NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Head coach Peter Veltri announced six newcomers to the Niagara women's soccer program. Paige Hameister, Veda Hansel, Alexis Horwedel, Lindsey LoPresto, Elisabeth Stowell and Bayley Sullivan will join the team.

"I am very excited about the 2017 season," said Veltri. "Not only are we bringing in a good class of recruits, but we are also getting back six players who missed all of last season. Compared to last year's team, almost half the roster is new or returning and it's going to make practice a lot more competitive and challenging. Our recruiting class adds some promising players for next year and the future. These players will come into preseason and compete for playing time immediately. This group will also provide some additional depth that will help us if injuries are sustained during the season. Overall, we expect big things from our entire roster this fall."

Paige Hameister | Goalkeeper | 5-foot-7 | Batavia, NY | Batavia High School

Hameister, who was a four-year starter on the Batavia varsity soccer team, competed at the club level with Global Premier Soccer Elite, which is an under-19 team. Hameister began her career as a defender and moved to midfield in her junior season, but she will play in goal for the Purple Eagles. She was a scholar athlete all four of her years on the varsity team, a four-year honor roll honoree and graduated in the top-10 percent of her class.

Veda Hensel | Midfield/Forward | 5-foot-3 | Voorheesville, NY | Clayton A. Bouton High School

Hensel had a highly decorated high school soccer career at Bouton High School. In 2016, she was named the Section II Player of the Year, as well as, being named a NYSPHSAA Section II Class B All-Star and the Colonial Council Co-MVP. She was a two-time New York State Class B All-State First Team selection, a two-time Colonial Council All-League First Team honoree and a two-time Times Union All-State First Team selection. In 2015, she was the leading scorer in Section II with 36 goals and she also tallied an impressive 19 assists and in 2014 she led her team with 23 goals and 17 assists. Hensel holds her high school's career goal record with 110 career goals. At the club level, Hensel, a four-year high honor roll student, competed with Capital United.

Alexis Horwedel | Midfield/Defense | 5-foot-7 | Rotterdam, NY | Schalmont High School

Horwedel comes to Monteagle Ridge after an impressive high school career at Schlamont High School. In 2016, she was named the NYSPHSAA Section II Class B Co-Player of the Year and the Colonial Council MVP. She was also a NYS Class B First Team selection. Horwedel's team were NYSPHSAA Champions her junior season and she was named the Final Game MVP. Horwedel, who was the salutatorian of her graduating class, also competed at the club level for Capital United.

Lindsey LoPresto | Midfield | 5-foot-8 | Livonia, NY | Livonia High School

Lindsey LoPresto was named to the all-league first team, was an all-state selection and was also a league player of the year finalist in her senior season at Livonia High School. In her junior season in 2015, LoPresto scored the game-winning goal to secure Livonia the Section V Class B Championship; Livonia finished the season NYSPHSAA Section V Class B semifinalists. She finished her high school career with 14 goals and 14 assists. LoPresto competed with multiple club teams, including Livonia Soccer Club, Rochester Futbol Club and most recently Empire United Soccer Academy.

Elisabeth "Lilly" Stowell | Defense/Midfield | 5-foot-11 | Webster, NY | Webster Schroeder High School

Stowell, a four-year high honor roll with distinction honoree, served as a team captain in her senior season at Webster Schroeder High School. She was an All-Monroe County First Team selection in both 2016 and 2015, as well as being named to the All-Greater Rochester Second Team and the All-NYS Class AA Fourth Team in 2016. She competed at the club level with the Syracuse Development Academy and her club team won the Disney Soccer Showcase Under-18 Championship in 2016.

Bayley Sullivan | Forward/Midfield | 5-foot-7 | Oshawa, ON | Maxwell Heights Secondary School

Sullivan, who joins the Purple Eagles from Ontario, Canada, was an Ontario Women's Soccer League under-21 top-10 scorer in 2016. She was named the MVP of her school team her senior season and in 2014, her team won the Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics AAA Junior Soccer Championships. Sullivan played club soccer for FC Durham Academy and was an Indoor Ontario Cup winner in 2012.

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