CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 30, 2024) – Carolina Ascent Football Club announced today the defenders Head Coach Erika Duncan selected for the 2024 USL W League squad. The USL W League is a leader in pre-professional soccer in North America, developing the next generation of women’s talent. The Carolina Ascent USL W League season kicks off on May 18 and will run through the end of June. View the Carolina Ascent USL W League Schedule.
“We have been really focused on bringing players home to the Carolinas this summer and being able to provide them a positive, enjoyable and competitive playing opportunity right here in their backyard,” Duncan expressed. “Carolina Ascent FC’s commitment to the Charlotte community and to improving the player pathway is evident in our recruiting efforts. We are thrilled to have so many local players join us with prior USL W League experience and are ecstatic to be adding to that talent. We’re bringing in strong and experienced leaders to our backline and look forward to seeing them all get to work on the pitch.”
JENNA BUTLER
A five-year member of the NC State University women’s soccer program, Butler started in 86 games, the eighth-most in program history. She started in every match she played in and added seven goals, four of which were game-winners, and eight assists. Butler contributed to the Wolfpack’s six shutout wins in 2021 and earned United Soccer Coaches Atlantic All-Region Third Team honors. During the COVID-19 modified spring season, Butler was one of only two NC State players to play every minute of the season. As a freshman, Butler tallied 1,964 minutes which was the most among her class in the program.
A native of Gainesville, Virginia, Butler competed for multiple club teams as a developing player. From 2012-17, Butler trained with the USYSA Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She won the 2016 International Cup and the 2017 Mediterranean International Cup with the Region 1 ODP squad.
MEGAN BORNKAMP
Bornkamp is a four-time All-ACC honoree and two-time All-American defender at Clemson University. As a recipient of the 2024 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award she will return for her fifth season with the Tigers this fall. In Clemson’s historic 2023 season, Bornkamp was a mainstay in the backline as the Tigers reached the ACC Championship and the first College Cup in program history. During her junior season, Bornkamp played a full 90 minutes in 12 of her 17 matches and earned her 50th career point. As a sophomore, Bornkamp started and played in all 20 matches in the season and led the team in goals, assists, and points as a center defender. She debuted for the Tigers in 2020 and scored her first career goal as a freshman in the opening match against the University of Miami.
A Mooresville, North Carolina, native Bornkamp was a four-star recruit who played club soccer at Charlotte Soccer Academy. She as named the CSA Young Female Player of the Year in 2014 and earned the CSA Female Player of the Year in 2018. For the 2018-19 season, Bornkamp was named to the US Soccer Development Academy Best XI and was invited to a U.S. U17 National Team Camp in 2018. Bornkamp made four appearances with one goal across U17, U19, and U20 squads.
RENÉE GUION
A four-year Tiger, Guion capped off her senior year at Clemson University with All-ACC Third Team honors. She tied the program record for most assists in a single season with 13 and tied the program record for the second time in her career for most assists in a match with four against College of Charleston. Ahead of her junior season, Guion was named a team captain for the Tigers. She was crucial in Clemson’s efforts to earn the program’s first-ever perfect home record. As a sophomore, Guion ranked 10th in the country in assists with 12. She was the only freshman on the 2018 roster to play in all 21 matches and was named the team’s Tiger Newcomer Award winner.
Originally from Simpsonville, South Carolina, Guion was a team leader in high school and club play. She played on Mauldin High School’s varsity squad all four years and served as captain for the final three. Guion received All-Region honors during her first three seasons and All-State recognition as a junior. She competed in ECNL with Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) and served as team captain for four years. For the 2016-17 season, Guion was selected to the ECNL Player Development Program – Southeast Region.
KENNEDY BELL
A 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, Bell is a standout young player for the University of Maryland. She became Maryland’s first Big Ten All-American Freshman Team selection since the program moved to the conference in 2014. Bell played and started in all 18 matches, totaling the third-most minutes on the team with 1,545. She helped the defense earn six shutouts and also added one assist.
Bell was the 34th-ranked prospect in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer. Her club soccer accolades are extensive as a two-time ECNL Conference Champion, ECNL Mid-Atlantic Co-Conference Player of the Year, and 2021-22 ECNL All-American. Bell captained her team at Charlotte Soccer Academy while also playing for Hough High School. She notched 25 goals and 20 assists for the Huskies and was named Queen City 3A/4A Conference Player of the Year in addition to her All-Conference, All-Mid Atlantic, All-State, and All-American recognitions. In 2019, Bell participated in a U.S. Youth National Team training camp.
MIA MITCHELL
Mitchell is a member of the University of Maryland women’s soccer team. She missed the 2023 season due to injury, but will return for her sophomore year this fall. Before entering college, Mitchell represented the Jamaican U20 National team at the 2023 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers. Originally from Fort Mill, South Carolina, Mitchell played club soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy and was a three-year varsity member at Nation Ford High School. She was selected as All-Conference, All-Region, and Newcomer of the year for the 2020-21 season.
ANNIKA CREEL
Last summer, Creel won the 2023 USL W League Championship with Indy Eleven. She contributed to the backline which only allowed six goals and earned 10 shutouts en route to the team’s second consecutive division title and a 12-1-1 record.
A three-year Bulldog at Butler University, Creel was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in all three seasons. She started 53 of the 55 games she appeared in and helped secure 31 clean sheets while also adding five goals and two assists. As a senior, Creel anchored the Bulldogs’ defense to allow only 16 goals and post a .80 goals against average, ranking first and second in the conference, respectively. Other honors in Creel’s collegiate career include 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team, 2018 All-East Region Second Team, and 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region First Team. Prior to her time at Butler, Creel played the 2016 season at the University of Connecticut as the Huskies earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Creel logged over 500 minutes in 15 appearances, including a start in the American Championship title game.
