Xavier women’s soccer coach Woody Sherwood added eight new faces to his roster for the 2015 season. Sherwood and his staff found a class that fills a variety of needs for the Musketeers as they prepare for a third season of BIG EAST competition.

Emily Calvani, a midfielder/forward/defender from Mason (Ohio) High School, excels on the field and off. Calvani started for the varsity team three years at Mason, winning the regional championship each of those three years and making the state finals twice. As a junior and a senior, Calvani was selected to the All-Conference team. She also competed in the State Cup Finals with the FOSC Red Swarm. In the classroom, Calvani’s 4.4 grade-point average earned her Honor Roll and the Principal’s Award honors each of her four years. She was also named Academic All-Ohio. Calvani is also a standout track athlete who has qualified for state finals four times while competing in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 events.

“We were really fortunate to find Emily late in the recruiting process,” said Sherwood. “Her athleticism and work rate made her stand out among her soccer peers. She can serve a ball equally well with both feet and can play multiple positions effectively.”

Andie Kennard, an outside back/midfielder from Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), was a four-year varsity starter for the 2011 and 2012 District Champions. Kennard also helped Ursuline to the Regional Finals in 2013, and earned All-GGCL honors three years, including being named to the First Team in 2013 and 2014. She was also All-Southwest Ohio and named All-City by the Cincinnati Enquirer. With her club team, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, Kennard was a three time ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Finalist, winning the conference championship in 2013. In 2012, Ohio Elite earned ninth place at the ECNL National Championship, and in 2013 and 2014, participated in the ECNL Champions League Playoffs. Academically, Kennard has also earned First Honors and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Andie is a prototypical attacking outside back, who can also play wide in the midfield,” said Sherwood. “She will fit our system well with her tendency to get forward often. Andie has a very good soccer pedigree having gotten lots of high end game experience with Ohio Elite and Ursuline.”

Jess MillerJessica Miller, a forward/center midfielder from Hamilton Southeastern High School (Fishers, Ind.), has achieved great success with both her high school and her club team. Miller, who earned All-County honors in each of her four years at Hamilton Southeastern, helped her team to the 2011 Indiana High School State Finals, and the 2013 State Final Four. Miller earned All-Conference honors twice, and was named team MVP and Hamilton County Player of the Year in 2012. She finished her career at Hamilton Southeastern ranked second in career points thanks to 58 goals and 36 assists. With her club team, Indy Premier, Miller won the 2014 State Cup Championship. In the classroom, Miller ranks in the Top 10 percent of her class and was named to the All-State Academic Team twice.

“Jess has developed into a player who has the ability to compete at a high level both in central midfield as well as up top,” said Sherwood. “She is smooth on the ball and capable of connecting passes at the level we need.”

Libby Grace, a goalkeeper from Walsh Jesuit High School (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), finished her high school career with a record of 82-1-8, with the only loss coming in the state semifinals during her freshman season. During her senior season (2014) Walsh was ranked fourth in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. Grace earned four varsity letters for a team that won three OHSAA State Championships (2012, 2013, 2014). Academically, Grace earned First Honors four times while maintaining a 4.1 grade-point average. She was named Scholar Athlete in 2011 and is a member of the National Honor Society. Libby’s twin sister, Colleen, is also playing for the Musketeers.

“Libby excelled at our college ID Camp several years ago,” said Sherwood. “She has very good awareness, good hands and is a great shot stopper. She is no stranger to success as her high school team has been an Ohio powerhouse for all four years.”

Colleen Grace, a defender from Walsh Jesuit High School (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), was part of three OHSAA State Championship teams, in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She earned four varsity letters at Walsh Jesuit, compiling a record of 82-1-8. During her senior season (2014) she was named first team North Coast League and Defensive MVP. With her club team, Cleveland FC, Grace was part of the 2014 Ohio North State Cup Championship team that was the Regional Championship representative. Grace also has a stellar reputation in the class room, earning the Academic Excellence Award from the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association, awarded to players who maintained a grade-point average of 3.7 or higher. Colleen’s twin sister, Libby, is also playing for Xavier.

“Colleen has the physical tools to play in our conference,” said Sherwood. “She is hard, a good tackler, and an excellent man marker. Like her sister, she experienced a stellar high school record.”

Samantha Dewey, a forward from Triton Central High School (Fairland, Ind.), set several records during her high school career. The four-year captain holds the Indiana State record for the most goals in one season (83) as well as for the most goals in a career (257). At Triton Central, Dewey holds the records for most goals and assists in a career. She was part of a team that was Sectional and Regional champions, and in 2014 she was named All-State. With her club team, Indiana Fire Juniors, she was the leading scorer on an ECNL team for 2012 and 2013 and won the State Cup Championship three times. Dewey is also a four-year member of the Honor Roll.

“Sam has been on the national recruiting scene for some time,” said Sherwood. “Her ability to score goals day-in and day-out, at all levels, is something that is hard to come by. She is a true one-on-one take on artist and we look for her to help our attack immediately.”

Kylie Hohlt, a center midfielder from Fishers (Ind.) High School, capped off her high school career by winning the 2014 Indiana State Championship. During her senior campaign, she was also a team captain who was named a pre-season All-American, as well as earning All-State and All-Region honors and the title of Hamilton County Player of the Year. This followed a junior season where, as a team captain, Hohlt was First Team All-District and All-State on a team that was Sectional and Regional champions on the way to being State Finalists.

“Kylie will give us some much needed size in the BIG EAST,” said Sherwood. “She can compete anywhere in the center of midfield and has some experience up top as well. She is very good on the ball, defensively reads the game exceptionally well as a holding mid, and can come forward comfortably on the attack.”

Katelyn Cooley, a goalkeeper who graduated from Karns High School (Knoxville, Tenn.) last December after spending the bulk of her high school career at Knoxville Catholic, has already enrolled at Xavier and is training with the team. Cooley trained year-round with her club team FC Alliance 97 Girls Black, who were state Champions in 2009, 2010 and 2013. Cooley was heavily involved in the Olympic Development Program, as a member of the State ODP Team from 2011 to 2013, as part of the Region III ODP pool in 2012 and 2013, and traveling to the National Training Camp in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2013. She maintained a 4.4 grade-point average, was in the Top 10 percent of her graduation class and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Katelyn joined us the winter and has already made a great impression in goal,” said Sherwood. “In addition to being a solid all around goalie, her feet are outstanding. She has good athleticism and is a presence in goal”