Cella and Urban signing day

Women's Soccer

Badgers announce eight in standout 2017 signing class

Wilkins feels this class is one of her best at Wisconsin

Women's Soccer

Badgers announce eight in standout 2017 signing class

Wilkins feels this class is one of her best at Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Paula Wilkins and her staff have done it again, striking gold in the 2017 signing class for Wisconsin women's soccer.
 
Vivian Broderick, Maia Cella, Halle Fiedler, Samantha Kleedtke, Gabby Lawlor, Cameron Murtha, Lauren Rice and Samantha Urban are set to join the Badgers in the fall of 2017.
 
"This class builds exceptionally well on our 2016 recruiting class. This group might potentially be the best recruiting class we've had since arriving at Wisconsin. Adding two proven goal scorers in this class is a definite positive. Overall, I think there are players coming in who have the ability to step into different roles for us and make an immediate impact on our program."  
 
Vivian Broderick | Sporting Iowa Soccer Club | Dowling Catholic
Joining the Badgers from Des Moines, Iowa, Vivian Broderick is a skilled midfielder/defender who played for the Sporting Iowa Soccer Club. In addition, she played for the Iowa ODP and has been a standout for Dowling Catholic. As a junior, she was an Iowa State Cup champion after leading the team with 12 goals and eight assists. Broderick was also honored as the John B. Hayes Outstanding Athlete and an All-District team member.
 
Broderick had just as much success as a sophomore, where she helped lead her team to a state runner-up finish. She started her high school career on a high note, as her team qualified as state semifinalists.
 
She also attended the 2015 Loch Lomond soccer festival. In addition to her talents on the soccer field, Broderick excelled in cross country as a 13th-place finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational and in track and field with a fourth-place finish in the 1500 meters at AAU National Track championships as a sophomore. She also took eighth place as an individual finisher at state cross country, while her team was crowned state champions.
 
Wilkins on Broderick: "Vivian is a player that we have had the pleasure of watching develop first-hand, as she was a regular participant in the camps and clinics that we host throughout the year. Vivian is a gifted athlete who has the ability to get up and down the flank. She has natural attacking instincts and has the speed and quickness to beat defenders off the dribble. Vivian competes for one of the best club teams in Iowa, Sporting Iowa Soccer Club. We are excited about the things that Vivian can bring to our attack."
 
Broderick on why she chose UW: "It is one of the best public universities in the nation, which led me to attend soccer camps there. At the camps, I fell in love with the campus and the team atmosphere that the coaches and members had created. I also really loved working with Paula (Wilkins)."  
Maia Cella | FC United | Evanston Township High school
A talented center/attacking midfielder from Evanston, Illinois, Maia Cella, has already been dubbed as one of the top female soccer players in the country. She was recently named MVP of the 13th Annual PepsiCo Showdown, the largest high school soccer tournament in the U.S.
 
Cella earned Illinois High school Association (IHSA) All-Conference and All-Sectional honors all three years and was named All-State as a junior. The two-time team captain tallied 16 goals and 14 assists in her junior season. In the same season, Cella was named a Buffalo Wild Wings athlete of the month and recognized on her all-area first team.
 
As a sophomore, she was named ETHS Girls Soccer Most Valuable Player (2015) and the Pioneer Press All-Area Girl Soccer second team after notching 12 goals and eight assists. The same team her sophomore season won the ESPY award for best sport moment of the year 2015. In her freshman campaign, in addition to being named all-conference and all-sectional, she scored 15 goals en route to helping her team win the conference and the PepsiCo Showdown Consolation Championship.
 
In 2012, Cella was selected as a '98 Girls ODP Illinois State team player, '98 Girls ODP regional II pool player and a '98 ODP region II player for Thanksgiving interregional in Boca Raton, Florida, that won the championship by defeating regions I, III and IV. Cella was selected as a '98 ODP Region II player for Costa Rica. She was a TopDrawerSoccer.com (TDS) regionally ranked player from 2013-16, tabbed in the TDS 2017 Girls IMG Academy 150 player pool and was also named to the 2016 TDS HS Girls: TeamSnap Spring State Stars.
 
She saw success off the pitch as well, earning high honor roll all four years and was a member of the freshman and sophomore Honors Society. Additionally, she was the recipient of Excellence in Achievement Award in Biology and the Course Achievement Awards in math (2013-14, 2014-15) and in history (2014-15).
 
