Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University head coach,
Ryszard Gorski announced the addition of 13 student-athletes to the 2021 roster today. Avery Blasdel (Glenwood, Iowa), Summer Carlson (Moorhead, Minn.), Erin Day (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Megan Fastenau (Aberdeen, S.D.), Hannah Gruhn (Vermillion, S.D.), Eva Larson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Kaylin Peterson (Becker, Minn.), Elinor Sayers (Lakeville, Minn.), Julia Schriver (Aberdeen, S.D.), Eliza Siade-Cox (Hartland, Wis.), Chloe Strom (Moorhead, Minn.), Alexus Townsend (Omaha, Neb.), and Aubrey Vancura (Kearney, Neb.) will join the Wolves next fall.
"The 2021 class has been in place for quite a while now; I'm proud and excited to officially announce them as part of the pack here at Northern," explained Gorski. "They check all the boxes of what we're trying to do and where we're trying to go. Our 2020 class has set the standard of quality we now expect at NSU and with this class, it is only going to elevate the program and continue the process to greatness."
"We see each and every student-athlete having an immediate impact on the program. They possess the passion, quality, character and winning mentality that we strive towards here. We look forward to these young women representing our program & university with pride, as people and as student-athletes. A big thanks goes out to the current members of the program for showing each and every recruit that visited what kind of family atmosphere we have within our program and why NSU is the place they call home."
Avery Blasdel | Glenwood, Iowa | Glenwood Community HS | Forward
Avery Blasdel is a 5-foot-7, forward out of Glenwood Community High School. She is a 3-year starter and team captain for the Rams under the direction of head coach Amy Benson. Heading into her senior campaign, Blasdel has 33 goals and 14 assists. She is a 2-time all-conference and all-district selection, as well as a 2018 academic all-state recipient. She is the daughter of Earl and Jackie Blasdel.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Avery is a very good athlete and can play anywhere up top. She has the strength, speed and IQ to step right in from the get-go. Her experience playing at the ECNL level and scoring against some of the best defenses and goalkeepers in the country clearly demonstrates the value she brings to NSU. I am thrilled she chose us and am excited to see her develop."
Summer Carlson | Moorhead, Minn. | Moorhead Senior High | Midfield/Defense
Summer Carlson is a 5-foot-9, midfielder/defender out of Moorhead Senior High. She was a 3-year starter for the Spuds under the direction of head coach Marco Campoverde. Carlson tallied eight goals and 15 assists in her career. She is the daughter of Jill and Joel Carlson.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Summer is a worker. Her commitment is unmatched. We know what we will get from her and we will see those around her rise to the occasion. She has a strong soccer IQ, which will pay dividends for us when she orchestrates the midfield and creates opportunities for our forwards. She reminds me of a couple past all-conference midfielders that have come up against us."
Erin Day | Buffalo Grove, Ill. | Adlai E. Stevenson HS | Defense
Erin Day is a 5-foot-8, defender out of Adlai E. Stevenson High School. She was a member of her high school squad under the direction of head coach Pepe Jon Chavez. The Patriots recorded a school record 22 wins during the 2019 season, where they won the North Suburban Conference Championship, 3A Regional Championships, and 3A Sectional Championship. In addition, she is a member of the Sockers FC Chicago, playing at the ECNL, Developmental Academy, and NPL levels. She is the daughter of Rob and Ellen Day.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Erin is a tough competitor. She was part of a fantastic club environment at Sockers FC, where she played at the DA level. Her wealth of experience playing there will be invaluable for us. She is an exceptional 1-v-1 defender who reads the game well and can bring out the best in the players around her. She committed to us very early in the process but has continued to blossom. We are thrilled we are getting a player of her quality in the program."
