CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel head women's soccer coach Ciaran Traquair announced Friday the addition of seven players who signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the signing period that began on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The signing class, which is made up of three defenders, two goalkeepers, a holding midfielder and one forward, includes Zoey Conrad, Caitlin Curmode, Shannon Curtis, McKenna Falarski, Ryleigh Jenkins, Jessica "Jess" Newton and Caroline Weeren.

"This is an exciting group to add to our program, and it is one that will be a great fit for our environment," Traquair said. "My staff has done a great job of finding players who fit this institution and also make our program better. The group will help add depth and quality to our ability to defend. There are also players who can play in a variety of roles and that will allow us to adapt to the many different scenarios we face in a season. The class is still not finished, but this group of signees are a close bunch and we are expecting them to raise the bar in every department of our program."
 
Zoey Conrad
Forward | Summerville, S.C. (Fort Dorchester HS)
Conrad won't have to travel far as she hails from Summerville, S.C. where she enters her senior season having been a three-year letterwinner. Over her first three seasons, Conrad has tallied 86 points, including 35 goals and 16 assists. As a junior in the Spring of 2019, Conrad scored a career-high 18 goals and recorded 10 assists for 46 points en route to earning all-region honors. The year before, she notched 21 points off nine goals and three assists after recording 19 points, including eight goals and three assists as a freshman in 2017.

Conrad plays for USAMP (now NPL/DPL) in 2017 and was a member of South Carolina ODPteam from 2015-18.

Conrad also earned a varsity letter in 2016 for cross country, earning three top-10 individual finishes, including fourth in Fort Dorchester's home meet. Following the season, she was named to the all-region team. She picked up Most Valuable Runner plaudits from her team and earned Athlete of the Year for Girls Cross Country honors from the Summerville Rotary Club.

Conrad earned the Jefferson Award in 2018 from her high school's leadership team and is a two-time A/B Honor Roll student.

Coach Traquair on Conrad – "Zoe is gifted technically and can play a variety of roles in attack. She is crafty, creative and can add a goal threat for the team. She will bolster our attacking options and will compete for minutes right away. We expect a big first year out of Zoe and look forward to seeing her represent as a local product."
 
Caitlin Curmode
Defender | Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty HS)
Curmode is a two-time letterwinner and two-time captain of her Olentangy High School team. As a senior in the Fall of 2019, she was named a scholar athlete and was chosen to play in the Senior All-Star Game.

She plays her club ball for OP – Ohio Premier ECNL Soccer Club.

Curmode is a member of her school's National Honors Society and National Society of High School Scholars.

Coach Traquair on Curmode – "Caitlin is a quality individual who will come in to compete at the center back position. I know she is excited to get started and will be prepared from day one. She adds a bit of steel to the group. I expect her hit the ground running and help this group become harder to beat over the course of a season."
 
Shannon Curtis
Goalkeeper | Carmel, N.Y. (Carmel HS)
Curtis will come to Charleston from Carmel High School in Carmel, New York where she has been a four-year letterwinner, three-time all-league selection, two-time all-section honoree and was named her team captain each of the last three years. As a senior in 2019, Curtis was named to the all-section and all-league teams and played in the All-Star game for Section 1. During her junior campaign, Curtis made 253 saves en route to earning all-section and all-league honors after earning all-league honors as a sophomore. As a freshman, she earned all-league honorable mention plaudits and was a varsity team starter.

Curtis played for Quickstrike FC NPL for six years, leading her team to the NPL finals two years in a row. She also helped the team win the New York East NPL title twice with her 2017-18 and 2018-19 squads going undefeated.

In the classroom, Curtis is a two-year member of the National Honors Society and has earned High Honor Roll every quarter since her freshman year.

Coach Traquair on Curtis – "Shannon is another Goalkeeper who will add quality from the start. She has good presence, commands the box very well and is an excellent shot stopper. She will enhance the goalkeeper group and compete right away. Shannon will be an excellent addition to our locker room."
 
McKenna Falarski
Defender | Los Gatos, Calif. (Leigh HS)
Falarski hails from Los Gatos, California and Leigh High School where she will graduate as a three-time letterwinner. As a freshman, she helped Leigh win its fourth-straight league title.

Falarski also was a member of her school's swim team and played her club ball for California Thorns Academy.

In the classroom, Falarski is a Scholar Athlete Award winner.

Coach Traquair on Falarski – "McKenna will add a presence at center back and improve our ability to defend in the defensive third. I also think she will be an asset in possession and I expect her to add quality in the buildup and driving forward with the ball. She makes great choices and understand the game. McKenna will also add much needed ball-winning ability to our group."
 