Wilkins on Cella: "Maia Cella is an attacking center midfielder from Evanston (FC United/Evanston Township High school). Maia may be one of the most athletically gifted players we have had here at Wisconsin. She has the speed and agility to be a special player in the midfield and she works magic with the ball at her feet. There are some big shoes to fill in the midfield with the departure of three-time All-American Rose Lavelle, but Maia certainly has the potential to fill them."
 
Cella on why she chose UW: "I chose to attend Wisconsin because of the impressive academic reputation, campus look and feel, and community diversity, as well as for the reputation of the women's soccer program, much of which I'm sure can be attributed to the very motivating and personable coaching staff. I've always loved that team sports foster close relationships and hard work, and after meeting the coaches and the players, Wisconsin seemed like the perfect place for me to build new friendships and to be able to feel like I was a part of an already close family. Madison made me feel like it would be easy to find my place and to meet new and diverse friends, and for that I am most excited."
 
Halle Fiedler | Montville Township High school
Hallee Fiedler, a native of Montville, New Jersey, will come to Madison after making a big name for herself in the New Jersey soccer circuit. The 5-9 midfielder/defender ended her high school career with 20 goals and 17 assists. She was the team's assist leader as a sophomore, junior and senior and was her squad's leading goal scorer as a junior.
 
Fiedler was a two-time first-team all-conference honoree as both a junior and senior in addition to being named first-team All-County two consecutive years. She was also a second-team all-conference and honorable mention all-county honoree as a sophomore.
 
Off the pitch, Fiedler was a four-year member of the honor roll and recipient of DECA regional awards in addition to being a member of the Junior Leadership Committee.
 
Wilkins on Fiedler: "Halle is coming to Wisconsin from New Jersey as our most distant 2017 signee. She is probably the most versatile player we have in the class, having played all over the field – most recently as a flank defender. Halle covers a lot of ground, is good on the ball and will bring an athletic presence to our team. She has a good technical base and is a solid player all around."
 
Fiedler on why she chose Wisconsin: "The atmosphere in Madison is everything I could ask for. Their dedication to the athletes and students is amazing and I know this is where I will become a better player as well as a person."
 
Samantha Kleedtke | Michigan Hawks Soccer Club | Mercy High school
 A native of Brighton, Michigan, Samantha Kleedtke will be an asset to the Badger defense in her career at Wisconsin. The 5-10 center back was a two-time ECNL PDP Midwest East Camp selection in both 2015 and 2016. But that doesn't begin to cover the number of prestigious awards she's received, including: 2015 ECNL Sanford Showcase; Top Drawer Soccer Best XI (Sanford, FL), 2015 ECNL Nationals; Top Drawer Soccer U15 Best XI (Richmond, VA), 2015 ECNL New Jersey Showcase; Top Drawer Soccer Best XI (Zarepath, NJ), 2014 ECNL Nationals; Top Drawer Soccer U14 Best XI (Seattle, WA); 2013 ODP '99; Region II Thanksgiving Interregional Tournament (Boca Raton, FL); 2013 ODP '99 Region II Pool Player (DeKalb, IL); 2013 ODP '99 Michigan Team; 2013 ODP '98 Region II Costa Rica Interregional Tournament (San Jose, CR); 2013 ODP National Training Camp (Phoenix, AZ); 2012 ODP '99 Region II Pool Player (DeKalb, IL); 2012 ODP '99 Michigan Team selection.
 
As a captain for the '00 Michigan Hawks ECNL team, her squad reached the ECNL finals three years in a row and won the ENCL Nation Championship in 2014 just one year after Kleedtke won the 2013 Michigan State Cup Championships, the USYSA Regionals and finished runner-up in the USYSA Nationals with the '00 Michigan Hawks. Kleedtke played for the Michigan Hawks Soccer Club since 2007 and also was a member of the '99 Michigan Hawks ECNL team that was ranked No. 1 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.
 
Kleedtke earned Scholastic All-Catholic honors for a 4.0 GPA from 2013-2016 and is ranked in the top five percent of her class, where she will graduate Summa Cum Laude. Her brother, Noah, plays soccer at the University of Michigan.
 
Wilkins on Kleedtke: "Sammy is a member of the Michigan Hawks Soccer Club, which is currently the No. 1 ranked team in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. Sammy is as complete a defender as we have had at Wisconsin. She has a fantastic combination of athleticism, tactical awareness and technical ability. Sammy brings a calming presence in the backline with her leadership and communication. She has all the tools to impact right away."
 
Kleedtke on why she chose Wisconsin: "One of the main reasons I chose Wisconsin was because of the relationship I have developed over the years with head coach Paula Wilkins. Coach Paula was my Region II ODP Coach and we have stayed in touch ever since. I have always respected and admired her coaching style. I cannot wait to play for her and be part of a winning team.
 