Megan Fastenau | Aberdeen, S.D. | Central HS | Forward
Megan Fastenau is a 5-foot-10, forward out of Aberdeen Central High School. She was a 4-year starter and senior team captain for the Golden Eagles under the direction of head coach Merle Aske. Fastenau tallied 37 goals and 22 assists in her career, including 11 game-winning goals. She is a 3-time ESD All-Conference, 2-time all-state, and academic all-state honoree. She is the daughter of Randy and Kris Fastenau.
Gorski's Thoughts: "We always want the best players in our area to consider us first, and we feel we got a good one here. Megan has a fantastic track record of scoring goals for whoever she plays for. She brings a level of athleticism and work rate that helped us address a couple key components we were looking for in this class. We believe she can make an immediate impact with her physical prowess and her eye for goal. Megan will pose a lot of problems to our opponents."
Hannah Gruhn | Vermillion, S.D. | Vermillion HS | Defense
Hannah Gruhn is a 5-foot-3, defender out of Vermillion High School. She was a 4-year starter for the Tanagers under the direction of head coach Shannon Thomas. Gruhn was named to the 2020 academic all-state team. Vermillion advanced to the state semifinal round in 2017, 2018, and 2020. She is the daughter of Kyle and Debbi Gruhn.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Hannah comes to NSU with a lot of energy and raw talent. Her understanding of the game combined with her athleticism will make her a great defender for us. She will add depth to our defensive department but ultimately, we believe she will be battling for a spot in the starting nine from the get go."
Eva Larson | Minneapolis, Minn. | Minnehaha Academy | Forward
Eva Larson is a 5-foot-6, forward out of Minnehaha Academy. She was a 5-year starter and 2-year team captain for the Redhawks under the direction of head coach Bryan Holloway. Larson tallied 56 goals and 33 assists in her career. She was a 3-time all-conference selection, an IMAC Player of the Month, and Star Tribune Player of the Week. In addition, Larson is a member of the Minneapolis United Premier team that won the USA Cup in 2017 and 2019. She is the daughter of Scott and Lori Larson.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Eva has been a very successful player at both the high school and club level. She's an attacking player that can create opportunities or put them away. She's got versatility on where she can play, she's got great physical attributes, and a competitiveness to her which will put her in good standing at the collegiate level. She will do great things for us."
Kaylin Peterson | Becker, Minn. | Becker HS | Midfield
Kaylin Peterson is a 5-foot-4, midfielder out of Becker High School. She was a 3-year starter and senior team captain for the Bulldogs under the direction of head coach Ben Strom. Peterson recorded her first career goal in 2020, however has 21 career assists. This fall, she was named to the Mississippi 8 All-Conference team. In addition, Peterson is a 3-time academic all-conference honoree. She is the daughter of Tom and Lisa Peterson.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Kaylin is an extremely versatile and well-rounded player. Regardless of where she plays, Kaylin competes with a relentless spirit and work ethic, and always finds ways to impact the game. Fast and athletic, she is coachable with a strong desire and discipline to her game. We are excited to see her flourish at Northern."
Elinor Sayers | Lakeville, Minn. | Lakeville North HS | Goalkeeper
Elinor Sayers is a 5-foot-8, goalkeeper out of Lakeville North High School. She was a 2-year starter for the Panthers under the direction of head coach Brian Lehman. Sayers appeared in nine games in her final two seasons, giving up just two goals. She recorded a 1.000 save percentage through five games in 2019. In addition, Sayers is a member of the Salvo Soccer Club, where she led her team to a 6-0-2 record in 2020. In 2016, Sayers was a member of the ODP all-state team. She was honored as the Minnesota Futsal MVP in both 2018 and 2019. She is the daughter of Amy and Kevin Sayers.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Elinor is a shot-stopper, who will throw any part of her body in the way to stop the ball. She is a confident goalkeeper, who also possesses the ability to play out of the back and command her back line. She is a leader and is very vocal. She is someone I am looking forward to work with closely. I know that she has the passion to push herself and be the best she can be, not only for herself but for the team."