Ryleigh Jenkins
Defender | Marietta Ga. (Walton HS)
Jenkins comes to The Citadel from Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia where she will graduate having earned four varsity letters. Heading into her senior season next Spring, she has been selected to be the team captain. As a junior, she led Walton to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs her junior year after advancing to the semifinals the year before. As a freshman, she was named the Rookie of the Year for the varsity squad after helping the team win the region crown and advancing to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

Jenkins has played the last two seasons for Atlanta Fire in the ECNL, leading the team to the semifinals at nationals for her bracket last year.

Jenkins' dad, Jake Jenkins, played spring football at the Naval Academy and her mom, Kristen Jenkins, was on the swim team at VCU.

Coach Traquair on Jenkins – "Ryleigh is a versatile player who can get up and down the pitch with ease. Her pace, mobility and endurance will be a big asset for us in wide areas. She gives us added strength and depth in an area where we are already strong. I'm excited to see her compete for a starting spot and compete as a Citadel bulldog."
 
Jess Newton
Goalkeeper | Melbourne Beach, Fla. (Melbourne HS)
Newton is a four-time varsity letterwinnner at Melbourne High School. As a senior in 2019, she was chosen to be team captain and is a two-sport athlete, having played soccer all four years and cross country for one.

During her junior season, Newton posted a record of 17-2-1 after earning the full time keeper position the season before as a sophomore. During her sophomore year, she led the team to the district championship and was instrumental in the team advancing to the regionals. As a freshman, Newton played four varsity games, logging shutouts in each. She was also the starting goalkeeper on the junior varsity team and gave up just one goal on the year. Newton led the team with a record of 15-1 en route to winning the district title and advancing to regionals.

As a junior, Newton's  club team won all of their games en route to winning the Florida Cup. She led the team to the finals in the State Cup and regionals in Louisiana where they went 2-1-1. Thea team was the first girls team in Brevard County to advance to the quarter finals. As a sophomore on Space Coast United, Newton led the team to the Disney Showcase, and made it to the Elite 8 in State Cup. As a freshman, Newton began her career with Space Coast United's U17 team of the SRPL League, while also playing for the U16 NPL and FSPL teams. She led the team to a Georgia tournament and to the Disney Showcase, and was named the captain for her club team.

Newton is an active member of the Melbourne JROTC and is currently the senior class president, meeting with the school district's superintendent and her principal on a monthly basis. She is the Vice Corps Commander, which is the second in command of the JROTC's 200-plus corps of cadets and is an officer in her National Honors Society. As a junior, Newton was voted the junior class vice president and was selected for one of eight positions on staff for the JROTC. She was also nominated by her teachers to represent her high school at Girls State 2019 and was the No. 1 pick in her district to attend Girls State.

As a sophomore, Newton earned the Academic Ribbon, Longevity Ribbon, Distinguished Unit and Distinguished Unit with Merit Ribbons, the Health and Wellness Ribbon and earned the position of Flight Sergeant and Flight Commander. She also earned the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Award and was nominated for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference. Newton was also nominated for and attended the National Student Leadership Conference at the American University for National Security and Intelligence and was honored to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. She was selected to attend a Cadet Leadership Course and was inducted into the National Honors Society. As a Freshman, Newton earned the Air Commando Association (ACA) Award in JROTC.

Coach Traquair on Newton – "Jess has major potential as a goalkeeper. She is good in the air, a solid shot stopper, distributes well and commands her area. There will be plenty of competition for our No. 1 spot and I expect Jess to compete from the start. We have a very talented prospect in her. I hope to see her transition quickly and make us stronger defensively."
 
Caroline Weeren
Defender/Midfielder | Fairfax, Va. (Chantilly HS)
Weeren comes to The Citadel from Chantilly High School where she has earned two varsity letters heading into her final season. A three-sport athlete, Weeren also runs cross country and plays basketball for Chantilly.

Last season as a junior, Weeren led her team to the district championship crown. The team was the region runner-up for the second straight year, and advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive season. As a freshman, she was named the junior varsity team's captain.

Weeren currently a member of VDA ECNL after playing six years for CYA CCL.

In the classroom, Weeren earned the Outstanding Achievement Award and went to Girls State as a junior. She is a Scholar Athlete, an AP Scholar and earned the Superior Performance Award and Chantilly Student of the Week award.

Coach Traquair on Weeren – "Caroline will make an immediate impact in central areas due to her technical ability and decision making on the ball. She fits our system well and will have a seamless transition into our style of play. The level she brings in possession will make the group better and will enhance the quality of play we produce."


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