From the first time I stepped on campus, I fell in love with the city of Madison.  The campus has such a fun atmosphere and there are many things to do around the city. Plus, I feel the distance away from home in Michigan is perfect. Additionally, Wisconsin also offers amazing academics. The College of Engineering is one of the top engineering schools in the country and I cannot wait to be a part of it and experience all that the school has to offer. I know after four years I am going to get a great education."
 
Gabby Lawlor | Scott Gallagher Soccer Club | St. Joseph's Academy
 A 5-4 midfielder from St. Louis, Missouri, Gabby Lawlor will bring a wealth of experience to Madison after stints with the U.S. National Team. Lawlor played on the 2013 Girls' National Team in both Portland, Oregon, and Chula Vista, California, and also on the 2014 Girls' National Team in Carson City, California.
 
Lawlor was named the Missouri Offensive Player of the Year as a junior in addition to earning her first All-America honor. After tallying 18 goals and 15 assists in just one season, she earned those accolades and many more, including first-team All-Midwest, first-team All-State, first team All-Metro, All-Conference Player of the Year and runner-up for Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year.
 
She was also named all-conference as both a freshman and sophomore and claimed all-region in her sophomore campaign for her 10 goals and 12 assists. Her St. Joseph's Academy team were crowned state champions in 2014 (25-2) but also placed third in 2015 with a 24-2-1 record and second in 2016 with a 21-3-1 record.
 
Lawlor has been an Honor Roll student every semester and has also been on the Dean's list and a National Merit Scholar two years in a row (2016, 2017).
 
Wilkins on Lawlor: "Gabby comes to Wisconsin from a top club program out of St. Louis in the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. Gabby has some versatility, as she can play anywhere in the midfield. Gabby has excellent vision and is a technically gifted player with a tremendous passing range. Gabby will bring leadership and experience to the program. She also has U.S. National Team experience having been invited to numerous youth training camps in the past."
 
Lawlor on why she chose Wisconsin: "From the moment I talked to the head soccer coach, Paula Wilkins, on the phone, I felt at home. Even though I couldn't even see her, her voice was so warm and welcoming and it made me feel comfortable. After meeting Paula in person, I knew this was the place for me because she wanted to get to know me more than just on a soccer level, she wanted to get to know me on a personal level and this is what I wanted in a college. Besides the soccer, the school stuck out to me in such a positive way. The way students interacted with each other, the beautiful campus, and the wide range of studies I could take part in made me fall in love with the school. Feeling comfortable with where I am going to live for the next four years was a big deciding factor for me and this is the one place I felt completely sure that I would have the best college experience."  
Cameron Murtha | Bethesda Soccer Club | Walter Johnson High school
Ranked at No. 103 in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com, Cameron Murtha will be a great addition to the Wisconsin women's soccer program. The Kensington, Maryland, native plays for the Bethesda Soccer Club ECNL. She was a four-year team leader in scoring and captain for three years. Murtha is a three-time invitee to the Player Development Program (PDP) for selected members.
 
At Walter Johnson High school, Murtha was a three-time offensive MVP and team MVP her senior year. In her senior campaign, the team captain enjoyed the most successful season of her career and was named first-team all-state, Maryland Player of the Year, Washington Post All-Met First Team and Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. She led her team to become Maryland State Champions 4A (large schools) and scored the game-winning goal in all five playoff games. Additionally, she was honored as a TopDrawerSoccer high school All-American and NSCAA High School All-American.
 
She was also Washington Post All-Met and All-State as a sophomore and junior for the Wildcats.
Murtha finished her career at Walter Johnson high school with 87 goals, ranking second all-time, and a school-record 58 assists, making her the all-time scoring leader at WJ.
 
Wilkins on Murtha: "Cammie was a late addition to our 2017 class. Adding her to this class has given us a second bona fide goal scoring threat. Cammie has the ability to beat defenders 1-on-1 off the dribble to create goal-scoring chances and is a pure finisher. She is a strong, powerful player who has a special talent in her ability to head the ball.  We are excited to see what Cammie can do at the college level."
 