Julia Schriver | Aberdeen, S.D. | Roncalli HS | Midfield/Defense
Julia Schriver is a 5-foot-2, midfielder/defender out of Roncalli High School. She was a 4-year starter and 2-year team captain as a member of the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles under the direction of head coach Merle Aske. In her final two seasons, Schriver tallied 12 goals and 13 assists. As a senior, she was named ESD All-Conference, first team all-state, and academic all-state. She is the daughter of George and Stacy Schriver.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Julia comes to us after a very successful high school career. Julia has that winning mentality and has all the attributes to be successful at the next level. As a full back or as a midfielder, she has the ability to beat players 1-on-1 when in possession and she's hard to beat when the roles are reversed. She is very outgoing and we see her having a major leadership role down the line with us. We are thrilled to have a quality local player commit to us."
Eliza Siade-Cox | Hartland, Wis. | Arrowhead Union HS | Midfield/Forward
Eliza Siade-Cox is a 5-foot-6, midfielder/forward out of Arrowhead Union High School. She was a member of the Strike FC ECNL club. The program advanced to the semifinal round of the state tournament in 2017 and 2019, and finished as the state runner-up in 2018. She is the daughter of Heather and Jonathan Siade-Cox.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Eliza is a left-footed player coming from an ECNL background, so any time you can get somebody who's naturally comfortable on their left side with that experience, they're going to be an asset. She's primarily played as an outside midfielder, but she's comfortable enough on the ball that she can be used in a lot of different areas. Given the fact that she's good with her left foot is going to give her some strengths in some areas that we don't necessarily have. We are excited to integrate her and believe she will have a big role to play at NSU."
Chloe Strom | Moorhead, Minn. | Moorhead Senior High | Midfield/Defense
Chloe Strom is a 5-foot-3, midfielder/defender out of Moorhead Senior High. She was a 4-year starter for the Spuds under the direction of head coach Marco Comproverde. Strom tallied one goal and eight assists in her prep career. She is the daughter of Jim and Tracy Strom.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Chloe has an unbelievable work ethic that no matter what role she plays, you know you are going to get 110% from her. She may be small, but brings a punch to her play that will surprise many opponents. We are excited to see the impact she will have on the team, as I know she will just continue to grow in all areas of her game."
Alexus Townsend | Omaha, Neb. | Gross Catholic HS | Goalkeeper
Alexus Townsend is a 5-foot-5, goalkeeper out of Gross Catholic High School. She is a 2-year starter for the Cougars under the direction of Rick Yanovich and Kim Matzen. In her first two seasons, Townsend tallied 248 saves and ten shutouts. She is a 2-time RCC All-Conference selection, 2018 Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald All-State honorable mention pick, 2018 All-Metro team honorable mention selection, 2019 Omaha World Herald All-State first team honoree, and 2019 Lincoln Star Journal All-State honorable mention pick. In addition, Townsend is a member of the ECNL Gretna Elite Academy. GEA won the 2019 State Cup Championship and was a 2020 State Cup Finalist. She is the daughter of Kevin and Chyanne Townsend.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Alexus is a tremendous goalkeeper that is confident, brave, athletic, and possesses excellent feet. Don't let her size fool you! Again, she is one with ECNL experience, and has shut-out some of the best forwards in the country. I am excited to be able to work with her and develop her to become one of the conference's best. She will have an opportunity to compete for playing time right away."
Aubrey Vancura | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney HS | Midfield/Forward
Aubrey Vancura is a 5-foot-3, midfielder/forward out of Kearney High School. She was a 3-year starter and senior team captain for the Bearcats under the direction of head coach Lerrin Rowe. In 2019, Vancura tallied three goals and seven assists. She is a 3-time academic all-conference honoree. She is the daughter of Brady Vancura.
Gorski's Thoughts: "Aubrey is a technical midfielder/forward who reads the game very well and possesses great speed. When she came up on our radar, we knew she was going to be the perfect type of player for our program. Her tenacity & her desire to get on the ball and attack stood out when watching her play at the ECNL level. She is a game changer!"
