NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara women's soccer head coach Peter Veltri announced five newcomers who signed their national letters of intent. Kelsey Araujo, Hailey Bicknell, Hadley Bucken, Mackenzie Mix and Alana Montreal will enroll at Niagara in the fall of 2016. Also joining the 2016 class are Tamari Bekauri, Gabrielle Fogarty and Emma Lindke.

"I'm extremely happy with this recruiting class," said Veltri. "Not only are they talented soccer players, but they are extremely smart academically. The experience and success that they have achieved is going to give them an opportunity to make an immediate impact. I love the diversity that this group brings to our program; not only do they fill a few of our needs, but they give us some flexibility to play different formations. We are looking forward to preseason and seeing what our team looks like."

Kelsey Araujo | Midfielder | 5-foot-6 | Bradford, ON | Holy Trinity High School

In addition to high school soccer, Araujo played with ANB Futbol in Ontario since she was nine years old. In August of 2014, Araujo had a try-out with the Olympique Lyonnais (France) Under 19 team.. Because of her outstanding performance at the tryouts, she was given the opportunity to play a match with Olympique Lyonnais, one of the top professional women's soccer teams in the world. Araujo was one of the leading goal scorers in the inaugural season of League 1 Ontario Women's in 2016, as well as being named a Second Team All-Star.

Tamari Bekauri | Center Back | 5-foot-6 | Geneva, NY | Geneva High School

Bekauri was a member of the varsity soccer team for five years. She also played one season with the Rochester Empire Revolution and one season with the Rochester Futbol Club. Bekauri was also part of the Region I Olympic Development Program, playing as a defender for the New York State West Under 17 girls team. Her team won the Region I championship in 2015 which did not concede a goal for the entirety of the tournament.

Hailey Bicknell | Forward | 5-foot | Corning, NY | Corning Painted Post High School

A four-year member of the varsity soccer team, Bicknell is Corning Painted Post's all-time leading scorer with 79 total goals over her high school career. Bicknell competed with the New York West Olympic Development Team from 2011-2015; the team won the Region 1 championship in 2015. From 2014-2016, Bicknell was a member of the Syracuse Development Academy and won the U.S. Soccer New York State Cup Championship in 2015. Bicknell was an All-State Second Team selection in 2015, an All-Conference selection for four seasons in a row and was named the Corning Leader Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

Hadley Bucken | Center Back | 5-foot-9 | Orlando, FL | Bishop Moore Catholic High School

Bucken was a four-sport athlete in high school, as well as competing with Orlando City ECNL. She was a four-year member of the varsity soccer team and was voted Defensive MVP in her freshman season in 2013.

Gabrielle Fogarty | Outside Back | 5-foot-8 | Williamsville, NY | Williamsville South High School

Fogarty competed with Amherst United and was the captain of her travel team for three seasons. In 2015, Fogarty was an All-Western New York ECIC II Team selection, as well as an All-Western New York Scholar-Athlete.

Emma Lindke | Forward | 5-foot-8 | Gasport, NY | Royalton-Hartland High School

A four-year member of the varsity soccer team, Lindke is Royalton-Hartland's all-time leader in goals with 86 and assists with 37. Lindke's team advanced to the Class B semifinals in 2015; Lindke scored seven goals and had two assists in the team's four games played. She led the Niagara Orleans League in goals in both 2014 and 2015. Lindke was named MVP of her high school team three times and is a two-time First Team All-League selection. For the past two years, Lindke also competed with Black Watch Premier NY.

Mackenzie Mix | Forward | 6-foot | Gilford, ON | Bradford District High School
           
In addition to playing for her school, Mix also played for the Bradford Eagles 98 girls' soccer team which is part of the Ontario Youth Soccer League and is the highest level of play an athlete can reach in Ontario. In 2015, Mix's team won the Canadian National Championship, the Ontario Youth Soccer League Championship and the Ontario Cup. Mix scored the only goal in her team's semifinal match as part of the Canadian National Championships to help her team advance to the championship game.

Alana Montreal | Defender | 5-foot-4 | Syracuse, NY | Marcellus High School

Montreal joins Niagara following a very successful high school career; her team was sectional champions for four straight seasons, as well as being regional champions twice. Montreal was selected to First Team All-League and First Team All-County three seasons straight. Following her senior season, Montreal was named to First Team All-Section, as well as being selected for the All-State Team. Montreal was a captain for both her school and club (United Soccer Alliance) teams and was a four-time scholar athlete.

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