Originally from Zionsville, Indiana, Creel played four years of varsity soccer at Zionsville Community High School. She was a High School All-American, the MVP of the High School All-American game, and the team captain and MVP as a senior. Creel also earned two All-State honors and was ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer National Top 150.
JOSIE STUDER
Studer played five stellar seasons at Louisiana Tech, securing All-Conference USA honors all five years she played for the Bulldogs. She finished her career at LA Tech ranked fourth in program history in games started with 73 and second all-time with 6,678 minutes played. Concluding as a graduate student, Studer was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team and selected as an All-Louisiana Honorable Mention for the second time after her recognition as a junior. Studer made an impact instantly and was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
Originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina, Studer played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy U.S. Soccer Development Academy team. She won the 2016 North Carolina Open Cup State Championship. From 2012-17, Studer was a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP). She also excelled on the Central Academy of Technology and Arts squad, earning numerous honors including Offensive MVP, All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State recognitions in back-to-back seasons. Studer led her team in goals and was second in assists as a freshman and a sophomore.
SAMANTHA WHITAKER
Whitaker is coming off a successful freshman season at Western Carolina. She helped the Catamounts win the 2023 Southern Conference Championship and started in the team’s NCAA Tournament match against the University of Alabama. Whitaker was part of the backline that totaled 12 shutouts which is tied for second-most in program history.
In Lincolnton, North Carolina, Whitaker was a four-year varsity player at Lincolnton High School where she scored 68 goals and collected 59 assists. Her 33 goals and 34 assists led the Wolves to the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference title as a junior. Whitaker played on the Charlotte Independence 05 ECNL squad and also played both Super Cup and a U20 summer league.
MARY LIESE GRIER
Finishing up her freshman year at Wofford College, Grier played in 16 games, starting eight, during her first collegiate season. Grier is a Charlotte, North Carolina, native and was a four-year letter-winner and 2021 conference champion at South Mecklenburg High School. She was named All-Conference and All-Region in 2022 and 2021, scoring 15 goals each season and adding nine assists and two assists, respectively. Her efforts also earned the Golden Boot Award in 2022 and 2021. While playing club soccer for the Charlotte Independence, she qualified for ECNL Nationals in 2020 and 2021.
NICOLE POOLE
Poole is a rising junior defender at UNC Wilmington. Across her first two seasons for the Hawks, Poole has made nine appearances with two starts. Prior to playing at UNC Wilmington, Poole was a four-year letter winner for Community School of Davidson, earning All-Conference and All-Region honors. As a senior, she led the team to a perfect 18-0 record and Class 1A state title. Poole won the NC State Cup at the U14 and U15 levels and participated in several ECNL Showcase events along with the US Youth Soccer Region III Championship. She competed in international friendlies and tournaments in Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and Costa Rica.
LILLIE RUSHER
Rusher is entering her senior season at Catawba College. In 47 total appearances, Rusher has six goals and nine assists. She has steadily increased her role with the Indians, starting all 23 matches of the season as a junior, helping her squad to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and a 19-3-1 overall record. During her sophomore year, she appeared in sixteen games and recorded three goals and three assists. As a freshman, Rusher played in eight games and helped Catawba claim the SAC regular season and tournament titles.
A four-year varsity soccer member at Salisbury High School, Rusher earned All-State honors in 2018, 2019, and 2021. She was named Defender of the Year in 2018 and 2019 for Salisbury HS and the Central Carolina Conference. In 2022, Rusher played in the USL W League with the Charlotte Independence.
HANNAH GOES
Goes is a rising sophomore at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. She scored her first collegiate goal in only her fifth game against Glenville State. Goes played in 22 matches, starting 21, and totaled two goals and two assists as a freshman. A native of Scott Depot, West Virginia, Goes played for Winfield High School. She recorded nine goals and 13 assists in 24 games across two seasons.
JULIA GRIER
Grier is a defender for South Mecklenburg High School in the class of 2025. As only a junior, Julia Grier has eighteen goals and eight assists during her high school career with the Sabres. Grier plays for the Charlotte Independence 06 ECNL team and is committed to play collegiate soccer for Wofford College.
SHANNON STUDER
Studer is entering her junior season at App State University. During the 2023 season, Studer played and started all 18 games and totaled 1,563 minutes. She totaled a career-high four points against Marshall University with one goal and two assists. As a freshman, Studer shined in the Sun Belt Conference with three goals and two assists. She posted game-winning goals in consecutive matches for the Mountaineers plus a goal in the Sun Belt Tournament.
A local talent from Waxhaw, North Carolina, Studer was named Conference Player of the Year from the Central Academy of Technology Arts after recording 39 goals and 17 assists as a junior. She then focused on competing with her club team at Charlotte Soccer Academy, and received four invites to the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team Identification Center.
About Carolina Ascent FC USL W League:
The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team is one of eight teams competing in the USL W League’s South Atlantic Conference in 2024. The team is the pre-professional affiliate for the Carolina Ascent USL Super League squad, the Carolinas’ newest division one women’s professional soccer team. Head Coach, Erika Duncan, leads the squad in 2024 and will join the Carolina Ascent Super League technical staff as an Assistant Coach this August. The Carolina Ascent W League program is focused on developing local soccer talent and providing new, competitive environments for young women across the Carolinas who dream of playing professional soccer. The team’s technical and operational management are led by Affiliate, Charlotte Independence Soccer Club.
About the USL W League:
The USL W League is a leader in pre-professional soccer in North America, developing the next generation of women’s talent both on and off the field. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. The League and its member clubs are committed to investing in women’s soccer – through not only financial resources but also with time, energy, and attention – and are united in our mission to grow the women’s game.
