Matthew Brooks

Women's Soccer Welcomes Nine

Thursday, December 08, 2022 | By: WIU Athletic Communications

Head coach Josee Primeau has inked her first class at the helm of WIU Women’s Soccer.

MACOMB, Ill. – Leatherneck women's soccer grew in size Thursday (Dec. 8), as head coach Josee Primeau announced the addition of nine new players who will join the program ahead of next season. With a heavy dose of Midwest talent, Primeau said this class will strengthen the team both on and off the field.

"I'm excited to officially welcome these nine ladies into the WIU Women's Soccer family. They have competed at high levels throughout their youth careers and possess skill sets that will help to strengthen our roster in multiple positional groups," she said. "I'm confident they will further enhance our team culture and look forward to playing a part in their development as people and as players."

A midfielder from Ankeny, Iowa, Alanna Pennington joins the Western Illinois program after a decorated high school career that resulted in a 2022 State Championship with Ankeny Centennial High School. She also was recognized with First Team All-State honors as a junior, First Team All-Conference honors as a junior and sophomore and First Team All-District recognition as a junior. The captain of her previous ODP and rush team, Pennington was selected to play for the Rush National Team in Florida, Kansas City and Arizona while being selected for a regional ODP camp that was held in Michigan.

Pennignton, who credits her parents as the biggest influences on her sports career, says committing to Western came down to feeling at home in Macomb.

"I chose Western Illinois because of the team and coaching environment; it felt like a home away from home," she said. "The college is the perfect distance from home and it also had my majors of interest."

Ali Mathews has signed the dotted line and is officially a Leatherneck. A defender from Springfield, Illinois, Matthews was an Academic All-Conference selection in both soccer and basketball, and earned a spot on the All-State team in soccer while also being named on the Chicagoland All-State soccer team. Her most memorable moment as a soccer player came after scoring on a free kick from nearly 40 yards out and celebrating with her sister.

For Matthews, coming to Western came down to the academic opportunities and campus.

"I chose Western because of the academic opportunities it provides me & the positive team environment," she said. "I also like the campus and that it's close enough to home so my family can continue to watch me play."

A goalkeeper from McFarland, Wis., Avery Weaver is the lone goalkeeper in Coach Primeau's 2022 class. Weaver, who is a member of the National Honor Society and the McFarland High School Honor Roll, won the Wisconsin State Championship her sophomore year and played in the championship game her junior season, and notes those championship appearances as the most memorable moments in her soccer career.

The decision for Weaver to attend WIU involved both academics and the ability to join a "wonderful" team.

"I chose Western Illinois because it has a big school atmosphere but has class sizes that are small enough to make connections with your professors," she said. "I also chose Western Illinois because I have the opportunity to play soccer at the Division-I level with a wonderful team."

Having played her high school career at John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Cassie White joins the program as part of Coach Primeau's 2022 class. A member of her school's honor role, White has earned All-District honors and was named First Team All-MVC.

Inspired to keep improving after an offseason training program showed a great deal of personal growth, White says the decision to play at Western came down to wanting to be in a situation where the team is close both on and off the field.

"I chose Western Illinois primarily because I wanted a team that worked well on the field but was also best friends off the field. The team atmosphere that the girls create around each other is truly uplifting," she said. "On my visit I got to view the balance between working hard and having fun, which is something I thrive off of. After I left, I noticed how comfortable and natural it was to be at Western Illinois."

Hattie Mourning comes to Western having played midfield and forward at Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln, Ill. She earned High Honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and was named Senior Student Athlete of the Month for the month of September. Mourning also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Conference honors in soccer as well as cheer and cross country. A Second-Team Apollo All-Conference selection during her sophomore and junior seasons, she was even named the Team MVP as a junior.

Mourning, who credits her parents as a major influence on her sports career, says Western has been her dream school since childhood.

"My parents are Western Illinois alumni and, as a child, Western was my dream school," she said. "After visiting campus, something about it made it feel like home. I liked that it was big but small at the same time and the college atmosphere it offers. One of the biggest factors into choosing Western was the team. I felt very welcomed and comfortable with Coach Josée and the team."

Also from Lincoln is Grace Curry, who played both soccer and basketball at Lincoln Community High School. The award-winning midfielder has excelled in the classroom and on the pitch, earning Athletic-Academic High Honor Role recognition for her performances, while being described by her coaches as a player who is a hard worker that has a knack for finding goals.

Curry, whose most memorable sports moment was her first hat trick, says committing to Western was an easy decision because of the environment head coach Josee Primeau has created.

"After my visit to WIU, I saw how kind every player was and how personable the coaches were. It was an easy decision for me," she said. "I also chose WIU because of the beautiful campus, short distance from my hometown, and because they had the major that I wanted to study. As far as I can see, WIU is the perfect place for me to play and study, making me so excited for the future."

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Janelle Minor is a player who has excelled both on the pitch and in the classroom. A member of the National Society and her school's Honor Roll, Minor has earned all sorts of accolades while playing in the Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School midfield, including Academic All-Conference awards in soccer and basketball. Named Class 3A All-State Second Team, KMA Sports Class 3A All-State, Class 3A East All-District First Team and twice named All-Mississippi Valley Conference First Team, she also earned a spot on the All-Metro First team.

For Minor, the decision to come play at WIU came down to being the right environment to excel as a student and as an athlete.
"I chose Western Illinois because I feel like it provides the best environment for me to be a successful student athlete," she said. "The players are very positive and helped me to be comfortable at WIU. I am excited to play in a competitive league and play for great coaches!"

An attacker from Wonder Lake, Ill., Kelsi McThenia joins Western Illinois' program as someone who has found great success as a high school athlete. A member of the Marian Central Catholic High School (Woodstock, Ill.) Honor Roll, she earned All-Conference honors and was even named her team's Most Valuable Player. Having played club soccer for the Crystal Lake Force, she led her team with 23 goals in 2021 and made it to the 2021 Illinois State Cup Semi Finals; McThenia later scored the game-winning goal in the 2022 Illinois Presidents Cup, and that championship remains one of her best memories as a soccer player.

The combination of being close to family and fitting in well with the team, along with feeling at home in Macomb, made Western an obvious choice for McThenia.

"I loved the coaching staff, I felt they had really good insight into me as a player," she said. "They are very professional and demanding of their players as individuals and as a team. Macomb reminds me of my hometown and makes me feel at home."

Rounding out the team's 2022 signing class is Elise Bush, who joins the Leathernecks as a transfer from Youngstown State. Originally from Henderson, NV., Bush had a successful high school career that included multiple All-League selections and a senior season that saw the midfielder/forward score 21 goals and record 11 assists. At YSU, she made 36 appearances across three seasons in the Penguin midfield and played in 11 games this past season, recording a shot against Duquesne on Aug. 25 while playing a season-high 67 minutes against Loyola Maryland on Aug. 28.

Described by her coaches as a hard-worker with a positive attitude, Bush says the decision to play at WIU came down to feeling at home.

"I chose Western Illinois due to the coaching staff and the team. I immediately felt at home when I visited campus," she said. "I want to be part of a winning team and I know WIU can do that."

Print Friendly Version