Murtha on why she chose Wisconsin: "I chose to attend Wisconsin because I had the opportunity to visit many schools, but UW was the perfect fit for me. Great school, great academics, but most importantly it was the connection I felt with the coaches and team. It was clear that the people who play at UW are people of character and are highly motivated. The team plays hard and support each other with the common goal of winning. I really felt that playing for Coach Paula (Wilkins), Coach Tim (Rosenfeld) and Coach Kristen (Weiss) was going to make a difference for me. You meet them and you just know that they are able to bring out your best game while doing that in a positive environment. I came to the University of Wisconsin to help, in any way I can, bring a championship to Madison. I have never had any doubts that I picked the right place to grow as a person and a player. The question I ask is, 'Who wouldn't want to play at UW?'"
 
Lauren Rice |Indiana Fire | Guerin Catholic
Lauren Rice, a 5-8 forward from Noblesville, Indiana, was a four-year varsity starter for Guerin Catholic and accumulated 58 total goals and 32 assists.
 
Rice was invited to the U18 WNT Training Camp in Chula Vista, California, in September of last year, the 2016 High School All-American game and the 2014/2016 ECNL PDP. She is currently ranked 76 in the 150 ranked by IMG Academy.
 
As a senior, the two-time team captain and two-time Varsity MVP led her team to become sectional champions and regional runner-ups while also being named to the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association (ISCA) All-State first team. She was named to the ISCA All-State second team and IGSCA All-State first team as a junior. It was her second ICGSA honor after earning a spot on the All-State second team as a freshman. Rice's 2012 team were ECNL finalists and placed 12th while her 2013-14 squad finished as regional finalists. She was also recently invited to the 2017 ECNL PDP on March 5 at Central Michigan University. 
 
Rice was a standout in the classroom as well, earning A Honor Roll in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, earning her ISCA Academic All-State in 2015 and 2016. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
 
Wilkins on Rice: "Lauren Rice hails from a great club program in Indiana (Indiana Fire). A forward, Lauren is a natural goal scorer having scored 58 goals throughout her high school (Guerin Catholic, Noblesville, IN) career. This past September Lauren participated in a U-18 USA Women's National Team training camp in Chula Vista, CA. We are excited to have such a prolific goal scorer coming in and we are looking for her to have an immediate impact as a freshman."
 
Rice on why she chose Wisconsin: "It had everything I was looking for in a college. It has great academics, soccer program, and I fell in love with the campus and culture in Madison. The coaches truly made me feel like Wisconsin was a home for me and would help me grow not only as a soccer player, but as a person too."
 
Samantha Urban
Joining her teammate Cella as another Illinois native in this signing class, Winnetka native Samantha Urban will bring winning ways to Madison next fall. The New Trier high school standout helped lead her team to become the IHSA class 3A state champions and PepsiCo Showdown champions two years in a row. As a junior, she was named the Defensive Player of the Year and helped her team to a stellar 26-3-1 record. Urban also brings experience from an international tour she did in Guatemala in 2015.
 
Urban has kept busy off the pitch as well as a member of American Cancer Society Junior Board, Student Athlete Leadership training, Voices in Prevention, Enriching Lives through Service, Girls Club, the National Society of high school scholars and a four-year honor roll recipient. She also plays basketball and hockey. She was honored with the KW Spirit Award and the Board of Education Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement.
 
Wilkins on Urban: "Sam is another player that fills a position of need for us at central defender. Sam is a teammate of Maia Cella with FC United out of Chicago. Sam is a solid athlete and has the speed and ability to track down players defensively. Her high school team (New Trier, Winnetka IL) won a state championship last season so she knows how to win. Sam has all of the tools to compete for playing time."
 
Urban on why she chose Wisconsin: "After visiting Wisconsin for the first time with very limited exposure to other campuses and universities, this instantly became the ideal location for me as a student athlete. Leaving the campus, I will never forget the feeling of how happy and blown away I was with the unlimited options academically and the impeccable training facilities. It is an athlete's dream. As more visits came about in the future, these feelings intensified as I built stronger relationships with the coaches, trainers, academic advisors and my future teammates. Living two hours away from the campus, this not only made it the perfect distance for family visits up to games at McClimon (Soccer Complex), but an easily accessible home away from home. Coming from a very large high school, it is also very important for me to also keep good relationships with my teachers as I continue my education, and based on what I saw, Wisconsin has exactly that. Ever since my decision was finalized, I have continuously recognized Badger pride around my neighborhood where people now stop me when I am wearing a Wisconsin t-shirt and recite to me how amazing Madison is and how lucky I am to be a part of such a special community. My pride soars not so much because soccer is my love, but nothing excites me more than representing a school with endless possibilities for me, my school, and my future!"

 
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Players Mentioned

Rose Lavelle

#3 Rose Lavelle

MF
5' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Rose Lavelle

#3 Rose Lavelle

5' 4"
Senior
MF