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2016. Outside of her time with the Bulldogs, Magallanes also competed for the Slammers FC and played in the 2016 Final Four.
The Bowling Green women's soccer team will begin competition for the upcoming season in August of 2017.
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